(Topic ID: 334857)

I was handed a nice thick envelope

By Mr68

11 months ago


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  • 294 posts
  • 154 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 9 months ago by luch
  • Topic is favorited by 11 Pinsiders

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    There are 294 posts in this topic. You are on page 2 of 6.
    #51 11 months ago

    I usually count out the money in front of the buyer so he doesn't need to. That prevents me from accidentally shorting or overpaying, and it relieves the seller from having to ask.

    I once was in Minnesota and agreed to buy an $11,000 item from a guy there. He told me, "Just take it back on the plane with you and send me a check when you get home." I thanked him but told him I didn't want to carry it on the plane....so he mailed it to me and I mailed him his check and we were both satisfied. The point being...it sure is nice when two upstanding people do a deal.

    As for the OP's story, I agree it was an attempted scam.

    #52 11 months ago
    Quoted from RockfordReplay:

    Our local Police Chief actually stated for us to trade goods within their safe-zones. We're supposed to tell the buyer to take a hike if they refuse to trade within their zones. I've never heard of anything like this so close to home. Some crazy sh'tuff must be going on out there.[quoted image]

    I’ve done that before! Someone asked me to meet at a police station. I called ahead and they said it was fine. Turns out the seller of a large collection of Nintendo games was a small child and their mother. I really felt like an ass.

    Jokes on the kid though, Covid happened and the collection tripled in value.

    #53 11 months ago
    Quoted from RCA1:

    Two related stories about myself. Both times I'm the buyer. Both times the sellers were good people.
    First time we get the game broken down and in my pickup. Body in the back, head in the passenger seat.
    Me: Oh crap, I forgot the cash!
    Seller (not happy): At home!?
    Me: No, it's the the seat console. We need to take the head back out so I can get it to give to you.
    Seller: Oh, well OK then.
    Second one:
    Seller (counting cash): Hey, you're $X00.00 short here!
    Me: Wait, don't you remember I sent you that through paypal as a deposit?
    Seller (embarassed): Oh man, you're right. I'm sorry. I just forgot.
    Anyway, odd situations happen to everyone.
    But the OP's experience is different. That HAD to be deliberate to happen that way.

    I’ve heard of people carrying 2 envelopes so when walking into sketchy or blind situations like that, if you get robbed, you lose the smaller amount instead of everything. Once they establish trust and hand off the first envelope, then they start loading, and give the seller the 2nd.

    In today’s world, that’s not a bad idea, although I prefer to just play it safe at this point. I don’t need a machine so bad that I’m loading out from the basement of a crackhouse.

    #54 11 months ago
    Quoted from jkashani:

    Funny to get downvotes for a simple joke that most people would not take offense to, most normal people that is.

    I enjoyed it

    #55 11 months ago

    Since there won't be any cash in the near future, the Feds will already know how much the sale price was.

    #56 11 months ago

    Did my first delivery a few weeks ago. All my other sales here and CL were cash and carry. This was a Pinsider with very low history, and rain was coming that night. I just needed space so I was willing to go out of my way. Rushed down there and had the game triple bundled up.

    When I got there it was apparent there was no game plan how to get it into the town house, and the dimensions involved required a TON of planning as we could’ve gotten stuck three different ways and had to back out.

    Once I determined a game plan that could work and got it “borderline” set up, he handed me an envelope with over $5k in it. Only then did I realize it was so stupid of me to do all that with no guarantee of payment or deposit.

    Thankfully the buyer was a great guy and the envelope had the correct amount in it, but it was a quick reminder that I need to check all boxes like I do when it’s cash and carry in my house. If that envelope was light and I was already through 3 tight corners on delivery, it would be a shit sandwich trying to figure that all out.

    #57 11 months ago
    Quoted from Yoko2una:

    Did my first delivery a few weeks ago. All my other sales here and CL were cash and carry. This was a Pinsider with very low history, and rain was coming that night. I just needed space so I was willing to go out of my way. Rushed down there and had the game triple bundled up.
    When I got there it was apparent there was no game plan how to get it into the town house, and the dimensions involved required a TON of planning as we could’ve gotten stuck three different ways and had to back out.
    Once I determined a game plan that could work and got it “borderline” set up, he handed me an envelope with over $5k in it. Only then did I realize it was so stupid of me to do all that with no guarantee of payment or deposit.
    Thankfully the buyer was a great guy and the envelope had the correct amount in it, but it was a quick reminder that I need to check all boxes like I do when it’s cash and carry in my house. If that envelope was light and I was already through 3 tight corners on delivery, it would be a shit sandwich trying to figure that all out.

