Does this seem sketchy?

[aminnich]

I found a guy on Craigslist that lives near me that is selling newer technic sets for about $50 lets than prices online.  He says that he gets sets weekly to resell on Craigslist.  The pictures show half beaten up boxes, some the bags are like half open (but still have the parts inside), others the box is perfect unopened.  

The only thing I am thinking is he works somewhere that gets returned sets and he some how takes them home and resells them.  It seems a like sketchy to me, but I wanted to see what you guys thought.  

[offroadcreations]

I would visit him personally if possible, and keep in mind that it is safer to do in a public place. If the sets are good enough, I would get them. 

So to answer your initial question, it does a little bit, so I would check it out first. 

[aminnich]

I would meet with the guy personally at like a walmart parking lot of something, no way I would trust having something shipped from this guy.  I am just wondering how he gets these sets

 

[Saberwing40k]

Yeah, this sounds like "It fell of the back of a truck". I would not touch this guy with a 10 foot pole.

[aminnich]

but if the bags inside are unopen, i dont see a problem.  If the box is busted or the instructions are missing, i dont really care, ill just get it cheaper 

 

[Imanol BB]

I think that if you are looking only for the pieces and not for the boxes or maybe the instructions, it is okay as long as it is complete, of course if this person lives near you, it is more preferable to get the sets personally, independently of the reputation this person has, this way you can check perfectly what you are getting without being scammed, and i think that it is highly possible that this person gets the sets which don´t pass the "quality control", like opened or damaged boxes and bags, or maybe like you said, he gets them when they are returned, because these kind of "offers" or "bargains" never happen near my place (and even in my country), i might not be the ideal person to advise you, but if you consider that these sets are worth and have the conditions to buy them, you can buy them, but be careful with their condition.

[aminnich]

If any of the bags are open or bigger pieces (wheels, tires, etc) that are not bagged are not inside the box, I will not buy it.  

[Saberwing40k]

So, you don't care you might be buying stolen stuff?

[Blakbird]

Damaged boxes do not get given or sold to employees.  If someone is selling reduced price merchandise (new sets), then they are stolen.  Count on it.

[aminnich]

I am only worried it is stolen, thats my only concern 

I think I am going to ask to see a receipt for the sets 

 

[dr_spock]

Retailers and manufacturers can sell returns, damaged products, overstocks, salvaged goods, etc. in liquidation to resellers who will in turn sell to whoever willing to buy. 

Walmart has a liquidation program: https://liquidations.walmart.com/about/

 

 

[Captainowie]

In general, if you have to ask "Is this sketchy?", the answer is probably Yes.

[aminnich]

Everyone has a good point; these could be stolen or they could be liquidated.  I am not just going to buy them if he has them, I am going to ask for some kind of proof of purchase and make sure that all the bags are sealed and not parts are missing.  Before I would meet with the guy, I would do my research on what exactly is inside the box of the set I would be purchasing.  

As all Craigslist ads, ALWAYS meet in a public place, you never know what people are going to do.  

To answer the question, Yes, this is very sketchy.  I will keep you guys updated on what happens.  

Happy building

[Tommy Styrvoky]

If it sounds too good to be true, then it is. There is probably a high chance those sets were stolen, and they are attempting to get rid of them before they are caught, thus dragging in the individual who "purchased" the sets. As returned/damaged items would be restocked, or returned to the supplier correct? Rather than some sort of sketchy side deals. I would personally rather pay an extra $50 just for the lack of hassle, and a guarantee that all of the parts would be accounted for, for all you know he could have obtained lego boxes, distressed them, and filled them with some sort of 3rd party Chinese knockoff parts, just to make easy money off of some unsuspecting person.

[aminnich]

Never even thought of him filling the boxes with Chinese fake stuff. Makes sense for why the boxes would be half opened. He is selling them for $50 less but I would offer him much less. I could just order the sets online, but I am always up for an adventure haha. 

[Mantarri]

Just use bricklink, I got my MB arocs (used, but in like new condition, missing box and extra parts) for $225 including shipping & handling, while the new thing sells for $270, I can get a link for the specific seller if you want, it shipped pretty fast too. :)