We've all heard the horror stories, and most of them are just that: stories. Urban legends spread by word-of-mouth and fueled by the iconic, Hollywood-ized fear of waking up in a bathtub full of ice, feeling a few organs lighter.
On the other hand, when buying and selling through classified ads, you do want to be smart and safe. And although more often than not your main concern will be protecting your money, it doesn't hurt to keep yourself safe as well.
Using online classified resources is a great way to find fantastic deals for amazing items; however, you need to practice safety. We wanted to get a word out on simple, realistic things YOU can do to protect yourself.
Tips For Buyers
When you find something online that piques your interest, the first thing you want to do is stop, take a breath and think. Emotions have a sneaky way about getting the better of us, to take control and blind us of our reason. For the reason (or lack there of!) you want to begin any classified transaction with a calm head and you want to remain calm to the end. A common saying we like to toss around here in the classified biz is: "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
Say it with us. Yeah! Say it again. Now only the women! Now the men! I didn't hear all of you men - but it's OK, let's move on.
Most cases of online fraud involve rare or exotic or even ordinary items that are listed well under the normal price. This is your first warning. If any item is priced way below what seems to make sense, though an enticing deal, you should proceed with caution. This doesn't mean you should just ignore all the great deals, sloughing them off like a wet blanket - because many times the deal is real. We are simply suggesting (passionately) that you do not let the "deal" could your judgment. Trust your gut.
We are experts in the field. We do this for a living and we take it seriously. And from our experience, we know for a fact that a great majority of classified buyers and sellers are your average everyday people, just trying to make a buck or find a good deal. But we aren't naive enough to not acknowledge that there is a small minority of jerks who are out to ruin your day. Following our tips will increase personal safety.
1) You always want to communicate over the phone. Using e-mail is good for initial contact and getting your "feet we", but using strictly e-mails is ill-advised. It puts the seller, especially if he is one of the aforesaid jerks, at the advantage. If the seller refuses to talk over the phone or gives you any excuse as to why they cannot speak over the phone, we say, "walk away and plan to classified another day."
2) OK, so you've talked on the phone and you got some good vibes? Now it's time to set up a meeting. We can't stress this enough: Bring a friend! There is no reason to go alone. A neutral, public meeting location, such as coffee joints, cafs, or shopping malls are all great and safe ideas. Also, remember to tell a family member or friend (or two) where you are going, when, why, and with whom. You can't be too safe. You just can't.
3) You don't anyone any favors. You have not signed any contracts (you better not have) and there is no legal binding agreement involved with classifieds. You have the right to walk away all the way up to point of purchase. Buyers and seller understand this point. If you do not like what you see, respectfully explain that you were looking for something different and decline the transaction. If you decide to buy, pay using cash or a cashier's check, and never wire money.
Tips for Sellers
When selling, you basically want to follow the same tips as when buying. Speak with the buyer on the phone; meet in a neutral and public meeting location with a friend and after informing some others of the whole deal; etc etc etc. If we are talking statistically, which we are, your transaction will go down smoothly and you will sell your car or dog or bed set with no problems and the buyer will a wonderful person just like yourself. However, nothing is 100% so you still want to be safe!
As the seller, the main safety guideline from buying is to protect yourself from getting ripped-off. Cash is the best and safest means of payment to accept. Though for more expensive items, a cashier's check is not out of the question. However, these can be easy to fake, so we recommend that you both go to a bank to verify the check before accepting it and handing over the item for sale.
Whether you are buying or selling, there is no reason to compromise your safety for a good deal. As long as you are prepared and use good judgment, you will be able to buy and sell using classified sites without any problems, safe and sound.
Stay Safe Classifiers!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Herbert
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5568039
0 comments:
Post a Comment