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From: ung@felix.UUCP (Bill Ung)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Buying via "Net-Order"
Message-ID: <147692@felix.UUCP>
Date: 9 Jul 90 23:17:47 GMT
References: <23502@snow-white.udel.EDU> <200@mohawk.cs.utexas.edu>
Sender: daemon@felix.UUCP
Reply-To: ung@felix.UUCP (Bill Ung)
Organization: FileNet Corp., Costa Mesa, CA
Lines: 43

In article <200@mohawk.cs.utexas.edu> bryan@cs.utexas.edu writes:
>In article <23502@snow-white.udel.EDU> jones@uv4.eglin.af.mil (Calvin Jones, III) writes:
[stuff deleted]
>	Here's where I was even more stupid.  Instead of making the effort to
>go to the bank right away and depositing the check, I just sat on it.  My
>reasoning?  He knows I have two weeks to clear the check, it must be good
>right?  In my defense I have to say that it never occurred to me that someone
>would willfully withold payment for merchandise that was acceptable.

[check bounces, person get's screwed]

>	You can damn sure that I won't be carrying out any more check
>transactions with people that aren't personally known to me.

Here it appears your own stupidity was your undoing.  It's always best to
deposit the check IMMEDIATELY.  If not for anything else, $950 generates
enouogh interest to make it worth your while.  Since you are dealing with
someone you do not know, it's best to cover yourself anyway.  In short,
don't blame the net, it was your fault ... just don't let it happen again.

>	The best solution is to use some reputable transfer agent.  The seller
>can ship the equipment to some randomly chosen lawyer close to the buyer.  The
>buyer then brings a certified check to the lawyers offices, checks out the
>equipment, and exchanges check for equipment if it proves satisfactory.  Lawyer
>then forwards either check or rejected equipment to seller.  Most attorneys
>will probably charge $50 to $100 for this, but it's advisable for large
>transactions.  There are others that can act as disinterested transfer agents.

The best solution is just to wait for the check to clear before sending the
merchandise ... provided the other person trusts you.  If not, UPS COD should
do fine.

>	If anyone knows the whereabouts of one Richard A. Brooks, I'd
>appreciate hearing fom you.

Sorry, if this guy is on the net reading this, he's probably laughing his
ass off.  I know I would be.  I hate to take nasty pokes at people when
they are down (I know, this post really proves that) but this whole incident
could have been avoided with a little common sense.  The other guy is a
jerk, no disagreement there, but he made an idiot out of you as well.

Bill Ung
  ung@felix.UUCP