Idea for Safe Trading

[OregonMetalDetecting]

The idea of trading detectors is enticing but when you get down to the actual act of doing it ....it becomes much more complicated.

Why so? Because in all reality if you dont live in the same zip code where you can physically meet and exchange then you are relying on blind luck and faith in humanity for that trade to be successful.

In practice it sounds easy.. only the cost of shipping and then trading for what you consider to be an equally valued detector after communicating with someone via messaging and by phone.

But when you get down to choke time (sending the detector) you realize that you are sending valuable merchandise to a virtually complete stranger with no guarantees whatsoever.

In a perfect world it would be great if someone offered a detector mediating service. Someone who is liscened/bonded whom you both could send your detectors to and would verify that both where what you said they where and in working condition and then mailed them on to complete the trade.

Unfortunately with double shipping costs and the cost to make this worth someones while to do...it would be far to expensive to implement.

Then there is an idea I just recently came up with...and maybe people already practice this...Paypal offers protection to both buyers and sellers IF you dont choose the gift option and pay 3% of the sale.

So if you both invoiced each other for the value of the detectors (including a description) ..say the value was 600$. You would each pay 18$ in paypal fees but your transaction would be secure.

Is 18$ a modest fee for insurance and peace of mind on this transaction?? I think so.

Carol and Vlad have started the review system here for buyers and sellers which I think is a great step but doesnt help new buyers/ seller or offer any protection to people trading at all.

Mods plz move this post to whichever forum you think would best serve it.

To everyone else I would love to hear your input ...lots of bright minds on here and I'm sure this idea can be expanded/ improved apon.

safe travels all,
OMD

[sandollars]

I can see a problem with this:

There are a lot of people on this forum that are honorable people but would not have the means to actually do the Paypal thing.

I just got through doing $3,500 dollars worth of trades here on this forum with 9 different people and without exception so far, everything has gone off without a hitch.

I think we (still) have a forum here of real detecting enthusiasts that has not been infiltrated by predators to mess up our little barter world. I hope it stays that way. I think it probably will. After all, Metal detecting is not like Rolex collecting in that the potential forum crook doesn't say "Hmm, I think I will go out and sign up to be on metal detecting forums so I can screw them out of 6-700 bucks." Not when Rolex forums and the like have so much higher potential.

I PM'd my potential traders until we were both comfortable. In a couple of cases, I spoke to them on the phone. After we were both comfortable, we made the deal.

It's not as hard as one thinks. Phone videos to verify function, Free services such as Tango, FaceTime, or Skype makes it like you are almost in the same county, The only thing left is the shipping.

I think genuine people are generally good. We just have to decide if who we are dealing with is genuine. JMHO...

Good topic and Good luck!

[okie jack]

Good idea sandollar they have to be some way to guarantee the trade like PayPal and I'm really surprised nobody has came up with a foolproof idea. I have thought of a couple of ways but they seem so far out of reach. One is that both could have the same trustful middleman that the merchandise could be sent to if one does not feel safe. But the double shipping would be a pain. I myself have been took by someone not on this forum. It is a real threat . People get gready or flat out cons . I have recently did a deal with sandollar on the forum and everything went off without a hitch . I wish every deal would go as smooth as that or there was some way to put it in stone . I'm surprised someone has not came up with idea . I to have thought about throwing PayPal into the mix but as you said not everybody has Paypal or the funds to do so.

[GetDiggin]

Just a FYI, the PayPal thing does not work unfortunately. OMD and I tried to do the idea and PayPal completely froze the whole transaction and flagged it because he paid my invoice and then I paid the same email with a similar amount and the lady at PayPal says that automatically has a computer flag and that there is nothing they can do to unfreeze it. So the only way I could see this idea working is if one of the 2 people making a trade has a 2nd PayPal account so you can send a invoice from one account, and pay with the other account so the computer doesn't flag it.(which I actually DO have a 2nd account because I have a personal account and a business account, but since BOTH of our account had been verified business accounts I did not think there would be any kind of problems with it, didnt really even think twice about it until after it didn't go through). I really thought it was a all around pretty good idea, kinda bummed it did not work and I agree that I wish there was some type of full proof system.

-Rich

[okie jack]

You just have to buck up and trust the person your dealing with . Emails ,phone calls be nosy and check out there profile . Do what you have to do to make yourself feel good about the trade. One trick I use to make sure they have the product is to ask them to take a picture of what is going to be traded with something like a bar of soap beside it so you know they do have the product . It sounds strange cause it is how many pics do you see floating around with a detector beside a bar of soap or a shoe anything works really or name on a piece of paper.

[GetDiggin]

I have trusted everyone on these particular forums, but on past trades on different sites I use to do similar. I had them write my name on a piece of paper next to the item and photo it, basically the same thing. It does work well, but that doesn't always mean they will ship it. So its still a good idea to do you homework, etc. Basically like you said, just need to feel at ease about the whole situation

-Rich

[sandollars]

If someone were to come up with a concept that could guarantee or underwrite the transaction, what would it be worth to you as a party in the trade 1%? 2? 3? 5%? Paypal charges a little over 3% for cash transactions.

[triplehooked]

I've completed many transactions on here and other forums with no issues. I know it can be hard to trust people when shipping a detector on trade, (believe me, I work in a prison and see the worst of people every day) but as it has been said, 99% of us are on the forum due to love of the hobby. Those that aren't tend to get weeded fairly quickly. PM's, emails, even chatting on the phone a bit helps. I always try to show every flaw and describe every detector as true as possible and expect others to do the same. Would I trade a $1-$2k detector to a newbie with a dozen posts, probably not. Like in everything else, dues have to be paid.

[Swing360]

excellent post!

I am on aother forum where I buy/sell a lot of paintball gear. We have trusted mods who do 3rd party shipping and they test out the markers before they get sent out at owners expense(yes double shipping,but worth it if you are Leery)

With sponsors doing so much business through the forum I'm sure we could find a 3rd party easy enough and also there are members with double digit positive reviews. Also a good option if any are willing

[okie jack]

If someone would come up with a website something called Itrade or something charge %3 plus shipping they would get rich quick . On big deals over a 1000 bucks lets say the 3% stops at a thousand so anything can be traded for that plus shipping and insurance .Man we need to get together and come up with something like that. Think of all the trades online Craigslist and na ton of other forums. Anyone want to do something like that in in. i have killer advertising connections.