Silk Road forums
Discussion => Silk Road discussion => Topic started by: mennoknite on July 07, 2012, 11:54 am
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Hi fellas,
I've lurked around for a while but recently decided to take the plunge and actually buy something on SR. One problem though, which leaves me in a sort of dilemma.
The product I want, from the seller I'd like to buy from has a condition: If product value is greater than >25% of buyer's total purchase value, FE is required. Obviously, I have $0 buying history. And I can't afford to spend $600 just so I can buy $150 worth of goods without FE.
The seller seems trusted, with 100% feedback but only about a month or so history. What should I do?
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Honestly, I'm not sure how it is across all vendors but there doesn't seem to be many left that will let you stay in Escrow if you have no buying history at all.
You could try negotiating with the vendor but it's unlikely to work (particularly since they've detailed their policies on their page).
My advice (as a buyer) would be to try and locate a vendor that allows new buyers to stay in Escrow (they're around, just takes research - all my first transactions were in Escrow). Or you could take the risk depending on the feedback. A month doesn't seem like a long time for a vendor account but if in that month they've done 800 transactions and have no bad feedback then the odds are in your favor but it's still a risk.
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You really should take the time and learn the finer points of this community and how to be secure. and make a few smaller buys before you splurge on a big purchase.
and also, It is not unheard of for even some of the most trusted sellers around to selectively scam newb buyers on a big first-time purchase like that.
some food for thought
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Thanks Dr Gonzo and Aligibbs.
Is it inherently unsafe for the vendor to go into escrow with a new buyer? Or just inconvenient? I would imagine it wouldn't be too hard to prove if a new buyer is attempting to scam?
I am domestic so I don't see any way the mail could get confiscated, either...
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The fact is that a new buyer is an unknown quantity in the sellers eyes (especially a brand new/ no transaction account) and for all they know you could be a competeing vendor that's trying to give them bad rep.
And as far they know you could also be a scammer buyer thats gonna try to use the resolution center to get a full/partial refund or reshippment (double the drugs)
So in a vendors mind:
the least negative worst case scenario is that they will get undeserved negative feeback
and in the worst case scenario they could be getting scammed
all in all you have to tread lightly as a new buyer and feel things out slowly.
establish a connection with a vendor before you buy from them and always start out small.
given enough time you will eventually find a reliable hook up with a vendor that you trust.
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Thanks again, doc.
When you say start small, what sort of quantity/dollar value are we talking?
I would love to have the option of starting with a vendor who accepts escrow -- but the product I am looking for is only available from one vendor at the moment.
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I dont know exactly what your after.... but your first couple of buys should be small ammounts of easy shit.
Like i gram of weed, or a couple of pills, etc....
Anything larger will look suspicious to the vendor for a first-time buyer
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Hi there, I am a brand new buyer and user of Silkroad, so a newb as well. And maybe I was being blonde but it took ages to get Bitcoins and get them sent into my SR account! Anywhay, I bought 2 small-ish items and the orders are now currently "processing". I sent a msg to both sellers that I would finalise early, and they are both top-rated sellers. My 2 purchases: I bought 1g of coke from the Netherlands, here to the UK; and 2 pills from&to the UK. My question is: was that a small enough order and am I doing everything correctly so far? I want to being doing my best for the seller if this will be a good product but I also don't want to be scammed...
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I'm in the same boat as Jennyem above me, but I started with a 10 strip of blotter, and a 1/2 gr on DMT, each from different vendors. Is that too much for a first time buy?
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Personally it doesn't matter if the first buy is too big if you are willing to FE. I have FE'd for almost all my purchases even though I am above 15 transactions because I now trust the sellers.