The Newbie Scams, Deceipt and Pitfalls Thread

[lnevo]

I recommend going with your gut instincts when doing a deal. Every time I've had a bad feeling about a transaction, I've let my inner addict loose and gone through with it only to realize after I should have trusted my instincts. I know thats not a concrete thing to look for, hindsight is always 20/20.

 

[d5332]

agree, if folks can afford new then buy new.

I rather not debate on this, this thread is pointers for newbies as appose to personal opinions on buying preferences and I dont mean this rudely.

We all take chances in life and this world is filled with hustlers and even worst therefore the whole point of this thread is to provide newbies with pointers in the hopes at least one newbie finds the thread and avoids being ripped off or doing things the long or wrong way and so on and so on.

So your point is made, let's help newbies minimize the chances of doing things the wrong way and or of being ripped off.

QUOTE=Brad15;1500784]If you are worried about being ripped off or scammed then buy new. If you are looking for deals and steals especially with the hefty price tags of equipment in this hobby, then that's the chance you take when buying used. Sometimes you meet honest people and you win. Sometimes you meet scumbags and you lose.[/QUOTE]

 

[d5332]

You know, some people present themselves like such nice folks that we end up ignoring our instincts, oh I have been there.

This is why I no longer buy anything that is used if the seller does not accept paypal, swindlers know how to play the part and they got me once.

Many many years ago I purchased a coralife skimmer which I believed to be the 125g and it turned out to be the 65g model. I did not know any better and it was all clean and boxed up for me and the seller was in no rush to get me out of their house. Instead I got a tour of the fish tank and was entertained to the point that I felt bad asking him to let me inspect the skimmer, he seemed like such a great person and he had such a nice fish tank.

Fast forward to today and I research dimensions, models, reviews, recalls and whatever else I can before I let it happen to me again and yes I paid him in cash.

I recommend going with your gut instincts when doing a deal. Every time I've had a bad feeling about a transaction, I've let my inner addict loose and gone through with it only to realize after I should have trusted my instincts. I know thats not a concrete thing to look for, hindsight is always 20/20.

 

[bkstang]

One more opinion and piece of advice. Research the buyer/seller ratings and comments.
Don't be afraid to leave a negative or neutral rating if you have a valid reason to do so. Leave a positive rating if you are completely satisfied and leave a comment why/why not.

 

[Brad15]

Ok cool. Im a newbie as well.

 

[d5332]

PITFALL
Dont place a heater in a plastic sump or tub, you run the risk of burning a huge hole.

Own and calibrate your refractometer during every water change, salinity in your tank can change slowly over time and slowly and can cause "unexplained" losses.

When making RO water buy a $30 Eshopps float valve or you will end up with huge spills and potential property damage and this is just a given. Place your container in the bathtub until you get the float valve.

 

[Cu455]

PITFALL
Dont place a heater in a plastic sump or tub, you run the risk of burning a huge hole.

Have you seen this happen or actually know of it happing?

 

[d5332]

Yes I have seen it and many others have as well. Need to use a heater shield that keeps the actual heater away from the plastic walls.

Have you seen this happen or actually know of it happing?

 

[Cu455]

I never had issues with my set up. I also never thought about the heater burning a hole. I am defiantly going to take the cautious route and get some heater guards. Or drill holes in a piece of PVC and use that. Good suggestion .

 

[edd]

i use a heater in a plastic tote all the time.
as long as theirs water in tub its not going to melt it.

 

[d5332]

Usually happens on permanent setups

i use a heater in a plastic tote all the time.
as long as theirs water in tub its not going to melt it.

 

[xclusive252]

"Its yours can you come one the weekend to get it"
"sure"
weekend comes
"Sorry someone wanted it so I sold it"
check with the person before you take the trip out there as the seller is just looking to get rid of it so dont waste the gas

 

[d5332]

SCAM / DECEPTION

Seller indicates he is selling x amount of coral for x amount of money. Buyer shows up to notice that the best corals that were depicted in the for sale pictures are gone.

