themadinventor said:
I buy and sell on ebay all the time, if someone refused to let me see the goods before I buy I just wouldn't buy it's that simple, turn it around my friend would you buy a car or a tv even if the seller said you couldn't see it until you have paid, leaving it until the hammer fall is risky too because if they don't buy it you will have lost many other potential buyers, P.S. I also wouldn't meet up on a supermarket car park because it could be stolen and you given false details.
Perversely I've enjoyed reading this thread nearly as much as the Kinky one.
I'm totally with you on the first part, but question the second.
Supermarkets are very safe because they're public, and you control the time and the place - so you know what you're getting into and what you're setting up (something familiar to you) which could equally be down your local boozer as well, or bank etc.. and I was tempted to throw a few 'off-colour' venues in here just for laughs.
One irony that my old lecturer once pointed out (and this was before I got into international trade after reading the course at Uni) is that most people believe deals are closed in the boardroom... the reality is that there are plenty of occasions when they're closed in deserted railway station parking lots with the keys left in the ignition of an idling Mercedes Benz.
There is always some risk attached to any deal (although I'll not get into hostage/crisis situations in this thread) but you can mitigate the worst of it in various ways with practical due diligence.
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Not sure how you go about protecting your daughter in this transaction though.. Skiddypants has a fair point... I mean, no one's mentioned the buyer could be a ManUre supporter and plotting to use your technology in an evil plan to hack into the league's computers and/or the wireless communications systems of the referees this afternoon - and you could end up internally tormented forever suffering untold eternal damnation as a prisoner of your own mind...
I'm surprised Sweynforkbeard's not chipped in on this one, but would suggest if you can get that guy in as part of your security detail on the above transaction along with any Russian or Israeli diplomatic bag men you'll be well set and should hold no fear.
