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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Suspected scam: anyone ever heard of BB List?

Mike 'Fireman' Ross

Mike 'Fireman' Ross

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I'm negotiating to buy a lens from a seller on this site... have a look at the FAQ, anything strike you as peculiar...?

http://www.bblist.co.uk/index.php?p=53

How about...

"Can I visit to inspect the item before purchasing?
You will still be required to deposit payment with us under Escrow prior to meeting the seller. (See the above explanation for the reason)"​

It seems the site claim to operate some kind of escrow service, they've read & edited my 'private' messages to the 'seller' to prevent us contacting each other by any other means directly (removing email addresses, phone numbers, even a link to my Reduser profile!), and they won't let you *inspect the item* until AFTER you've PAID the money into an alleged 'escrow' account??!!

On the one hand, this *screams* of a scam.

On the other hand, the site has some air of legitimacy about it, and they claim to have been in business since 1993. Netcraft & Archive.org support that claim since 2001; the site has been up at least that long.

Anyone any experience dealing with them? Their business practices seem peculiar to say the least.

Thanks

Mike
 
This gave me a chuckle:

An item is marked 'HOT!', what does that mean?
This usually means that several ongoing enquiries have been made on that item.


Or does it mean stolen?

The site and items look pretty legit though.
 
BBList is a long time UK equipment site. It's actually completely legit. Bought a couple of fairly high value (around high 3 figure) items off there with no issues. As usual, make sure you ask detailed questions of the seller if in doubt, and report issues promptly before the escrow funds are released to the seller. But the escrow service seems to work OK when there were no problems with the transactions. Not had experience when there are problems though.

The reason they strip all contact info is to avoid you making a deal bypassing their commission.
 
ericyoung said:
BBList is a long time UK equipment site. It's actually completely legit. Bought a couple of fairly high value (around high 3 figure) items off there with no issues. As usual, make sure you ask detailed questions of the seller if in doubt, and report issues promptly before the escrow funds are released to the seller. But the escrow service seems to work OK when there were no problems with the transactions. Not had experience when there are problems though.

The reason they strip all contact info is to avoid you making a deal bypassing their commission.
Click to expand...

That jives with the guy claiming to be Welsh, and the Netcraft data showing a host in Swansea! But nothing like a recommendation from a local satisfied customer; thanks for that, I'll go ahead more comfortably with them.

You gotta admit 'yes you can inspect the high-value item, but only after you've wired money to our escrow account' DOES look extremely dodgy!

Mike
 
I was just as cautious the first time I bought from there! Did a couple of lower value purchases first. At the same time, be sure to ask careful questions and ask for additional photos if necessary too. BBList might be legit, but the seller might not be!
 
WHEN IN DOUBT, DON'T!!!!!!! DON'T DO IT, FIND A BETTER RESOURCE BUDDY
 
BB list is very safe and as has been stated, been around for a while. The escrow deal is all done through paypal. It's a little weird because you don't comunicate directly with the seller, you deal with the list people, but they are fine.

Nick
 
comic-sans-strikes-again-17729-1294929271-34.jpg
 
I am experiencing a similar suspected transaction on our very own forum.
This guy is offering a RED camera and after some questions, he doesnt seem legitamate.
I am not sure how to write about this, whether to warn others in a separate thread and in his own thread.

I wish I am wrong, may be it just my experience, but when we almost close to make payment, he doesnt want to meet my friend in the same area as his.


Guys can you suggest me, whether to start a new thread or post my experience in his sale thread.

Recently Raj Thruselvan was caught selling EPIC with Scarlet photos, so I am over cautious
 
BBList have always be good on several occasions Ive purchased and sold via them. Its one of the safer places to trade.
 
Hehe. Hate it all you want, but Comic Sans is everywhere!
 
Mike,

RUN!!!

Plenty of lenses out there. Toss me an e-mail with what you are looking for and I might be able to help you out. I am not a broker, just come across a lot of material in my own lens searches, glad to help out another RU.

Mike 'Fireman' Ross said:
I'm negotiating to buy a lens from a seller on this site... have a look at the FAQ, anything strike you as peculiar...?

http://www.bblist.co.uk/index.php?p=53

How about...

"Can I visit to inspect the item before purchasing?
You will still be required to deposit payment with us under Escrow prior to meeting the seller. (See the above explanation for the reason)"​

It seems the site claim to operate some kind of escrow service, they've read & edited my 'private' messages to the 'seller' to prevent us contacting each other by any other means directly (removing email addresses, phone numbers, even a link to my Reduser profile!), and they won't let you *inspect the item* until AFTER you've PAID the money into an alleged 'escrow' account??!!

On the one hand, this *screams* of a scam.

On the other hand, the site has some air of legitimacy about it, and they claim to have been in business since 1993. Netcraft & Archive.org support that claim since 2001; the site has been up at least that long.

Anyone any experience dealing with them? Their business practices seem peculiar to say the least.

Thanks

Mike
Click to expand...
 
someone else has surely responded to this, but i can't read all the replies.. bblist is a long established (and trusted) escrow service.. people sell things and Barry makes sure the buyer is happy before he releases the money to the seller. Ive spent £7k there, and much better system than ebay. .and you can phone Barry he's a nice guy? (question mark means, have you etc.. the nice guy bit is a fact)

so, if you've used bblist, and you haven't recieved the goods your money should be safe. the only problem could be if you don't inform the escrow service you're not happy within a set time (ie, barry at bblist) and the money is released already.

escrow services are reputation based i'd say ie, how do you know its not a fake escrow service?

answer, BBlist (Barrys Bazaar) is a well repected escrow

..if you see something you like (like the set of zeiss standard primes for £4k).. feel happy buying

sorry my post count isn't high, i work for north yorkshire camera hire limited (after my boss got banned from reduser)
(+44)7835915253

ps, I should point out (as it put me off until i investigated what an escrow service was etc) Barrys Bazaar looks a little dated, but the online messaging system (and direct phone line), work well. One thing to remember is to check whether an item has VAT to pay, generally second hand goods don't generate VAT, except business sales do..not sure of the exact rules, my lenses didn't, the ronford series 2000 head and medium legs did. Its my first stop for bargains (along with ebay/paypal..which obviously has more choice, but more risk and less smooth)

pps, a trusted escrow is worth its weight in gold btw ;) .. like that russian lens tech that sorts out your anamorphic for a good price in st petersberg many times, who you used to be worried about wiring money too etc . when i bought the primes (arri mount btw) i met the guy at pinewood studio down a back lane and had a look at the lenses..i could have said bollocks then rang barry and said, deals off etc). Just sent them to TLS (trulens services) here in the uk. I believe you have 24hrs to cancel payments etc return goods

ppps, sorry, of course escrows also protect the seller, as the money has to arrive first, before the seller is told its safe to deliver, thats the point.. you don't have to trust strangers, just the escrow thats makes a commission and has every reason for everyone to be happy etc

ppps, obviously, my experience doesn't mean there aren't fake escrow services around so take care
 
Last edited:
Will Keir said:
Mike,

RUN!!!

Plenty of lenses out there. Toss me an e-mail with what you are looking for and I might be able to help you out. I am not a broker, just come across a lot of material in my own lens searches, glad to help out another RU.
Click to expand...

BB List is legit. If you read the posts above, you would see others saying the same.
 
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