ahc3
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posted on August 17, 2003 07:05:22 PM new
I got an email from one of my buyers on an auction that closed today. He said that he tried to stop by and pay, but found out that I use a PO Box (UPS Store actually) - I had 4 sales in the past few days that were local, 3 of them within 2 miles of where I live...Anyway, makes me glad that I use a private mailbox service instead of my home address.
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clarksville
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posted on August 17, 2003 07:17:53 PM new
Yep. for over four years since I started on eBay, I have had my mailbox registered, along with my rarely use cel phone.
I have had one that wanted to "stop by" and a few that wanted to call me. I don't think so! My home phone number is unlisted and they don't need my home phone number so they can call at all hours of the day, let alone passing my number to telemarketers and such.
People imo who are in the up and up should know and understand why people protect their privacy.
There was one incident that I made an exception. It was a lifelong friend who bought an item.
People should email first before they bid. They should not presume that the seller will allow the intrusion unless the seller indicates otherwise.
With the various dangers that exist on the iternet and elsewhere, people should know better.
Decades before the worldwide community, I was taught not to share information that may endanger myself and others. Duh.
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AuctionAce
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posted on August 17, 2003 07:32:21 PM new
Your email address is real though? Some posters here say that a phony or dead phone number is considered bad contact information and is a suspendible infraction of contact rules but I doubt it is so.
I've never had a seller pop by unannounced in my 5 years on ebay and my address is on the contact sheet. I've had about a half a dozen come to the house to pick up their auction items with a reset time ( a great way to side deal a few things too ). I've never had a single phone call from a buyer either.
-------------- sig file ----------- He who angers you controls you
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davebraun
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posted on August 17, 2003 07:33:16 PM new
I also use a PO Box and a cell. Occasionally customers attempt to walk in. I'm nice about it but ultimately blow them off.
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smenkveld
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posted on August 17, 2003 07:57:32 PM new
I have no problem with customers wanting to come by and pick up items. Last week a buyer came by for a $30.00 item and I ended up selling another $1200.00 of stuff to them that I was going to take the local auction house.
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ahc3
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posted on August 17, 2003 08:01:04 PM new
My phone number and email are valid, as is my address (it just is not my home address, but it is the billing address of my credit cards) - The phone is a cel phone, I just really don't want people to come to my house. I will meet them at a public place if they are local. I have two small kids at home, I think inviting strangers to your house is just a bad idea. My home number is unlisted too...
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clarksville
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posted on August 17, 2003 08:06:12 PM new
AuctionAce I have been around the block enough times to know when my contact information is sufficient.
smenkveld
About four years ago, there was a story here (at that time it was AW) about someone going to a seller's home. I can't remember the details, but it was quite a dangerous scenerio.
Better safe than sorry.
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NearTheSea
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posted on August 17, 2003 08:56:33 PM new
I remember the story... too bad you can't search those really old posts
I *think* a woman had a guy come to her home to pay and pick up something he won from her on eBay, then came back the next day, eyeing what else she had, or something like that...
Not safe, that is for sure
Art Bell Retired! George Noory is on late night coasttocoastam.com
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clarksville
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posted on August 17, 2003 09:09:50 PM new
neartheseaa
Yeah. That's why I don't want my physical address to be "public." All a person needs to do is to buy one item and retrieve the info. They can come by when I'm not around or even when I am around.
Wasn't there yet another story? Seems like there was one about a couple of guys threatening to rough up the seller or something?
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AuctionAce
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posted on August 17, 2003 09:57:21 PM new
You can search those old posts but I will no longer post the link.
If one person in 300 dies because he was wearing a seatbelt is that justification to never wear one? There are hundreds of ebay buyers picking up packages every day from sellers and there is one bad story so that is cause for ebay paranoia? I'm so glad that I'm not paranoid over stuff like an ebay buyer picking up a package at the house. 
-------------- sig file ----------- He who angers you controls you
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NearTheSea
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posted on August 17, 2003 10:03:29 PM new
clarksville, I think I remember lots of stories on this subject
too bad Irene isn't around, she is a whiz at finding old threads
Art Bell Retired! George Noory is on late night coasttocoastam.com
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mcjane
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posted on August 17, 2003 11:09:24 PM new
So can Kiara. Couldn't believe it when she came up with those old jerry12 posts.
If it can be found, Kiara will find it.
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sparkz
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posted on August 17, 2003 11:31:13 PM new
I've only had about five people show up at my door to pick up their items and have never had a problem. As long as they bring cash to pay for their purchase, and are not afraid of my Rottweiller, they are more than welcome.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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toolhound
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posted on August 18, 2003 03:30:18 AM new
I have anyone that wants to pick up eBay items from me meet me at the local flea market. Keeps people from coming to my house and most of the time I sell them a few more items at the flea market.
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cantwin
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posted on August 18, 2003 05:34:47 AM new
i had sold a accordion and met the gentleman
at a local resturant parking lot, he took it out of the case and started playing and dancing at the same time, when he was done i noticed he had streams of foamy saliva coming out of the corners of his mouth,what a wacko i still have nightmares
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stopwhining
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posted on August 18, 2003 05:43:33 AM new
it was in the newspaper last year that an old man has a pricey pocket watch?? sold on ebay and went to a public place to meet the buyer.he was killed and his watch taken from him.
-sig file -------They may have ginsu knife,but we have DING KING!!!!
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stopwhining
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posted on August 18, 2003 06:19:08 AM new
all it takes is one bad experience,
so why chance it??
