ebaysux, I canceled the sambora strat purchase. I said, "I would love to own the guitar but a bank check is way too risky for me but if you would accept paypal I would paypal you the money ASAP and throw in an extra $50." The guy texted me back, "oh well no paypal good luck on your search!!! LOL". I don't know if I should take that as him being an $@! or me definitely avoiding a scam? Anyone else have input on this?

Others may give you feedback...but it is your money that is being gambled. There is a chance this guy is legit and simply had a bad experience with paypal or a paypal buyer. Almost everyone has had a bad experience with paypal come to think of it, they do at times make you jump through hoops. It would be a much better world if everyone could be trusted..but evidence shows many can not be. and the ethical people suffer for this.

It's a total judgment call really, I would be weary but at the same time would not want you to miss out on a good deal.

Maybe someone else does have a suggestion of a way to make this purchase safe for you and the seller without paypal. I would be curious as well if this is possible.

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

You could always ask him to list it on eBay as a 'make me an offer' auction and arrange to complete the purchase at an agreed time and date? If you tell him your userID, he knows when it's you that's made the offer. That way, you can pay by any means he wishes but you have a method of disputing the transaction if it turns sour? - always make sure you cover your own back.

If he still doesn't go for it, I would definitely say avoid it as through eBay both of you are covered and, given that you offered to pay an extra $50, you could even offer to cover his listing and sales fees so there's no financial cost to him at all.

Just a thought...

EDIT: Just looking back at those photos again though - the date on them kinda strikes me as strange. If you're selling a strat like that and labelling it as 'immaculate' you'd expect the customer would want to see current (and clear) images and not grainy pictures taken over 2yrs ago. Surely he'd have more recent pics than those or at least be able to take some?

Hey Sambostrat, I wish I could use that ebay idea you suggested but the guy deleted his paypal/ebay accounts since they screwed him over. What do you think about this idea, using a credit card courteous check? Are those backed up against fraud in cases of them being using in transactions?

Yea those pictures do throw me off a little bit with the date being from a few years ago. I also noticed in the one headstock pick you can see the string tree/bar is missing.

I was wondering. Since you are willing to pay him a little extra..perhaps another option is COD cash only w/ signature.

Basically if and when it gets to you, you can inspect it. If it looks good you sign for it and pay. Everyone is protected.

If the guy is not willing to send it COD (cash only), ...most likely a scam.

In the worst case...you will only lose shipping fees since he might want you to pay that up front. He could just pocket the money and send nothing, but at least it won't be anywhere near a $1200 gamble on a suspect item.

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

Its beautiful buy it, I love the star inlays blaaaaaaaaaa and twaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Check this out guys.... a few paragraphs in it says a paisley sambora telecaster was going to be made....I wonder how many prototypes were made if any even made it to the stage of production

http://www.nic.fi/~luckyman/richie/rsgtr.html

That's the first I've ever read about that anywhere so I'll remain sceptical unless I actually see a prototype. Richie has never used a paisley telecaster as far as I'm aware.

Sambostrat, Yea I have never seen him play one as well but maybe one was to be produced and Richie decided against it? or maybe fender decided against it? Or maybe its just false info, but either way a prototype of that would be darn cool!

Would have been a cool Guitar. I guess if a prototype was made it may have been at the Japanese trade show in Oct 1997 never to be seen or heard from again for some odd reason.

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

Richie used black paisley stratocasters and butterscotch double-neck blackguard teles/esquires.

Here's the black paisley tele (not mine) you're talking about:

Wow that is a beauty of a telecaster!

Does anybody have pics of the Paisley sambora strat prototypes that were sold on ebay last yr or so. One was made in the US and had the 25db boost installed on it. I use to have pics of all 3 or 4 protos that were sold but my computer crashed.

http://www.rockstarsguitars.com/product ... =150&x=&y=

http://www.rockstarsguitars.com/product ... =150&x=&y=

The Paisley Tele I don't like the look of at all but good find. I think it needs a matching pickguard.

Mystery solved you guys are amazing. I kind of like that Tele but fear to even ask what one is worth. I may build my own one day and utilize a matching PG.

What would be even cooler although not authentic...is that body with a matching PG, maple Strat neck with the large star inlays...now why couldn't Richie think of that? Oh, and maybe an HB in the bridge position.

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

Personally I think the Paisley pattern could of been done better.....it doesn't look as good as the one used for the strat.

On another note did you guys know a Richie Sambora Paisley strat knockoff existed? I just found one for sale and never thought this would happen.