[IsaiahCole2269]

I’m ready to trade away a sax with someone I saw listed on Facebook Marketplace. We’re in different states. How would we ship to each other ensuring it’s not a scam.

 

[Tenor Mattness]

Perhaps there's a local tech in each location who you both trust and can assist in the trade, but there's always going to be a leap of faith with someone you don't know.

 

[Sigmund451]

I cant imagine even considering it. Sadly the world is full of freaks and most of them have facebook.

 

[ROARII]

each person ship the sax without the neck. Once each person has the sax body then they each ship the necks. Hard to sell a sax without a neck.

 

[saxmsy]

Just don't do that. It might be Ok 10 years+ ago but nowadays too many risks doing "not in person" transaction on Facebook Marketplace. There are a lot of more scams than you thought there.

 

[bandmommy]

Don't do it. Facebook marketplace is crawling with scammers.
If they're serious they will agree to meet you at a cop shop half way between locations to make the trade.

 

[nvilletele]

I once traded and it worked out fine, each mailing to the other, but I wouldn’t recommend doing it on flakebook.

 

[super20dan]

dont do it unless you agree to meet in person. too many scams on facebook

 

[PipeTobacco]

Tracking numbers perhaps and a photo of the receipt and package with proper address…. picture at the shipping facility?

 

[JayeLID]

Listen up...someone can take a shipping box, put a brick or two in it, wrapped in newspaper, or even in an actual sax case....and send it to you...while you send your sax to them.

I mean, unless it is a music store with a reputation, I would not consider this.

If you wanna do it, only conceivable way is...you buy his horn with Paypal, merchandise transaction. Then he takes that $ and buys your horn, same way.

This way...both have seller protection and good possibility of a refund should one party try to scam the other.

Only conceivable way I would remotely consider doing that ....

 

[JazzWithoutANet]

This is a bad idea. There's no protection for either of you.

 

[plbgbiz]

Nope.

 

[AddictedToSax]

You need a saxophone escrow account. Is there such a thing? If not I see a business opportunity for someone.

Listen up...someone can take a shipping box, put a brick or two in it, wrapped in newspaper, or even in an actual sax case....and send it to you...while you send your sax to them.

I mean, unless it is a music store with a reputation, I would not consider this.

If you wanna do it, only conceivable way is...you buy his horn with Paypal, merchandise transaction. Then he takes that $ and buys your horn, same way.

This way...both have seller protection and good possibility of a refund should one party try to scam the other.

Only conceivable way I would remotely consider doing that ....

 

[crawford]

I’m gonna be the one dissenting voice here, but I’m actually much more comfortable doing trades through FB marketplace than I would have been through CL for instance. If I can go on to someone’s main profile, look over their history for a few years, and especially if they are working pros there’s a good chance we move in the same circles. I think with really good vetting it might be fine. That said, I haven’t traded something as high dollar as a horn on there, but I have done high dollar mouthpieces and electronic gear with no problems.

 

[etc-etc]

each person ship the sax without the neck. Once each person has the sax body then they each ship the necks. Hard to sell a sax without a neck.

One neck is lost in transit ...

 

[adamk]

SOTW is the only place where I sell/buy without seeing the instrument in person. I have delt on CL where I was able to try it in person.

 

[Sigmund451]

Jays mutual paypal is a good idea. Otherwise run away from it. It only takes one scammer to screw you over. Its not worth it unless you have money to burn.

On the paypal idea you can also get a feel for what is going on. If the person balks Id forget it If they pull the, "I trust you" line Id run.

Even with paypal you have to have a clearly written up contract showing you are both going to be reimbursed once the horns arrive. Even then Im not sure how paypal would behave if one person decided not to bother reimbursing the other. This is why trades between total strangers are rather sticky. And another good reason why this forum requires certain minimum involvment to participate in the marketplace. Its not a guarntee but it reduces hit and run behavior.

 

[Ixthusdan]

I moderate a group on Faceplant. While there are some decent folk there, as good as any where online, there is a frequency of unusual behavior that is surprising. I dealt with the public in retail for many years and thought I had seen it all. Exchanging equipment would best not be done there or done cautiously.

 

[Sacks Of Phones]

I’m ready to trade away a sax with someone I saw listed on Facebook Marketplace. We’re in different states. How would we ship to each other ensuring it’s not a scam.

Hey OP, where'd you go? Care to chime in on the advice given?

 

[Paowz]

Hey OP, where'd you go? Care to chime in on the advice given?

he hit the road.. following your advice ;-)