PSA: Too Good To Be True

Gentleman -if a new member sends you a PM offering to sell a rare razor at a below market price, be very skeptical. Whatever you do, do not pay via Paypal friends and family. 

If you do happen to get such an offer, please send a PM to a moderator or administrator and let us know.

Thanks Phil - I've always been suspicious when any seller requests payment by PP friends & family - knowing that leaves the buyer without recourse from PayPal when things go awry.

Thanks for the heads up, Phil.

Thanks, Phil...

Thanks Phil, good to know!


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Supplemental PSA: If you do get an offer to buy something from someone you're not familiar with, please take two minutes to google their email address - an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and a lot of scammers reuse the same email over and over.

And as Phil said; do NOT use PayPal F&F.

We had someone doing this on the UK fora last year, sadly one chap got caught out so a whip round was organised to cover his loss.

Yeah this former New Yorker who knows better just got caught for $250 for a Wolfman. The cash doesn't bother me as much as my pride.

(05-17-2020, 01:01 PM)Barrylu Wrote: Yeah this former New Yorker who knows better just got caught for $250 for a Wolfman. The cash doesn't bother me as much as my pride.

Sorry that happened. There are some really unscrupulous people in the world.

Got scammed recently for a Samurai brush; my fault and should have known better.  It's frustrating that people like this continue to exist.  However, as Hans mentioned, a bit of up front due diligence will save you from headaches and financial loss. Just FYI, PayPal is really not concerned with this type of deception so be vigilant.

Gentlemen, always know your seller.  Be especially wary if he's not a regular on the forum and wants to conduct the transaction outside of our BST.  

As Hans suggested, Google the email address and see what turns up.  

Most importantly, never pay with PayPal Friends & Family, and insist on Goods & Services.  This is why our BST requires G&S as the only allowable form of payment.  If the seller complaints about the modest PayPal fee for G&S, tell him you will increase your price to cover that fee.  It's a small price to pay for protecting yourself.  If the seller refuses your offer, you've just confirmed he's a fraud.

Also, if you get an offer from me to buy something, don't sell it to me!  My wife is getting upset.  
Seriously though, always use G&S.  I have been burned more than once before I heeded my own advice.

If it's a well known shaving forum member in good standing, it would be very rare for him to be as crass as to insist on not using G&S through Paypal. If he's worried about a couple of bucks then he's got a problem and that's a big red flag.  Who thinks it's cool to cheat Paypal out of the nominal fees? That's a loser I wouldn't want to trust.

As I read it, Venmo has the same problem(s) - no protection for the buyer, as the Venmo transaction seems assumed to be of a personal nature rather than the sale of goods.

(05-25-2020, 03:43 PM)garyg Wrote: As I read it, Venmo has the same problem(s) - no protection for the buyer, as the Venmo transaction seems assumed to be of a personal nature rather than the sale of goods.

You are correct; Venmo and Zelle function the same as cash, there is no recourse any more than if you are pickpocketed. Heck, writing a check isn't particularly safe since as far as I'm aware you can't issue a "stop-pay" order once it has been cashed.

Asking to use Family and Friends for a business transaction is one of my hot spots.  If conducted by the buyer/seller, it is a fraudulent deal.  Nuff said.

I have had incredible luck with all my transactions.  have used both with perfect results. I do now agree that I will stay with G & S in the future.  My f and f   friends on this site remain as so and all helped me in my travels through wet shaving.  I got screwed with venmo and a unscrupulous ass for 1200, took me 5 weeks to get the $ back.

My only "unlucky" transaction was on Amazon from a 3rd party China vendor.    They even posted shipping info.  I was too late when applying for refund.  

My only "not perfect" shaving related purchase from a well known forum member was a bargain price for Fitjar Islands cream beyond the expiration date.  I used a few times and binned.  I did learn to use creams promptly.

Great info. Was not aware that F&F left no recourse. Makes sense tho. Been lucky so far.