I would also like to say for the record that I have also tried the following with this seller:
-Offered to use clearcoin, he declined saying it's too easy for the buyer to screw over the seller this way
-Offered to have him list them on eBay with a buy-it-now, that way we are both protected, he declined as well
-Offered to use a trusted third party on the forum to mediate, this was also declined
Agreed that this is very suspicious...
Well folks, I'd be really careful with this transaction.
I've offered to buy all three through Clearcoin, which was refused unless I release Clearcoin after I received the tracking numbers. Since it's easy to generate tracking numbers and never send anything or send empty boxes, that makes it kind of pointless.
To protect against a scam, I offered to transfer cash via Paypal and then he could refund the Paypal and I would send the BTC after I received the cards. This offer was refused as well.
He suggested that I send half (105 BTC) through Clearcoin and release that after he provided the tracking numbers and then the other half after receiving the cards. Again, that leaves me out 105 BTC if nothing is shipped, a sizable amount by any measure.
I then offered to transfer the funds to a trusted third party that we both can agree on, which was refused. I then offered to just buy them outright on Paypal AND cover the fees, so there would be no cost or hassle to him... this, too, was refused. One of the replies stated that if he can't find anyone to trust him on here (meaning send him $1400+ in BTC anonymously), he would eBay them or post them on OCN. So... he is willing to eBay them and pay eBay fees and Paypal fees, but he's not willing to sell for Paypal outright with the fees being covered? Umm, hello?
Not saying this guy is scamming, but it basically flags every single tickmark in the "This is probably a scam" brochure.
1. Just signed up with the forum today. Check
2. First thread is selling exceptionally desirable equipment for exceptionally good prices. Check
3. Wants payment up front. Check
4. Won't deal with any sort of method that protects the buyer. Check
5. Won't take PPUSD. Check
I even offered up my name, home address and phone number so that he knows I'm legit, but nothing will sway him. This could be legitimate, but the fact that he's willing to sell on eBay (and consequently Paypal) and have to absorb those fees, but he's not willing to sell with the fees covered basically sealed the fact for me that there is something hinky going on here.
Buyer beware is all I have to say. Not trying to denigrate anyone or threadcrap, but there's nothing to make me feel comfortable with this deal at all. Maybe someone will get a smoking deal by taking a chance, but that person is not, apparently, going to be me.