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I realize this is a question, and could go on the discussion board, but I figured there would be more knowledgeable answers here.

So I have some black templars that I am considering trading for tau models if I can find a trade. Trades seem to get more value for each person, as opposed to putting it up on ebay and getting mabye half value or less on your stuff. How have you people on here traded stuff before. What do you do to prevent the "ok i sent him my stuff, but he just kept it and sent me nothing" situations. Do you put them up on ebay and just link to this site for a bit of guarantee, or do straight trades have some way of protecting yourself.

TLDR: How do I avoid trading with someone only to get screwed.

Check references (dakka, bartertown and google), request delivery confirmation and trust.

Ultimately, you may still get screwed.

If you want a guarantee, buy a toaster .

Kidding aside---there are a few things I do;

Check their post count/joint date
Check their references on here/Barter Town
Ask them if they have an Ebay ID
Ask them to send a paypal invoice if I'm giving them cash for miniatures
Ask them to send first if their rating is lower than mine


It still happens though dude----usually though it's more about the condition of an item---mores so than not receiving it.

The only real way to guarantee a deal goes smoothly is to do it in person. I'm a gambling man though, and make trades here. Been lucky so far.

AgeOfEgos wrote:
It still happens though dude----usually though it's more about the condition of an item---mores so than not receiving it.

Argh! This, a thousand times this.

NIB stuff with missing parts...
'Well assembled' stuff missing parts...
Plastic glue...
Did I mention missing parts?

Always ask a lot of questions and get pictures first. Buyer/trader beware.

Taken from AoE and added:

Check their post count/joint date

Check their references on here/Barter Town

Ask them if they have an Ebay ID

Ask them to send a paypal invoice if I'm giving them cash for miniatures

Are they a verified member? Confirmed Address?


Ask them to send first if their rating is lower than mine

Ask for their name (look them up on facebook if they are a real person - no joke they dont have to have a FB though but its always interesting.)
Toss their email into facebook too. We know people who recovered their items by hunting people down and asking social circles of the individual for contact.

Ask for their address

Ask for their phone number (call them)

I'm a believer that most people don't start trades with the intention of screwing anyone, and that most people are willing and desire to deal in good faith.

There are checks and balances, too. Most people don't want to be defrauded. Most people don't want to be arrested for fraud. Good traders will acquire positive reputations on known trading sites.

The reality is that there are a few bad apples in the bunch. But consider the number of trades/sales that go on on bartertown and dakka, and then compare that number to the number of unresolved bad trade reports, and it is probably fair to say that the of incidences of clear mail fraud in trader reports to irresponsible/negligent trading to successful trades is probably something like 1:50:1000

Those are pretty good odds. Using your head and making sound judgments based on how the trader acts (Do they respond promptly to PMs? Have you seen decent pictures of what you're buying? Do they seem courteous and professional?), what kind of trade references they have (if someone is a first time trader on dakka, but they link you to their bartertown page where they have a 400 score, you're probably safe dealing with them if you can prove that they are the same person), and even how they type can tell you a lot about their personality. If they type like a 15 year old kid, and have no trader rating, and can't figure out how to upload pictures, and insist you ship first, that might be a good hint that the person you're dealing with might wind up being a problem trade. Maybe they aren't looking to defraud you, but maybe they are just irresponsible teenagers.

But understand too that as a new trader (which I gather from your post you are), you can and probably will be expected to ship first if you're dealing with a vet, and that's the cost of doing business. However, one proviso you can make that most upstanding traders will agree to that can give you peace of mind is that you provide proof of shipping (ie: a photo of your waybill or post office receipt) to show them you sent the item, and then ask them to ship the following day rather than making you bite your nails for 3 weeks, or whatever.

I will try not to repeat anything said above. This should be considered IN ADDITION TO the above, and not INSTEAD OF.

It won't guarantee that you won't get ripped off, but ALWAYS use Delivery Confirmation when sending your side. I don't care what it is... D.C. it!

If you want to ensure that it's received and you can prove by whom, send it with a signature required. It costs a couple bucks but, if you want assurances...

Make sure all references are ESTABLISHED. If you go on Bartertown & notice that half of the trades the guy has are with 0 rated traders, take note. It's common there to EXCHANGE ratings. So, if the other partners have a 0 rating, it very well may mean that (a) they're sock puppet accounts that he's leaving himself ref's with (b) he doesn't bother to reciprocate references (which can be indicative if a trader who is not overly conscientious) or (c) a mix of the 2.
Same for feebay. If all of his ratings are as a BUYER, then he hasn't established himself as a SELLER there. So it's not that much an indication of his skills as a seller.

Eric

MagickalMemories wrote:I will try not to repeat anything said above. This should be considered IN ADDITION TO the above, and not INSTEAD OF.

It won't guarantee that you won't get ripped off, but ALWAYS use Delivery Confirmation when sending your side. I don't care what it is... D.C. it!

If you want to ensure that it's received and you can prove by whom, send it with a signature required. It costs a couple bucks but, if you want assurances...

Make sure all references are ESTABLISHED. If you go on Bartertown & notice that half of the trades the guy has are with 0 rated traders, take note. It's common there to EXCHANGE ratings. So, if the other partners have a 0 rating, it very well may mean that (a) they're sock puppet accounts that he's leaving himself ref's with (b) he doesn't bother to reciprocate references (which can be indicative if a trader who is not overly conscientious) or (c) a mix of the 2.
Same for feebay. If all of his ratings are as a BUYER, then he hasn't established himself as a SELLER there. So it's not that much an indication of his skills as a seller.

Eric

QFT.

Also if you are selling any items that is valued over $250 and utilize paypal - you will need signature confirmation. Normal DC# won't cut it for protection.
If possible always pay via credit card ( you can charge back people who scam)

There are a lot of safety precautions on this thread hopefully its helpful

Thanks for the advice. Yeah I figured if I just traded models for models with someone who had something i wanted, and I had something they wanted, it would probably be the best deal for both of us. Just never tried actual trading that wasent backed up by something like ebay.

Justin is right, re: credit cards.
It's ALWAYS better to fund your PayPal purchases via CC. With a check card from your bank or existing PayPal balance, you'll get the run around. The CC companies, though, are a bit more... vigorous... about protecting your money. They'll take the money back from PayPal, where your bank (debit card funded purchases) won't.

Just keep the information in the previous posts in mind for trades, and you should be okay. It's not a guarantee, though. If someone's out to scam you, they will if they can.

Eric

Oh, to add to my original;

If you send something international via Paypal transaction----be sure to purchase insurance (and make it mandatory for your buyer). Even if you have a customs tracking #----you can still lose the dispute.