I am with Shawn and Steve B--there are no tangibles on a computer screen.. A transaction can therefore go bad either way with the risk being the same for both parties....

a little investigating and common sense go a long way...

This is an excellent site---BUT--- it is still a computer screen...IF you do not know and or trust the seller then Caveot Emptor(buyer beware)..

I like paypal instant and safe at least for me its worked very well.

Bill

I like paypal.

I like a mo or paypal..
I've traded and bought several items from fellow tradgang members.  I haven't had a bad deal yet!
 I do look at posts and how long they have been a member.


 I bought a bow last year, I called the sellar to tell him I had sent the money was in the mail he told me he had already shipped it out. I had no prior dealings with him before that day.


  (From what I've seen here if you make a bad deal with one guy its probably your last or you had better make it right!)
We have some Great MODS!!!!!


But what can you expect this is Tradgang its like family!

Bobw,
Bjorn comments in this discussion hit the mark. Do your homework. I purchased my first bow from a Tradgang member last January.  I read Terry Green's advice and I'm sure, the person that I purchased from, did his homework too....... because I was a new guy on the site. Everything worked out perfect! Oh, I used my bank's cashiers check.

I only use Paypal.  For the cost it's cheap insurance.  I don't know why folks don't like Paypal...you can actually get more for your goods by accepting it and it's less than 4% fee for the seller.

i live on the other side of the world and if i buy somthing of  anyone i want there ph number and we talk some and if the goods is what they say they are i send a bankers note. or if they got what i want and will do a trade thats fine i still want there ph number. these are the only way i will deal with someone overseas.there is no point in ripping anyone off as it will only come back and bite you in the ass. so be up front with any deal just my two cents worth.

I can't believe it - a chance I'm not crazy!  :D  

Steve

I use Paypal - safe, efficient and easy to use!
When buying a bow, like Jeff, I will only buy a bow from someone that will give me his phone number and let me talk to him for a while.

BobW,   Since you don't have Paypal my personal recommendation would be like others have suggested. The postal money order. I have never heard of one being forged. I'm not saying it hasn't happened just never heard of it.  like someone else said using a postal MO has several advantages. Mail fraud is one and I do know that they will run a trace on one(providing you have all the proper info.) immediately. The last time I checked the bank will wait to run a trace on one of their MO's for up to 4wks.

Mooseran:  Glad to hear that your deal went through without a hitch.  However, it's generally not wise to give your bank account number to anyone, particularly someone in another country.  And that's what you're doing when you do a wire transfer.  With that information, and a little more information about you that they can likely get off the internet, and they can clean out your account if so inclined.  Banks do have policies and procedures to thwart that kind of activity, but they aren't always stringently followed, and it does happen.

Every deal that I have had on this site has gone well. When I'm the buyer I ask the seller what they prefer check or postal money order. Most of the time a check will do But if it is for a large amount like for a bow, I would just send the money order or if I'm the seller on a larger amount I would ask for a postal money order. I have traded bows even up before, in that case trust between the two is a must.

Aw hell Steve. If it make ya feel better buddy I think yer CRAZY    
Hey, when ya gonna come over this way for a shoot?

I feel it is all up to the seller.  I bet no merchant will send you a bow without payment, unless they knew ya or something.  Try ordering something from a magazine retailer and tell them " I'll send the check and you send me the bow, trust goes both ways".  I don't they would send it.  I have had one issue with a bowmaker and it was eventually resolved.  I have made numerous transactions here and elsewhere.  Imho I would get a paypal account.  It is all I use.  You have protection and dispute resolution through them and you can also use a credit card with it that offers protection.  I don't use another method with folks I don't know.

Nobody should trust me.  I don't buy/sell/trade enough bows for anyone to notice!            

\\Bill

Hatch, but they are not a merchant, they are the same as you and me. It should be the same both ways. Shawn

Orion; Your right about the account number. All I gave the buyer was my name and Bank route number and my bank was aware of the transaction and placed the money in my account then the bank  called me to let me know that the funds had arrived.

For overseas transactions this seems to be the best way to go.............

Paypal, safe and secure, I've sold over 6,000 items on the auction site with little problems.

Mooseran