An idea to deter newbie scammers ?

[gnf1]

Sorry, I know this is not an ad for a gun I'm selling. But, I think it's pertinent to all of us who surf this forum looking for that special deal. This was supposed to be a reply to the thread about the Colt Python E-nickled selling for $1,500 by a newbie named "hangamak", but the thread was closed. So I felt I should still share this with all of you.

Here's an idea that may help ferret out any scammers. Especially the ones with the low post count and zero feedback.
Back when I played competitive slow-pitch softball, there was a web forum called SoftballFans.com. There was a for-sale section where members can buy, sell, or trade softball bats. The high performance softball bats garnered the highest prices. Other bats were new-in-the wrapper, others were well worn, but still usable. This gave the forum members a chance to try out different bats in different weights instead of taking the chance and buying a brand new one and getting disappointed. For the most part this worked great. But, recently some bad apples were selling bats that were not true to it's condition/description even though pics were posted along with the ad. So to stop this, the forum required all bat sales to not only have a pic of the bat(s), but an informal piece of paper handwritten with the sellers username/handle and the date of the first post displayed on top of the bats. That way the buyer is assured that it's not a pic of the bat(s) taken from somebody else's collection or from another for-sale website.

Maybe the same thing could be required of newbies on this forum.
So for example, if "hangamak" would care to re-post his pic of the Python, but this time include a simple handwritten sign that says "hangamak 7-17-2015" and placed it under the gun, we would be pretty sure the pic of the Python was not stolen from Armslist. We're not asking for the pic to show a driver's license or a thumbprint. LOL
I hope this helps.

Thanks,
Gene

[[Variable]]

You can also use tineye.com to see if the image is somewhere else on the net.

[gnf1]

Yes. But my way puts the ownership on the seller to be authentic from the get-go instead of the buyer searching for a duplicate pic.

[lorax3]

We already have marketplace rules that people don't follow. Simple ones like putting your location in your post or price is required.

Folks don't bother to conform to those rules, so why your idea in theory would help curb scam sales, it would never work in practice. It also creates a higher barrier to entry for those who are less computer savvy. I want as many people as possible to come and try to sell their firearms on Calguns so those guns stay in California. That means even people who don't know how to post photos.

For the amount of guns that are bought and sold on Calguns every day, the number of fake threads reported is pretty low. No matter what the rules are, the bottom line remains: caveat emptor.

Also, moving this thread to site suggestions.

[rkt88edmo]

I like this as a best practice suggestion, I would add a card or post it with your username, if you are a zero feedback seller.

[Oceanbob]

I like this as a best practice suggestion, I would add a card or post it with your username, if you are a zero feedback seller.

Good idea ^^^^^

Simple and effective.

Bob

[232_ray]

Sorry, I know this is not an ad for a gun I'm selling. But, I think it's pertinent to all of us who surf this forum looking for that special deal. This was supposed to be a reply to the thread about the Colt Python E-nickled selling for $1,500 by a newbie named "hangamak", but the thread was closed. So I felt I should still share this with all of you.

Here's an idea that may help ferret out any scammers. Especially the ones with the low post count and zero feedback.
Back when I played competitive slow-pitch softball, there was a web forum called SoftballFans.com. There was a for-sale section where members can buy, sell, or trade softball bats. The high performance softball bats garnered the highest prices. Other bats were new-in-the wrapper, others were well worn, but still usable. This gave the forum members a chance to try out different bats in different weights instead of taking the chance and buying a brand new one and getting disappointed. For the most part this worked great. But, recently some bad apples were selling bats that were not true to it's condition/description even though pics were posted along with the ad. So to stop this, the forum required all bat sales to not only have a pic of the bat(s), but an informal piece of paper handwritten with the sellers username/handle and the date of the first post displayed on top of the bats. That way the buyer is assured that it's not a pic of the bat(s) taken from somebody else's collection or from another for-sale website.

Maybe the same thing could be required of newbies on this forum.
So for example, if "hangamak" would care to re-post his pic of the Python, but this time include a simple handwritten sign that says "hangamak 7-17-2015" and placed it under the gun, we would be pretty sure the pic of the Python was not stolen from Armslist. We're not asking for the pic to show a driver's license or a thumbprint. LOL
I hope this helps.

Thanks,
Gene

Hey OP so what your telling me is that u have some "OG flexs" and extendeds??? Or do u have 100H's???

[DennisCA]

"lorax3 - We already have marketplace rules that people don't follow."

Yup - totally agree!
These days you just have to extra cautious.
"In God we trust-all other we verify"

[sealocan]

it's a good idea in theory but as pointed out before people already have problems just following the relatively simple Marketplace instructions because maybe there a new here or new on computers or they just don't care to follow instructions...rules don't apply to them.

but here is my suggestion to your idea that actually makes it somewhat easier for non computer experts.

instead of going through the time and slight hassle of altering your photos digitally to blackout or cover the serial number.

take that small piece of paper with the recommended information above written on it ( Calguns handle and the date you started selling the item.) and place it on top of the serial number as you take your photographs.

(of course if you're the type that doesn't mind giving your serial number out to the entire Internet, it doesn't matter where you place paper information tag.)

[rkt88edmo]

Two birds with one stone.

Sharpies work on tinfoil.

it's a good idea in theory but as pointed out before people already have problems just following the relatively simple Marketplace instructions because maybe there a new here or new on computers or they just don't care to follow instructions...rules don't apply to them.

but here is my suggestion to your idea that actually makes it somewhat easier for non computer experts.

instead of going through the time and slight hassle of altering your photos digitally to blackout or cover the serial number.

take that small piece of paper with the recommended information above written on it ( Calguns handle and the date you started selling the item.) and place it on top of the serial number as you take your photographs.

(of course if you're the type that doesn't mind giving your serial number out to the entire Internet, it doesn't matter where you place paper information tag.)

[1911whore]

How about banning scammers for life instead of deleting posts identifying their scam and allowing them to keep posting scam sales just because they are "Contributing members" Maybe that would help...