BUYING AND SELLING SUGGESTIONS
It would be nice if all people in the world were honest and trustworthy but we all know that just isn’t so. And that being the case, there is no way to guarantee that a long distance, photos only transaction will be handled with fairness and honor by everyone involved. But there are a few precautions you can take to increase the odds for a smooth and happy outcome. Every deal is different and unique, as are the people involved, so this is not a complete list covering every situation, but rather a few suggestions to begin the thought process.
The following is premised on a transaction that, because of distance, does not allow the seller and the buyer to meet in person to complete the deal.
BUYING:
1.Go Slow. Don’t let anyone rush things. A pushy seller is a red flag. Beware.
2.Check for sellers’ feedback on related websites.
3.NEVER SEND CASH or any payment that cannot be traced. U.S. and Canadian Postal Money Orders can be traced by the Postal Service. Keep all receipts.
4.Never send a payment to a Post Office Box
5.Never send payment before talking personally several times by phone.
6.Verify seller’s name and address using reverse lookup tools such as www.whitepages.com.
7.Verify seller’s Email I.P. Address location using www.arin.net/whois/.
8.DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Check the sellers’ location via tractor dealers, BBB, law enforcement, etc. to see if there are any negative dealings recorded.
9.Try to find an impartial mechanic near the item willing to inspect it and send you a written report. It might be the best $100.00 you ever spend. If the mechanic states the item is in, as advertised ,or better, condition and on delivery the item turns out to be a piece of junk or not as represented, there is cause for action against the seller AND the mechanic for full restitution of monies spent for purchase, hauling, mechanics fee and costs accrued in recovery.
10.Be very specific on terms and have them documented in emails or hard copies.
11.“IF YOU DON’T HAVE IT IN WRITING, YOU LOSE.”
SELLING:
1.Go Slow. Do not let anyone rush you into selling or shipping.
2.Check for buyers’ feedback on related websites.
3.Never ship an item until payment in full has been converted to cash.
4.U.S. and Canadian Postal Money Orders can be cashed at any U.S. Post Office. A drivers license number is recorded on the money order when cashed.
5.For personal or cashiers checks wait at least 14 business days to assure it clears before shipping the item. If you cash a bad check at your bank they will eventually recoup their lost funds from your account.
6.For items small enough to be shipped UPS or FED EX, sending it C.O.D. might be an acceptable solution. Both UPS and FED EX allow you to stipulate that payment must be made by Cashiers Check or Postal Money Order. The delivered address, the time delivered and the name and signature of the person who received the item is recorded and that information is returned to you with payment. Fed Ex returns your payment sooner via their system while UPS sends your payment by USPS.
7.“IF YOU DON’T GET IT IN WRITING, IT DIDN’T HAPPEN”.
SHIPPING:
1.Go Slow. Do not let any item leave your property without documentation.
2.Check for haulers’ feedback on tractor and hauling websites.
3.TAKE PHOTOS of the hauler, the truck and trailer, the license plates of all vehicles including trailers, the haulers’ drivers license and of the item(s) loaded on haulers trailer. Modern digital cameras are easy to use and inexpensive.
4.Contact your local sheriff department using their non-emergency number explaining that you are letting a private hauler take an expensive item from your property and ask them to run his license number. You can do this before hiring him and definitely before he loads your item onto his trailer. Any legitimate hauler will gladly give you his truck and trailer license numbers on first contact. Make sure those numbers match when he arrives. If they don’t, check with the sheriff again.
5.Insist that the driver sign a detailed receipt for the item(s) he is hauling. Include the date and time; haulers name, address, telephone and driver’s license number; the truck and trailers license numbers; your name and address and the buyers name and address.
6.Include the condition of the item(s) at the time it left your property.
7.Remember, “A PICTURE SAVES A THOUSAND WORDS.”
Any legitimate and honest person involved in a deal will not be offended by any of these suggestions. More than likely they will welcome the documentation.
Unfortunately, even after taking these and other precautions, there is still the possibility that you will become a victim of dishonorable people. The only thing you can really control, and strive for, is that you never become one of them.
