Way Out of State Opportunity

cjp2401

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Alexandria, Kentucky
I have an opportunity to purchase a Phantom of the Opera for $1,000 to $1,200. Problem is that I would have to buy it sight unseen, relying on only photo's and the sellers word and have it shipped from another state (too far to drive).

I've run into operators before that offer to ship a pin to you after you send the money. I have to think the are scammers (as a matter of fact, I'm dealing with one now that has a BSD from England he'll ship DHL if I send him half now and half once I receive the pin).

Is there anything I can to do safe-guard this purchase? I can't fly to Florida to check out a pinball machine, I'll come home to a yard full of my stuff and changed locks on the door! POTO is one of my MECCA pins and I can't find one available around the KY, OH, IN area. If you live in the South Florida area, maybe you could go looking for me?

Any thoughts? I hate to let this opportunity go......
 
I say pass on it. According to bostonpinball.biz its average worth is only $1,347. Not much more than the asking price and considering the shipping doesn't make this sound like a deal to me. Keep searching as I'm sure one will pop up much closer than Florida.
 
Is there anything I can to do safe-guard this purchase?

Always use a major credit card. You dispute it, the credit card company hands you your money back and they take the seller head on to collect.
The only risk I see is you soak up the shipping cost back. Ensure you keep emails of conversation in case information is requested from the CC company.

The BEST way to ensure you're getting a quality pin is to simply research common wear areas on the title in question and demand the seller sends you high res photos of those areas. In fact, any decent seller will snap a crap ton of high res photos and post them to smugmug, photobucket yadda yadda. And better yet, ask the seller to shoot a short video of the machine being turned on (credit dot check) and playing it for a short while. I have personally been burned buying a machine out of state. The photos taken were at angles to hide damage and the seller also claimed it was excellent shape. Yeah - this guy didn't know shit from apple butter. And to make matters worse I did a bank transfer whihc I had zero recourse. Live and learn.
 
HOw did you find this pin? Does the guy have a website or is it on CL or EBAY?

If you have some info but are afraid to post because someone might go take it you can pm it to me. Im a retailer but Ill check it out and give you my opinion. I buy from random people across the country on a weekly basis. I havent been screwed over yet but I have passed on a few deals. Just let me know and I would be more than happy to look into it.
 
HOw did you find this pin? Does the guy have a website or is it on CL or EBAY?

If you have some info but are afraid to post because someone might go take it you can pm it to me. Im a retailer but Ill check it out and give you my opinion. I buy from random people across the country on a weekly basis. I havent been screwed over yet but I have passed on a few deals. Just let me know and I would be more than happy to look into it.

Private Message sent - Thanks
 
This is from the guy that has the BSD in England. How in the H3LL can you trust someone like this? I told him no deal, but he is persistant:

Good day ,

How are you doing today ? I got your mail, and i
understand you, but i need you to understand me on this deal that i
don not trust you but i have to because this life is all about trust,
i trust my self that i can ship your item to you as soon as the half
of the payment has been made, theirs no way you make the payment and
will not ship your goods to you

Once i received the payment your goods will get to you in the next 24hours.
though DHL Service.

Awaiting your response so that we can proceed.
Best wishes
Jack
 
Trust

If he thinks that life is all about trust, tell him you will pay shipping and will pay the rest once you have seen/played it because he should trust you. I have a feeling he will think trust is not as important in life once you ask him.
 
Indeed pass on it - price is not great enough to take the risk, too much can go wrong (scam, transport damage, parts missing, broken game, ..).
Unless someone local wants to check it out for you..
 
Just two weeks ago I drove what was supposed to be a 5.5 hour drive (ended up being 7 hours) one way to grab a Rescue 911 for $400. Was too cheap to pass up. Worth it...but then again I don't mind road trips, I drag my wife along, she loves 'em too.
 
I'd skip on shipping the BSD from the UK. Way too many things to go wrong there. Plus it would have to be super cheap and nice to validate shipping from there.

On the POTO, I say if it's nice enough, go for it. Just get the seller to take alot of good pics and go over them very carefully. Ask alot of questions and then make your decision. Door to door shipping will run $400 or more, or at least that's what it cost to ship a TZ from Las Vegas to Texas. So factor that into your decision, but don't let shipping alot turn you away from a pin purchase.
 
check with the guy from the podcast - The Pinball Podcast, said most he can quote are $330 or less for any shipping, FL to KY might not be that expensive compared to CA to MD or something alot farther, might also depend on how close you and the seller live from major cities? good luck

definitely dont go with the UK deal, sounds fishy, obvisously Engrish isnt his first language

the most I driven for a cheapo machine has been around 5hrs each way
 
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