How safe to buy website online ?

**rpermana** · 06-10-2009 01:18 AM

I read a lot of website for sales under "WEBSITE FOR SALE" thread.
Some of them look interesting for me.. but i am just worried about buying them online. Are they serious sellers or bunch of scammers just like the scenario below.

A Scam That Website Sellers Use: I recently looked at a publishing website for sale that was advertised online. The company sells a variety of guides that teaches yoga to beginners. The site was beautiful and easy to navigate. The owner sent me some financial statements showing me how much profit he was allegedly making, and the number of monthly visitors. After doing some research which you will learn in our course, I found two other websites for sale by the same owner under a different website address and layout but selling the same products. I contacted him under a different name and he sent me the EXACT same financials and website reports with a different company name on them. What this crook was doing was to take one website, package it with three different looks, and then sell it as three completely different businesses. What a scam! When I confronted him, he said he'll call me back in two minutes - that was four months ago.

So anyone can give me a rough guide & what to watch out before purchasing an existing website ?

**Mega B** · 06-10-2009 01:42 AM

One Golden rule never pay for a site with PayPal as you could well get a chargeback and as it comes under the electronic goods banner you are not covered only physical goods are cover,the best way is Moneybooker.com. Figures can alway be manipulated just prior to a sale of a website to make it look better than it actually is.Good luck

**bananaman** · 06-10-2009 04:51 AM

Personally, I would never buy a website, unless I can be physically seated next to the owner when he logs into the accounts, so I can see everything with my own eyes. And then I'd ask to sit with him over several days before I'll hand over my money.

I would not have a problem if a buyers asks the same thing before buying my site.

**rpermana** · 06-10-2009 11:11 AM

Yup, I did agree with both of you. I did buy a game account locally and we met in cybercafe to trade

.

But then I saw a lot of potential websites for sales in this forum. Anyone ever purchase website through this forum ? If yes, what procedures were taken in this trading.

**mjb96** · 06-10-2009 11:25 AM

I've purchased domains and web designs from this website using PayPal. Never any trouble as far as transaction or follow up.

I've seen on other forums where users can have a trade rating attached to their account so people can see if they've had online transactions and how they've gone. Maybe that would be a nice option for this forum if possible.

**rpermana** · 06-10-2009 11:20 PM

Yes. Good idea you got there mjb96.

I hope that YE can add another bar for ratings below our avatar....that would be nice !

**PsiPro** · 06-10-2009 11:54 PM

My 1st rule: Don't buy from someone with low post count

#2: Selling price is near the monthly profit.

**rpermana** · 06-11-2009 12:44 AM

that sounds logical to me...
but high post count still worries me...

is there any site that provides a secure trading service that specialize in website trading?

**PsiPro** · 06-11-2009 08:58 AM

Use an escrow service and clearly define your terms for a completed sale.

I can understand a selling not wanting to use an escrow service if the selling price is very low, but then if it is you shouldn't be to worried about getting shafted. If its a higher price and they mind using an escrow service don't even bother.

**rpermana** · 06-11-2009 09:58 AM

oh..looks nice.. i can use this in the future. Thanks for the recommendation.

ANyway, what is the service fee like ?

**PsiPro** · 06-11-2009 11:53 AM

Last time I used one it was something like 10%. Well worth it if there is a moderate amount of risk.

**The Stealthy One** · 06-11-2009 04:42 PM

From the seller's standpoint (I've sold many Websites in the past), here are some tips I could offer you. Get screenshots from the seller, but even better - ask if you can login and see the traffic stats for yourself! Both Google Analytics and Statcounter allow the seller to create a separate login for you to just view stats (and they don't have to worry about you changing any settings).

Check the Alexa rank of the Website, the Google Pagerank, etc. These are not fool-proof, but they are at least a good way to gauge how much traffic a site is getting and what quality Google considers it. A lower Alexa rank is better, and a higher Google PageRank is better.

Pay through Escrow.com. This offers the best protection for you, and Escrow.com is experienced in Website sales.

The best place to buy a site is someplace like SitePoint Marketplace, where sellers are ranked (much like sellers on eBay) according to the quality of their past transactions.

I don't have much time now, but those are some tips that should hopefully help you out.

**rpermana** · 06-11-2009 08:47 PM

thanks The Stealthy One and yes, i am using the same method as yours to review a website. I am using websiteoutlook to check on daily page view and PR.

But, I am just worried if it is a scammer who promote website that is not belong to him. You know, they are very good in tricks, words & sales. They will then ignore you after received payment.

Escrow.com is a good thing to try. Anyway, does the seller needs to pay for the service too ?

**jingwen** · 06-12-2009 01:36 AM

I think you should use whois to check it an use paypal to payment.

**The Stealthy One** · 06-13-2009 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by rpermana

thanks The Stealthy One and yes, i am using the same method as yours to review a website. I am using websiteoutlook to check on daily page view and PR.

But, I am just worried if it is a scammer who promote website that is not belong to him. You know, they are very good in tricks, words & sales. They will then ignore you after received payment.

Escrow.com is a good thing to try. Anyway, does the seller needs to pay for the service too ?

Just be careful with services like websiteoutlook - they never show a completely true measure of a Website's traffic. The only way to get the real traffic stats is to see actual screenshots from Google Analytics, Statcounter, or whatever Website analytics system the Webmaster is using. Sites like websiteoulook and compete.com can only estimate as to a Website's traffic level.

You are definitely right to worry - I've seen a lot of people get scammed, and I even have a few times myself.

If I remember correctly (I haven't used Escrow.com in several months now), you can setup a transaction so that either the seller or the buyer pays the transaction fee.