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Buyer seems too eager
Ever have someone want to buy your bike REALLY bad?
Someone sent me a pm from a different forum asking where I got my bike. I told him off the bay and said it might be up for sale in a couple of weeks. The guy says he "needs" to buy it soon...(I don't think English is his first language) I tell him what I would want for it and he says OK. I priced it as high as I thought a reasonable person would go. The e mails are not worded like Nigerian money order scams, just non English speaking, lack of punctuation. Anyone ever have this situation? |
a lot of people just suck at typing
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Get his phone number and talk to him personally. Whatever you do, don't accept a money order and wire him the excess balance. :)
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Yeah, just be really careful. I can scam letters about bikes constantly but there is a good chance that he is just bad at communicating, just look at some of the numbskull of the day posts.
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Over the years of selling various things, I've had the occasional incident happen where somebody would contact me with their pants absolutely, and to a seemingly disproportional degree, on fire to buy what I was selling. I've recognized a pattern, which is that there are some people who try to be the first person at a sellers doorstep, then give them a lowball offer in person, regardless of what sort of pricing arrangement was discussed in previous communications.
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Smells like a Nigerian scam to me.
Here is the current one I am playing with. Still waiting for the tracking number. Last year I actually got the guy to send a counterfeit check made out to the director of the FBI and I can confirm delivery via FedEX. :lol: Sure here is my info. My name is Gregory Jones. (That would be special agent in charge) Send the check to my buisness office. 2635 Century Center Parkway, NE (local FBI office) Suite 400 Atlanta, Georgia 30345 Please be sure to include a copy of this e-mail so I know what one of the items I have for sale you are paying for. If you would please send me the tracking number when you send the check so I can make sure it doesn't get misplaced in my office. Thanks Greg > Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 10:53:40 -0800 > Subject: Re: Bike > From: Scammer@gmail.com > To: Grim@msn.com > > Thanks for the prompt response and i will love to make an instant > purchase,so please do withdraw the advert from craigslist,i don't > mind adding an extra $50 for you to take the advert down from the > web site so that i can be rest assured that am in hand of the item.I > would have loved to come take a look myself but my son is going for > kidney transplant in few days and i have to do all the running around > as my wife is so scared,i am sure you understand. I will also like you > to know that i will be paying via a check,and it will be over night > payment due to the distance .You don't need to bother your self with > the shipment ,i will take care of that.So i will need you to provide > me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the > check. > 1.Your full name > 2.Your mailing address be it residential or postal address > 3.Your phone #. > **Once again ,I will like you to know that you will not be responsible for > shipping i will have my mover come over as soon as you have cashed the check** > . > > Mark. > > On 2/22/09, Grim <Grim@msn.com> wrote: > > > > Still have it. When would you like to get together? > > |
I would be very surprised if scammers started using PM on bikeforums unless they have found a way to do batch processing with PMs.
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I got a couple of those, always offering to send cashier's checks for way more than the bike was worth, if I'd ship off-continent, etc. I simply told them no thanks.
I did get an interrogative from Australia, seemed legit, and I ended up buying a bunch of stuff for him and his friends, consolidating the shipment, and sending it, including a Merlin frame set. It was a major hassle, but it worked out in the end. The shipping restrictions to Australia are pretty tight. The only thing in it for me, was helping someone, which I did, and I realized how cool a Ti frame was, so I bought one. It must be a bummer to have the market for parts and bikes so restricted. |
A couple of years ago now, I responded to an ISO/WTT request on BF and sent a handlebar to someone in return for some brake levers. Except the brake levers never arrived. And each of my inquiries was met with, "Oh, I thought my roommate was going to mail them; I'll get that out to you asap." But they never arrived. And that BF-er never appeared again. Be careful out there!
Neal |
Originally Posted by nlerner
(Post 8423578)
A couple of years ago now, I responded to an ISO/WTT request on BF and sent a handlebar to someone in return for some brake levers. Except the brake levers never arrived. And each of my inquiries was met with, "Oh, I thought my roommate was going to mail them; I'll get that out to you asap." But they never arrived. And that BF-er never appeared again. Be careful out there!
Neal Always a possibility. People on BF are not magically more trustworthy than anyone else. However, I have bought/sold/traded things any number of times with people on BF and I have yet to run into a bad apple. There is no protection for such a deal brokered here, and so be aware of that. But, for me, I am comfortable using my horsesense about whether it is a good idea or not. With a regular character around here, I would hardly bat an eye. With someone I did not know, then maybe I would be more careful. Or perhaps refuse, as the case might merit. jim |
I'll give you twice what he offered!!111!!
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Then again you may just have the crown jewel of some one's desire. I know I have had one bike go for way more than what I thought it was worth, but the buyer (had others also) knew that it was some rare BMX bike. There have been others that were just like the one they used to own.
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Originally Posted by norskagent
(Post 8423689)
I'll give you twice what he offered!!111!!
I'll quadruple my offer!! Gimme the bike for chrissakes! |
So, enough of the mystery...what bike are we talking about? I might be interested...:innocent:
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My experience with actual people who are all hot to trot (real ones local on CL, not potential overseas scammers) is they are the folks most likely to never call back/follow through or show up to actually buy the bike.
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My sister inlaw works in a local bank. She tells me that the bank sees about 10 scam checks come thru there every day. Scams are quite prevalent (sp).
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Originally Posted by sonatageek
(Post 8424054)
My experience with actual people who are all hot to trot (real ones local on CL, not potential overseas scammers) is they are the folks most likely to never call back/follow through or show up to actually buy the bike.
-Kurt |
Originally Posted by JunkYardBike
(Post 8424034)
So, enough of the mystery...what bike are we talking about? I might be interested...:innocent:
Also, now the guy says he paid less than I am asking for his old bike so maybe we can find a middle ground. I wasn't sure if I was going to sell it but he seems desperate. I have had bikes that I didn't sell when the chance came up and then later on when I wanted to sell it I wished I had let it go. You know, you want to keep all of your "children", (bikes) since they all have special qualities. |
If he isn't willing to pay your price, let him walk. You didn't initiate the possible transaction. Remember, he came to you.
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Originally Posted by tmh657
(Post 8424646)
It's a '88 Schwinn Prologue with Campy Chorus parts. I have found out that the guy had one and it was stolen. He says he was training on it and wants another one. I guess his mojo will go haywire if he rides a different bike.
http://www.schwinnbike.com/usa/eng/f...archid=2055298 Bob "Knows the feeling -- I have it for several bikes" Hufford Springfield, MO |
Originally Posted by cb400bill
(Post 8424676)
If he isn't willing to pay your price, let him walk. You didn't initiate the possible transaction. Remember, he came to you.
"Fuji Obey frame, price $250" "Sure! I'll take it! $200 cash, where do I pick up?" -Kurt |
Originally Posted by tmh657
(Post 8424646)
It's a '88 Schwinn Prologue with Campy Chorus parts. I have found out that the guy had one and it was stolen. He says he was training on it and wants another one. I guess his mojo will go haywire if he rides a different bike.
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You have no legal recourse with a "Nigeria Scam." You are, in effect, saying you are willing to launder the check you receive. And sending money out of the country. Guess what? You could be charged with a felony.
Tell these crooks to meet you somewhere. Don't show up. |
Originally Posted by BobHufford
(Post 8424754)
Same guy is on the Schwinn Forums. I think he just really wants that particular bike!
http://www.schwinnbike.com/usa/eng/f...archid=2055298 |
Originally Posted by bab2000
(Post 8424924)
That link did not work, but found this one in which he leaves a phone number to a 2 year old thread.
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