Someone responded to my WTB JEM 7 BSB ad. Now What?

ginsu777 · #1 03-01-2005, 05:44 PM

OK. I am no **** rookie, nor am I a rookie in to music gear purchases in general. I used to buy/sell stuff all the time on good faith via rec.music.makers.marketplace before the bay and all that crap... always with good results.

Now, I take pride in my 100% feedback with over 120 items bought/sold on ****. So I like to deeal through them if at all possible. and I know what to look for as far as scams go.

I have been looking for a BSB in decent shape and posted a WTB inthe proper place here and in harmony central, as well as sending emails to trusted sellers. I recently got an email from an Allen Helmsey via yahoo mail that he had one, he quoted a far price, and sent pictures (they were not pictures I have seen before but I will put together a quick website showing the pictures to see if any of you guys recognize them).

In any event, I think this guy is from another country, and I dont have a problem buying from overseas, but how do you conduct such a transaction? Do you use an escrow service or what? I mean outside of the standard services and all...

I have no reason to suspect this fellow, but in this day and age you can never be too careful. He could have just seen my ad and responded with some cooked up pics and then be off. Are there any ways that I can ease my mind and follow through on this purchase? He is asking $920 USD inlcuding shipping, which is a very good deal. The guitar looks to be in nice shape from the pics.

I would really like your advice on this. Thanks in advance. I wish Rich Harris would have had a BSB to sell me...

UPDATE****
I built a quick website with pics of the guitar to see if you guys have seen them before: http://brendancasey.tv/jembsb/jembsb.html Serial #: F9825533

He just got back to me and here is his response to my questions (very fast response):

Brendan,
we're resellers. located in south america. where are
you located?
i'm member from MercadoLivre.com.br (S. American
****) and Harmony-Central. No i'm not **** member
since here we don't have paypal service available.
we're in this business since 1999. so we have an
excelent feedback. 1000s references overseas.
here some references from our 4 last deals (JAN/FEB
2005):

Wendy Calderon (East Rutherford, US)
(reseller)
Robbie W. (Norwich, England)
(costumer)
Vincent A. Bildy (Tucson, US)
(**** seller 75strat on ****)
Jesse Clink (Perth, Australia)
(from T-AZ PERTH GEARS)

Best regards,
Allen Helmsley

****************

So what do you guys think I should do?

scoden · #2 03-01-2005, 07:59 PM

I personally wouldnt do it....too many overseas scams...too hard to conduct business especially if guitar has a major problem .keep looking for one in THIS country. Besides what was one of those pics trying to show (the one where the lower horn edge is close up) looks like wood splitting?

Koss · #3 03-01-2005, 10:48 PM

I think you should edit out all the email addresses in your post. Im sure those nice people dont want a lot of spam from viewers of this and other sites.

ginsu777 · #4 03-02-2005, 01:19 AM

Wow, thanks for your great insight into the issue. I must say that these message boards have an inordinate amount of dorks on them to match up with the great people here.

What are you a mall security guard?

BTW - Thanks to those folks who provided help and advice via PM or offline.

Rich · #5 03-02-2005, 01:32 AM

Did you do your own checking and write to any of these "references"?? What good is having them if they aren't verified [and then make sure to check all the IP's of any replies to make sure they're legit!!] Personally I'd never use a customer as reference, he's a customer, he sure doesn't need any grief like letters from potential customers.

Ask for a picture of the guitar with your name on a piece of paper on top of the body.

ginsu777 · #6 03-02-2005, 01:50 AM

I did write to all of them, and one of them got back to me, but right now, i am not leaning towards buying this guitar from this person. It sucks cause he could very well be legit, but I have not been burned online yet, and I dont plan on starting now.

Rich, thanks for the tip with the proof photo. I sent you a couple of emails. Do you have a line on any BSBs ?

Rich · #7 03-02-2005, 02:02 AM

If you didn't get an answer are you on verizon? All those bounce.

There were 5 on **** in the last 3 weeks.

ginsu777 · #8 03-02-2005, 02:08 AM

i had them sent to my gmail account. either way, i think i am going to bail on this dude and go USA with it for sure.

Rich, I take it you are not a fan of BSBs ?

I figure I will pay around $900 for one in good shape with a case. that's what I have been tracking on **** anyway. I have them all in my evil-bay WATCHING area even though they are sold...

Still in the market for the BSB. I have patience and an S470DXQM to hold me over.

Thanks for your help Rich. you are legit in every way, man.

Rich · #9 03-02-2005, 02:10 AM

Yours all bounced.

**** does not = what I price at, that's what I buy at

ginsu777 · #10 03-02-2005, 02:18 AM

I understand what you are saying, Rich.

Thanks again. Either way, if you find one, a few extra bucks would be money well spent buying from you if you ask me. 16 year old kids dont see the value, but I assure you, I do.

Please be in touch if you come across something.

Two hands31 · #11 03-02-2005, 02:50 AM

Personally, I find you're coming across as a little arrogant. Mall security? No. Simply thinking about the wishes of innocent people out there. Would you like me to spread your e-mail address around the net?

Random, off-topic question: What's an RG S470DXQM? There's no such thing as a guitar that is both an RG and an S that I've seen anyways.

ginsu777 · #12 03-02-2005, 01:19 PM

sorry to offend you, but I dont give a **** what you think. too many "enforcer" wanna-be's if you ask me. go be a big boy with a badge and a gun, or a hall monitor if you feel so inadequate.

It was a decent point about the email addresses and they were taken out right after.

please get a life.

BTW - the guy selling the BSB (remeber? the point of this thread?) got back to me with a picture of my name on a piece of paper on the guitar and says that he can only accept Western Union between Brazil and USA. This fellow has gone way out of his way to put my mind at ease. but it's just not comfortable to me. someone in Brazil could get a nice deal, however.

MODS: lock this one up. it is no longer of any use to anyone.