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Capers
Man About Town


Registered: 08/15/10
Posts: 16,199
Loc: United States
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I got a strange offer today - diamonds for a used car trade
#19241839 - 12/07/13 05:16 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I'm trying to sell a car on Craig's List. I'm asking for $450. It's a junk car that I expected to be bought for parts. It's got 100K miles on it and runs fine, but the frame is bent, there's a dent in the body, the brakes are bad, the suspension's kind of rocky and the odometer is broken. I just got a call from someone who wants to trade $1000 worth of diamonds for it. I know nothing about diamonds. They plan to drive an hour tomorrow to meet me. We agreed to take it to Walmart and "authenticate" the diamonds by comparing them to the ones at Walmart. Now I'm realizing I should have told him that I want to take them to a jewel appraiser and get an independent assessment. Does anyone know anything about diamonds? If so, what do you think I should do? This seems like it's too good to be true. How can I verify that they are worth $1000. How easy is it to sell diamonds and how do I avoid getting ripped off? Thanks.
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bloodsheen
ChemChaplin



Registered: 09/24/08
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Re: I got a strange offer today - diamonds for a used car trade [Re: Capers] 1
#19241848 - 12/07/13 05:19 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
zappateer said: I'm trying to sell a car on Craig's List. I'm asking for $450. It's a junk car that I expected to be bought for parts. It's got 100K miles on it and runs fine, but the frame is bent, there's a dent in the body, the brakes are bad, the suspension's kind of rocky and the odometer is broken. I just got a call from someone who wants to trade $1000 worth of diamonds for it. I know nothing about diamonds. They plan to drive an hour tomorrow to meet me. We agreed to take it to Walmart and "authenticate" the diamonds by comparing them to the ones at Walmart. Now I'm realizing I should have told him that I want to take them to a jewel appraiser and get an independent assessment. Does anyone know anything about diamonds? If so, what do you think I should do? This seems like it's too good to be true. How can I verify that they are worth $1000. How easy is it to sell diamonds and how do I avoid getting ripped off? Thanks.
If the guy wasn't ripping you off he would have sold the diamonds himself and paid you in cash. Don't do it man!
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A cautious young fellow named Lodge / Had seat belts installed in his Dodge. / When his date was strapped in / He committed a sin / Without even leaving the garage. That's clever, isn't it?-A boy and his dog
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Capers
Man About Town


Registered: 08/15/10
Posts: 16,199
Loc: United States
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Re: I got a strange offer today - diamonds for a used car trade [Re: bloodsheen]
#19241853 - 12/07/13 05:20 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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That's what I'm thinking. The whole thing seems fishy. He said it's for his boss (a jeweler) who is looking to get a second car.
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Gilgamesh18
Herbivore Man

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Re: I got a strange offer today - diamonds for a used car trade [Re: Capers]
#19241863 - 12/07/13 05:23 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Diamonds for a car definitely seems a little sketchy I would pass or ask the guy to pay in cash. Diamonds are one of those things that only serious experts deal in for the most part, and well serious experts don't buy a car with diamonds.
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WhoManBeing
PsychedelicYogi



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Re: I got a strange offer today - diamonds for a used car trade [Re: Gilgamesh18]
#19241870 - 12/07/13 05:27 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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could drive car to place where one can check diamonds prior to transaction. if legit, the buyer agree to do so.
give that a shot.
-------------------- Hip, hip... WhoRAy!!! Eye was thinking the other day... ahh, thinking never done me no good.
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Destitute
floss daily

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Re: I got a strange offer today - diamonds for a used car trade [Re: Capers]
#19241888 - 12/07/13 05:31 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
zappateer said: He said it's for his boss (a jeweler) who is looking to get a second car.
I'm sorry but I don't think a manager in a jewel store is looking to buy a used $450 car. It seems fishy. Tell the guy to sell the diamonds and come to you with cash, and see if he ever gets back to you...
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Capers
Man About Town


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Re: I got a strange offer today - diamonds for a used car trade [Re: Destitute]
#19241909 - 12/07/13 05:35 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Right, it seems fishy as all get out. I'm just thinking that if I can get an independent appraisal there's no risk. I can't decide what to do.
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bloodsheen
ChemChaplin



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Re: I got a strange offer today - diamonds for a used car trade [Re: Capers]
#19241924 - 12/07/13 05:40 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
zappateer said: Right, it seems fishy as all get out. I'm just thinking that if I can get an independent appraisal there's no risk. I can't decide what to do.
Even if its legit, they are probably stolen diamonds. Last thing you want is the cops banging on your door looking to recover "evidence."
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A cautious young fellow named Lodge / Had seat belts installed in his Dodge. / When his date was strapped in / He committed a sin / Without even leaving the garage. That's clever, isn't it?-A boy and his dog
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ChinChiller



