[SD421]

Hi Anyone,

I have a question and I would like some advice on this matter.

I have a gentleman on this forum who is selling a part that I am going to purchase.

He says he will be driving down thru my area on his way to pick up some more parts south of me, this way he can drop off this part to me.

After we started to email back and forth he now says that he had some personal tragedy befall him and he needs to set a time to do this trip.

Now my question; He is asking for SOME money up front when he gets his timeframe together for his trip down here.

Do I give him some up front or tell him he will have to wait until he delivers the part to me??

Ive known of people getting burned and Im not going to be one of them.

Thanks,
sd421

[firebirdcrazy1959]

Pm me who the member is and i'll let you know.

[toomanybirds]

A tale of a personal tragedy is a common technique for a scammer to use.

They will try to make you feel sympathy for them so that you will give them money or time.

The common ones are death in the family, illness/hospitalization, or loss of employment.

Obviously, this seller may be honest and genuine. But, you can't be sure about someone you don't know. Try not to do anything you wouldn't have done if you hadn't heard about the tragedy.

I have fallen for ebay sellers who said they could't ship because of a tragedy, but were only using this as a delay tactic until the time runs out for filing a fraud claim or paypal dispute.

You can never be too careful.

[428PHIL]

Just tell him your in no hurry and you would rather wait to see the part once it's delivered before any money is exchanged. He may not like your answer, but at least you'll be more content. Otherwise you could send him the money and tell him to ship it. In most transactions the money is sent, and then the seller ships the part.

[SD421]

Thanks TooMAnyBirds & Pontiac Phil for your responses.

FIREBIRDCRAZY1959 PM sent

[chief455]

Originally Posted by 428PHIL

Just tell him your in no hurry and you would rather wait to see the part once it's delivered before any money is exchanged. He may not like your answer, but at least you'll be more content. Otherwise you could send him the money and tell him to ship it. In most transactions the money is sent, and then the seller ships the part.

I agree with this post. I've ben burned many different ways by trusting too much.
By burned I mean - out of my money, out of my travel time.

If he really is making the trip regardless of your part - why should he want your money?

If he can not make this trip within a time frame that you want the part - start over as a payment/shipment transaction.
Unless you start to get that funny feeling inside - go with it. Those gut feelings are rarely wrong.
good luck!

[440GP69]

man i know about this a little, both sides really, 2 weeks ago i was trying to buy some aluminum rods for a motor i am building a couple days before i was going to send my $ some kid broke all my windows out of my truck and took some stuff i had in there, i had to pay my deductable and couldn't buy them in an orderly amount of time man i felt bad and i'm sure it didn't look good, in your situation it sounds kinda sketchy especially if he didn't come out and say exactly what he needed to make the trip and if the trip was planned why would he need anything from you?? but he may just need some time after his tragedy??? who knows, follow your gut and never front money without trust!

[SD421]

Thanks Gents again for the advice,

I actually spoke with the seller and it looks like I will just meet him up at the Tiger Run in late May. I will catch a cool car show and save money on the part too.

440GP69-Funny about your truck cause tonight after running on the trail I came back to find that someone had smash and grabbed a backpack out of my truck . Thanks goodness I didnt have my wallet in it.

I hope that SOB who did it gets the worst STD imaginable. lol

-sd421

[chief455]

Originally Posted by SD421

I hope that SOB who did it gets the worst STD imaginable. lol -sd421

ummmm - what are you saying was in your backback man? ;)

At least you are meeting him somewhere that you plan to be anyway.
I've traveled 12 hours to have the guy never show up - and so on.
good luck!

[440GP69]

awesome i'm picking up parts at the tiger run to! getting my intake from old man taylor! sorry bout your truck:( i know how it feels