Buying or Selling a Cue safely

[SCCues]

Let me make a suggestion to anyone interested in buying/selling and shipping cues. I've bought and sold a lot of cues mainly as a hobby because I enjoy owning nice cues and after reading 8-ball rat's thread about his current situation I thought I would post this information.

It always worried me to no end sending my money to a stranger in most cases and hoping that they would hold up their end and ship the cue to me that I paid for in advance. 95% of the people you deal with or more are honest, but that small percentage of crooks out there spoil it for everybody.

I suggest sending a cue you are selling "COD" and I usually use Fedex. The extra shipping charge is well worth it and the buyer has to pay the driver at the time of delivery or the cue is shipped back to you. Also, when you buy a cue from a stranger insist that the seller ship the cue to you "COD" and tell the seller that you'll have the funds waiting to pay the delivery driver and when the cue is delivered you pay the driver and he'll have his money the next day through the shipping company. It really doesn't cost that much more money and the worry about getting your cue or your money is taken care of. If the buyer/seller isn't willing to do it this way then look else where because there will always be another cue for sale!

I'm not referring to dealing with reputable dealers who have their reputation to protect or people you have good references on i'm talking about people you've never met and you don't know anything about.

 

[Tommyd1]

Buying and Selling a Cue

Thanks for the good advise. I assume by COD, you mean Cash on Delivery, is that correct.

Also after reading a current Post, I'm having second thoughts about shipping a cue to Canada or other non US destination.

Whats your thoughts on this?

Appreciate your knowledge as I'm kinda new to buying and selling cues.

But I must say that I have delt with fellow AZ'ers, Raist (God Bless), Birk1 and Bushwacker and the transactions were flawless and certainly a pleasure. ( Almost restores your trust in people )

Thanks,

Tommyd1

 

[cueaddicts]

That's a semi-good idea, but what about the deal with a completely unknown buyer?? These are times were are living in where it is so easy for anyone with a PC and decent printer to fake a money order/cashiers check. Most carriers simply don't accept cash anymore on COD, so you're still at the mercy of trust with COD. From my standpoint, if you're a buyer that I've done business with before and there's trust there, this is a non-issue.....but if you're an unknown buyer to me with no references, there's no way we're even doing a COD deal on an expensive stick. Go ask your bank about money orders and cashier's checks. For several years they are not the same as cash - handled just like a personal check. Trust is earned....both ways....seller and buyer.

 

[8-ball Rat]

I agree that a C.O.D. type deal would be a nice way to go with the "unknowns" on the boards....but Sean is right in that alot of times, it's not a viable option (for one reason or another).

As to my particular circumstance, I had previously done a deal with Jff Campbell...and while payment was a bit later than I would have preferred, he did come through on that one....so I thought I was safe(r) than if I was dealing with a "new" buyer.

This 2nd deal was, in reality, both of our faults. His for not actually paying me.....but mine as well, as I sent him the cue before having money in hand. Lesson learned, to be sure, on my end.

 

[skins]

Go ask your bank about money orders and cashier's checks. For several years they are not the same as cash - handled just like a personal check.

a big problem is most buyers still think that a bank check, money order, or cashiers check are some as cash. like you said they're not. they take the same time as a personal check to clear. if i'm not mistaken the only same as cash paper that is, besides actual cash of course, is a postal money order.

 

[SCCues]

Thanks for the good advise. I assume by COD, you mean Cash on Delivery, is that correct.

YES

Also after reading a current Post, I'm having second thoughts about shipping a cue to Canada or other non US destination.

Whats your thoughts on this?

I'm very cautious about shipping a cue out of the country. The only way I would do it is if I have the funds in advance, period. If the buyer sends me a bank check I tell the buyer that I have to wait until the check has cleared my bank account. I did a deal with an honest buyer that I didn't know that well at the time and he paid with a bank check and it took about 2 weeks for my bank to be sure the check was good. I don't like to deal out of the country, but if you have to a bank wire transfer is one option to consider.

Appreciate your knowledge as I'm kinda new to buying and selling cues.

But I must say that I have delt with fellow AZ'ers, Raist (God Bless), Birk1 and Bushwacker and the transactions were flawless and certainly a pleasure. ( Almost restores your trust in people )

These are some of the good guys to deal with!

A Postal Money Order is the safest type of payment and you'll have a serial number to do a trace on it if it gets lost.

 

[gesan]

I think its a good idea! I'm a small business man and deal with COD payments on a regular basis. I'm sure there is some chance of counterfiting money orders, I have not had a bad one yet. I have 100% positive feedback on Ebay but have yet to pull the trigger on a deal on this forum even though there is a # cues I would like to buy. The COD thing may well be the ticket - lets face it they can counterfit money too! but most of us still accept it.