    It's gotten to the point where if I'm dealing with a noob and delivering a game, I'll ask for a video of the route in, along with measurements. You'd be surprised how many homes simply aren't really suitable for moving something with the odd dimensions of a pinball machine strapped on to an appliance dolly.

    On Long Island, it's probably about half of them. And about 90 percent for anything built in the 70s or earlier.

    If I'm going to have to take the head off of a WPC game to get into someone's house, I'd like to know that while I'm still at my shop.

    #58 11 months ago

    With new people I always count, as with people I dealt with before. Only difference between the two is I always use a counterfeit checking pen on a first time buyer. I count and fan the money out right in front of them then swipe the pen across them all.

    #59 11 months ago
    Quoted from koji:

    Yeah, I don't understand the point of a concealed weapon except for self defence.

    I think that's his point

    #60 11 months ago

    Buddy sold a Rolex $4.5k, counted out the cash, set down the envelope. Buyer left with the watch. He checked the envelope again later, all singles. Buyer swapped the envelope at some point. He had to fight with his insurance company, but they did pay. When he made the police report, cops told him some "gypsies" had been running that scam in the area.

    10
    #61 11 months ago

    The envelope escapade was probably only half the scam. The guys probably did a quick inventory of other items in your house for a future visit.

    #62 11 months ago

    I'm not sure who wouldn't count the cash. In fact, please do.

    #63 11 months ago
    Quoted from gandamack:

    The envelope escapade was probably only half the scam. The guys probably did a quick inventory of other items in your house for a future visit.

    That's likely, I agree with you. When a house is burglarized, most people believe its a random, unlucky event. But it's often committed by someone who has been there before and someone they might never suspect.

    #64 11 months ago

    Many years ago when I was much younger. I responded to an ad in the reader for a couple concert tickets.

    I was over by the "UofM" in Dinkytown. Went to the address. No one home. A small grocery store across the street was open. I went over there. The man working knew about the deal and told me to go back across the street and meet the man in the alley.

    Okay, I did that. Figuring what was going to happen.

    Worked out great. I got two tickets and didn't cost me any money.

    LTG : )

    #65 11 months ago
    Quoted from Mr68:

    So the guy finishes packing and removing the game in one of the quickest turnarounds I've ever had. No geek out conversations about our hobby or Pinside, nothing and poof, they were gone.
    After they left, I turned to my friend and I told him I'd never deal with that guy again, as I believed the envelope story was an intentional con. My friend was a bit perplexed as he saw it as an innocent mistake. I later convinced him otherwise.
    This is why I always count the cash and count it with them standing right there. It was also a good reminder of my conceal carry weapon.

    Total scam. You definitely should out whoever that was. It wasn't their first try at that.

    If I sell a pin in person, I make it clear I need 100s upfront so people don't arrive with 20s (and DEFINITELY not 10s, 5s, 1s). I also have a bill counter that can count a stack in seconds.

    #66 11 months ago
    Quoted from Methos:

    Since there won't be any cash in the near future, the Feds will already know how much the sale price was.

    There's already a lot of cash tracking. If you spend cash at a casino, bank, supermarket chain of any size, that cash is automatically recorded and reported. The bill counters spit out a report with the serials of all the cash run through them. Govt can follow the flow of specific bills and patterns that develop over time let them hone in on specific individuals - if they want to look.

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    #67 11 months ago
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    #68 11 months ago

    I hate scammers.

    #69 11 months ago
    Quoted from Richthofen:

    What are you gonna do, shoot the guy? Over a pinball machine? Crook or not you have to avail yourself of the courts. Maybe the game you sold was Judge Dredd.

    its not over a pinball machine, its over thousands of dollars... a felony. yeah, he would limp home for that much!

    #70 11 months ago

    the-sopranos-silvio-dante.gifthe-sopranos-silvio-dante.gif

    #71 11 months ago

    Cmon , did nobody catch Lloyds ending ?

    #72 11 months ago

    This is why I avoid Craigslist for selling these days. Too many horror stories. Pinside marketplace is not perfect, but there’s a lot less chance of running into this IMHO. Glad it ended up safe and really good idea to have your friend there with you.

