Risky?

[Udahti]

I sent an email to an ad and this is what I got back in reply. I asked for a video/sound clip and he completely bypassed it.

Thank you for your email. I am glad that you want to buy my Pantheon Steel Halo Drum. My asking price is US $1,800.00. From the beginning I want to tell you that I left US a couple of days ago and came to United Kingdom with my job (I am a member of the "Save The Children Foundation). If you still want to buy it, we can do it in a very safe way using an escrow company. They will handle the delivery (because I had to take it with me here) and will give you 10 days of Inspection so you can test and see that it is exactly as described by me in my ad. I will pay all shipping/escrow fees.

[ianmc84]

Sounds like a scam.

[Nikos05]

99,99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999% possibility to be a scam !

[TyGuy]

Shady. The old "I'm away on business" thing. Avoid this.

[Thomasbentov]

Just tell him that you'll be in the UK as well in a week, and ask him to come and pick it up locally.

[anomine]

Yeah, call his bluff. Either offer to go there in person, or have a UK friend go there and do the deal for you. My experience with freeads on Craigslist or whatever is that there is always a reason why you can't meet up in person, then when you offer to do so they normally stop replying to emails. In the UK they normally claim to live on the Shetland Islands in Scotland or somewhere equally remote.

[metalutier]

This is a well known scam format in France, he's out of the country, just send the money to a 'comany', they will deliver it to you. Don't touch it with a barge pole (Quaint but succinct English expession meaning dont touch it!)

[Mikey P]

And why would he be selling a Halo for $1,800 anyway ?
That is just way too risky.....
Don't touch it !

Mike

[Harshak]

Someone tried the exact same thing on me with a 2nd gen Panart. When I said I could come pick it up in person he stopped answering.

my suggestion is to stay away!

[simsomsam]

Someone tried the exact same thing on me with a 2nd gen Panart. When I said I could come pick it up in person he stopped answering.

Yup me too, exact same story.

Locations all messed up, I offered to pick it up and when push came to shove got no replies...

This seems a typical manoeuvre. My rule of thumb in this quest is now; that if there are interesting 2nd hand ads, I know I won't be scammed out of my money if I only ever hand over the cash when I have an instrument in my hand. It is perhaps a cynical approach, but from unknown sellers with unknown instruments I'd rather be safe than sorry.