Maybe Shady stuff?

[freezestime]

Okay so I went on Facebook Market place and saw 2 G1 ponies on sale by the same person. I freaked and messaged them, they responded but they mentioned their address like 2 of his messages in, and I agreed at a place/time.

However I'm starting to have reservations because of a lot of factors, including

• No posts
• Hardly any info on them, no job, age, ect
• Only 2 friends
• No pics of them
• May not be relevant but I had to sift at the profile to determine gender, it's a dude

And I'll list the thing that made me suspicious

yes they are the only 2 that i have found so far. My addy is ADDRESS. Just come through the front gates they will be unlocked. Please let me know if it turns out that you cannot make it. Cheers!

But there's a few things that are in their favor like the photos are actually his, through the same background/environment and his profile was made in 2013.

What's your opinion on this? If I were do to this, I'd message them at the gate and wouldn't go beyond that. If the dude wants me to go into his house you bet I'm gonna run.

[Taffeta]

Whatever you decide to do, it's never a good idea to go to a stranger's home on your own.

[freezestime]

Whatever you decide to do, it's never a good idea to go to a stranger's home on your own.

Yeah, I totally agree.

[brightberry]

I would tell him you are uncomfortable going into a strangers house and if he can just bring them to the gate, that would be better.  I also would not go alone. Bring someone with you!  Or, pass on the ponies.  Even rare ponies aren't worth that kind of risk.  And it is a very real risk.  People get hurt from this sort of thing all the time.

[banditpony]

Whatever you decide to do, it's never a good idea to go to a stranger's home on your own.

OMG.  THIS! Safety first, please.

Do the transaction at a *public place*. Not at the gate.

[freezestime]

I would tell him you are uncomfortable going into a strangers house and if he can just bring them to the gate, that would be better.  I also would not go alone. Bring someone with you!  Or, pass on the ponies.  Even rare ponies aren't worth that kind of risk.  And it is a very real risk.  People get hurt from this sort of thing all the time.

Whatever you decide to do, it's never a good idea to go to a stranger's home on your own.

OMG.  THIS! Safety first, please.

Do the transaction at a *public place*. Not at the gate.

Yeah, I agree. It's nearly 11pm (23:00) here and I'll message him in the morning asking to meet at the local-for-him busport. I'll also ask my older brother to go with me and one of my mums if he says no.

[Barnacle_lady]

It's a normal question to ask  if they bring it to the gate if you don't want to enter the house. Its also normal to take someone with you or meet up in public place if you feel uncomfortable.
I sense a bit of unnecessary drama with the responds. If this person was someone from here would it be different?
Up here its quite common to pick up ponies/stuff at someones place if you agree on pick up.  And payment is usually made at the doorstep. If I sell ponies outside the pony community its shipping only, I don't want strange people at my doorstep. Especially if they don't show up on the agreed hour.

[Shaiyeh]

It's a normal question to ask  if they bring it to the gate if you don't want to enter the house. Its also normal to take someone with you or meet up in public place if you feel uncomfortable.
I sense a bit of unnecessary drama with the responds. If this person was someone from here would it be different?
Up here its quite common to pick up ponies/stuff at someones place if you agree on pick up.  And payment is usually made at the doorstep. If I sell ponies outside the pony community its shipping only, I don't want strange people at my doorstep. Especially if they don't show up on the agreed hour.

I wouldn't say unnecessary drama in the responses about bringing someone, and not entering their house. Like you say yourself, it's a normal thing to ask not to enter and to bring company All could of course go well, but given OP knows next to nothing about this person, and there's not much to find on who they might be on their FB, I think it's sound advice. I wouldn't meet someone with next to no posts in their home from on here, either. Someone I've seen around the boards for a long time, know and talk to, yes, but a new member with no posts? (or one that's been on the boards since '13, as in this case, with only 2 posts...) Would definitely ask to pick up in a public place and bring company.
Maybe that's just me being extra careful, but I'm echoing the advice given, and I'm relieved to see OP is taking those steps.

my rule of thumb: if your gut feeling says it might be fishy, go with the gut. Always better safe than sorry!

[SaraMari]

I don't have my age or my job or my school etc on my fb, they mine enough data as is haha! I haven't posted for years on it. I am a normal person that wouldn't attack someone for 2 ponies. I've also never looked at anyone's profile selling on the marketplace, it weirds me out when buyers look at mine tbh. (I know they do this because sometimes they ask me personal questions, or comment on my appearance while setting up the transaction)

As others have said you can meet on the sidewalk or nearby in public, that's average safety. But I am similar to that guy so I don't think not being big on FB makes him automatically someone to be suspicious of haha!

[LadyMoondancer]

I would look at Google Maps and see if there's any business near his house, like a Starbucks or even a convenience store.  Then say something like:  "Actually, would you mind meeting at [name of business]?  I am just a little nervous about meeting a stranger, ha ha."

Any normal person will understand that your concerns are rational and not be offended.  (If they ARE offended or angry . . . then that's a good reason NOT to go to their house!)

You could even say something like:  "I will be there between 2:00 and 2:30 and will text you when I arrive at [store] so you don't have to wait unnecessarily."  (The reason I suggest that last part is that a lot of Craigslist* buyers do flake out and he may be reluctant to wait without knowing FOR SURE that you'll show.)


* oops I forgot this was Facebook and not Craigslist . . . but the sentiment is the same.


That said, I admit I do just go up to people's houses when I buy stuff, and I tell them my address to pick stuff up when I'm selling. But if someone wanted me to take an item outside because they were uncomfortable with going in, I would certainly do that.   I feel like you would be pretty safe if you have the guy just take the ponies out to the sidewalk, that's pretty public.

[Taffeta]

I don't think it's drama to err on the side of caution either. No pony is worth taking risks, especially if you are not comfortable with some of the information. Chances are the guy is legit and it's fine - but that doesn't mean that you can 100% know that.

I am pretty cautious about meeting people for trading purposes only. I have done it once or twice, but in public places.

[banditpony]

It's a normal question to ask  if they bring it to the gate if you don't want to enter the house. Its also normal to take someone with you or meet up in public place if you feel uncomfortable.
I sense a bit of unnecessary drama with the responds. If this person was someone from here would it be different?

Safety isn't drama. OP thought it was suspicious. It's pretty much blanket advice to say meet up in a public place. *shrug*

[freezestime]

So update, I asked the dude if he'd be willing to meet up at his local-for-him train station, he said he might not have a car to drive there, I checked out the address and there's an actual house with a gate, it's been off the market for a while.

There's a bowling club closer so I might ask him if we could meet there.

Edit: He agreed. I'm a lot more comfortable.

[HarmonyShare]

I'm glad to hear that you aren't going to a stranger's home. I hope that it all works out for you. Good luck!

[freezestime]

I'm glad to hear that you aren't going to a stranger's home. I hope that it all works out for you. Good luck!

Same here and thank you, things should be fine.

Post Merge: April 05, 2019, 11:40:33 PM

Edit: it went well, it turned out to be a lady and she did try to sell Bouncy to me, but I stuck with my original purchase (I only had the cash for my original pony) and I ended up with TAF Yum Yum!