think i may have been scammed and need a bit of advice

[Lt. Macka]

Re: think i may have been scammed and need a bit of advice

If everyone stuck to that rule most new users would be screwed from the start lol

Get involved with the forum. Be seen to be an active and contributing member. By all means buy from others, but I'll not be buying from you.

It's nothing personal, just the rules I follow on the very rare occasion that I buy from this forum.

Heck you guys are very lucky to have a feed back facility at all! No other forum I use has one. I've moaned about people not using it at all before, they wait until you leave your feedback then never give you any in return. Something that has happened to me more times than I've actually received feedback...


Samurai - jumping to conclusions perhaps, but if people weren't blinded by the item they want then perhaps they'd stop for just a moment to check out the seller and 9 out of 10 "scammed" threads would not happen.


That's not to say the sellers aren't at fault. Communicate with your buyers! I work offshore which is something I make my customers aware off (non airsoft) I make every effort to get their order out before I get called away but I also make sure they understand there can be a delay of three weeks at times!

Andy

[Lt. Macka]

Re: think i may have been scammed and need a bit of advice

Did I really just say "heck" ..... Yup that's it I'm officially a grown up.

[silasloki]

Re: think i may have been scammed and need a bit of advice

To be honest, I see less and less reason to even bother with second hand airsoft equipment. Given the ridiculous prices, the constant threat of scams, and the total lack of any real recompense if what you buy/trade is below par, it just seems like a massive ball ache.

So you want that particular gun / kit......save up and buy it new. My god, its hardly often you'll find a bargain on here anyway. If you really want a bargain try importing.

On point, contrary to what others have said, save yourself a heart attack and chalk it up to lessons learn't. Luckily it's £50, although technically as the shotgun is second hand, it's more like £30.

[Mickydoos]

Re: think i may have been scammed and need a bit of advice

When you're a new user it doesn't help when your first two transactions leave no feedback whatsoever...

For a RIF, just because its very easy to get done over, I'd stick with face to face transactions.

[RedHawk]

Re: think i may have been scammed and need a bit of advice

Never trade with, buy from or sell to a user with negative feedback.

I have one negative feedback. Does that mean no one should trade with me? It's not hard to give someone negative feedback and the admins here seem happy not to intervene unless laws are broken.

I've traded with many new members on this forum and never had a problem. The one problem I've had was with a person who thought he could sell a faulty item as working. When I asked for his phone number he said he was a 13 year old boy and that his mother would shout at him if I called. So I went through PayPal and he argued strongly that it was beyond 30 days (even though PayPal's policy is 45 huehue) so I got my money back and returned the pistol. He has a lot of good feedback and has 700 odd posts.

Let me correct what you said.

Be vigilant when trading with or buying from users new to the forum.

Be vigilant when trading with or buying from a user who does not actively contribute to the forum.

Be vigilant when trading with or buying from a user with no feed back.

Be vigilant when trading with or buying from or selling to a user with negative feedback.

Don't be paranoid, not everyone is out to scam you.


Always use common sense.

Always use a credit or debit card to fund PayPal purchases

Always get the users address.

Always get the users phone and mobile number. - Always verify these and speak to the user.

Face to face trades/sales can be as dangerous as online trades/sales.

Fixed.

[Lt. Macka]

Re: think i may have been scammed and need a bit of advice

I have one negative feedback. Does that mean no one should trade with me? It's not hard to give someone negative feedback and the admins here seem happy not to intervene unless laws are broken.

I've traded with many new members on this forum and never had a problem. The one problem I've had was with a person who thought he could sell a faulty item as working. When I asked for his phone number he said he was a 13 year old boy and that his mother would shout at him if I called. So I went through PayPal and he argued strongly that it was beyond 30 days (even though PayPal's policy is 45 huehue) so I got my money back and returned the pistol. He has a lot of good feedback and has 700 odd posts.

Let me correct what you said.



Fixed.

So you bought a pistol then decided it was faulty 30 days later?

How do you suggest I be vigilant exactly? Should I track their online activity? Check the feedback they don't have?

The sad fact is that this is the only forum I use where scams, complaints and problems with sales are not only common but rife!

Having said that, the wealth of knowledge and experience on here is outstanding! A lot of the guys really know their stuff.

[RedHawk]

Re: think i may have been scammed and need a bit of advice

So you bought a pistol then decided it was faulty 30 days later?

Yep I did. Would you like to ask any more rhetorics that imply I engage in illicit activities? That comment made you look unnecessarily arrogant so good job. The fact that you decided to say that with no actual knowledge of the situation really does amuse me.

The day said pistol arrived was the day I departed to New York for business to wit I did not return for 3 weeks. When I returned and gassed/loaded it up, it simply vented. Don't jump to conclusions next time, it's no wonder you're paranoid about selling here.

How do you suggest I be vigilant exactly? Should I track their online activity? Check the feedback they don't have?