- Dellbertt
January 08, 2009
It would be nice if all people in the world were honest and trustworthy but we all know that just isn’t so. And that being the case, there is no way to guarantee that a long distance, photos only transaction will be handled with fairness and honor by everyone involved. But there are a few precautions you can take to increase the odds for a smooth and happy outcome. Every deal is different and unique, as are the people involved, so this is not a complete list covering every situation, but rather a few suggestions to begin the thought process.
The following is premised on a transaction that, because of distance, does not allow the seller and the buyer to meet in person to complete the deal.
BUYING:
1.Go Slow. Don’t let anyone rush things. A pushy seller is a red flag. Beware.
2.Check for sellers’ feedback on related websites.
3.NEVER SEND CASH or any payment that cannot be traced. U.S. and Canadian Postal Money Orders can be traced by the Postal Service. Keep all receipts.
4.Never send a payment to a Post Office Box
5.Never send payment before talking personally several times by phone.
6.Verify seller’s name and address using reverse lookup tools such as www.whitepages.com.
7.Verify seller’s Email I.P. Address location using www.arin.net/whois/.
8.DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Check the sellers’ location via tractor dealers, BBB, law enforcement, etc. to see if there are any negative dealings recorded.
9.Try to find an impartial mechanic near the item willing to inspect it and send you a written report. It might be the best $100.00 you ever spend. If the mechanic states the item is in, as advertised ,or better, condition and on delivery the item turns out to be a piece of junk or not as represented, there is cause for action against the seller AND the mechanic for full restitution of monies spent for purchase, hauling, mechanics fee and costs accrued in recovery.
10.Be very specific on terms and have them documented in emails or hard copies.
11.“IF YOU DON’T HAVE IT IN WRITING, YOU LOSE.”
SELLING:
1.Go Slow. Do not let anyone rush you into selling or shipping.
2.Check for buyers’ feedback on related websites.
3.Never ship an item until payment in full has been converted to cash.
4.U.S. and Canadian Postal Money Orders can be cashed at any U.S. Post Office. A drivers license number is recorded on the money order when cashed.
5.For personal or cashiers checks wait at least 14 business days to assure it clears before shipping the item. If you cash a bad check at your bank they will eventually recoup their lost funds from your account.
6.For items small enough to be shipped UPS or FED EX, sending it C.O.D. might be an acceptable solution. Both UPS and FED EX allow you to stipulate that payment must be made by Cashiers Check or Postal Money Order. The delivered address, the time delivered and the name and signature of the person who received the item is recorded and that information is returned to you with payment. Fed Ex returns your payment sooner via their system while UPS sends your payment by USPS.
7.“IF YOU DON’T GET IT IN WRITING, IT DIDN’T HAPPEN”.
SHIPPING:
1.Go Slow. Do not let any item leave your property without documentation.
2.Check for haulers’ feedback on tractor and hauling websites.
3.TAKE PHOTOS of the hauler, the truck and trailer, the license plates of all vehicles including trailers, the haulers’ drivers license and of the item(s) loaded on haulers trailer. Modern digital cameras are easy to use and inexpensive.
4.Contact your local sheriff department using their non-emergency number explaining that you are letting a private hauler take an expensive item from your property and ask them to run his license number. You can do this before hiring him and definitely before he loads your item onto his trailer. Any legitimate hauler will gladly give you his truck and trailer license numbers on first contact. Make sure those numbers match when he arrives. If they don’t, check with the sheriff again.
5.Insist that the driver sign a detailed receipt for the item(s) he is hauling. Include the date and time; haulers name, address, telephone and driver’s license number; the truck and trailers license numbers; your name and address and the buyers name and address.
6.Include the condition of the item(s) at the time it left your property.
7.Remember, “A PICTURE SAVES A THOUSAND WORDS.”
Any legitimate and honest person involved in a deal will not be offended by any of these suggestions. More than likely they will welcome the documentation.
Unfortunately, even after taking these and other precautions, there is still the possibility that you will become a victim of dishonorable people. The only thing you can really control, and strive for, is that you never become one of them.
- Dellbertt
January 08, 2009
