PLEASE READ! Forum Rules and Guidelines
Sorry for the long post 
The following "Forum Trading Rules and Guidelines" are posted in hopes that your transactions on EmpireZ Forums are conducted in an honest and
forthright manner. It is unfortunate that we even have to post any rules, but unfortunately there is always someone out there who messes everything
up for the rest of us by being dishonest.
| Quote: | Member Lists, Member Map, and Profiles are NOT VIEWABLE by guests. Only registered members may view this information.
Your e-mail address is NOT VIEWABLE by anyone other than Amins/Mods. Members desiring to send an e-mail may do so with our Secure e-mail form, which
does not display e-mail addresses.
Your Phone Number is NOT VIEWABLE by guests. Only registered members may view this information by viewing your Profile.
Release of your personal information WILL NOT be released to any third party except upon Court Order or other competent authority.
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E-MAIL ADDRESSES FOR TRADERS/BUYERS/SELLERS
1) Effective immediately, any and all traders trading in the EmpireZ forums are required to post an e-mail account that is non-forwarding. Generic POP
forwarding accounts are prohibited. It is a requirement for all traders who sell, buy, or trade in these forums to post a valid e-mail account from
either their ISP, work, or school. "Outlawed" email accounts include but are not limited to Yahoo, hotmail, banditmail, hotpop, Tweak3D, mailspring,
and any other free e-mail service.
Note: If we find a user creating a new thread without either posting a valid e-mail account either in their post or linked in their profile, the
thread will be deleted our discretion. Since these forums do not prohibit the use of generic e-mail accounts for access, this will be on a case by
case basis or when we find out about it.
Even if you select to make your e-mail address viewable by others, your e-mail address is never displayed on the forums, profiles, or posts. You can
only e-mail members through our Secure e-mail form (which does not display your e-mail address or the receipent).
2) POST A PRICE
We require you post a price of what you are willing to take for any given item. This is not an auction house and anyone who feels they can just wait
for the highest bidder had better not post. IF you decide not to post a price, be forewarned that you may not get any replies. If you want to sell on
eBAY, that's your choice, but this place is not an auction house, that means we want to see prices, not eBAY links. We Will be checking.
3) READERS LISTEN
IF you, as a reader, think the price is too high, then U2U Instant Messenger/E-mail the seller the reason why you think the price is too high. DO NOT
POST IN THE THREAD first. That's our job!! This means NO THREAD CRAPPING!!
4) READERS ACTION
If you don't get a response from either U2U Instant Messenger/Email from the seller, then U2U/Email a moderator as one of us would have most likely
have already done so.
5) PART(S) SOLD
If an item has been sold, please state so by editing your ORIGINAL POST of your thread by placing [SOLD] at the thread title, this way a person
doesn't have to go and read ALL of the posts to see what has/has not been sold.
6) PERSONAL INFORMATION
If you have a problem with a user.. do not under any circumstances post their personal information. This includes e-mail addresses, home addresses,
phone numbers, etc. We will wipe it as soon as we notice it and you will be warned that it will not be tolerated. Of course, it is your decision to
post personal information about yourself.
7) READERS
http://www.trollhunters.com and http://www.pcabusers.net
These sites are a listing of nicknames (nicks), names, addresses and and other pertinent information. These sites try to help the deals forums of many
websites in tracking down and confirming bad traders. Please read through these sites to see if a person is listed. This is not law, nor perfect. IF
you feel someone needs to be added, do so. But make sure you have been burned, not bruised, and provide accurate truthful information.
Niether myself, EmpireZ.com, nor any of its representatives, accepts any responsibilty or liability for any sales/trades made in these forums. This is
to be dealt with by the user/seller at all times. Personal information including e-mail addresses and IPs will not be disclosed for any reason. Please
follow standard procedures when dealing with trades even when they go bad. This includes dealing with online brokers, banks, and legal offices. This
is not to be dealt with through EmpireZ.com unless a previously mentioned rules has been breached.
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SAFE TRADING GUIDLINES
At best, buying, selling and trading in cyberspace is a great risk. You can lower your chances of getting burned by following these tested guidelines.
It is strongly suggested that everyone should understand and abide by these guidelines when conduction transactions.
1) Prior to finalizing a deal with someone, do some research. VERIFY that they are who they say they are. If they don't have ANY references, ask why.