 

[VonRhett]

Also, when you buy a cue from a stranger insist that the seller ship the cue to you "COD" and tell the seller that you'll have the funds waiting to pay the delivery driver and when the cue is delivered you pay the driver and he'll have his money the next day through the shipping company. It really doesn't cost that much more money and the worry about getting your cue or your money is taken care of.

I understand the desire to protect yourself from scams, but COD shipments don't add any more security than other ones.

First of all, it takes 4-10 business days for the seller to receive the funds, AFTER the cue has been delivered. UPS accepts the payment, deposits the item into their account, then mails you a UPS Check after the payment clears. The don't just forward the payment to you. You can select "Certified Funds Only", to avoid the buyer giving a bad check. But UPS will still make the deposit them mail you a UPS check.

Of course, the buyer can not open the box to see what, if anything, is actually inside it. So you have to pay the driver before you find out that the "like new Scruggs" you bought is actually a knock off made by "Phil Apeeno".

What is much more safe and secure is an Escrow Service, like the service that Scot at Proficient Billiards offers.

-von

 

[dereklovejoy]

Paypal

Whats your thought on paypal? I like using it i think that that is the safest way of doing buisness cause there is alot of records. I dont think that there is a way for the seller to get screwed on it. Once the money is in your account you send the item. Now as far as a buyer i dont know. but im pretty sure to recieve money you should have to be at a verified address, etc.

 

[cueaddicts]

Whats your thought on paypal? I like using it i think that that is the safest way of doing buisness cause there is alot of records. I dont think that there is a way for the seller to get screwed on it. Once the money is in your account you send the item. Now as far as a buyer i dont know. but im pretty sure to recieve money you should have to be at a verified address, etc.

Perfectly safe, unless you (seller) are shipping to an unconfirmed address or someone with a brand new or hacked account. As a buyer, Paypal is great. Protect yourself and regularly change your Password and don't fall for the phishing scams that are so common in spam emails these days. Buyers can use their credit card through Paypal and be protected that way in the event of a scam/bad transaction or use the echeck method, which kind of works like a wire transfer. Buyers be advised though that the seller will have to eat the fees, so take this into consideration when you ask for "LOWEST CASH PRICE"....and don't be pissed if asked to kick in an extra 3%. Paypal is great but they are making a killing !!!

I don't mean to sound like all gloom/doom, but even on a overseas wire transfer, how comfortable are you giving somebody you don't know your name, address, and bank acct and routing #. I'm not. Unless it's somebody you know and trust or you use the account specifically for the purpose of receiving the wire, then transfer those funds elsewhere or take it out soon after it arrives.

My point being.....you need to do your research both as a buyer and seller. Don't blindly go into something. This is a good thread and there's much to be learned here for "newbies".

 

[dereklovejoy]

i think that the seller is safer cause the funds are in your account before you even send the cue. If they pay with a credit card then its in there instantly, but if they use a echeck then paypal tells you that and waits until it clears before they put the funds into your account and then you send it. pretty safe for seller, and also you print out the adress label right there using information that the buyer is providing so you have that incase anything happens, and always use delivery conformation.

 

[cuedoctor]

Thanks for the good advise. I assume by COD, you mean Cash on Delivery, is that correct.

Also after reading a current Post, I'm having second thoughts about shipping a cue to Canada or other non US destination.

Whats your thoughts on this?

Appreciate your knowledge as I'm kinda new to buying and selling cues.

But I must say that I have delt with fellow AZ'ers, Raist (God Bless), Birk1 and Bushwacker and the transactions were flawless and certainly a pleasure. ( Almost restores your trust in people )

Thanks,

Tommyd1

Tommy,you have mentioned a very good point. When you send a item to another country its really a crap shoot. Everyone complains about there service here,but what they really need to do is go to Europe or Asia or Russia and so on and see what kind of service they get. The usps is the cheapest service of any large country out there,and by far the fastest.I have met many people from other country's in my 22 years in the P.O. and they really appreciate the service here.One lady from Italy said they didnt even have house delivery,you had to go into town and the local shop had shoe boxes that they keep people's mail in. She said a letter sent to the next town took like a month. You think of all the personal information sent threw the mail and the security involved in keeping your info out of the wrong hands and then you'll apprecite what you get here in the good old usa for 39cents. Just today I had to confront the Domino's pizza guy who was sticking fliers into mailbox's.He didnt realize that he just broke a few Federal laws by opening your mailbox. There's your credit card bills and all sorts of stuff in your box every day just about and NOBODY is allowed to stick there hand in that box but the customer and the mailman. That aint the way it is in other country's,there's no protection at all. So when it leaves the US cross your fingers. Now if its sent ups or fedex then they should be safer because they are American companies.

