Mailing a Trade Question

[perfectstorm]

I am trading one of my saddles even for another saddle that a girl I met through a Facebook saddles for sale group has. We are supposed to be mailing each other the saddles. What can I do to protect myself in this mail trade? So that I don't lose my saddle & never receive hers in the mail.

She works for Fed Ex & is paying for both saddles shipping because she said she gets a reduced fee for working there. I have confirmed she does work for FedEx. We have numerous mutual Facebook friends (via the horse show community). I've sold 2 other saddles in the past month via Facebook (to other people) for cash, so I was thinking I tell this lady I can send her those 2 happy customers Contact info as my references & she will have to mail me her saddle first & after receiving it I will ship my saddle to her. Does that sound right?

[akey]

I am trading one of my saddles even for another saddle a girl I met through a Facebook saddles for sale group. We are supposed to be mailing each other the saddles. What can I do to protect myself in this mail trade? So that I don't lose my saddle & never receive hers in the mail.

She works for Fed Ex & is paying for both saddles shipping because she said she gets a reduced fee for working there. I have confirmed she does work for FedEx. We have numerous mutual Facebook friends (via the horse show community). I've sold 2 other saddles in the past month via Facebook for cash, so I was thinking I tell this lady I can send her those 2 happy customers Contact info as my references & she will have to mail me her saddle first & after receiving it I will ship my saddle to her. Does that sound right?

Sounds like it's a gamble. I bet her response would be why should she have to send hers first.

[perfectstorm]

Sounds like it's a gamble. I bet her response would be why should she have to send hers first.

Is there another way?

I only suggested that because I'm kind of a regular on that Saddles for Sale Group. I figured my 2 sales references in the past month gave me some sort of legitimacy. More than just a random person suggesting a trade to me.

[akey]

Is there another way?

I only suggested that because I'm kind of a regular on that Saddles for Sale Group. I figured my 2 sales references in the past month gave me some sort of legitimacy. More than just a random person suggesting a trade to me.

The only surefire way is FTF. Maybe y'all could ship to a mutual friend?

[perfectstorm]

She's in West Virginia.... :-(

[Chapo]

Did she contact you or did you contact her? I trade a lot of saddles and tack and if they contact me about trading for what I have, then I wait to receive their end of the deal before I ship my end. If I contact them wanting what they have for trade then I ship my part of the deal first

[perfectstorm]

Did she contact you or did you contact her? I trade a lot of saddles and tack and if they contact me about trading for what I have, then I wait to receive their end of the deal before I ship my end. If I contact them wanting what they have for trade then I ship my part of the deal first

She contacted me. Another reason why I thought she should ship first.

[Kdog]

Someone will have to take a leap of faith for it to work.

[akey]

Did she contact you or did you contact her? I trade a lot of saddles and tack and if they contact me about trading for what I have, then I wait to receive their end of the deal before I ship my end. If I contact them wanting what they have for trade then I ship my part of the deal first

This sounds reasonable. All she can do is say no and rescind the offer.

[perfectstorm]

Okay. I gave her my references and she sent me 4 references of her own. These aren't friends but people she has sold tack or show clothing to in the past few months. I messaged all of them. Will see how they write back.

[akey]

Okay. I gave her my references and she sent me 4 references of her own. These aren't friends but people she has sold tack or show clothing to in the past few months. I messaged all of them. Will see how they write back.

Are her references at least from the same FB group?

[M16]

I've never understood this. What makes the person listing an item trustworthy? I'd send mine the same time she sends hers. Otherwise just deal ftf.

[perfectstorm]

Are her references at least from the same FB group?

A few, yes. I can also contact our mutual friends on facebook and will probably do that tomorrow.

[perfectstorm]

I've never understood this. What makes the person listing an item trustworthy? I'd send mine the same time she sends hers. Otherwise just deal ftf.

In this situation, its just because I have sold 2 other saddles totaling over $9,000 in the past month on that group she contacted me thru. I can give her those buyers to contact and she can look through those threads to see I am trustworthy and that the people had a good experience. She hasn't sold anything in that group recently for me to be able to reference. Plus the seller is usually not the scammer. That's just how the cookie crumbles. This buyer/trader approached me and gave me her random terms- I didn't set this whole thing up, she did. So at least that is my reasoning this time.

But regardless we will be shipping on the same day if all the references come back clean.

[akey]

I've never understood this. What makes the person listing an item trustworthy? I'd send mine the same time she sends hers. Otherwise just deal ftf.

It doesn't. But if someone has to take a leap of faith then the initiator of the trade would be the logical one. I agree that FTF is best.