On drums...

Hi Guys,
As you know, I'm trying to sell some drums. I've posted some stuff on Craigslist and got this email today. The risks are not apparent to me, but I'd like opinions/feedback on this email. This is a response for the Black Beauty I'm selling:

"Hi there, Thank you for getting back to me.Can you assure me that it's
in good state and that i will not be disappointed with it?I'm ready to
pay your asking price and to be honest, i want to buy this for my Dad
as his birthday gift. I a marine biologist that works on the sea at
the moment. phone calls making and visiting of website are restricted
but i squeezed out time to check this advert and send you an email
regarding it so my only quickest payment option is PayPal as i can
send money via PayPal anytime.Since I'm requesting this transaction to
be done via PayPal, i will be responsible for all the pay pal
fee/charges on this transaction and if you don't have an account with
paypal,its pretty easy, safe and secured to open one. Just log on to
http://www.paypal.com. I hope we can make the purchase as fast as possible? I
have a mover that will come for it once payment clears . i will like
to see more pics i look forward to hear back from you soon. details
that i needed are below Your PayPal e-Mail Address : Full name: Firm
Price: Your cell phone number: God bless you ."


Thanks Guys,
Brian

_________________
Drums and No Money will get Me through Hard Times better than Money and No Drums!
-A Recovering Drum Addict

Nothing wrong with the Paypal end, but it smells funny any time the buyer removes himself from the equation: present for my dad, can't be reached easily, sends a mover to pick things up (no delivery address), pays full price plus...

I'd start communicating with him, before going further, to find out whether his bell is cracked. Just be sure you are disinterested in the result. In other words, be inclined to say no.

_________________
Gregory

Smells 'fishy' for a number of reasons, many of which Greg laid out.

In addition, I get worried any time someone includes the statement "... to be honest...', as though it were an exception.

_________________
Cliff

River City Trio

What if we did all have the same opinions?

Got to smell fishy; he's a marine biologist.

There are a bunch more tells; claims to PhD level work without English skills, uses the third person pronoun to describe himself, gets syntax wrong all over the place, sets up a question and then goes right to the deal without waiting for an answer, and then the gratuitous blessing at the end... some snakes come equipped with rattles.

_________________
Gregory

Great Replies, Gentlemen. I used to have pretty good luck with Craiglist, but I haven't lately. It seems as though the scammers are taking it over.

Thanks,
Brian

_________________
Drums and No Money will get Me through Hard Times better than Money and No Drums!
-A Recovering Drum Addict

Scammers are everywhere Brian, so are spammers...

On a side note - if You can get a deal with money upfront and no return policy - I think You're covered.
There's no use to wait by the docks with a package in Your hand...

Buyers of gifts for third persons always look suspicious.That's just the way it is. So do sellers that sell stuff for their friends...

_________________
Goki - short from Goran

Let the good drums roll!!!

Classic Scam. Countless red flags there.

I wouldn't have responded to his original request. Which I'm sure said he was interested in your "item"