How to buy from a new or low ref trader, safely.
Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:44 pm
Now, here's a suggestion to new sellers or people buying from new sellers on how to make sure you're not getting ripped off, or trying to rip people off.
While researching [yes I research and usually think before I post] another topic, I just remembered the safest way to buy from a new or low level trader: C.O.D.
Yes it costs a bit, $5.50 for $50, but it's 100% safe. It includes insurance, and if purchased online, you get free d/c and email notification.
Here's the chart for costs from USPS.com.
http://www.usps.com/prices/collect-on-d ... prices.htm
Collect on Delivery Prices
Have your customers pay for merchandise and postage with cash or a personal check at the time of delivery with Collect on Delivery Service (COD). COD also provides you the added security of insurance coverage against loss or damage of up to $1,000. COD is not available for international mail or for mail addressed to military Post Office (APO/FPO) addresses.
Get the price by value of the delivery and additional services listed here.
Collect on Delivery (COD) Prices
Amount to be collected or insurance coverage
desired, whichever is higher1 Price
$0.01 to $50 $5.50
$50.01 to $100 $6.80
$100.01 to $200 $8.10
$200.01 to $300 $9.40
$300.01 to $400 $10.70
$400.01 to $500 $12.00
$500.01 to $600 $13.30
$600.01 to $700 $14.60
$700.01 to $800 $15.90
$800.01 to $900 $17.20
$900.01 to $1,000 $18.50
The buyer only pays if the amount is agreed upon. If it's not what you agreed to, then refuse it and the seller loses the fees for postage and fees.
The seller says how much $ he wants, this can include the C.O.D. fee as well as the postage. The buyer can't change the amount; it's either all or nothing.
So, how is it done?
The seller pays for postage and C.O.D. fees when the box/item is shipped. The buyer either pays the letter carrier cash, who then turns in the $. Then a clerk buys a USPS money order and mails it to the seller. [the letter carrier, clerk and anyone else who handles it signs for it. It's almost as secure as registered. If the $ or item turns up missing, the last person to handle it, who signed for it, has to pay for it out of their own pocket. it's also grounds to get fired.] The buyer can pay by personal check, if the seller agrees. It's then sent out to the seller.
So the item doesn't get paid for until the box is delivered. It has insurance. Now because it was sent C.O.D. if the seller rips or tries to rip you off, you have more proof that the items are missing or wrong. The box gets a better visual inspection than most other packages upon delivery. It not only gets signed for, but paid for at delivery. No worrying about it being 'left on the door or at the wrong house, apt. or box.
You get paid cash. No worrying about paypal disputes.
The C.O.D. fees cover a signature, insurance, purchasing the money order and postage to get the MO sent to you.
Yes, it's a bit more of a hassle.
The buyer/addressee/reciever must be there to sign and pay for it, or go to the post office to do so. You must bring cash to pay for it. [I don't think you can use a charge card, debit cards are cash, since you're buying a money order.]
The seller/sender must pay for postage and fees up front and fill out a couple forms. But you get a money order [cash] back in the mail.
BUT... you know you're getting the package when it's received. You see the box when you sign and pay for it. If t's obviously damaged, you can point it out to the letter carrier or window clerk right then and there. No chance of it not being seen.
Now, if there's interanl damge, like when things aren't packaged/packed properly, you won't see it, but might hear it when you lift or shake the box. If the items aren't as described, that's still between you and the seller. There's never any way to protect against that. [ the ol brick instead of a stereo speaker trick.]
Yes, it's a bit of a hassle, and maybe alot to ask of new sellers or people dealing with new sellers, but it's about the only thing short of a face-to-face meeting to make sure you getting the items when paid for.
It doesn't work for international mail. UPS offers C.O.D. also, but they only pay by check from UPS or a check from the buyer. I don't know if they offer it for internationally.
MAYBE WE CAN GET THE MODS/WATCHAMN TO MAKE THIS A STICKY.?!
A possible solution to a problem.
While researching [yes I research and usually think before I post] another topic, I just remembered the safest way to buy from a new or low level trader: C.O.D.
Yes it costs a bit, $5.50 for $50, but it's 100% safe. It includes insurance, and if purchased online, you get free d/c and email notification.
Here's the chart for costs from USPS.com.
http://www.usps.com/prices/collect-on-d ... prices.htm
Collect on Delivery Prices
Have your customers pay for merchandise and postage with cash or a personal check at the time of delivery with Collect on Delivery Service (COD). COD also provides you the added security of insurance coverage against loss or damage of up to $1,000. COD is not available for international mail or for mail addressed to military Post Office (APO/FPO) addresses.
Get the price by value of the delivery and additional services listed here.
Collect on Delivery (COD) Prices
Amount to be collected or insurance coverage
desired, whichever is higher1 Price
$0.01 to $50 $5.50
$50.01 to $100 $6.80
$100.01 to $200 $8.10
$200.01 to $300 $9.40
$300.01 to $400 $10.70
$400.01 to $500 $12.00
$500.01 to $600 $13.30
$600.01 to $700 $14.60
$700.01 to $800 $15.90
$800.01 to $900 $17.20
$900.01 to $1,000 $18.50
The buyer only pays if the amount is agreed upon. If it's not what you agreed to, then refuse it and the seller loses the fees for postage and fees.
The seller says how much $ he wants, this can include the C.O.D. fee as well as the postage. The buyer can't change the amount; it's either all or nothing.
So, how is it done?
The seller pays for postage and C.O.D. fees when the box/item is shipped. The buyer either pays the letter carrier cash, who then turns in the $. Then a clerk buys a USPS money order and mails it to the seller. [the letter carrier, clerk and anyone else who handles it signs for it. It's almost as secure as registered. If the $ or item turns up missing, the last person to handle it, who signed for it, has to pay for it out of their own pocket. it's also grounds to get fired.] The buyer can pay by personal check, if the seller agrees. It's then sent out to the seller.
So the item doesn't get paid for until the box is delivered. It has insurance. Now because it was sent C.O.D. if the seller rips or tries to rip you off, you have more proof that the items are missing or wrong. The box gets a better visual inspection than most other packages upon delivery. It not only gets signed for, but paid for at delivery. No worrying about it being 'left on the door or at the wrong house, apt. or box.
You get paid cash. No worrying about paypal disputes.
The C.O.D. fees cover a signature, insurance, purchasing the money order and postage to get the MO sent to you.
Yes, it's a bit more of a hassle.
The buyer/addressee/reciever must be there to sign and pay for it, or go to the post office to do so. You must bring cash to pay for it. [I don't think you can use a charge card, debit cards are cash, since you're buying a money order.]
The seller/sender must pay for postage and fees up front and fill out a couple forms. But you get a money order [cash] back in the mail.
BUT... you know you're getting the package when it's received. You see the box when you sign and pay for it. If t's obviously damaged, you can point it out to the letter carrier or window clerk right then and there. No chance of it not being seen.
Now, if there's interanl damge, like when things aren't packaged/packed properly, you won't see it, but might hear it when you lift or shake the box. If the items aren't as described, that's still between you and the seller. There's never any way to protect against that. [ the ol brick instead of a stereo speaker trick.]
Yes, it's a bit of a hassle, and maybe alot to ask of new sellers or people dealing with new sellers, but it's about the only thing short of a face-to-face meeting to make sure you getting the items when paid for.
It doesn't work for international mail. UPS offers C.O.D. also, but they only pay by check from UPS or a check from the buyer. I don't know if they offer it for internationally.
MAYBE WE CAN GET THE MODS/WATCHAMN TO MAKE THIS A STICKY.?!
A possible solution to a problem.