Help! near safari happening here...

By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics and access other forums reserved for members. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today by clicking here.

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 1:43 am

I nearly have these two lads on safari from Accra to Lagos. This would be my first real safari, so I don't want to blow it.

Basically they think they are going to pick up a shipment of computers and 'deliver' them to a church. I'm using the handy GPS 3-Track to make it more believable.

Then I got an email that said:

Quote:

As i told you yesterday, we are ready to go, everything now depends on you for our transportation and other information we need to conclude the journey.Because of time difference, i suppose to move on Saturday early morning so that i can arrive in the evening and then on sunday i will proceed to the location. We hope you will send the transportation today your time so that we can pick it up tomorrow and prepare Ourselves to leave very early on Saturday.

He wants some payment up front for a train, or something.

Ideas on how to get around this?

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 4:56 am

Are the computers already in Lagos or are they en route?

Ignore any request for "transportation" that's his problem. Ask him what further "information" he requires.

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 5:07 am

the computers are somewhere over the Atlantic currently.

I told him a few emails ago that I couldn't get him any money until he gets to Lagos.

I thought about telling him that a reverend could meet him in Lagos and reimburse him his travel money.

But you say ignore it, eh?

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 5:32 am

Save the reverend character for later (that's a good plan BTW). Thumbs up

Lads will always default to asking for money, that's what they do. The more you can keep their attention focused on anything but money, the better off you'll be. If you get on the subject of money for too long, you'll get bogged down in negotiations and make a mistake. The lads will forgive/forget just about any other mistake you can make, not likely if they catch you in a fib about money. Even the dumbest lad knows a dozen reasons to ask for money and for every excuse you give, he can come up with two more reasons. Laughing

The lad will either travel or he won't, there is really nothing you can do but tell an additional lie or two to try to entice him. You can ask anyone with multiple Safari

's and they will tell you that for every Safari

in their sig, there are a dozen that almost traveled, but backed out for some reason or other. Make the lad play your game, don't try to play his. Wink

Another thing to keep in mind is that lads often use the wrong word for things and/or leave key words out when they type, so "transportation" could very well mean "shipment". Practice reading the context of the email as opposed to reading individual words, when dealing with most lads.

Ignore the lad's actual email and reply to this edited one instead and see how your lad reacts.

Quote:

As i told you yesterday, we are ready to go, everything now depends on you for our shipment and other information we need to conclude the journey.Because of time difference, i suppose to move on Saturday early morning so that i can arrive in the evening and then on sunday i will proceed to the location. We hope you will send the shipment today your time so that we can pick it up tomorrow and prepare Ourselves to leave very early on Saturday.

ETA> As i read it again, it does indeed look as if your lad is wanting you to send a car/driver/ticket etc, my answer remains the same though, Ignore the lad and change the subject. Very Happy

Trophy Videos · Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 1:48 pm

Jose is right. Most lads will back out. You really never know until they actually do. One thing you could tell them is that the pickup has a time limit on it, and if they aren't there within 3 or 4 days, the shipment will be moved to the main storage facility in a city farther away from them than Lagos. Maybe Abuja, another 350 miles from them. If they do move, they could arrive too late, and the GPS tracker could show the city you picked. This may keep them going for you. Good luck! Smile

Help! near safari happening here...	View next topic View previous topic