Buying Knives on Instagram

I just joined....but I've posting things for sale on instagram with no issues. I have a knife currently listed on there and I've sold some wood blocks.

I don't know if instagram is the greatest way to communicate all the particulars of a sale, at least for me, but it does reach a lot of people. I have gotten several orders from instagram.

I think the quality of the communication between the two parties would be the best early indicator of how good or bad the transaction might go.

For me personally, I want it to go to email from initial instagram contact.
 
I stay away from "social media" (whatever that means)

I hate the censorship abilities, I hate the "groupies" I hate the instant rockstar fame because nobody has a clue to who the hell you are.....I don't want to buy or sell anything in that environment.

I have read threads, everyone is cool, and everything is perfect. That's not real....

This forum is as "social Media" as I get....hard to hide BS here, you can't delete anything you've done, or block people. I like that.

I get why social media is so popular, and becoming such a popular place to do things, and that's exactly the reason I have no use for it.
 
Most of my work comes from Instagram. No real horror stories just some individuals with unrealistic expectations (colors that aren't possible) because they don't understand the process and won't listen when you try to explain it to them. Those people I just refuse to deal with.
 
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How does a buyer prevent from getting ripped off? If I pay for a knife and don't receive it or if I get a brick in a cardboard box, will paypal help?
 
I've bought a few "via" IG - but all that means is I saw the knife on IG, made contact, and got the sellers email and we switched to email. I've had no problems. I've bought knives from 3 different makers, all initial contact coming via Instagram (and one maker I only spoke to via DM, no email), and I've not had a problem yet. YMMV.
 
Always pay with PayPal goods. Never use PayPal gift to make a purchase. If you do that then you should be fine.
 
I swear by the IG knife community. Just as if you're buying here or anywhere else, pay with PayPal Goods and you'll be just fine.

I personally love IG for its knife community because the layout of the app caters to a great experience. You can scroll through countless ads and inquire with ease. Nothing beats the knowledge and the community here on BF, though. That's for sure :)
 
There have been times where the only place I could find a specific hard to get knife, has been IG. I've bought from all over the world. My formula is simple. 1.Deal with individuals that I have an established relationship, or have been referred to by them. 2. See 0 red flags in the steps leading up to the sale. 3. Goods and Service, only, unless it's a friend or family member. Ignore this and risk starring in your own "horror story". 4. No trades, unless I know the person for a long time, or if they would ship first for my inspection. I prefer trades, generally, only with friends.
 
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I've bought a few things on instagram, never anything super expensive. I've stopped attempting to sell anything there (by the way, to sell or look for things on sale you generally use the #knifesale tag), because all I get are people who say they're interested and then stop responding after a few back-and-forths.
 
Instagram is only a point of contact for me with knife sales. I am a knife collector first . I have purchased a few knives on Instagram but they all had a connection to this forum or the green forum . Most guys have some sort of reference . I have met a maker or two from Europe and had some Puukko's made that I never would have the opportunity to meet . They delivered with awesome products . I have sold at least 50 bushcraft knives that I have made on IG either from order or posting and being contacted . I have sold or at least initial contact was IG . In a nut shell buyer beware on IG . Like posted above they can delete any bad posts and a lot of guys are real full of themselves and have egos the size of the grand canyon.
 
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