Alright my savvier Apex'ers...need advice

[ryan_self]

I am selling about 2,000 beanie babies (long story) to a gentleman from Massachussettes than I met on Craig's List. I am in DC. He said his preferred method is to for me to ship UPS COD, in the form of a postal service money order. My question...is this a fairly common scam, or are Postal Service money orders generally considered safe? I spoke with him by phone today, he gave me his (or a) name and address, as well as three phone numbers. Seems legit enough, but I know online fraud is extremely rampant, so I wanted to get everyone's thoughts on

1) the best way to sell online where the buyer is not prepaying, and

2) maybe some red flags I should look out for, or questions I need to be asking.

I don't sell much online, so I don't want to screw it up by falling for an obvious ruse.

[johnnymk]

I use postal money orders all of the time. They are extremely safe. Plus if someone screws you, they will investigate the matter. But you have to wait, I think sixty days until you can file a claim. I am not sure if there is a maximum dollar amount which they will cover.

Visit your local post office to check it out.

[ryan_self]

Thank you. The amount is $800.

I did a little more digging, the address he gave me is for the area VFW...which makes sense, as he was clearly an older gentlemen, and they are listed as a charitable group, which fits his story of planning to donate them to local children's hospitals. My gut tells me he is legit; I just don't want to be taken by a scam that I should ahve seen coming.

[Cubsfan]

So just out of curiosity, how come they are worth so little? I thought those things were collectible and worth a ton, but now they're only $0.40 a piece?

[ryan_self]

We recently came into a huge collection of them from a hoarder who collected them, and our goal is to unload the whole lot as one, just for the sake of ease and time. Thus the low price....I really have no idea what they may be worth. I know they're all in perfect condition, with the little tag protectors on.

[ryan_self]

Another good sign (I suppose): he contacted me at a Verizon.net email address, instead of a hotmail/yahoo or anonymous free email service.

[welfareloser]

So just out of curiosity, how come they are worth so little? I thought those things were collectible and worth a ton, but now they're only $0.40 a piece?

they're not worth much more than that... the "bottom fell out" of the "market" when the fad died down.

kinda like all my dumb fellow gen x'ers who, upon reaching their 20s, realized that all those old star wars toys their mom threw out were worth big money... so now a ton of (mostly male ) gen x'ers have $100s worth of star wars toys manufactured in the 90s and 00s that they never took out of the box, darkening their closets, screaming at any child or wife who touches them, sure they'll be able to retire on the fortune they've wisely amassed...

yeah. you and 2 million other bozos. hence, the stuff ain't rare, and it's worth poop. might as well open it and let your kids play with it... boy, do i freak out some gen x'ers when i buy my kids "vintage" star wars toys, open them, and throw away the boxes it's like, dude... 15 years after it was manufactured, i got it on ebay for 10% of the original sale price... it might be worth something in 120 years, but i'm not waiting for that...

[ryan_self]

they're not worth much more than that... the "bottom fell out" of the "market" when the fad died down.

kinda like all my dumb fellow gen x'ers who, upon reaching their 20s, realized that all those old star wars toys their mom threw out were worth big money... so now a ton of (mostly male ) gen x'ers have $100s worth of star wars toys manufactured in the 90s and 00s that they never took out of the box, darkening their closets, screaming at any child or wife who touches them, sure they'll be able to retire on the fortune they've wisely amassed...

yeah. you and 2 million other bozos. hence, the stuff ain't rare, and it's worth poop. might as well open it and let your kids play with it... boy, do i freak out some gen x'ers when i buy my kids "vintage" star wars toys, open them, and throw away the boxes it's like, dude... 15 years after it was manufactured, i got it on ebay for 10% of the original sale price... it might be worth something in 120 years, but i'm not waiting for that...

Exactly. Generally, when every schmoe decides they'll make a fortune off something, no one does.

[WhiskeyPapa]

So just out of curiosity, how come they are worth so little? I thought those things were collectible and worth a ton

They were. For about 15 minutes. Then people wised up.

[irwin]

Try an escrow service?
www.escrow.com

[clutchy]

There is nothing more secure than COD. They go to pick up the item at the post office. They bring money, post office takes money mails you a money order. Guy takes his merchandise.

this is the way things were done before everyone had to have everything done NOW.

you can't screw the system this way... it's just not possible.

if you are somehow able to it becomes a felony. Don't mess with the mail.

[ryan_self]

Thinks clutchy...that makes me feel a lot more secure. I think I'm going to go forward with the sale.

[sizemic1]

Worse case scenerio...you no longer have 2000 beanie babies in your possession

[ryan_self]

Somehow, I'd get over it.

[Paymaster]

My son was at the hospital with a high fever (105 degrees). A group of people stopped by and gave him 2 beanie babies. So... this guy's story seems plausible.