Hey Everyone,
i have been shoppping around the last couple of months for a plasma tv. I think i''ve finally found the one I want, but I have a few questions concerning online purchasing. I have a little brother that has gotten ripped off 3x's on ebay....so naturally I am very skeptical about online buying. I met this guy through www.craigslist.org, it's kinda of a huge classified website to sell your stuff by city, etc. Well after a few emails this guy tells me he wants to use paypal because its the safest. I thought this was ok, however after some research I learned Paypal is really just a "glorified" western union, it just happened to be affiliated with ebay and offer protection on your purchase to only $500!!??? The seller suggested that I send half the money now and half the money after I receive the product. I just need to know if this is legit or not because I have read lately about online scams (escrow services created by the seller,etc).

He did however, give me his username for ebay and I saw he had nothing but good ratings. But the username actually sounded like the nae for a female.....and after checking all the sales and seuch over 90% of the sales were for costume jewerly. So i wrote him an email at this ebay account and asked him to write me back just to prove that it WAS his. I received an email this morning from him from his non-ebay account that he would do so and after to send the $$ ASAP. Maybe i'm being too cautious, i dont know. ANY HELP OR INPUT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

tONYj

 

I wouldn't do it, sounds good, but who knows...

If I was the seller and you were buyign it from me, I would want all the money up front because who says you are legit and would pay. I think that he coul possibly only want half because he doesn't intend on shipping you the item. I mean who really knows, but I personally wouldn't do it.

 

Wow.. you are being a little paranoid, but i guess with such a big purchse you have the right to be. I have used both e-bay and paypal for hundreds of transactions over the years both to sell and buy things from people. I have never been ripped off and i have certainly never scammed anyone.

I find that graiglist is a very friendly and trustworthy community. Everyone is on there with a goal in mind. You want a TV set, the guys has one to sell. IMO, Paypal is a better way to send the money only b/c you have precise records of how much you sent, to whom and when.

However, PayPal will take a huge chnk of money from him for such a large transaction, so I think that he is really a good seller b/c he is willing to pay that large fee to PayPal in order to have a solid record of the money exchange and to make you feel more secure. Personally however, if i were him, i would ask you for a money order so that i don't get charged PayPal's fee.

In addition, the fact that he is willing to take only 1/2 the money in the beginning is really a great sign that this guy is willing to accomodate your fears and work with you. I would say really go for it. How much is the TV anyway, and could you not pick it up from him perhaps??

 

This is a way that a con man gets you to feel comfortable with him. Stealing half your money is better than nothing for him. I wouldn't send you a TV for only half the cost then expect you to pay the rest when you get it. I'd go elsewhere.

 

I can understand your paranoia, but what more do you want this seller to do? He trying his best to accomadate you. If you're not commfortable with online purchases thats cool, but this guy is going above and beyond his duty to suit you. Maybe you'de be more commfortable to get his phone number and talk to him?

 

I can't stand ebay personally. Why go through all the stress that goes along with it and all of its scammers. I've been ripped off too many times and read too many stories. Especially for something this expensive.

I say drop the whole deal and either find it in a cheap online store (not auction), local newspaper classifieds, or plain ol' electronics store. It's just not worth the stress..

 

ewwww plasma

 

TRying to save a few hundred could cost you a bundle. Although it does sound good, I personally would not do the transaction. It is good to be careful, one missed step and you blow a couple of thousand dollars which equals many days of work.

 

Use www.escrow.com - you know it's real, and you won't have to worry about losing your money.

I wouldn't do it any other way (except show up in person). There have been a lot of plasma ripoffs on ebay lately, and you have no way to know what you're getting until you have it up and running.

 

umm...why buy plasma TV online?