Misrepresentation and Puffery: Misrepresentation comes in many forms. First, in dealing with a private party, it's a good idea to ensure that you really are dealing with a private individual--not with a dealer or used audio reseller. Ask the seller at the outset.

If the seller is a dealer or used audio reseller, and the ad did not disclose that, move on. This is not someone to be trusted at the outset. Remember, trust is the foundation of a successful transaction.

One often encounters some form of puffery in any buying or selling situation. Giving a positive spin on the item for sale is a typical salesperson's ploy. Hence, be ready to discount a percentage of what is claimed. Also, verify through specific questions the actual performance and cosmetic condition of the unit. Is the unit original? Has anything been modified? Are there scratches? Where? If at any instance you feel that the other party is not fully disclosing the condition of the item, graciously back off. The savings will not be worth the potential risk of getting something not to your satisfaction.

I have been stung twice. In those two instances, the sellers had exaggerated the condition of the unit, e.g., mint versus excellent condition. On those occasions I did not heed my gut feel. One was a face-to-face transaction while the other was a telephone transaction.

Payment: You don't want to pay for something you won't receive. To safeguard both parties, it is best to pay Cash On Delivery (COD). In this instance, you pay cash or money order only upon receipt of the merchandise. In actuality, the merchandise will typically be in a box so you will not have the opportunity to examine it. That is part of the risk and particularly the reason why you need to become comfortable with the other party.

For the seller, the safest way is to seek prepayment. The buyer will sometimes agree--to save on COD charge or to expedite delivery. Fairness however dictates that you allow COD.

Shipping: United Parcel Service (UPS) is my preferred choice for shipping. They ship your package within the stated time frame, and provide you verification of delivery. Be sure to insure the merchandise for its full value or ask the seller to do so. The additional cost is minuscule. If the merchandise is damaged during shipment, UPS will shoulder the expense for the repair or reimburse you for a replacement. Receipts will be required as proof of value. On two instances, I have had to file a claim with UPS for damaged goods. It took about a month to be reimbursed.

Be sure to ask for the tracking number. You can call UPS customer service and they will provide you the status of the shipment. As an alternative, you can also use the tracking number to check your shipment's status at UPS' website (http://www.ups.com).

Federal Express (FedEx) is another excellent shipper. FedEx specializes in overnight and swift delivery. Their prices reflect the extra cost of specialization. FYI, their definition of COD is Cashiers Check on Delivery payable to the sender (not Fedex). Cash is not acceptable as payment for COD transactions.

Snail mail should be used with more discretion. I use this sometimes when I can't bother to wait at home for UPS and only for inexpensive and unbreakable components e.g., interconnects.

Packing: Electronic components are known to malfunction when mishandled. Protect them accordingly via proper packing. Original packing materials are designed for this purpose--one very good reason to keep them for future use. Foam, air bubbles, packing peanuts, and newspaper help cushion and protect.

For additional assurance, send items double-boxed. As a reminder, do not rely solely on packaging stores to pack electronic component. Their personnel may not know how to do this with the care and personal touch required. Do it yourself.

Lastly, label the package and DOUBLE CHECK!!! You do not want to ship to an incorrect address and create unnecessary anxiety and aggravation.

Your comments and suggestions are welcome.

by Rome Castellanes
Updated 8/7/2006