I just had a trade request where the person wanted us both to insure so that "we could blame the post office if anything went wrong". She went on about all of the bad experiences she has been reading about and how she is a "small time trader". She only had a few references, so I suggested a third party trade. Her immediate response was "I'm not interested in a third party trade." Pretty interesting, no?
But it gets better! I actually sent her an e-mail back explaining that I suggested it because I thought it would be the safest for both of us, and may I ask why she wasn't interested in a third party trade?
She responded, "Sure, you can ask!" That was her response! Isn't it amazing how someone who was playing this innocent little "small time trader" morphed into someone who not only didn't want to do anything to protect the trade but became snotty? That's why it's so hard to judge people through e-mail. This is another person I don't know from the boards, and I definitely feel more comfortable trading with folks after I have read their posts and feel like I "know" them (or read their posts and realize I don't want to trade with them..lol!)