10 replies to this topic

[deSitter]

I presume everyone saw this. I forgot who mentioned it out loud but I was much in agreement. Some however disagreed.

 

https://www.cloudyni...or-classifieds/

 

-drl

[TOMDEY]

Seems very sensible to me. Similarity would by your local established Astronomy Club. e.g. the annual picnic/star party or such, often provides a swap table for members to buy/sell/trade gear and might also host select commercial associate vendors. But wouldn't want others strolling in out of nowhere hawking their goods.    Tom

[tturtle]

Bravo

[klangwolke]

I noticed it too, seems sensible.

[CHASLX200]

Sounds like a plan stan.

[ccwemyss]

There has also been a pattern of people joining, writing a post essentially saying, "I was given/inherited this telescope. How much is it worth?" then an ad appears, and they never post again. For some people, I could see this as a way to pass on a scope they hope will get used, perhaps because of some sentimental value. But it's also an MO for scammers. 

 

Maybe we could encourage such people to reach out to an existing member nearby, who could help them prep an ad and then get it approved by an admin as a second party sale. 

 

Chip W.

[Cavs56]

There was an item listed recently that I was interested in, seemed slightly too good to be true. I checked the seller and they had literally just joined. I did not respond.

[jragsdale]

Glad to hear! I recently paid for an item on the classifieds, a "too good to be true" price, with a member just 30 days old, and 5 forum posts, JUST enough to clear the listing hurdle, they even had a 5 star rating, but only 1 review, by a brand new member, given just the day before their account was 30 days old. I paid via Paypal Goods & Services and they disappeared. I filed a claim with PayPal and after a few weeks they refunded all my money. But it was the first time I'd been actually scammed on CN, but that's why I always use G&S if there's even a hint of a red flag.

[Cavs56]

Agreed , eBay has a 122mm 550 Svbony for 800. something . Zero feedback obvious scam seller in China. Probably have to wait a month to get your money back.

[bobhen]

Now more than ever it seems that there are always a few bad apples. In these days of the Internet and globalization it's becoming impossible to be magnanimous, fair-minded and trusting. The public, retailers and websites like CN have to be ever vigilant. The growing bad apple section of humanity is something that I find disturbing. Is it a wealth distribution thing or stress or ?

 

If it didn't have to be done, it wouldn't have been done. 

 

Bob

[RichA]

Agreed , eBay has a 122mm 550 Svbony for 800. something . Zero feedback obvious scam seller in China. Probably have to wait a month to get your money back.

Ebay rather than new accounts sees a lot of account hijacking.  Mostly accounts that haven't been used in some time but have a track-record.  Tip-offs are stupid prices, an account that mostly sell antique dishes selling a high-end telescope, that kind of thing.  Also, lots of listings for high end products at the same time.