Looking for advice or tips on buying from other board members

[08e60M5SMG]

I have found some wheels and tires that I'm looking to purchase from another board member.

Due to my location the wheels will need to be shipped to me.

I was wondering if any of you board members who have bought and sold on the board had any advice?

Do I PayPal half up front and the other half when I receive the wheels?

I'm looking forward to completing a transaction, but want to make sure I don't get ripped off.

Thanks in advance,

Kevin

[HEAT'N'COOL]

Just realize you are buying from someone online. You don't know the person... HOWEVER I have had excellent experiences from buying from other enthusiasts online. WIth anything there will be a level of risk. Most people on here aren't here to screw you but there are some out there. I have had great luck buying from others on the board. Got my section 1-3 RPI GT exhaust from another member in Cali. You will want to PAYPAL the person. They have protection for fraud. Don't gift the money. Make it as a payment. If it seems shady at all I would say walk away. If not then pull the trigger! Good luck.

[ACG]

I would first see if they have sold anything prior from their itrader feedback under their avatar, if they have zero then try and see if any local guys can go and check them out for you.

My experience on here has all been positive thus far.

[Revo]

Another thing is how long they've been on a forum. Someone with 50 posts who joined 3 weeks ago is something I'd look out for. If the person has been on the forum for 5 or 6 years and has a couple thousand posts, that's much better (though no guarantee, of course).

Generally, you PayPal the entire amount up front, and they ship it (they should use a shipping method with tracking and full insurance - which I have no doubt they will if they are shipping something as expensive as wheels). If they fail to ship it or the items arrives much differently then they advertised and they refuse to take it back, you simply file a claim through PayPal. PayPal sides very much with the buyer (though in many cases I don't agree with this tactic - but they do this so people keep wanting to use PayPal for the protection it offers).

I've never bought any car parts online (have sold a couple), but I have purchased in excess of $10,000 of used photography gear (and resold most of it for a profit) and I've never had an issue.

The key is to keep an eye out for red flags. Here are some:

REQUIRES you to use PayPal gift even if you offer to cover the PayPal Fee (PayPal takes ~2.9% of whatever you send, so some people require that they "net" $1000, so you send ~$1029 and they receive all $1000 but you are still covered by PayPal buyer's protection. Sending something PayPal Gift [if you have PP pull the money from your bank account], there are no fees. You send $1000 and they receive $1000 - but you have no buyers protection.)
Requires you to use some other form of payment that offers no buyer protection (I personally just back out - some people use other the things and it works out ok).
Refuses to ship through a mainstream shipping provider. Refuses to insure product. Refuses to get tracking.
Minimal post count and all the posts are "post-whoring" posts (just made to increase post count - no real content).
Using photos that are not theirs/don't reflect the actual piece of product he is selling

[lopealle]

OP sometimes you win sometimes you lose. That's the reality of it.

[douglas_ngo]

Like other members had suggested, I would use paypal as a payment method. It is alway a good idea to buy from an established board members with good itrader rating. Looks like you did not wait too long to get replacement wheels base on your other thread.

[EuroCarFan]

On the flip side, you're a relatively new member with no iTrader history so if I was a seller, I might not trust you to only pay half now and half later.

Who's the selling member and where is he/she located? Someone on here can probably vouch for the person.

[08e60M5SMG]

On the flip side, you're a relatively new member with no iTrader history so if I was a seller, I might not trust you to only pay half now and half later.

That is a fact.

Who's the selling member and where is he/she located? Someone on here can probably vouch for the person.

His board name is KenL from Chicago area.

I think the guy is trustworthy just waiting for some photos.

I just wanted to make sure I do my due diligence thats all.

[Iand112]

Originally Posted by 08e60M5SMG

That is a fact.



His board name is KenL from Chicago area.

I think the guy is trustworthy just waiting for some photos.

I just wanted to make sure I do my due diligence thats all.

oh wow. yea go ahead. no shame in asking though. Im sure you will be well taken care of

[EuroCarFan]

I've not done any business with KenL but he seems like a respected member from the posts and exchanges I've had with him.