Preventing rip-off transactions from Ezone members

[Danny Troy]

I was very disturbed to read a fellow Ezoner had paid someone 850.00 in October for merchandise he still has not received, and it looks like he never will receive the merchandise.

I think a new policy should be put in place in the "For Sale" forum to prevent this. Well maybe the idea I have won't prevent it, but it will make it easier to track down the offender and assist in prosecution.

How about a verification process whereby you must provide a valid home address before you can post in the For Sale forum.
I would imagine it would be a simple process via software to prevent anyone who isn't verified from accessing the For Sale forum.
It would of course cost the Ezone management in the way of postage since the Ezoner applying would need to respond after receiving his verification request via snail mail, so Ezone would need to be reimbursed for the postage at least. The cost would be nominal, maybe a buck or two. I certainly wouldn't mind paying that one time fee to have some peace of mind when I send someone money.

Is this a crazy idea, or can it really be done?

[Andy W]

Would you like to administer this system?
..a

[Steve H.]

Wont do anything, I think the $850 you are referring to was not stolen, he got most of the stuff just not all of it like the ad said. And the person used a real address.

If software like that would work, Ebay and everywhere else would use it, its against Ebay's policy to sign up with a p.o. box (I think) or an address that isnt yours or valid but people do it everyday and they cant stop it.

the only way to positivly not get ripped off, is to not buy from anyone.

[Danny Troy]

Cue, I realize the idea won't entirely fix the problem, but it might help curtail it. Buying stuff on Ebay is a lot less risky as long as the item is less than 200.00. Ebay is pretty good at backing up their fraud claim policy. If you purchase with Paypal you have some recourse there also, but Paypal isn't so liberal when it comes to getting your money back. Of course if you funded your Paypal account with a credit card, as I do, you have some recourse there also.

It's a problem not easily solved, but there has to be a better way than "no way".

[Steve H.]

Originally posted by Danny Troy

It's a problem not easily solved, but there has to be a better way than "no way".

No, not really. There isnt as you say "no way" either, people post when there are good and bad transactions, there is feedback systems other places, If someone wants to rip you off, they will find a way and there wont be much that can stop it if they are persistant.
Ive done thousands of transactions on the net and have only been ripped off once, The person had a valid address which I verified online, name, talked to them on the phone, and everything, still happened though. You just have to do some research into who you are buying from, what the amount is, where they are located, etc. and make good judgement on that.

[Danny Troy]

Yes, I've done at least hundreds of transactions on the Net, and that includes giving my credit card number. I've been on the Net almost from the beginning....heck I did online banking with Citibank in the early 80's using a Commodore 64. So far I really can't say I've been ripped off, except for a used fax/modem switch off Ebay that didn't seem to work. Didn't even pay enough to complain about it though.
Ebay's feedback system is a great tool. I see a guy with 400 positives, and no negatives. I would be pretty foolish to think he's been waiting till I bid on an item to screw someone.
By the same token, I'll think twice about bidding on an item when the seller has 0 feedbacks, or worse, too many negatives.
I know there's been talk of a similar system of feedback on Ezone. That would be a improvement.

[Steve H.]

yea, the feedback system would be nice, even RCU has it.