I hope it's ok i posted here (to: moderators)

Fellow hobbytalkers,


Reading some other boards and this... there has been a rush of "new" users selling -high end items- for a quick sale. Not only in the hobby (r/c) world, but in other items, and it seems a good handful of them are selling -nothing- and running away with peoples money. The headache of getting it back can sometimes be.. well... just that... a headache.

I am not saying EVERY new user , but just be careful ok?

I can't stress this enough...

Buyers:
Please take precaution and do your homework before blindly sending a money order or paypal to someone you only do email conversations with. Use your senses, trade as much info, see if you can do a phone conversation, see if they have any other feedback elsewhere etc. Keep records of everything in case you need to take it a level higher due to fraud.

Sellers:
Ship everything with some form of tracking and if it is high value, put insurance on it. If possible take pictures of what you are sending along with a newspaper (so you can show day/date). That way, you have a record that you sent an item in shape/good working condition. Let the buyer know of everything. Get good info from who you are selling to, WAIT until you get the money order *unless you feel 100% sure or you know this person is for real*. Never ship your item out w/o some form of payment. If a user cant pay you right away, suggest COD. Sure, it'll cost you a bit more, but it is worth it at times.

Traders:
Who cross ship. Use a little of each above, caveat emptor, and keep records of what your trading, what you are getting etc.

I can't stress that communication is SUCH an important tool. If it can be expressed in email, then fine, but remember, the more info, the better.
Cover your rear-end at all times and do you're homework. =) =)

and always, READ READ the Trader Feedback here (and on other boards).

Be safe, have fun, and remember.. enjoy this hobby of ours! We keep this hobby alive buy offering our stuff to others.

This is just my two cents, I may have left something out, but you get the idea.

Just helping my fellow traders.

Your local Mutt,
RCMits

remember too.. these stickies are good to read:
http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/showthread.php?t=34534

.....

fletch that is all fine and good but there is a problem with your method, some people just cannot drop what they are doing and travel. if i followed your advice i would only deal with people in the following towns in az:

tombstone
bisbee
benson
douglas
tuscon
sierra vista
hereford
huachuca city
whetstone
willcox

so that is not an option howeever on bigger items it will either get shipped for actual shipping cost, or it must be sold locally, all i can say is caution and looking at feedback is key, and it helps if the people you deal with leave feedback. i have done a couple of deals, and i cannot seem to find any feedback on myself. i actual drove from gainesville Tx, to lewisville tx to make a trade, and i did not receive any feedback from the guy, i also did a deal with wildclod a long time ago and i cannot find feedback from him, and i cannot seem to find a screen name for him in the member profile so, both ways would work i guess but only up to a point.

Lord Raptor,

I was recently in Hereford/Sierra Vista...is there any where around there w/o going to Tucson to race?