Registered: 07/03/10
Posts: 3,270
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Re: I got a strange offer today - diamonds for a used car trade [Re: bloodsheen]
#19241931 - 12/07/13 05:43 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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You would need to know how to identify the quality of the diamonds and I dont think you are an experienced jeweler, so just wait for an offer for cash. Also, that guy could easily sell said diamonds for cash and get the car,unless he is trying to rip you off of course!
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Capers
Man About Town


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Re: I got a strange offer today - diamonds for a used car trade [Re: ChinChiller]
#19242052 - 12/07/13 06:16 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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He just called back. He said there's some sort of tester at Walmart they can use to test his diamonds and compare them to the Walmart diamonds. He said we couldn't take it for an independent appraisal because it costs $50 and you have to leave the diamonds there. This is seeming more and more shady. He gave me his boss's name and I googled it. He has an ebay profile with only an 86.8% feedback rating. I think I'm gonna call it off.
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Eddeee
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Re: I got a strange offer today - diamonds for a used car trade [Re: Capers]
#19242082 - 12/07/13 06:25 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I know a bit aBout dimonds. What kind of Dimonds? Where is the orgin, are they industreal grade, if so well that is not a good deal. Are they cut un cut.?? Blood diomonds?I guess I don't understand why some one would want to trade 1000 dolars in dimonds for a 450 dollar junk car. If for real I mean good quilty that isn't very many diomonds. There may be a bigger plot here.
-------------------- Don't read books study life then write books we are nothing but atoms trying to figure out what atoms are.
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ChinChiller



Registered: 07/03/10
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Re: I got a strange offer today - diamonds for a used car trade [Re: Eddeee]
#19242222 - 12/07/13 07:04 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Eddeee said: I know a bit aBout dimonds. What kind of Dimonds? Where is the orgin, are they industreal grade, if so well that is not a good deal. Are they cut un cut.?? Blood diomonds?I guess I don't understand why some one would want to trade 1000 dolars in dimonds for a 450 dollar junk car. If for real I mean good quilty that isn't very many diomonds. There may be a bigger plot here.
Some uncut blood diamonds would definitely spice this thread up a bit.
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badchad
Mad Scientist

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Re: I got a strange offer today - diamonds for a used car trade [Re: Capers]
#19244178 - 12/08/13 09:47 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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No offense OP, but this is a stupid deal. The basics of diamonds are: karat, cut, color, clarity. These are what determine the value of a diamond, and are largely arbitrary to an untrained eye. Even if the diamond "tester" says they're real, it won't be able to value them.
-------------------- ...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did. Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27. ...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely. Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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pretzelking
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Re: I got a strange offer today - diamonds for a used car trade [Re: badchad]
#19244440 - 12/08/13 10:57 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Yeah they are probably going to be a pile of zirconium. Or like the other guy said, shit diamonds. Maybe he stole them? And thats why he doesn't wan't you to take them to an real appraiser because they are hot.
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Capers
Man About Town


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Re: I got a strange offer today - diamonds for a used car trade [Re: pretzelking]
#19246065 - 12/08/13 04:55 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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So I texted him last night and said I wasn't interested. I ended up selling the car last night for $420.
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jvm
I knew the pieces fit!



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Re: I got a strange offer today - diamonds for a used car trade [Re: Capers]
#19258983 - 12/11/13 07:22 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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diamonds, unless a decent carat and grade aren't worth the space they take up on jewelry.
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durian_2008
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Re: I got a strange offer today - diamonds for a used car trade [Re: jvm]
#19260534 - 12/11/13 02:32 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Walmart gets corporate welfare, in exchange for hiring quota cases. Some depts look like low security asylums, depending on the shift.
Businesses, re-saling used jewelry, only pay a small fraction of the retail price, with the understanding that it would otherwise be perfectly worthless to you. They exist to make a profit.
The retail price is affected by serial numbers, inscribed by laser, on the microscopic level.
They are legally required to have special business licenses, run background checks on the jewelry, hold the merchandise for 30 days, and keep thorough records, well after the sale.
A stranger giving you these stones under the table would have broken the legal chain of custody, leaving you without a solid explanation of why you were in possession of fake or stolen property.
This seller had apparently arranged the appraisal himself, suggesting a conflict of interests, and was in a hurry.
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Stonehenge
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Re: I got a strange offer today - diamonds for a used car trade [Re: durian_2008]
#19261782 - 12/11/13 06:15 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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$1000 retail of diamonds might be worth $200 wholesale. It could have been a legit deal, a thousand is not always a thousand. Try buying a ring for 1k and taking it to a jeweler the next day to sell it. You will feel sick when you see what they offer.
-------------------- “A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.” (attributed to Alexis de Tocqueville political philosopher Circa 1835) Trade list http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/18047755
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