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First and foremost - please remember:

Dakka is NOT a trading site and there are absolutely no safeguards in place to guarantee that your transaction will be successfully completed. In all cases when making a trade or sale set up using this forum, Caveat Emptor (buyer beware). The owners and moderators of Dakka cannot and will not help you in any way if something goes wrong.

Dedicated Trading sites:

There are sites PURELY dedicated for Buying/Selling/Trading and have made efforts in security to help traders.

www.Rogue-market.com
www.Bartertown.com
www.Ebay.com


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This guide has been broken down into different sections to make it easier for you, the Forum Member, to quickly reference this thread based upon your situation (whether you are buying, selling, or trading.). Sections are titled in GREEN HEADINGS. Read the section details carefully and follow the advice given at your discretion.

These are merely guidelines set forth by veteran trade members who've had great success using these methods. These ARE NOT RULES, only suggestions.

Should you have any further questions or need any further assistance simply drop a post on this thread.




==Making a Trade Thread=


When posting a new trade thread there are a few things that you should always be including in the thread.

1. A list. You should be posting a list of anything and everything you are wanting to trade and receive. Posting something like "Have a buncha IG want SM terminators, Devastators, and Captain." will get you some responses, most of which will be asking what IG minis you have. So to cut out that extra step you should be posting what exactly you have.

2. Pictures. Posting a picture helps loads when it comes to selling anything that is not NIB (new in box). It shows the shape and condition of the trade item. How it's assembled or painted (if it is assembled or painted) and gives just a little bit of proof that you actually have the items in question.

3.Clear and concise description. Post **exactly** what you have and it's shape and condition. Be honest with this. If the mini is broken or missing a limb or item then list that. Chances are people will still be interested, but maybe not the same people who would want the mini intact.

4. Don't rush. Posting a trade thread in a rush leads to a ton of mistakes and generally a very poor thread. Take your time. If your thread gets posted 20 minutes later than it would have if you had posted in a rush, I guarantee you won't have gotten any more responses than you would have gotten from a rushed post.

5. References. If you're new, post references to your credibility, will only help establish your identity.



==Buying, Selling, Trading==

Buying - If you are buying items from someone.

Selling - If you are selling your items to an individual.

Trading/Bartering - If you are exchanging items.

For any of the three above, it is highly advisable that you get this information from the opposite party:


1. First name, and Last name = Full name on both. No partials.
2. Home/Mailing Address
3. Phone number
4. Alternative Contact Information:

* Emails
* Instant Messengers (AIM, YIM, MSN, GTALK, etc.)



[b]
==Buying==




1. PMs. Private Messages are the lifeblood of all trades on this site. They are used to relay information between the two trade parties whether it be to negotiate the trade details or to exchange address info. You should have a VALID EMAIL ADDRESS associated with this site so when you receive a PM you get a notification sent to an email address you check regularly. This is so that you can keep in good contact with your trades even if you do not check the site regularly.
2. Payment.

* PayPal. Anytime you are sending money to someone else electronically, you should be using Paypal. It's simple enough that all you need is a bank account with money in it. You can also use a credit card to pay for things via Paypal. It's secure, has many countermeasures to protect you from scams and also has a high success rate of getting your money back should you be scammed.

* Checks (Cheques). This is also another secure method (however not quite as secure as PayPal as your bank defines fraud a bit differently.) Be sure to notate on the ledger/notes section EXACTLY what you're paying for. If you're concerned about your bank info being used inappropriately and would rather not risk your bank account then use an M.O.;

* Money Orders. These should be a last resort. They have little to no scam protection, very little in the way of tracking, and can easily be scammed. Avoid using Money Orders if you have other means of sending money.

3. Communication. Upon receipt of your shipment you should contact the seller to confirm the receipt of your product and to also alert them of any problems if there were any (remember they can't make it right for you if they don't know something went wrong.).

4. Feedback. At the conclusion of the purchase, once BOTH parties have received their items (whether it's money-for-minis or minis-for-minis) BOTH parties should leave *somewhat* detailed info for their trade via the reputable traders system. This is considered a courtesy as well, but as a member of this site you should help others to build member credibility which will establish a stronger community built upon trust.





==Selling==



1. PMs. Private Messages are the lifeblood of all trades on this site. They are used to relay information between the two trade parties whether it be to negotiate the trade details or to exchange address info. You should have a VALID EMAIL ADDRESS associated with this site so when you receive a PM you get a notification sent to an email address you check regularly. This is so that you can keep in good contact with your trades even if you do not check the site regularly.

2. Receipts. Anytime you are receiving money through any money transfer service you should contact the buyer with a PM or email stating that the money was received and confirm that you are shipping their product. This is just one step to ensure trust between you two and to keep them informed of your progress.

