UPS C.O.D.

[xtian999]

I just want to say that UPS c.o.d. is a great solution to safe transactions for both parties. Instead of sending money to a stranger in another state and hoping that they send the item to you, the UPS delivers the item and collects the money at the time of delivery. If the item is not sent, the buyer has no risk and if the buyer does not have funds, UPS does not deliver. Everyone is protected.

[IHAVEGAS]

If the buyer gets cold feet, which happens a lot, who gets stuck with shipping?

[Frankly]

Does the driver wait while you open up the package and do a few test shots? 

[xtian999]

Shipping is prepaid. The additional fee is less than $20.00, I think.

 

From a buyer’s perspective, I would gladly send a check for shipping before the item goes out. Otherwise, I am just sending a potentially significant amount of money to a made-up name on the internet and hoping that they hold up the other end of the deal.

 

From the seller’s perspective, if the buyer prepays the extra fee, a legit seller has nothing to lose by using UPS c.o.d. 

 

Both parties have to trust the process equally and the buyer has more peace of mind. 

 

If things go wrong, the package is returned. Seller has no additional risk. 

Edited November 19, 2018 by xtian999
splg

[Joe4d]

U could also be sent an empty box.. UPS gonna give it to u to inspect before paying ? Also why would u send money to a made up name ? I would expect a real name, real address and phonenumber that would be easy enough to verify.
As a buyer ? I wouldnt  do this as I have a job, which requires me to actually be at that job,, not home waiting on the UPS truck.
As a seller ? or even  buyer, ? In my experience anyone that seems overly concerned about me ripping them off, is probably a crook themselves,, so I just stop the negotiations at that point.
I tend to be fairly trusting, and so far just kinda trust my feelings on online buying. Been ripped off a couple times once on here over a misrepresented gun, and once for a $20 girth I never got paid for. That I mailed out before getting paid as person needed it right away. but vast majority of times everything is fine but I use some common sense, If the deal doesnt seem right just end it.
Personally I wouldnt buy an expensive item sight unseen. Unless it was new from an established business. But things to look out for,, 
People new to whatever page,
Deals too good to be true,
People overly suspicious,
People that circumvent the page rules. demonstrating dishonesty right there.
Buy from established businesses. Or buy from people you will cross paths with. Or buy face to face.

[IHAVEGAS]

11 hours ago, xtian999 said:

Shipping is prepaid. The additional fee is less than $20.00, I think.

 

From a buyer’s perspective, I would gladly send a check for shipping before the item goes out.

 

If the buyer wants to pay the extra fee and all shipping costs up front, and there are no logistical hang ups with getting packages signed for, and there is no risk of not getting paid by UPS (I assume they will not accept personal checks & etc) then I don't take issue. 

 

 

 

32 minutes ago, Joe4d said:

U could also be sent an empty box..

 

Side issue. A friend sent an open gun to his gunsmith uninsured, the gunsmith received an empty box. 

[Joe4d]

3 minutes ago, IHAVEGAS said:

 

If the buyer wants to pay the extra fee and all shipping costs up front, and there are no logistical hang ups with getting packages signed for, and there is no risk of not getting paid by UPS (I assume they will not accept personal checks & etc) then I don't take issue. 

 

 

 

 

Side issue. A friend sent an open gun to his gunsmith uninsured, the gunsmith received an empty box. 

dang that would really blow.
far as private sales,,  no perfect answers. Things credit card or paypal tends to be the opposite and offer seller no protection... IE buyer simply reports item never received then keeps it. Of course then that leaves buyers to start shipping sig required,,, Making it a PIA for working people. PLUS I really find it useless anyways. Not like UPS or USPS checks ID or even requires a legible signature.

[xtian999]

No easy answer is right. I got scammed by someone on another board for a piddley amount once, but he was in another state, so it was not worth dealing with. I was recently scammed by a major retailer losing my cc to someone within their system. Got that one revoked. I was scammed on paypal years ago and had to close that, an ebay account, and a checking account for safe measure. I have even personally watched a guy with a major worldwide website sitting in his room creating false conversations between various online identities to make the site look busy. He got busted for an unrelated ethics violation later. So, my internet paranoia is based in personal experience and observation. 

 

I’m not accusing anyone on this site of anything so nefarious. Please don’t get your feathers ruffled. My intention was to point out the lopsided trust equation of sending the money first and a possible, partial solution.

 

If I got an empty box sent to me c.o.d., then I could refuse payment and send it back. Unless it was supposed to be a glock cert or something lightweight.

Edited November 20, 2018 by xtian999
info

[Joe4d]

thats because you want something the other person has and has no obligation to change their terms to suit you.. Dont like it ? You can move along to the next item . Simple as that.
When I am selling something, I tend to state my terms pretty clearly in the add. If I get a buyer with a bunch of what ifs what ifs what ifs,, I basically tell them never mind. 

[xtian999]

 

The internet is not a safe place to share personal information, so anonymity is the best policy for public interaction. However, when two parties are doing business, at least some information is required: The buyer needs to provide money and a shipping address at the very least, and the seller needs to provide a place to send the money at the very least. The buyer establishes integrity when the funds clear, and the moment that the integrity of the seller is proven is when the item arrives. It is that gap in time that is a concern because the personal integrity of sellers can vary and the buyer has no real means of holding a seller accountable. He is forced to trust a stranger for that length of time between sending the money and getting the item.  What UPS c.o.d. does is shorten that time between the exchange of money and goods. It is simply a means of increasing the accountability of the seller to ensure that the deal is fully transacted.

 

Sellers certainly have every right to set the terms of a deal so that they reduce the risk of not collecting payment from strangers. It is only fair to expect the buyers to want terms that protect them as well. By using c.o.d. as a method of exchange, the seller loses none of his protection and the buyer gets some means of holding the seller accountable through a third-party. The delivery man essentially becomes an intermediary to facilitate a smooth transaction, thus upholding the integrity of the buyer and seller.

 

Assuming that the deliveryman is doing the job that he is being paid to do, all parties should be satisfied. I don’t see any reason for a seller to balk over these terms unless he has issues with his own integrity.