A reminder about your trades and purchases

Seems like there has been a surge in problems with trading and buying lately. People have been posting pictures on Facebook and Instagram of bubble mailers that either have a hole torn or cut in the back. Allegedly someone out there has been cutting their mailers to make it look like something happened during mailing and dropping them in the collection boxes so it still goes out without intervention from the post office desk people.

Just be sure to trade and buy safely, everyone!

When buying a pin on Facebook or Instagram (or any of the boards around) always run Paypal transactions as Goods or Services.
INSIST on sending money as Goods or Services, even offer to compensate for the fees. If the seller insists on Friend and Family transaction, do not follow through! PayPal has protection if you pay using the Goods and Services option!

If you're trading with someone unfamiliar, trading valuable pins, or if you're just uneasy, use a trusted 3rd party!
It does cost a little extra, but it's worth it. Both people involved in the trade send their pins to a trusted 3rd party who will make sure no one gets ripped off and then sends the pins off to their final destinations.
There are plenty of users here who will volunteer for this role!

I've stopped trading on Facebook because of getting scammed a couple of times. Not the empty envelope ~ but I have set up to trade and I send my pin and get no pin in return. Happened twice - no more trading for me (unless I have traded with them before and they are trustworthy). I save my trading for here.

Remember there will always be scammers. There have been those since the dawn of time. A good resource is still available here:

http://www.rnrcollectables.com/referencemain.htm

All you need is the trading partner's email address.

If something seems to good to be true it probably is and use of a third party is always a good way to wee those out. If the other person balks at using a third party then you don't want to trade with them any way.

I am available to act as a third party and have done so in the past.

Thanks for the great information!! I just started using FB for trading & purchasing to fill in some of our wants. So far so good, keeping my fingers crossed. I can't believe anyone would post a pick of an LBE ready to ship, with a hole in the LBE....that's just ridiculous--couldn't that be used as proof against them?

GoofyinMadison said:

Thanks for the great information!! I just started using FB for trading & purchasing to fill in some of our wants. So far so good, keeping my fingers crossed. I can't believe anyone would post a pick of an LBE ready to ship, with a hole in the LBE....that's just ridiculous--couldn't that be used as proof against them?

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It's the people who are receiving these envelopes that are posting the pics on facebook.
Apparently they seem to be coming from someone who was a known scammer who vanished for a while but has turned up again.

There are plenty of honest people out there, but just takes a few to ruin it for everyone :/

a4matte said:

It's the people who are receiving these envelopes that are posting the pics on facebook.
Apparently they seem to be coming from someone who was a known scammer who vanished for a while but has turned up again.

There are plenty of honest people out there, but just takes a few to ruin it for everyone :/

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Any chance that person lives in Vegas?

Yep, we've seen those facebook posts and it's terrible! Thank you for spreading the awareness

Those post about the holes in the envelope are actually referring to a well known scammer. Not sure if I can add a name but I'm pretty sure a lot of you know him. He's been arrested for scamming people in electronics as well so it's not just pins.

docfish2u said:

Any chance that person lives in Vegas?

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Nope, this one is in Southern California and has the initials V.A. He was the one who was arrested at DSF a year or so ago. Doc: you might want to consider setting up a FB account for just pins (sis has one for just Disney pins). Pin Traders United and a few other groups mention V.A. from time to time.

Such an excellent reminder! :bigthumb: Thanks for all the info...and if I ever trade with anyone I do not know David, I will be using you as a third party if that is okay!

jadeites-lady said:

Nope, this one is in Southern California and has the initials V.A. He was the one who was arrested at DSF a year or so ago. Doc: you might want to consider setting up a FB account for just pins (sis has one for just Disney pins). Pin Traders United and a few other groups mention V.A. from time to time.

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Nope, not going to do it. I am resisting the evil that is FB. Besides I do not have enough time to do what I want as it is.

nsingleton said:

Such an excellent reminder! :bigthumb: Thanks for all the info...and if I ever trade with anyone I do not know David, I will be using you as a third party if that is okay!

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Oh I am sorry Nate, that offer was for anybody else but you. oke: Of course that is okay. :lol: