Am I horrible?

[jasimon1]

I was setting up a trade today and something just seemed off. It's hard to explain and maybe a little crazy but the person only gave one word answers. Most traders I have traded with LIKE to talk. lol. Maybe I have just gotten used to nice traders. Anyway. So with suspicion in my mind, I started doing some checking. The email got me no where so I got her address. Now this is the part I want to know if I'm horrible for. The address comes up as both subsidized housing and as the address for an erotic asian escort. Hmmm. Am I horrible for not considering a trade with this person?

[TripperFan]

Not at all! I'd stay the hell away from them!!

Go with your gut feeling! Who cares if you hurt their feelings - I hate one word and even one sentence answers when you're trying to exchange information.

[T-Greg]

Originally Posted by jasimon1

I was setting up a trade today and something just seemed off. It's hard to explain and maybe a little crazy but the person only gave one word answers. Most traders I have traded with LIKE to talk. lol. Maybe I have just gotten used to nice traders. Anyway. So with suspicion in my mind, I started doing some checking. The email got me no where so I got her address. Now this is the part I want to know if I'm horrible for. The address comes up as both subsidized housing and as the address for an erotic asian escort. Hmmm. Am I horrible for not considering a trade with this person?

The address may be for Mailboxes, etc. It may look like a valid, residental address. Do a reverse address search to see if you get several hits for the same address. It just might be. If it is, I'd stay away because it could only be bad news.

[loren]

i havent a clue who this may be---

but many honest people have mail boxes etc or ups store mail boxes for honest reasons

example, they may work at a real job and cant receive mail there, so during the day when mail arrives and needs to be signed for, no one is home--also the postal hours are not good for working folks

so a solution is get a ups store box, the clerk signs for any packages and you can get them 24 hours in many cases

another reason is many folks are a little scared about posting their street address all over the net, many wierdos and thieves there to see the info, so they get a mail box drop and they feel much safer

i wouldnt dismiss a person just because they have a ups mail drop

[Agent 13]

I go by my gut feeling almost 100% of the time. Better safe than sorry, especially if they're not sending first.

The people that I've enjoyed trading with the most are those that enjoy talking about this hobby. Some men are more tight lipped, but if you're dealing with a female that's short in her responses, that'd make me all the more nervous.

Jen

[lordsmurf]

Nothing wrong with being brief.

[T-Greg]

Originally Posted by loren

i havent a clue who this may be---

but many honest people have mail boxes etc or ups store mail boxes for honest reasons

example, they may work at a real job and cant receive mail there, so during the day when mail arrives and needs to be signed for, no one is home--also the postal hours are not good for working folks

so a solution is get a ups store box, the clerk signs for any packages and you can get them 24 hours in many cases

another reason is many folks are a little scared about posting their street address all over the net, many wierdos and thieves there to see the info, so they get a mail box drop and they feel much safer

i wouldnt dismiss a person just because they have a ups mail drop

Loren. You give valid reasons. My personal experience with people using Mailboxes Etc has not been good.

[nannyfan]

I am turning in my keys for an UPS Store (formerly Mail Boxes, ect.) box tomorrow because I no longer need the box. However, I just moved back from overseas and needed a forwarding address.

These places require identification to rent a box - the same identification used to rent an apartment - a driver's license. There isn't any more guarantee you will/will not get ripped off just because someone has what appears to be a true residential address versus a rented mail box.

However, I agree with Agent 13, in that most traders tend to be chatty. Why not insist on this person sending first and wait until you receive & check what they have sent to you. Once you are satisfied, burn your side of the trade and ship. If the person is legit, and doesn't mind waiting - all will be well in the end

[japanesemark]

Hi,
i also agree with most of the comments made, if you are going into a trade and something doesnt feel right or you have a gut feeling then its not worth taking the risk of being scammed and as long as you are polite about your reasons for not trading then you are not horrible , you are just being sensible. I recently backed out of a trade because It didnt feel right and I didnt feel that I could trust the guy, and also that it was more trouble than it was worth so I just said Good luck in you search for ....... and left it at that, theres no need to be rude , mind you he did sulk a bit and posted some stupid comments about me but that is his problem not mine
In my opinion when you trade with other people that youve contacted on a message board its like meeting someone for the first time and you meet people for the first time then its its natural to start up a conversation and good manners to be friendly. By talking a little bit it can help the person your trying to trade with trust you , but with one or 2 words or short breif sentances , you have no idea what the person is like
Someone posted on another board that they were looking for 'Follyfoot' a British TV Series, and I answered the post saying that I had it and would be interested in trading and they answered with 'How much?' and nothing else ....... for me thats rude , so I wont trade with people like that. If someone answered , Thanks for your reply How much for the Series then thats short but polite so thats fine by me

The points about giving your address to strangers over the internet is an interesting one , as for me I never lock my front door even when I go out all day is quite normal for me but this is Japan and its a very peaceful country (mostly) and I dont feel worried about giving my address out over the internet so when someone expresses a need to be careful and use a Post Box to keep their address private or secure it feels strange , but seeing as this is ever more common in the US there obviously a need for it and it basically comes down to you have to keep yourself secure and protect yourself. With Post Boxes becoming more and more common Its hard to avoid not sending to them
As you can see I have a lot of free time today Mark

[jasimon1]

It's not a Mailboxes, Etc. type place I'm 99% sure. It comes back as a subsidized housing project and the address has an apt # in it. Plus its in California so my mind immediatly went to the California scammer from a few weeks ago that was taking peoples money. Maybe he did it enough and can afford subsidized housing now. lol. Yeah, I'm just gonna go with my gut. If it had been something I had wanted I may try to further it carefully but I was really just picking something I didn't really want but could tolerate because I had something she wanted and I was trying to be nice.

[japanesemark]

Fair enough , but the main point is you arent being horrible you are being cautios and sensible, good luck with your trading

[TripperFan]

Glad to hear you're taking the safe route - I sure would in this case.

You're not horrible at all - just by you asking that and posting the question tells me that you sound like a very nice, sensible person who hates insulting anyone, but at the same time, is wise enough not to get ripped off!

Happy trading!

[Agent 13]

Originally Posted by RareTVonDVD

Go with your gut feeling. If somebody gives off a hinky vibe, walk away. TV traders are like busses -- there'll be another one along in 15 minutes.

I like that one. It has been my experience that if you're patient, the things you really want will eventually come around. Meanwhile, pick up other items that are of interest.