 

[FLYINGSNAIL]

I think this another way of being safe is seller send cue to Scott at PROFICIENT BILLIARDS and the buyer send money order from usps with shiping fee to Scott , as i understand Scott only charge a small fee to do that transaction, give Scott a call and find out. 1(717)666-3194. This maybe help for both end

 

[tk_it_ez]

Do you guys think people would use an independent third party company as an in between for the seller and buyer?

Example

Buyer sends postal money order to 3rd party
Seller sends item to 3rd party
3rd party sends pictures to buyer and verifies the item
Item is sent to the buyer
Funds(once cleared) are sent to seller

You would have to pay for shipping the item twice and the 3rd party service but the piece of mind on a high $ purchase could be worth it. For money back guarrantee deals, the 3rd party could verify the item and the condition and send it to the buyer until the item was accepted and then transfer the funds.

The only time it would make sense is for higher dollar purchases because I would think the service would not be real cheap. I think I would spend another $50 to $100 on a $1500 or higher purchase just to make sure the deal was legit.

I occasionally go to pawn shops and garage sales and I always wonder what I would do if I came across a $2000 or more cue for really cheap. How would I sell it? I have never bought or sold anything on ebay or on here. I have no history so would everyone on here be screaming SCAM? Would I get anywhere close to what it was worth? For a sale on AZ, I came to the conclusion that I would try to put a stipulation on the sale that I would send the cue to one of the well known and respected members on here like TATE, and offer a commission to him, so the cue could be verified and until payment had cleared.

What do you think TATE, would you do something like that if someone sold a $2000 Palmer and offered you $100-$150 to be the middleman?

Would you guys use a company like this if they specialized in cues? If so, what would you be willing to pay? $$$ or %? Keep in mind that you are already going to have to pay to ship it twice.

If someone uses this idea to start a company, let me know so I can PM my address to you so you know where to send my royalty check to.

Nathan


(Sorry, didn't see FLYINGSNAIL's post before posting.)

 

[SCCues]

I understand the desire to protect yourself from scams, but COD shipments don't add any more security than other ones.

First of all, it takes 4-10 business days for the seller to receive the funds, AFTER the cue has been delivered. UPS accepts the payment, deposits the item into their account, then mails you a UPS Check after the payment clears. The don't just forward the payment to you. You can select "Certified Funds Only", to avoid the buyer giving a bad check. But UPS will still make the deposit them mail you a UPS check.

I don't like COD with UPS for the reason you've stated. I use Fedex and the funds are delivered the next day when you ship COD overnight! My Fedex driver will allow me to open the box in front of him as long as I have my shipping tape handy to tape it back closed in case of a problem.

 

[SCCues]

I think this another way of being safe is seller send cue to Scott at PROFICIENT BILLIARDS and the buyer send money order from usps with shiping fee to Scott , as i understand Scott only charge a small fee to do that transaction, give Scott a call and find out. 1(717)666-3194. This maybe help for both end

This is a good suggestion. Most of the seller/buyers you deal with are just like youself, HONEST, but there are a few bad apples out there looking to rip someone off and using a service like Scott's for escrow is a good way to go.

 

[FLYINGSNAIL]

This is a good suggestion. Most of the seller/buyers you deal with are just like youself, HONEST, but there are a few bad apples out there looking to rip someone off and using a service like Scott's for escrow is a good way to go.

Maybe i should start a Buyer/Seller Escrow Service company and just do that for full time job. What do you think of the idea ?

 

[paulybatz]

Maybe i should start a Buyer/Seller Escrow Service company and just do that for full time job. What do you think of the idea ?

Well you would have to compete with Scott?

After many online cue purchases...I think the best place to buy cues is in person...at the shows, etc. Valley forge is right around the corner. If I was buying a cue worth thousands...I would take a 200 plane ride or drive to pick it up personally.

 

[Ken_4fun]

My thoughts too

I think this another way of being safe is seller send cue to Scott at PROFICIENT BILLIARDS and the buyer send money order from usps with shiping fee to Scott , as i understand Scott only charge a small fee to do that transaction, give Scott a call and find out. 1(717)666-3194. This maybe help for both end

While I havent done this yet, it is my intention to use Scot on my next expensive purchase.

Ken

 

[FLYINGSNAIL]

Well you would have to compete with Scott?

After many online cue purchases...I think the best place to buy cues is in person...at the shows, etc. Valley forge is right around the corner. If I was buying a cue worth thousands...I would take a 200 plane ride or drive to pick it up personally.

" I am just say" I enjoy my life having a full time job, learning how to repairing cues, buying and selling cues, and playing is enough for me. I am not going to compete with scott. WHY WOULD I? . If anything I would have use Scott as myESCROW SERVICE . That's only when it comes to dont trusting someone on here. Beside eveyone knows who Scott is from Proficient Billiards