Because of tax implications in the US, and potential scammers.....I ask for F&F specifically....but I will also hand you my list of references, the list of other forums I'm on (I maintain the same ID everywhere), take detailed pictures, video of shit working with a date/name card, and answer anything and everything possible, while keeping communication steady on exactly when you get the tracking number.
Issues past that are sorted cleanly, and if the situation should get contentious, I keep logs, receipts, etc....and will ask for mediation from the forum, or a mutually accepted third party, without resorting to petty bullshit.
I've spent 10+ years in the hobby, sold tons of parts and cabs, and not had a single negative feedback, from either buyer or seller.
I also always try to give praise to good buyers and sellers where it's due.
That either counts for something, or you can buy from someone else...no sweat off my back.
That being said, I have absolutely pushed for G&S + Fees, or decided against a purchase, when the seller has zero feedback, is new, has poor communication, or no presence anywhere else, simply to protect myself.
Scammers suck....be careful....ask questions....anything too good to be true, usually is.
I only accept F&F unless the buyer literally has no other option.
If you're going to accept business payments and the pain associated with them, then that means full insurance on packages, with all the misery that brings for recipients (most EU will simply go elsewhere). You have to, to protect yourself from the postal system and buyers who have their PSU set to 12v, claim it didn't arrive even though tracking says it did, or stick boards in the dishwasher (all three genuinely happened to me).
I agree with both of you guys on all counts. I will only accept F&F, Venmo, Zelle, Cash or Trade. I am not giving Uncle Sam more $$$. I am not dealing with scenarios where someone decides that after having an item for almost 6 months of using it doesn't want it, breaks it, and decides to file a Paypal claim for the item being "defective" and yes I have had this happen to me.
With international shipments, I am no longer sending stuff out without full insurance and declared value because the buyer wants to avoid paying their country's import tax. When you request a lower declared value for customs and your package is lost, damaged, or stolen, you will not get anything beyond what you declared for customs, it doesn't matter if the package was insured for $100K, if you declare $50 you will get at most $50.
As far as scammers/thieves, the world will always have those. I am personally actively dealing with one scammer in this community who took me for $1600. I am not mad about the $$$. Plenty of people even in this community have asked me to give them something and even $$ to help them out and I have given what I could. But, I am truly fucking pissed off because of the lies/deceit, flagrant disrespect, lack of any morals/common decency, and outright thieving piece of shit that this person is. Yet, I wish him well. Scammers/thieves come in all shapes and sizes, all you can do is stay vigilant and try to protect yourself as best as possible. At the same time, we all take some risks, but such is the nature of the world.
I think the arcade hobby/community as a whole is pretty darn good, most of us all grew up with a love/passion for video games. In the end, I just want to tinker, play some games, make some good friends, and have some fun.
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