    #73 11 months ago
    Quoted from PinMonk:

    Total scam. You definitely should out whoever that was. It wasn't their first try at that.
    If I sell a pin in person, I make it clear I need 100s upfront so people don't arrive with 20s (and DEFINITELY not 10s, 5s, 1s). I also have a bill counter that can count a stack in seconds.

    My bank gets ridiculously annoyed when I request hundreds. So stupid.
    Better be ready to get a ton of lip from the teller for wanting a measly $500.

    Quoted from Kkoss24:

    Cmon , did nobody catch Lloyds ending ?

    Lloyd the Great made a new friend who was so gracious that he happily gave him the tickets.

    That or... Lloyd’s back alley skills more than paid for the tickets (paging @beelzeboob)

    #74 11 months ago

    You better count your money,
    when you're sittin' at the table.

    #75 11 months ago

    HATE it when this happens to my pinball brothers like @mr68.
    Cash on glass and count it out before anything moves.
    I always ask if the buyer will be alone or with someone accompanying them. After that question, I can usually calculate what to expect.
    What’s worse, is when the possible buyer comes by to purchase the pinball machine and doesn’t have cash and then starts to hit you up to sell your other pinball machines that aren’t listed for sale.
    I don’t mind negotiating for the price on the pinball machine that I listed because I do that too.

    Glad you counted the envelope and avoided the raw deal.

    DC439CCF-F126-4A71-ABD0-8AB2326CAC0C.gifDC439CCF-F126-4A71-ABD0-8AB2326CAC0C.gif

    #76 11 months ago
    Quoted from Isochronic_Frost:

    Lloyd the Great made a new friend who was so gracious that he happily gave him the tickets.

    Wasn't happily. Flashed the tickets then said give me all your money.

    LTG : )

    #77 11 months ago

    It takes a while to count a thick envelope... got one with a lot of 10's and 20's once and I had to count a few times, so being off a little is understandable. Being off by a full envelope makes for a lot of interesting theories.

    #78 11 months ago

    Doesn’t take long to count 40 hondos but I had a guy stop at 20 and say”aw heck, I trust ya!” When I insisted, he feathered the rest and said “yep, we’re good.” Wonder if he ever did count the rest…

    #79 11 months ago
    Quoted from PaulCoff:

    I always ask if the buyer will be alone or with someone accompanying them.

    As a buyer....this question could concern me a bit.

    #80 11 months ago
    Quoted from Norcalpin:

    As a buyer....this question could concern me a bit.

    Totally understand your thoughts on this, but I’ve sold a bunch of games in the past and the last thing I need when trying to sell a pinball machine is for a bunch of dudes that aren’t card players showing up at the table.
    I have no problem helping the buyer disassemble and move the machine into the vehicle of choice. It’s a courtesy to the seller to announce that the buyer will be bringing others.

    #81 11 months ago
    Quoted from Isochronic_Frost:

    My bank gets ridiculously annoyed when I request hundreds. So stupid.
    Better be ready to get a ton of lip from the teller for wanting a measly $500.

    Really? That's weird. I've never had any commentary when getting hundreds. The bank is there to serve you, not the other way around.

    #82 11 months ago

    Um

    #83 11 months ago

    Out of all my buying experiences, some have counted in front of me and some have simply put the envelope away. On the last one, I tried to give the envelope to the guy no less than 3 times and he didn’t want to take it until the game was loaded in my car. I’ve only sold a couple of games, but have counted each time before game moves

    #84 11 months ago

    Both parties should count the money. Period.

    Just recently, a friend of mine sold a game to another Pinsider. The seller counted the cash in front of the buyer. Told the buyer to count and check. Buyer chose not to.

    Two days later the buyer calls and tells my friend that it is short several hundred dollars.

    #85 11 months ago

    Glad it worked out for you. Curious what the play would have been had you not counted it.

    "Hey man you were way short on money. "

    "Well it was all there when I gave you the envelope, not sure what to tell you. "

    #86 11 months ago
    Quoted from jandrea95:

    Glad it worked out for you. Curious what the play would have been had you not counted it.
    "Hey man you were way short on money. "
    "Well it was all there when I gave you the envelope, not sure what to tell you. "

    Exactly.