3. Shipping. The item should be shipped no later than a business week after receipt of payment. Nothing barring sickness (personal hospitalization) or Acts of God that would prevent you from getting to the post office (post office burned down, Hurricanes destroyed the post office, etc.) should excuse you from taking over 7 days to get something shipped once paid. IF such a delay does occur CONTACT THE BUYER IMMEDIATELY to inform them. 99 out of 100 times, the other person will be ok with the delay and understand so long as you keep them in the loop. That said, if you fail so completely that it takes over 2 weeks to ship something you shouldn't be selling the item in the first place.

* Shipping 'extras'.
o Delivery Confirmation. Every package should be shipped with delivery confirmation if possible. It's $0.65 from the Post Office. It can provide proof of shipment and arrival. It aslo gives the buyer a heads up for when to expect the package. If anything, charge extra for shipping to cover this cost. If the buyer declines it, then that's their choice, but you at least made the effort.

o Signature Received. Any sale over $50 should have this included. It provides proof beyond a shadow of a doubt that you package arrived safe and secure with it's contents secure and was accepted by the recipient.

o Insurance. This isn't a necessity in most cases. It only provides coverage should something happen to your package while it's being delivered. 999 times out of 1000 it's gonna make it to the recipient in good condition.


4. Communication. Contact the seller with the info pertaining to their shipment. Include
* when you dropped it off
* where you dropped it off (which delivery service, i.e. : P.O., UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.)
* give tracking info (if purchased by the buyer.)


5. Feedback. At the conclusion of the sale, once BOTH parties have received their items (whether it's money-for-minis or minis-for-minis) BOTH parties should leave *somewhat* detailed info in the reputable traders list on dakka. This is considered a courtesy as well, but as a member of this site you should help others to build member credibility which will establish a stronger community built upon trust.




==Trading/Bartering==




1. PMs. Private Messages are the lifeblood of all trades on this site. They are used to relay information between the two trade parties whether it be to negotiate the trade details or to exchange address info. You should have a VALID EMAIL ADDRESS associated with this site so when you receive a PM you get a notification sent to an email address you check regularly. This is so that you can keep in good contact with your trades even if you do not check the site regularly.

2. Shipping. This is something that can be a bother, but is a necessity. When you complete a trade, you should have the items AT the post office NO LATER than a week after the conclusion of the trade via PMs. There's no excuse that will validate any reasoning for why it would take you longer to get the items to the post office any later than a week. No one likes to wait for items, yourself included.

* Delivery Confirmation/Signature Received/Insurance. All of these extras add just a little bit more security to your trade and cost $3 in total usually. Delivery Confirmation gives proof that a packages was shipped and can prove it arrived. Signature Received gives proof that it was received *and* accepted. Insurance will rarely be needed, but should something happen to your package it will be covered by the deliverer.

3. Communication. Once you have shipped the item(s), send a PM to the receiver stating that you shipped and include all info of the shipment (delivery confirmation #, delivery service, expected arrival, etc.) This is a common courtesy and will let the receiver know to expect the package.

4. Feedback. At the conclusion of the trade, once BOTH parties have received their items (whether it's money-for-minis or minis-for-minis) BOTH parties should leave *somewhat* detailed info for their trade via the reputable trader system. This is considered a courtesy as well, but as a member of this site you should help others to build member credibility which will establish a stronger community built upon trust.







Things to look out for with potential scams


1. Post Count. this is not a be all end all when it comes to detecting scammers. If someone is trading with you and has less than 5 posts, be wary. They're not very active on the forums, keeping a low profile.

2. Join Date. If someone has registered less than a few months back, exercise caution. Check their references, post counts, actual posts, PM communication (timeliness). Going back to #1 scammers tend to keep an extremely low profile cause they want to fly in under the radar. Less attention on them means they aren't being scrutinized.

3. Odd offers. If someone is offering you something that is too good to be true, chances are - IT IS. If you're getting the better end of the stick by far then you might want to exercise caution again.

4. Do your homework. Don't trade blindly. Research who you're trading with using the site's many resources in the user profile of the person with whom you are trading with.

5. Build rappore. Don't make a trade over $50 with someone for the first time unless you are certain they're legit. If things go smooth, trade some more and build rappore with one another.

6. Overseas countries are places to watch out for. Those are where most scammers are located and are hard to get back your item once its shipped. Some countries are:
Singapore
Lithuania
Malaysia
also Africa

Italy is also a VERY known country to have missing / scam packages.








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==How to handle Scammers==



Are you a victim of online fraud, or think you are a potential victim due to a single person or a company? Well, you have come to the right place to see what you can do to get your item/money back from the thieves.


Steps you should take:



0. Send them a last effort email/phone call to let them know whats up.

[OPTIONAL] - I always write them a physical letter, and send it to their address with SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION. Telling them that they signed for the letter itself, to show that they are fully aware. By doing this - you got them on a greater lockdown. No joke.

