The telephone call also provides a method of measuring or weighing the tone of the seller which is important information to help decide to go through with the purchase or not. Further checks are really important to establishing an even greater degree of confidence. Knowing the home community of the seller and the phone number they provided, call Information and confirm that the official number corresponds with the info provided to you. The amount of money involved in the transaction determines the degree of caution to be applied. Reassuringly, this is true for the seller as well.
Cautiousness can take several forms.
Often the seller will use COD delivery of the software, which assures me that I get the product before I pay out any money. Occasionally I insist the seller send me the product before I send a check. I do not use a check book, I use money orders or bank checks and I provide this information up front to the seller. I think it significantly decreases the seller s anxiety about the possibility of receiving a rubber check. I make it clear that I will first install the software to assure that it works before I send the check.