    #87 11 months ago

    Wow glad you counted the money what a scumbag. It is interesting I have bought some used games and it is about 50/50 for me if they count the money while I am there or not. I prefer to count it right away when we both are there just to avoid any confusion. I had one person take the envelope in another room and count it and that made me nervous it was going to be an issue the other way claiming short. Most of the time if I have $50 or over in cash it is unusual so carrying large amounts of cash makes me nervous.

    #88 11 months ago

    I didnt catch it, is this buyer from pinside?

    #89 11 months ago
    Quoted from Oneangrymo:

    I didnt catch it, is this buyer from pinside?

    No he said Craigslist

    #90 11 months ago
    Quoted from LTG:

    Many years ago when I was much younger. I responded to an ad in the reader for a couple concert tickets.
    I was over by the "UofM" in Dinkytown. Went to the address. No one home. A small grocery store across the street was open. I went over there. The man working knew about the deal and told me to go back across the street and meet the man in the alley.
    Okay, I did that. Figuring what was going to happen.
    Worked out great. I got two tickets and didn't cost me any money.
    LTG : )

    I hope you also brought the pain to the dude in the store as well.

    #91 11 months ago
    Quoted from PoMC:

    Both parties should count the money. Period.
    Just recently, a friend of mine sold a game to another Pinsider. The seller counted the cash in front of the buyer. Told the buyer to count and check. Buyer chose not to.
    Two days later the buyer calls and tells my friend that it is short several hundred dollars.

    How did they resolve that?

    #92 11 months ago
    Quoted from sulakd:

    When he made the police report, cops told him some "gypsies" had been running that scam in the area.

    I bet Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band was in town...that Little Steven is the most notorious gypsy of all time!

    #93 11 months ago
    Quoted from aaron6920:

    How did they resolve that?

    I know both people and the buyer called me and was telling me the story. I told him it was his fault for not counting over $10,000. I also don’t believe my other friend shorted the money either. He counted it in front of the guy and then told the buyer to also count it and the buyer refused.

    #94 11 months ago
    Quoted from JodyG:

    You may want to check those bills with a bill pen.

    One of my local Dollar Stores had to get this style of checker as cons found a way to beat the felt pen ...
    3YMJ8_AS01 (resized).jpeg3YMJ8_AS01 (resized).jpeg

    #95 11 months ago
    Quoted from JodyG:

    You may want to check those bills with a bill pen.

    I always check a decent number of the bills with a pen, even though it has made some mad or laugh out loud when I do it. Too many scammers in pinball these days.

    #96 11 months ago
    Quoted from PoMC:

    Both parties should count the money. Period.
    Just recently, a friend of mine sold a game to another Pinsider. The seller counted the cash in front of the buyer. Told the buyer to count and check. Buyer chose not to.
    Two days later the buyer calls and tells my friend that it is short several hundred dollars.

    Quoted from PoMC:

    I know both people and the buyer called me and was telling me the story. I told him it was his fault for not counting over $10,000. I also don’t believe my other friend shorted the money either. He counted it in front of the guy and then told the buyer to also count it and the buyer refused.

    I’m so confused. It’s early. Do you have the buyer and seller mixed up in your story? The buyer received money?

    #97 11 months ago
    Quoted from play_pinball:

    I’m so confused. It’s early. Do you have the buyer and seller mixed up in your story? The buyer received money?

    maybe...I don't know...it's early for me too.

    Everyone should count the money, especially when over $10k is involved.

    #98 11 months ago
    Quoted from bluespin:

    He knows you have a lot of valuables; house, lots of pins.

    My biggest fear is bringing bad people to my house. I have five kids at home. I won’t even hire painters or electricians to go in with the pins. I’ll bring pins to my office to sell. The fewer people that know, the better.

    #99 11 months ago
    Quoted from Kkoss24:

    Cmon , did nobody catch Lloyds ending ?

    He met beelzeboob behind the dumpster.

    #100 11 months ago
    Quoted from GregCon:

    I once was in Minnesota and agreed to buy an $11,000 item from a guy there. He told me, "Just take it back on the plane with you and send me a check when you get home." I thanked him but told him I didn't want to carry it on the plane....

    I had a buyer land in MSP. Met him in baggage claim and we walked out to the ramp where I had a T2 playfield waiting for him. NOS and signed by SR. Paid cash and back into the airport with the playfield. Apparently it was able to fit in the coat area of the plane and didn’t need to be checked.

    There are 294 posts in this topic. You are on page 2 of 6.

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