Payment method question

Good points. Paying before anything ships is non-negotiable, but you also gotta watch out for the fees eating into your total. For crypto, try sticking with Litecoin to dodge the litecoin network fees — it's way cheaper than Bitcoin or Ethereum. I only use Zelle for familiar folks, but always get a bitcoin transaction ID as proof if using crypto. Helps if anybody tries to ghost later.

Agree with this completely

Yeah, that's the golden rule of this game — always get your money first before you send anything. But honestly, just saying "pay first" isn't enough these days. You've gotta think about payment method, fees, and how to protect yourself from getting burned on either side.

If you're dealing with crypto (which is pretty much standard now), watch out for network fees. Bitcoin and Ethereum can hit you with ridiculous gas fees when the network's congested. Litecoin or XRP usually have way lower transaction costs — I've seen folks lose like 10-15% of a small order just on BTC fees alone. And don't forget about confirmation times — sometimes you're stuck waiting for a few confirmations before you can release the goods.

Escrow's your best bet if you're not dealing with a known regular. Middlemen add a layer of safety, but they take a cut — typically around 5-10% of the total. It's worth it to avoid getting scammed, but make sure the escrow is trusted and has a track record. Never use escrow services that demand payment in a separate transaction or ask for your private keys. That's a huge red flag.

Hidden fees can sneak up on you too. Some payment processors or exchanges tack on conversion fees, processing fees, or even withdrawal fees that aren't obvious upfront. Always ask the buyer to confirm the amount they're sending after all fees. I've seen people shortchange themselves by $20-30 just because they didn't check the fee structure.

As for pricing context — you're usually looking at anywhere from $50 to $200+ for a standard novelty ID depending on quality and turnaround. Don't expect dirt cheap prices from reliable sources; if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And never accept partial payments upfront — full payment first, no exceptions. That's the only way to keep the power in your hands.

Saved about 40% with 6 people. Definitely worth the coordination

The more people the better the discount. Try to get at least 5