Jim Hampton wrote:

"Anonymous" wrote in message
g...

On the site swap.qth.com, some guys try
to trade ham-radio equipments. Most of
the ads are fake either the seller is a
crook or the wares are still sold but
not removed from the site.
Sellers consider buyers like pidgeons,
some say that their equipment is "mint"
although in reality its in poor
condition (even with non-working
functions or totally dead).
Having a callsign is not
a proof of respectability. Take care !


The secret is in the site you visit. In one Yahoo group, there have been
offers which are all legitimate (and the price is invariably very kind to
the buyer). This is not unlike researching products. I spent time trying
to determine if one particular product would work or not - it took some
searching, but I found my answer (no, it does *not* work) on the web from
the New England Medical Journal. I consider the New England Medical Journal
an honest source of information (if, of course, that is the type of
information I happen to be looking for).

Many sites are simply a number of sellers looking for buyers. Some are
legitimate; others not. This is the same for the general population. There
are athletes who are quite honest; others use steroids or corked bats. It
is up to the buyer to sort out the information. Buyer beware. It has
nothing to do with an amateur license, despite your anonymous troll
suggesting otherwise.

I don't know about the "amateur radio spirit being dead" because of
poor selling practices. (see my post about "How to attract people to the
ARS - especially the "bitch Bitch Bitch" part) 8^)

There is a good cure for dishonest selling practices. Don't buy the
stuff! I either buy new, or directly from a person where I can see the
equipment, hold it in my hands, and talk to the owner. And it will
either be a good price, or I'll just go buy something new with a nice
warrantee

Lets face it, anyone that is willing to pay almost new prices for
equipment that they never saw, from someone that they don't know, and
with no guarantee is going to find trouble.

BTW, if enough people take my approach, we'll see that used equipment
prices take a nice fast tumble!

- Mike KB3EIA -