Silk Road forums

Discussion => Newbie discussion => Topic started by: ph420 on March 15, 2013, 06:48 am

Title: shipping question re: getting scammed
Post by: ph420 on March 15, 2013, 06:48 am
hey guise

i just have a general question as i am still new here (but just received my first successful shipment :D) ...

so lets say that you hypothetically opt not to use a tracked shipping method and just through regular mail.. the vendor says that on regular mail shipments there is no refunds.. what's there to say that they just don't send the package at all and claim it is lost? is this common at all? (obviously i know more reputable vendors are the way to go but still.. what if they just choose this one time to make a quick buck and claim it was lost in the mail)? has anyone had this sort of thing happen before?
Title: Re: shipping question re: getting scammed
Post by: scout on March 15, 2013, 06:52 am
if the vendor states they don't offer a refund in that situation, then there's really nothing anyone can do to prevent them from simply never sending the package out.  that's why you stay in escrow, and also make use of the resolution center.
Title: Re: shipping question re: getting scammed
Post by: KarmaKoolAid on March 15, 2013, 06:53 am
Scammers seem to be fairly common on here.

BUT if you use the escrow system and never finalize early there is no reason to worry =) :) =)
Title: Re: shipping question re: getting scammed
Post by: elmo00 on March 15, 2013, 07:02 am
Never FE, ever. NOT EVEN ONCE.
Title: Re: shipping question re: getting scammed
Post by: zerik on March 15, 2013, 07:09 am
I would never opt out of tracking. Just my opinion but tracking + priority domestic shipping = few if any lost packages. Just based on my experience. Less time packages are in the po hands the better.
Title: Re: shipping question re: getting scammed
Post by: mysteryman on March 15, 2013, 07:12 am
How would you shop on Amazon? Pick the good ratings, use escrow
Title: Re: shipping question re: getting scammed
Post by: TheHubble on March 15, 2013, 07:15 am
I have faith in some of the vendors. My first purchase and he asked me to FE since I had 0 purchase history. I'm sure that a lot of these vendors have had bad experience with 0 purchase buyers and can understand why they would ask for an FE. 
Title: Re: shipping question re: getting scammed
Post by: mysteryman on March 15, 2013, 07:29 am
I offered to FE for my first transaction and he told me it wasnt needed :)
Been doing fine since
Title: Re: shipping question re: getting scammed
Post by: mysteryman on March 15, 2013, 07:33 am
Im on his drugs right now as a matter of fact..
Title: Re: shipping question re: getting scammed
Post by: TheHubble on March 15, 2013, 07:34 am
Yea I didn't expect to be asked but I am putting faith in the vendor and the SR community. I didn't go small purchase either  ;D
Title: Re: shipping question re: getting scammed
Post by: mysteryman on March 15, 2013, 08:19 am
Yeah I actually used to use SR when btc was 6 dollars about six months back or so..
Most people (just like most in general) are here to help if they can, just stay sharp
Title: Re: shipping question re: getting scammed
Post by: TheHubble on March 15, 2013, 08:27 am
I just hope all goes well. Got about $400 on the line and not many reports on this vendor (other than he has quality gear). Rating is great so I have faith and am just praying all goes well....

If I can find this thread in the future, then I'll be back with some feedback
Title: Re: shipping question re: getting scammed
Post by: mysteryman on March 15, 2013, 08:45 am
If hes got history.. no feedback is better than bad feedback
Title: Re: shipping question re: getting scammed
Post by: ProfADaemon on March 15, 2013, 09:46 am
hey guise

i just have a general question as i am still new here (but just received my first successful shipment :D) ...

so lets say that you hypothetically opt not to use a tracked shipping method and just through regular mail.. the vendor says that on regular mail shipments there is no refunds.. what's there to say that they just don't send the package at all and claim it is lost? is this common at all?

If you're ordering from a vendor within the same country as you, and you live in a civilized nation, the vendors are at no fault if something doesn't arrive. The most likely story is someone who lives with you or near you stole it out of your mailbox before you saw it; or you used a fake name and the mailman stole it or returned to sender.

If you're ordering internationally, it's still in the vendor's interest to have you receive your package, as missing packages only hurt their feedback and sales. I would not doubt that some vendors lie about sending packages to Australia, because they know it's basically a waste of time to do business with Australians as their Customs is THAT good.
Title: Re: shipping question re: getting scammed
Post by: kittiesandpuppies on March 15, 2013, 08:06 pm
hey guise

i just have a general question as i am still new here (but just received my first successful shipment :D) ...

so lets say that you hypothetically opt not to use a tracked shipping method and just through regular mail.. the vendor says that on regular mail shipments there is no refunds.. what's there to say that they just don't send the package at all and claim it is lost? is this common at all?

If you're ordering from a vendor within the same country as you, and you live in a civilized nation, the vendors are at no fault if something doesn't arrive. The most likely story is someone who lives with you or near you stole it out of your mailbox before you saw it; or you used a fake name and the mailman stole it or returned to sender.

If you're ordering internationally, it's still in the vendor's interest to have you receive your package, as missing packages only hurt their feedback and sales. I would not doubt that some vendors lie about sending packages to Australia, because they know it's basically a waste of time to do business with Australians as their Customs is THAT good.




In the end though, you read their buyer terms, and agreed when you hypothetically made this purchase without tracking.  So, no, if the package never arrives, there is nothing you can do, and you will still likely be required to leave a 5/5 feedback if you do not want to get black listed.  While there are a lot of vendors at least selectively scamming, there are a LOT of buyers scamming as well, which is why some vendors are doing this.


I definitely believe some vendors spin their scams that way, and I beleive that can even happen in real life.    but I dont at all doubt there are people saying they are sending packages when they are not.  I have not had that experience, but I DO receive a lot of mail from various parts of the country, and I DO know how long it takes on avg to get to me.  I KNOW a package coming from the general area that one package was sent to me should take about 3-4 days.  It was marked in transit 8 business days, plus a weekend to get to me.  I KNOW that vendor did not ship when they said they did, even though the vendor expressly states on his profile that he does not mark in transit until its in the mailbox.  I have also seen another vendor who explicitly states the same, and demands you NOT contact them to ask if the product has been placed in the mail if its in transit.  At least twice that I am aware of, this vendor has posted a box of packages from a week or so ago never got put in the mail.  Now, this vendor has been honest and posted the updates when it happens, but how many are not?  So, whether by intentional scamming or honest mistakes, I bet more packages really are not getting delivered than some of the vendors claim.

I prefer tracking on my packages, then again, I am getting low risk items.  Of course, tracking is like any other lock - its only going to stop the honest thief..  I dont really know them, but I have heard people talking about many ways to push a tracking number through without ever actually posting a package.  The other problem I see is vendors (US) claiming they cannot do tracking because it requires them to go to the post office.   Am I hallucinating, or have I not printed my own shipping labels with tracking from the comfort of my own home???

I also do not see how it is in their best interest to never scam....   a, theyre getting free money   b. most of the ones doing that are the same ones demanding 5/5 feedback regardless of how the transaction played out, or they threaten to or actually do post the buyers name in vendor public black out lists so negative fb isnt a huge deterrent    c.  They get banned, lay low for a month or two, and come back with multiple accounts and start doing business again.  I  mean, you can see it in the newbie forum, vendors coming out saying they are no where near new to sr, but new account, gotta spam to 50...      Why did they need a new account, and what was their old one??