Tips for safe(r) trading online.
Just like in any private sale, there is always an element of risk in buying goods privately online.
Aximsite provides a forum to enable buyer and seller to meet, but there is no real way for us to police the transactions and ensure the validity of all (or any) deals. All transactions take place at the risk of the buyer and seller.
Having said that - we can provide some tips to help you ensure a successful trade and we can also try to mediate in the event that things get sticky.
Most of these tips apply to the buyer, however if you're the seller you could consider applying some of these tips too. It's possible for either to get ripped off :)
Before the trade.
If you are unsure of any details of the sale - you should confirm those points before you complete the transaction. No point complaining AFTER you received your X50v that it wasn't available in pink.
Feedback
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Quote:
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X30 for sale. $200. Feedback on EBay under username James1
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Check the feedback. Is there a user on Ebay called James1? If you don't feel comfortable with the feedback, think twice about continuing with the deal. A step you can take to verify the identity of the trader would be to use EBay to send the person a message with a link to their post and ask them to validate that they are selling the item on Aximsite. This is to ensure that the person on Aximsite claiming to be James1 and the James1 on Ebay are the same person. Something like "Hey James - I want to confirm that you're selling your X30 here on Aximsite <link> and that it's not just someone impersonating you"
Check feedback and validate the authenticity by using the EBay or other site to send a message.
Aximsite also has a Trader Feedback system too of course.
Background check
I would search on that users posts both on Aximsite and on other sites. Be careful - just because there is a James1 on another site does not mean that it's the same James1 that is on Aximsite. But if you DO find one, try to look for circumstantial evidence that it is the same person and then check out that profile and history too. Read their posts etc.
As things get serious
If things are looking rosy up to now, I would request a contact phone number for the person and a window (1-3 days) in which you can call. Ensure that it is a landline, not a cellphone. Google the phone number and see what you can come up with.
Call it and confirm.
If it was a significant trade (use your own definition of significant) I would even consider asking for a street address from the poster, sending them a postcard and asking them to let you know what was on it.
If everything is still looking good, proceed with the trade. Consider paying the extra $ if required for a tracked shipment.
At regular intervals print out (and keep soft copies of) your correspondence with the trader and the thread.
Should you do all of these things? They will delay the trade, but you need to make your own judgement call as to whether you feel the added peace of mind is worthwhile.
If things go awry
As mentioned, the transaction is entirely at the risk of the seller and buyer. However - if things go amiss and you have had a fair shot at negotiating a resolution then you can report the thread with comments. DON'T start flaming in the thread just yet.
If you need to contact your local authorities and they require additional information from Aximsite, that can be arranged.
Use common sense. If it feels to good to be true, it might be. Don't be afraid to take a couple of extra days to complete the sale to try to ensure the integrity of the deal.
Finally - there have been some variants of the Advance Fee Fraud circulating some trading sites. I've not heard of it happening here, but keep your guard up. If you are selling and a potential buyer asks to pay you with a large money order and split the change, be aware :)
If the trade went well - please don't forget to fill in the trader feedback.
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