Tips to avoid scam

[libitum]

Hi,
As a background, I am mining with few KNC Jupiters, and I am waiting for few KNC Neptunes (i know KNC has lost some reputation since their last newsletter, but that is not the topic for this post).

I plan to search if there is money in buying/selling bitcoin miners, but because I have never bought/sold any hardware, I would need the help of more seasoned forum members.

I am looking for advice from people who have purchased or sold bitcoin miners. What tips could you give?
I am located in Europe. To avoid paying customs, shall I buy and sell only from Europe?
Where are the safest places to get a second hand miner.
If you got scammed, how did it happen. I want to learn all the tricks out there to avoid getting scammed myself.
Is Escrow the safest option? Personally I dont understand how can a 3rd person know better when they never see the hardware themselves. What if I am a buyer and the seller sends me a broken miner. Or What if I am a seller and deliver a perferct working miner, but the buyer complaints to the escrow to try to get its money back (and keep the miner). How can an escrow make any decision on a transaction they know nothing about?

Thanks for your help!

Libitum

[rammy2k2]

use escrow

[Sonny]

Use escrow if possible.
Be extra careful with "too good to be true" deals and trades with newbies with no history.
Don't accept payment with possible chargeback (eg. paypal).

[DrG]

When selling, record serial numbers and if the item is really expensive you can engrave it somewhere unnoticeable so if it gets swapped when it comes back you'll know.