Hot Tub Forum
Brand Specific Forums => Hot Spring Spas => Topic started by: lderochi on March 02, 2014, 10:07:24 pm
-
Hi,
Former hot tub owner who had to give it up due to an employment relocation, and I've been poking around looking for used or floor models for the new house. I'm trying to not spend too much, as I may have to move again in the next few years. Anyway, today I found this ebay listing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HOT-SPRING-VANGUARD-HOT-TUB-WSALTWATER-SYSTEM-MINT-CONDITION-/271414194483?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f318bf133
I've emailed the owner and he says it's a 2013 model, and he will ship it free. It's tempting, even without the ability to examine in advance. But I cannot believe somebody is selling a 2013 Vanguard PLUS shipping for $2500. I mean, I just can't imagine how that's feasible. Thoughts? I would be protected by the ebay guarantee if it ends up being a complete piece of crap, but still.
-
I would say it is a scam, probably lifted the photo from a completed auction. It is a new ebay user (account created last week) with 0 feedback, also he is asking you to contact him outside of ebay's message system before bidding.
Each of the above is a warning sign, any one of them should make you cautious, but sometimes they are worth the risk. I bought my HS Jetsetter off ebay for $1,000from a 0 feedback account, but it was a cash on pickup deal (met half way 100 miles away in a parking lot, he was the guy with the hot tub on a trailer ), but in my case I thought it worth the risk as 1, he had relisted and lowered the starting bid price by $300 after it did not sell the first time around, and secondly while he did have 0 feedbacks, the account was 3 years old, most scammers would not wait that long.
p.s. at a minimum I doubt those photos are new, look at all the leaves on the ground, those pictures were likely taken months ago, also note the block of text giving the email address is really a graphic probably done this way to get around ebay auto censor system on giving out email addresses outside of ebays messaging system
p.p.s. Yep, scam, a little google searching found an auction archive with those same photos used on a 2011 HS Vanguard also in VA with a buy it now of $6150 from last fall. Punctuation was changed a little along with the year, but both titles had Vanguard and WSALTWATER SYSTEM in them
-
your purchase of 100 % covered by ebay and paypal , the wort thing that happen is they will credit you back once you fill out a claim .
-
That coverage only applies if you work within the ebay system, going with an outside contact email is likely the first step in getting you outside the ebay system.
-
if he makes the pruchase through ebay he is covered , you can exchange emails through ebay ... just makesure you pay via paypal and that you purchase it on ebay .
-
Your mama ever teach you anything? If it's too good to be true it probably is ;)
-
Run Forest Run!
-
100% Scam... Seller with zero transactions...Shipping Free...and a 2013 Vanguard WITH ACE...REALLY??? Absloute scam....
-
Ha ha....Sad that we have to deal with scammers.... Heres another auction by the same seller....Exact same add but with a 15 Thousand dollar Snap on rolling chest... http://www.ebay.com/itm/271414221948 and no reserve price...Don't even waste another good moment of your time on this Scam!
-
if he makes the pruchase through ebay he is covered , you can exchange emails through ebay ... just makesure you pay via paypal and that you purchase it on ebay .
Ryan, I wouldn't depend on Ebay or PayPal to help me. They are concerned with making money on their sales, and have little concern with actually helping folks if things go wrong. At least, that has been my experience with them.
Stay away from the "deal too good to be true". Scammers have been known to highjack good accounts (with great positive feedback histories) and peddle them as their own. If you want to do a deal on Ebay, ask the seller to send you a few photographs of the item together with the front page of his local newspaper, with the date clearly visible.
-
Hi,
Former hot tub owner who had to give it up due to an employment relocation, and I've been poking around looking for used or floor models for the new house. I'm trying to not spend too much, as I may have to move again in the next few years. Anyway, today I found this ebay listing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HOT-SPRING-VANGUARD-HOT-TUB-WSALTWATER-SYSTEM-MINT-CONDITION-/271414194483?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f318bf133
I've emailed the owner and he says it's a 2013 model, and he will ship it free. It's tempting, even without the ability to examine in advance. But I cannot believe somebody is selling a 2013 Vanguard PLUS shipping for $2500. I mean, I just can't imagine how that's feasible. Thoughts? I would be protected by the ebay guarantee if it ends up being a complete piece of crap, but still.
FYI, I think I was offered a 2013 Vanguard without the salt system for about $8900 (subject to my questionable memory) The free shipping makes me extra suspicious. I could see someone giving a huge discount to just get rid of it if they paid cash and you could come get it.
-
I would say it is a scam, probably lifted the photo from a completed auction. It is a new ebay user (account created last week) with 0 feedback, also he is asking you to contact him outside of ebay's message system before bidding.
I just had a casual look at they Ebay entry and while I didn't see the part about contacting outside of Ebay, that is a definite no-no for Ebay. Very suspicious.
I went back and saw the contact outside. Didn't Ebay use to have a REPORT AUCTION function?
-
if he makes the pruchase through ebay he is covered , you can exchange emails through ebay ... just makesure you pay via paypal and that you purchase it on ebay .
Ryan, I wouldn't depend on Ebay or PayPal to help me. They are concerned with making money on their sales, and have little concern with actually helping folks if things go wrong. At least, that has been my experience with them.
Stay away from the "deal too good to be true". Scammers have been known to highjack good accounts (with great positive feedback histories) and peddle them as their own. If you want to do a deal on Ebay, ask the seller to send you a few photographs of the item together with the front page of his local newspaper, with the date clearly visible.