-sig file -------They may have ginsu knife,but we have DING KING!!!!
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amber
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posted on August 18, 2003 07:33:11 AM new
I had an incident last year where I was glad I had a post office box address. A man won a couple of auctions who lived about 80 miles away from me, said one book was for his Mother. He kept writing asking about weather, town I lived in, and it went on and on to about 12 emails. In the end I was a bit suspicious, so I "happened" to mention my husband in an email, and that my 60th birthday was coming up. Never heard from him again, no payment. Later, when I checked his feedback, he had been Naru'd, with comment like "extremely friendly, but no payment".
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davebraun
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posted on August 18, 2003 08:20:02 AM new
My wife had one of those. Made a purchase, lived a county away, wanted to pick up the item. She declined (our address was PO Box)he never paid.
Predators have worked the newspaper classified for the past few centuries. New technologies give home to the same old scams. No big deal, the Internet has not cured the ills of the world.
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tonimar1
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posted on August 18, 2003 08:27:45 AM new
Sometimes when I sell large items that are not to easy to pack I am glad when the buyer lives within pick up distance, and coming to my home is not a problem, but when I get a buyer that is new and wants me to teach them how to sell on ebay well I don't have that kinda time to spare because of my family life and doing my auctions all this keeps me busy enough, so a person like that I say I am just too busy to make a time for a pick up because I have done it before and they take up so much of your time and my time is very presicous to me........because when I'm not working its spent with my family.
But personally I have my home address listed but no phone number and I don't feel uneasy, but my son does.........lol.......he will also say, don't make any appointments for pick ups unless his over here.
Like what was mentioned, "there is possibility of selling them other things so I think we just need to feel good about having them come over and if you don't have that good feeling then just don't let them.
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AuctionAce
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posted on August 18, 2003 10:02:16 AM new
I think the internent can be divided into two camps on the issue. The paranoid and the non-paranoid. Some may be a little paranoid but at some point they fall into either of the two camps.
Just like religion, either a true believer or an agnostic/atheist.
-------------- sig file ----------- He who angers you controls you
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kiara
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posted on August 18, 2003 11:32:49 AM new
If you are uncertain and don't deal with the public very often then maybe not attempt it. Otherwise you can usually tell by a few e-mails what the person is like. But even then, always have Plan B in mind when you do meet...... just in case.
Most people are sincere and good people but you never ever know for sure. I have dealt with the public for years and have my own way of defending myself if necessary. The best defense is "street smarts"..... be a good judge of people. Very few people ever want to harm you.
One drifter I encountered who walked into my shop was angry because his antique store failed and during his travels he had killed another lady who was an antique dealer. Luckily I got him out of my shop. There is a story somewhere on the internet about what he did to several other ladies after leaving my city.
So you just never know. Always remember that most people are very good people, but always be cautious.
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Vickrose
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posted on August 18, 2003 08:33:43 PM new
I had it happen to me. About last Christmas I had listed a Versace Black Dress pants. I was putting my tree up and the door bell rang. This guy was at my dopor with $35.00 and told me he tried to call me first. I was blown away and shocked. Luckily my husband was home. One thing I can say he saved on the shipping. I hope that never happens agian.
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popnrock
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posted on August 19, 2003 01:13:03 PM new
Once in a while I get an email from someone who wants to stop over to see what I have for sell ; ) I had one lady stop at my p.o box because she thought it was my office. If someone is local I give them free shipping. My biggest pet peeve with the local is no one pays the sales tax!
Miss J
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clarksville
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posted on August 19, 2003 01:19:30 PM new
Actually, someone here a few years back suggested using the physical Post Office address then the box number.
I can't remember if that was for the eBay information or something else.
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popnrock
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posted on August 19, 2003 01:28:22 PM new
I wanted to add that once I called a bidder from my home phone. I didn't realize that my number showed up on the phone. The guy called and called for no reason.....
Miss J
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jackswebb
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posted on August 19, 2003 01:36:49 PM new
A real good place for a face to face meeting. The Police Dept. 1234 S. Dodge City Rd. But then again if there were going to be any hanky panky,,,you might be standing there for quite awhile.
Lead or be left in the Dust....
AND THE BEAT GOES ON,,,,, 
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dodobird
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posted on August 19, 2003 01:39:15 PM new
he wants to romance you.
a lot of lonely hearts out there,trying to reach out and touch somone.
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beatnikera
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posted on August 19, 2003 02:52:20 PM new
I have a PO Box address for my online eBay sales and website.
Another reason not to use your home address. . .
I once had a winning bidder come over
to my place to pick-up an item. He didn't have any money with him (surprise!) so he then drove to the nearest ATM machine about 8 blocks away to withdraw the $25 owed. He never did come back
to pay me!
I looked on the bright side:
His B.O. was so bad that I didn't want
him to come back anyway! A major stink,
in more ways than one.
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deltim
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posted on August 19, 2003 03:06:32 PM new
I have had about a dozen people come to my home... but as others have said, it all depends on what kind of feeling you get from them. This summer I had arranged for a guy to pick up a $48 WWII jacket. He was coming from 3 hours away. But then I realized my son had a ballgame and we wouldn't be home. I left a note on the door saying the jacket was in the bronco on the front seat and he could leave payment there. I left an envelope there for him. When I came home two hours later the coat was gone, and there was the payment in cash and a nice letter from him hoping to do business again.
Of course I wouldn't recommend doing this with anyone... it just depends on the situation.
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