1. If you paid via paypal - file a dispute. If you paid via Credit Card, call your company to cancel the payment.
2. Contact your Local Postal Office, and THEIR Postal Office.
3. Contact your Local Police Department, and Contact THEIR police department.

-How? Use google to your advantage and type in " [CITY NAME] Police Department"


4. Fill out the internet forms I provide below (Look further down the post)




== USA Mail Fraud Information ==


The following sites are places to file for mail fraud. I suggest filing as many as you can. This will not only help you, but will make the process quicker and notify the authorities of what the person is doing.

Contact your nearest local law enforcement agency such as Police Department or Sheriffs Department and inform them of the situation. Some local law enforcements do have Fraud Departments to help you with your cases.

U.S. Postal Inspection Service

USPS Mail Fraud Complaint Form
Mail-in Mail Fraud Complaint Form (.PDF) -- Adobe Acrobat is needed to view.
USPS Online Feedback Form
Postal Inspector Office Locator

Inspection Service Support Group
Attn: Fraud Section
Ste 1250
222 S Riverside Plaza
Chicago, IL 60606-6100

If you feel you've been victimized in a mail fraud scheme that in any way involves the U.S. Mail®, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in one of the following ways:

* Mail correspondence to:
INSPECTION SERVICE OPERATIONS SUPPORT GROUP
ATTN: MAIL FRAUD
STE 1250
222 S RIVERSIDE PLAZA
CHICAGO IL 60606-6100
* Locate your local Postal Inspector's office.
* Submit a Mail Fraud Report or contact the Mail Fraud hotline (1-800-372-8347)
if you have a complaint involving fraud and the U.S. Mail.


Internet Fraud Complaint Center for the FBI

IFCC Complaint Form

Federal Trade Commission

FTC Consumer Complaint Form

National Fraud Information

National Fraud Complaint Form

Fraud
1-800-876-7060
Monday-Friday
9am - 5pm Eastern Time

Better Business Bureau

BBB Online Complaint Form





:: International Mail Fraud Info ::




Contact your nearest local law enforcement agency such as Police Department or Sheriffs Department and inform them of the situation. Some local law enforcements do have Fraud Departments to help you with your cases.

International Fraud -- econsumer.gov

econsumer.gov Complaint Form

International Web Police

Canadian Consumer Information Complaint Form

Phonebusters
P.O. Box 686
North Bay, Ontario
P1B 8J8
Canada

Toll Free Phone: (888)495-8501
Toll Free Fax: (888) 654-9426
Email: [EMAIL="info@phonebusters.com"]info@phonebusters.com[/EMAIL]



Council of Better Business Bureaus
220 - 44 Byward Market Square
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 7A2
Canada

Phone: (613)789-5151
Fax: (613) 789-7044
Email: [EMAIL="ccbbb@canadiancouncilbbb.ca"]ccbbb@canadiancouncilbbb.ca[/EMAIL]



==Miscellaneous==



SquareTrade -- File a dispute. SquareTrade will be the mediator.

SquareTrade Online Dispute Resolution Service -- FREE
4 Step Process To Resolve Disputes
What is Online Dispute Resolution?

PayPal Email Help Form
PayPal Service Center:

PayPal Customer Service Agents are available to help you during the following times:

7:00 AM EST to 1:00 AM EST Monday through Friday
9:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST on Saturday and Sunday

Call us toll-free at: 1-888-221-1161

We may only discuss an account with the account-holder.
Please have the following information available when you call:

Your telephone number
Your email address
The last 4 digits of your credit card or bank account registered with PayPal

For security reasons, we must verify the above details before discussing any account-specific information.












:: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ::




1. I think I have been ripped off. What should I do?

Go to any of the mail fraud sites listed below to file a complaint. I suggest filing for as many as you can.


2. When should I file for mail fraud?

First of all, you can choose your patience limit however as you may, this is just a 'guideline'.

If you have sent out numerous e-mails regarding your payment being received and/or item being sent and never received the item/e-mail within a 10-20 days from the date you shipped the item/payment, send out ONE LAST e-mail informing them that you will take action if they do not respond to your e-mails. If after 3-7 days of no response, start to file for mail fraud. The faster you file the mail fraud, the faster you will get what is owed to you.


3. The other party responds to my e-mails, but keeps giving me excuses and/or the run around. What should I do?

It's more than likely they just trying to buy more time. If they reply to your e-mails but keeps telling you that it will be shipped soon, over and over, notify them that you will be filing for mail fraud. File for mail fraud as soon as possible. Especially with PayPal and their 30-day policy (see FAQ #6). If you keep on letting them buy more time, they'll just keep giving you that same answer over and over until either the PayPal 30-day complaint is over, or if you forget about it and give up trying to get the item.


