Yes from heat on out I'll only meet new people within 5 or 10 miles of me and I agree with do all dealings thru pm , I don't give my number out till I'm headed to the meet. Unless it's one of the usuals.
You got that right on prices , I can buy new cheaper that most prices now , I price more than I want for an item , just so I got some leeway to haggle , I enjoy haggling on an item.
How do you figure out which new traders to do business with , I've been ghosted a time or two lately, had a couple no shows , with lame excuses . How do we know who to trust and give a chance to ?