The corals either died, belonged to his brother or just mysteriously disappeared from the sale, WALK AWAY

 

[d5332]

SCAM (sometimes)

For sale Reflo pump approximately 2 years old, only reason selling is that its too much flow for my tank.

Sometimes folks like to sell pumps that need new seals or impellers without disclosing the mechanical issues therefore you get scammed and would have been better off buying the pump new and with warranty.

 

[Clink51]

ADVICE:

Be on time, it really is just that simple. If your Selling, be home at the time your expecting the buyer. If your Buying, be there at what ever time the Seller and you have worked out. If your running late, as traffic and life happen, text, pm, call, smoke signal, carrier pigeon (or crow) them and advise them of your delay. Most of us have gps on the phone with an estimated ETA, use it.

 

[bkstang]

ADVICE:
If you are selling, make sure you include your full address, not only in the sale thread but also in the final communication with the buyer.
Once in spite of the fact that I always include borough and my zip in the sale thread, a buyer was looking for me on the Upper West Side after I texted him when he was late. Some Brooklyn addresses look similar or identical to Manhattan and some folks do not consider Brooklyn a part of NY.

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

Scams will never die ..... Ever!

 

[Nandez13]

ADVICE:
If you are selling, make sure you include your full address, not only in the sale thread but also in the final communication with the buyer.
Once in spite of the fact that I always include borough and my zip in the sale thread, a buyer was looking for me on the Upper West Side after I texted him when he was late. Some Brooklyn addresses look similar or identical to Manhattan and some folks do not consider Brooklyn a part of NY.

I don't know about that. I have never posted my address or phone number on this site and never will. You don't have to be a member to read the threads on MR and I don't see why I would want to share that information with the world. I'll put my zip code in the thread and if the person isn't bright enough to use google to find out what neighborhood that is, oh well. I won't usually give up my address/number until the person has agreed to meet, everything up to then is through PM. Maybe it's just my paranoia but I'm always surprised how many people post their numbers everywhere on this site.


On another note, I always get a kick out of people saying "I'll let it go for $XXX", when it's not reasonably priced at all. For all the newbies, a quick search on this site is all it takes to have an idea how much to pay for a certain coral/fish. Don't pay anyone on here store prices unless it's something you really want and haven't been able to find.

 

[ming]

ADVICE:
If you are selling, make sure you include your full address, not only in the sale thread but also in the final communication with the buyer.
Once in spite of the fact that I always include borough and my zip in the sale thread, a buyer was looking for me on the Upper West Side after I texted him when he was late. Some Brooklyn addresses look similar or identical to Manhattan and some folks do not consider Brooklyn a part of NY.

If I'm talking to someone who is in the 5 boro's (possibly NJ/Westchester too), I don't consider Brooklyn part of "the city"

If I'm talking to someone who is NOT from the 5 boro's, I would consider Brooklyn part of "the city"

Don't ask me why, this is just how I always used it

 

[ming]

I don't know about that. I have never posted my address or phone number on this site and never will. You don't have to be a member to read the threads on MR and I don't see why I would want to share that information with the world. I'll put my zip code in the thread and if the person isn't bright enough to use google to find out what neighborhood that is, oh well. I won't usually give up my address/number until the person has agreed to meet, everything up to then is through PM. Maybe it's just my paranoia but I'm always surprised how many people post their numbers everywhere on this site.


On another note, I always get a kick out of people saying "I'll let it go for $XXX", when it's not reasonably priced at all. For all the newbies, a quick search on this site is all it takes to have an idea how much to pay for a certain coral/fish. Don't pay anyone on here store prices unless it's something you really want and haven't been able to find.

Pretty sure he meant full address in a PM, not posted on the threads for all to read. If I don't get a PM with their address and cell phone #, I will not bother heading out to a seller. Meeting in a corner of a street is a little too shady for me.