Vigilance, by definition, is observing and keeping your eyes open for any danger. You can put their emails into a search engine, look at any posts they have etc. You'll also find a lot of people use the same forum name on multiple sites so googling their forum name might bring up useful info. The search function on this forum (and google) is a very powerful, yet underused, tool that we have at our disposal. The fact that this isn't blatantly obvious to you is somewhat worrying.

The sad fact is that this is the only forum I use where scams, complaints and problems with sales are not only common but rife!

Having said that, the wealth of knowledge and experience on here is outstanding! A lot of the guys really know their stuff.

It's a known fact that this forum is also rife with complete morons. One thing I've learnt from my time here is that only a small minority have a clue what they're talking about.

[Lt. Macka]

Re: think i may have been scammed and need a bit of advice

Yep I did. Would you like to ask any more rhetorics that imply I engage in illicit activities? That comment made you look unnecessarily arrogant so good job. The fact that you decided to say that with no actual knowledge of the situation really does amuse me.

The day said pistol arrived was the day I departed to New York for business to wit I did not return for 3 weeks. When I returned and gassed/loaded it up, it simply vented. Don't jump to conclusions next time, it's no wonder you're paranoid about selling here.

Vigilance, by definition, is observing and keeping your eyes open for any danger. You can put their emails into a search engine, look at any posts they have etc. You'll also find a lot of people use the same forum name on multiple sites so googling their forum name might bring up useful info. The search function on this forum (and google) is a very powerful, yet underused, tool that we have at our disposal. The fact that this isn't blatantly obvious to you is somewhat worrying.

It's a known fact that this forum is also rife with complete morons. One thing I've learnt from my time here is that only a small minority have a clue what they're talking about.

Gosh a fluent and well structured retort. Yet you've taken a simple question and responded with implications that I'm an arrogant paranoid moron.

Charming.

I'm quite amazed you didn't go the whole hog and do a "let me google that for you" for the definition of vigilance.


For future reference I prefer the terms opinionated, out spoken and simple minded.


Andy

[RedHawk]

Re: think i may have been scammed and need a bit of advice

Gosh a fluent and well structured retort. Yet you've taken a simple question and responded with implications that I'm an arrogant paranoid moron.

Charming.

Ah right so you don't enjoy it when other people imply things about you but it's fine for you to do it to others. FYI, the last comment was more aimed at the people who spread complete misinformation but if you want to be counted in that part of the demographic, it's your choice.
Funny though that you have nothing to say about your own comments regarding my negative feedback. That one comment set a miserable tone on the rest of your post.

I'm quite amazed you didn't go the whole hog and do a "let me google that for you" for the definition of vigilance.

If you want, I can LMGTFY the definition of common sense and see where that gets us.

For future reference I prefer the terms opinionated, out spoken and simple minded.
Andy

Well the next time you want to fear monger I'll be right there dispelling it all again.

[Fizzy]

Re: think i may have been scammed and need a bit of advice

Drop the handbags and take it outside please ladies, that will be your final warning.

Now, if you haven't got advice on what the OP can do about his predicament, please DO NOT POST!

[Lt. Macka]

Re: think i may have been scammed and need a bit of advice

Posted before I saw the fizzy warning. Point taken.

Red hawk you crack on chap.

[thebolshevik88]

Re: think i may have been scammed and need a bit of advice

To be honest, I see less and less reason to even bother with second hand airsoft equipment. Given the ridiculous prices, the constant threat of scams, and the total lack of any real recompense if what you buy/trade is below par, it just seems like a massive ball ache.

So you want that particular gun / kit......save up and buy it new. My god, its hardly often you'll find a bargain on here anyway. If you really want a bargain try importing

That's ridiculous. There's loads of good bargains and sellers/buyers on here. If bad experiences are rife then the classifieds section wouldn't still be here.

[silasloki]

Re: think i may have been scammed and need a bit of advice

That's ridiculous. There's loads of good bargains and sellers/buyers on here. If bad experiences are rife then the classifieds section wouldn't still be here.

?!? Why is it ridiculous? It's a general statement that tends towards a norm. Maybe your definition of a bargain varies massively from my own, or maybe we're not in the market for the same products. I recently saw a Kriss Vector on here, USED!!!!, being sold for more than I could buy it brand new. The twat selling it actually stated that the guns are rare, I guess as a way to justify the price. They're not rare, they're readily available.....and anyone doing even a cursory investigation of the net would figure that out. So this seller was either uninformed, or a liar, or more likely, like so many other sellers, chancing their arm and hoping to sell to a naïve noob with money to spend.

Anyway, do what you want its your money and your risk. The classified section would, and is, here regardless of scammers and the like, because we're allowed to "trade" on there at our own risk. Not to mention there will always be noobs looking for a "bargain"......good luck with that.

[PureSilver]

Re: think i may have been scammed and need a bit of advice

I started to write a reply to this thread, but eventually it turned into more constructive criticism for ZeroIn generally. See what you think, since I know no-one visits the Forum Feedback area normally:

Stopping ZeroIn's Classifieds, and Forum Generally, from Sucking

[Viper Scout]

Re: think i may have been scammed and need a bit of advice

Come on ZeroIn. You have more details on him than ste887 has. Can't you lean on him?