modelbob said:
sushob said:
I don't know what could happen, which is EXACTLY why I wouldn't give my address out...
Gee, what about all the people who buy stuff from YOU on the internet? What if they felt the same way you did? Then where would you be?
You ask other people to give you their address every day, but you don't give out yours? Think about that...
As soon as an auction ends I get an email with the buyer's name, address, email, and phone number. They also get an email with my name, address, email, and phone number. It's an even exchange, and again, eBay plays the role of "big brother," as they have everybody's name, address, email, phone number, and in most cases, credit card info. The feedback rating also influences decisions like that. I have 872 positive feedback from 499 unique users, with no negative or neutral comments. Most eBayers have no problem mailing me a check. The majority of my customers also have excellent feedback ratings, and I in turn have no problem giving them my address. The 2% or so that have blemished feedback do make me a little apprehensive. I do have the choice to cancel bids if I feel it is necessary, but for the most part deadbeats aren't removed before they mess up anyone else's lives (I've only had 2 or 3 deadbeats in all of my eBay experiences...the one user (non-paying bidder) I persued is no longer a registered member of eBay--sellers have some power when it comes to reporting abuse of the system).
Hmm....that tangent extended a bit beyond my intention...my apologies.
modelbob said:
Meanwhile, you're right, there's no governing body here, aside from me, and I probably won't try and track down Spacemouse if you don't get something in return. Then again, the rules of this said you give away something you have and don't want/need, not buy something new. So you send somebody a car worth $5 or so, is that really a huge risk? I agree, there are lots of ripoffs on the internet but I really don't think this is one of them.
I agree. As a dealer I have lots of odds and ends lying around, and I could certainly send out some sub-$5 items without any regrets. While I wouldn't be upset if Spacemouse didn't send me anything in return, there would always be that nagging little voice in the back of my head saying "that guy has your address." So what? Probably nothing. Anyone with an internet conection and a name can find an address. But for a mild skeptic and somewhat paranoid (sp?) person like myself, I just wouldn't be very comfortable knowing that I purposely sent out my address. I know it wouldn't be a problem with any of the members on this forum, it's just the concept that kinda bugs me. (I know I know, I'm weird. Maybe I should just got a PO box...)
SpaceMouse said:
Thanks Bob,
For the voice of reason.
What people worry about is identity theft, whether they can put a name on it or not. The people who worry about the most are the ones that don't take the time to understand it. Giving out an address to one person is about as riskless as you get, especially when you know the person is involved in a hobby to the extent that they frequent the board. Most no-gooders make a hobby/lifestyle of identity theft and don't ahve time for this kind of stuff.
You are more likely to be ripped off by the waiter you give you CC or check to. He has the info you need for identity theft--especially if he asks for you licencse. Something we do all the time. Likewise sending a check to pay for an eBay item or mail order item is a much a risk. What's to say the guy photo copies it and sells it to someone else in another state. This is a much bigger risk, but we do this all the time.
Identity theft is a huge problem, and it's a very covert and unsettling reality. As you said, anyone could make a copy of my check and hypathetically (sp?) attempt to steal money out of my account. But that's why the Post Office (and the grocery store and the gas station and Wal-Mart...) sell money orders. I also have an online account with my bank that allows me to view all the ins and outs on a day-to-day basis (basically just a live checking statement), so it's not hard to spot a problem and cancel/correct it.
Perhaps, like Bob said, we could establish one central point/person to send all the gifts too. If they're as paranoid as me, they could rent a PO box for a month for ~$8 and use that to receive all of the packages, and as a return address for sending them to individuals. The problem there is trust again. One person will have everyone's address (everyone who is willing to participate), which might be 'worse' (again, for paranoid people like me) than a simple one-on-one or round-robin type exchange.
I really don't know any more about identity theft than anyone else does, so I guess it's not even worth talking (typing?) about.
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Wow...I never talk this much. Okay, maybe I should just start over. Here 'goes;
A Christmas gift exchange would be cool. It would bring the forum community closer together, and probably spark a few laughs too.
I have no problem mailing out sub-$5 items, but I'm a little apprehensive to give out my own personal info.
Maybe we could just keep the exchange between people we already know, or have had other contact with? For instance, Grandeman bought an engine from me and already has my info; and I, his.
Or maybe I'm just crazy to be apprehensive about sending my address to someone who I only know through text, and should just shut up now...