There are many different ways to verify someone. For example, Heatware, PayPal, eBay, Beerology, etc. (PayPal is really only a reference if it is a
VERIFIED account). Another place to check would be http://www.trollhunters.com. They
keep a list of known trolls, and have lots of info including names, addresses, and aliases. Ask for email addresses of people they have completed
prior transactions with. Get references you can contact by phone or by email, quiz them on the trader. If you do not take a few extra minutes to look
around, you are contributing to their role as a troll. If you can, use fellow forum members as references. Obviously, many of the regulars have traded
with each other. We would vouch for another that a successful trade had occurred between us.
2) Make contact with them in various ways before hand. Always get a phone number. Home number for sure, work number if at all possible. Tell them to
call you. If you have the phone number and the trader turns out to be a troll, you will be better off.
Once you have that person's phone number, give them a call if you feel uncertain about your trading partner. Do a reverse trace on the phone number
just to make sure it's not a pay phone. Call the person when they least expect it, like late at night or early in the morning. This would eliminate
the possibility of someone camping out at a public phone waiting for your call.
Get an Address. Make sure it is real. Insist on a real name. There is no good reason for someone not to give a real name. Phone numbers and a scanned
image of a pictured ID (Drivers license, state ID, school ID, whatever) will be strongly suggested.
Get a REAL email address. Hotmail email is not real. Neither is Yahoo or Mailspring. If someone is emailing you from one of these (or another free
email), chances are you may have a problem. EVERYONE who is serious about computing has a REAL ISP. Mindspring, AOL, MSN, Bellsouth, @Home, Earthlink,
etc.
3) Confirm everything before hand. Right before the deal is complete, email them saying the EXACT details of the transaction. An example would be...
I am emailing to confirm our deal. I will be sending you a used Sound Blaster Live sound card, with the boxes, manuals, and disks, all in working
condition. I will pay shipping.
For that, you will send me a bare CDRW drive. It will be in working condition upon receiving it. You will pay shipping.
If either of these items are not received as stated, then xxxx (insert repercussions here).
4) WHOEVER HAS FEWER REFERENCES SHIPS FIRST. If an established member (1000+ posts) said they would pay me upon receiving $1000 worth of items, I
would have NO problem mailing first. Neither should you. If you are dealing with someone who has 1000+ posts, you SHOULD have nothing to worry about
(This DOES NOT mean that you are totally in the clear. I would still check around). If you are dealing with someone who has 17 posts, I would make
them ship first. If they are not willing to ship first to someone who is clearly verified, chances are they have something to hide. Also consider
their side. Most people are honest, and don't want to get ripped off any more than you do. Make it clear to them that you have references, are known,
and provide any information (within reason) to make them feel comfortable.
5) As a general rule, all goods should be shipped out within 24 hours, unless a prior agreement has been made (such as one party is waiting on a
replacement video card to arrive before shipping old one). If it cannot, or will not be shipped within 24 hours, a valid reason should be given. Also,
tracking info should be provided within the same time period.
All goods should be sent with some sort of tracking. Shipping is the SELLERS responsibility. If there is any discrepancy regarding shipping, it
remains the SELLERS responsibility to take care of it.
6) If you are questionable about a deal, DON'T DO IT. It is not worth saving a few bucks by buying a used part. If the person is iffy, or displays
any of the aforementioned qualities (no refs, hotmail email address, etc), DON'T DO IT.
If a new trader will not ship something first, and cannot provide a valid reason why, other than "I don't ship first", then people should not trust
this person. Trust is built up. Please do not come to the Buy, Sell and Trade forums and expect people to send you money without question. If a new
seller refuses to ship first to an established member, then I would hope that EVERYONE would refuse purchase from that person. If I refuse to send
payment first to a questionable member, but someone else goes right behind me and does it, what has the seller learned? Even if the deal is completed
without incident, they haven't learned anything.
7) LEAVE FEEDBACK ABOUT YOUR TRANSACTION. Whether it is good or bad, try to let people know. http://www.heatware.com is there for a reason!
8) If there are ANY problems, make EVERY attempt to contact the other person before going public with the issue. Posting a public attack on the
individual without contacting them is not an attempt at an amicable resolution. Worse case scenario is if the other party takes offense and decides
not to complete the transaction and they have your money or goods! Give a reasonable time for goods to arrive.
I cannot think of any reasons why everything here should not be followed. Don't let your excitement of saving $15 or $20 on any product take control
of your common sense and judgment. Be smart. |
Please remember that this is a family board.
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![$lang[memberisoff]](images/member_offline.gif)
jmallard 
posted on 10/23/2005 at 17:32