We sell on ebay and if you dont deliver in their timeframe , doesnt ship the item or doesnt respect your return policy , they refund the custumer credit card , take the money from your bank account and even if the seller doesnt have any funds , the custumer will get his money back. Since we have to give a return policy wich dealers wont , its actually safer buying on ebay than buying from a dealer . Ebay and paypal changed alot in the last 2 years , havent seen the ad, if it require you to go outside ebay then yah it is probably scam , at that price he could of simply post it for free on a classified website and it would be gone in the hours
-
Of course, if this was a hi jacked account and the buyer went "outside" of ebay to do the deal. He would be screwed. Honest sellers like yourself are what Ebay should be all about.
-
Hi,
Former hot tub owner who had to give it up due to an employment relocation, and I've been poking around looking for used or floor models for the new house. I'm trying to not spend too much, as I may have to move again in the next few years. Anyway, today I found this ebay listing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HOT-SPRING-VANGUARD-HOT-TUB-WSALTWATER-SYSTEM-MINT-CONDITION-/271414194483?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f318bf133
I've emailed the owner and he says it's a 2013 model, and he will ship it free. It's tempting, even without the ability to examine in advance. But I cannot believe somebody is selling a 2013 Vanguard PLUS shipping for $2500. I mean, I just can't imagine how that's feasible. Thoughts? I would be protected by the ebay guarantee if it ends up being a complete piece of crap, but still.
Maybe the Moderator Could compare the IP of this member to the one you received by emails ... To me , he put alot of effort in his tittle and he seems to like to CAPS the first letter of each word just like in the ebay ad , I would suspect this guy to promote his sale through the forum or another crazy way by HS to put another Hs topic in the forum :P
-
paypal will not release the funds till its confirmed shipped..very little risk if you pay with paypal..however like momma says "if it sounds to good to be true...."
-
Its a scam....I've seen scammers take my personal item pics and repost them as their own in the past (Craigs list)...It seems to always be tied to BS temp email to go through. All this scammer has to do is pull the funds and close the account linked to this transaction the second it funds...So the fraudulent seller gets his money and runs while your stuck fighting with Paypal...(If even this is the form of payment used) and wait for XXX months or whatever in hopes that they refund you.. No thanks...not worth the risk...Try to contact someone from ebay or paypal! Good luck with that. You'd pull every hair out of your head trying to deal with this because I'm sure there is no hot tub to sell. Just read the add...Its obvious.
-
Its a scam....I've seen scammers take my personal item pics and repost them as their own in the past (Craigs list)...It seems to always be tied to BS temp email to go through. All this scammer has to do is pull the funds and close the account linked to this transaction the second it funds...So the fraudulent seller gets his money and runs while your stuck fighting with Paypal...(If even this is the form of payment used) and wait for XXX months or whatever in hopes that they refund you.. No thanks...not worth the risk...Try to contact someone from ebay or paypal! Good luck with that. You'd pull every hair out of your head trying to deal with this because I'm sure there is no hot tub to sell. Just read the add...Its obvious.
You are actually wrong on that one , paypal refund your money same day if the seller cant confirm he has ship the item , if the seller close his account then its done automaticly the same day aswell , ebay charge 10 % fee on each sell wich cover every purchase .
-
All the seller has to do is give a tracking # for a lolly pop shipment to confirm "Shipped"
-
since he has zero feedback paypal will hold the funds a long time..i agree its probably not legit but the buyer would be totally protected
-
I agree with all posts...I'd just stay away...Did everyone see the other identical post for the tool box....C'mon...This guy isn't even creative.
-
since he has zero feedback paypal will hold the funds a long time..i agree its probably not legit but the buyer would be totally protected
exactly , ebay and paypal is now one of the safest way to do business.. We had a shipment delayed last month and ebay didnt care about it they said that it was supposed to be delivered by that time and its not then they didnt ask for our permission and took the money directly in our bank account , if we would have given a ''fake'' proof of delivery just like Dune said they would of hold the funds for 7 days then send it back to the custumer directly . If he close his account , paypal pay back the custumer anyway so yeah if he purchas through ebay he is totally protected .
-
Perhaps the risk from ebay is low these days, but why take the chance if you know the photos are fake? That pretty much makes it a scam in some way, bait and switch, talk buyer into paying outside the system, who knows maybe even scouting for a robbery.
-
Thanks for all the feedback. I agree with most posters, it just doesn't feel right. I understand that using ebay is generally safe, and I've been happy with the handful of purchases and sales I've done. But those weren't for 2500 bucks. There is something odd about this one. FWIW I used to be on this forum way back before I bought my first hot tub 10 years ago, but have not been here very often since then. I apologize if the fact that I'm not a regular raised suspicions about my being a troll.
-
Thanks for all the feedback. I agree with most posters, it just doesn't feel right. I understand that using ebay is generally safe, and I've been happy with the handful of purchases and sales I've done. But those weren't for 2500 bucks. There is something odd about this one. FWIW I used to be on this forum way back before I bought my first hot tub 10 years ago, but have not been here very often since then. I apologize if the fact that I'm not a regular raised suspicions about my being a troll.
I apologize if you had interpreted my posts stating that "the scam" was you as it was not what I meant...I meant the Ebay Poster/Seller.
-
If you google the first image, it shows up on a number of German websites.
-
Scam!
I was interested him too because this would have been great! Then he told me free shipping from VA to NE and found that weird but…. Then it went back and forth a few times. All I asked was for him to call me each time I emailed him. Each time I got the same basic message. All I needed to do was send him full name and address then he would mail me an eBay package. So again I said call me and almost immediately got message back saying that he worked to much to call me. So I told him peace out!
-
No, it was Ryan's post that I interpreted as being directed at me, but no big deal. I think this one has a fork in it. For me, when I saw the ad for the rolling tool chest, I was convinced. Same M.O. as for the spa, even down to the exact same language. And then DamSam put the nail in the coffin with his personal experience. Oh well, I'll be happy when I buy a spa without worrying about the seller.