4. What do I need when I file a complaint?

Most of the time it's a win-win situation if you have most, if not all of the following..
You will need the following contact information of the other party:

Name
Address
Phone Number (if available)
You will need any of the following proof and/or evidence: (the more the better)

Email and/or Instant Message conversations
Proof of shipment of item
Proof of payment (Credit Card Bill, Check Statements, PayPal, Receipts, etc.)


5. I paid for something online with a credit card, money order, check or cash and I never received the item. What should I do?

If you paid with credit card, notify the credit card company, and inform them of the situation. Tell them you want to dispute the charge, and they will investigate.

If you paid with a money order, you can go back to the place you bought the money order from or call the number that is on the receipt stub from the money order and have them do a 'stop payment'. What 'stop payment' does is, it prevents the person from cashing it in. But if the money order has been cashed already, there is nothing that can be done, unless you file for mail fraud. Also, the receipt stub that was on the money order can also be used as proof of payment, as well as proof of them cashing it when they track the money order.

If you paid with a check, its similiar to a money order. You can do a 'stop payment'. If the check has been cashed, there is nothing that can be done, unless you file for mail fraud. If the check has been cashed, you can ask your bank for a bank statement concerning the check. This will be used as proof that the person cashed your check.

If you paid in cash, this will be harder as there is no proof/receipt that you sent it. So, send at your own risk.


6. I ordered something online using PayPal. What should I do?

PayPal's policy is that, you have 30-days to file a complaint. If after 30-days, you are out of luck. If you have not received a response and/or item within 20-days, file a complaint with PayPal. If by any chance, you do receive the item, you can cancel the complaint with PayPal. If the other party is at fault, PayPal will recover whatever money is owed to you, IF the money is in the other party's account. If there is no money in the account, there is nothing that can be done unless you used your credit card on PayPal to pay for the item (see FAQ #5).

Beware of Paypal. People can also do a chargeback on you if they use a credit card to buy your stuff. They can take back their money and keep your stuff, without even really explaining why.

If you send items out, MAKE SURE YOU USE TRACKING. This will your evidence.


7. Does there have to be a certain value before I can file for mail fraud?

No. It's not the cost and/or value of the item, in order for you to file for mail fraud. It's the principle. You can file for mail fraud whether your lost or the item costs, $5.00, $100.00, or even $1,000.00. Mail fraud is a crime and a federal offense. Legal action can be taken against the the other party if they are found guilty if they do not return what is owed to the respectful ower.


8. When is it a good time to send out an item once I have received payment from buyer via PayPal?

There have been instances where a seller has sold an item (most of the time expensive items) to a buyer, whether it be a hard to find game, cellphone, systems, electronics, etc., and a couple days later, the payment was reversed. Most of the time, the payment is reversed due to stolen credit cards, stolen bank account information or just plain scam.

Most sellers ship the item the next day after receiving the payment. Its good to be quick on shipping, but its also bad. If the payment was a scam/reversed, it takes PayPal 1-day to find out, email you and reverse the payment (2 days max..but rarely). Once payment is reversed, PayPal will do an investigation to see if it indeed was a fraudulent payment. If you're lucky to read the email before it is sent out, than you've saved yourself from losing an item. If not, and the package is already on the way to the scammer, go back to the place where you shipped the package and request it back do to an investigation and fraudulent payment.
Best suggestion is to:

Ship item 2-3 business days after you have received the payment. This will give you enough time to see if there is problems with the payment.

Overseas countries are places to watch out for. Those are where most scammers are located and are hard to get back your item once its shipped. Some countries are:
Singapore
Lithuania
Malaysia
also Africa

Italy is also a VERY known country to have missing / scam packages.

Send package with Delivery Confirmation. This will show the tracking of the package, proof of shipment and proof of arrival to buyer. This is a major factor when it comes to providing proof of shipment.


9. I have a question but its not mentioned above. Can you help me?

Sure. Just post your question and I will gladly try to help you answer any of your questions you might have.
(well I'll just ask the person for it)


I highly advise EVERYONE to fill out Mail Fraud forms for the scammers- more people = more likely chance to get back at them.

Sticky perhaps?

This is a great trading/buying/selling post for everyone who is unsure of how to go about doing so on this site and others and is greatly appreciated. Thanks to the MODS and you Rogue Market.

Very, VERY! nice article! This needs a sticky A.S.A.P!!

Great work really I'm sure this will help a lot of people!

I'm going to revise it a bit more - it took a while to organize and gather up all those links.

Basically - its a template and start set - i'll be editing to make it easier to the eyes and easier to read overall.

With the growing issues and questions about safe trading - needed to throw it up.

Really helpful and makes me a little bit more relaxed about my recent purchase.

Definitely should be stickied!

Just want to put a disclaimer out there- This isn't a gurantee about anything - but hope it provides great enough information to inform people about trading in general.

If you guys personally see tweaks, let me know.