Gumtree Payments Query

hctan on 08/01/2014 - 21:28

Hey guys, I am selling a bed frame, mattress and tallboy on gumtree and someone wants to buy it for $1800 but they want to pay through paypal.

I first got the text message from someone called A with a different email address and a few hours later got another text message from the same number from someone called B with a different email address.

I only emailed the first option but ignored the latter.

Now they are interested to buy it and they are looking at purchasing through paypal as he is apparently too busy to come view it himself and a private courier will come pick it up themselves.

Should I worry? As I know you can withdraw your funds through paypal.

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Comments

  • subywagon on 08/01/2014 - 21:34
    +8

    Scam.

  • PissLUR on 08/01/2014 - 21:35
    +7

    100% SCAM.

  • strangeloops66 on 08/01/2014 - 21:41
    +5

    Gumtree transactions should always be face to face, ideally at a public place e.g McDonald's (or, if the item you are selling is too large, with a friend present).

    • [Deactivated] on 08/01/2014 - 21:43
      -8

      Yes and police presence isn't a bad idea either because everyone is a criminal and no one can be trusted….

      • strangeloops66 on 08/01/2014 - 21:48
        +9

        As far as Gumtree is concerned, that is not hyperbole.

  • hctan on 08/01/2014 - 21:42

    Yea I thought as much! looks like I got excited for nothing.

    sigh

    • EnALup on 10/01/2014 - 13:35
      -3

      Tell buyer that you will only ship to the paypal address and tell him you won't post it to other address. if it is genuine, take a receipt from courier person that he picked up or a picture of him loading.

      I dont see a problem in that case. otherwise any ebay sale can be a scam. Just keep proof of sending item with you.

  • Peace Maker on 08/01/2014 - 21:43
    +5

    They will mostly likely send you a fake paypal email with instructions to pay a fee before receiving any funds. Very common scam, been around for years. Commonly called Advance Fee Fraud. Research and tell your friends.

  • spal on 08/01/2014 - 21:50
    +1

    It's a scam. Happened with a colleague. She received a scam email purportedly from paypal saying an amount higher than the price is deposited. When she logged in paypal there was no money. Then she received a text saying that the buyer has paid more in error and asked her to western union the over payment. Paypal asked her to not enter the deal. Flow of texts from the scammer stopped once she emailed that the matter has been reported to paypal and police.

  • plmko on 08/01/2014 - 22:13

    Lol with paypal, you don't even need to do all those circus tricks to scam someone, just pay normally and send it straight to resolution center.

  • MITM on 08/01/2014 - 23:13
    -2

    1. Ask them to pay "just" 10% ($180) as a holding deposit thru PayPal.
      1a. If funds arrive, immediately withdraw the funds and keep it.

    2. Ask them to bring balance payable by bank cheque or cash on pick up (or send it with the courier).

    3. Pick up must be finalised within 'X' days. (So you can relist)

    In a nutshell: "Put your money where you mouth is" ('Your' being the buyer).

    Would sound like a fair deal to a fair dealer.

    Keep copies of all txt messages to show "they" dishonoured the agreement if they fail to pick up.

  • hctan on 08/01/2014 - 23:28

    Do you guys know anywhere to sell my Second hand mattress, bed frame and tall boy? Its only 6 months old and it comes with ten years warranty.

    • RandomNinja on 08/01/2014 - 23:30
      +1

      Gumtree is fine, just be aware of scams and ignore them

    • lisss on 09/01/2014 - 14:31

      The reality is that the resale value on this is going to be crap compared to what you paid for it new. Have a look at how cheap you can get similar on gumtree. I can't think of a better alternative - you could try the newspaper but I think Gumtree gets more hits with photo etc.

  • MITM on 08/01/2014 - 23:47
    +1

    Look no further than your nose - OzB has a classifieds For Sale/Wanted section,
    2nd the Ninja
    and there's FleaBay

    If it's in PERFECT cond - call a 2nd hand furniture trader to come around and price it - saves ALL the drama, but at a much lesser value.

    Or is there a Tender Centre near you ? But you have to cart it there (and back if it doesn't sell)

    • hctan on 09/01/2014 - 13:54

      Hi,

      I tried looking for a 2nd hand furniture trader. Do you know of any?

  • Orgazmo on 09/01/2014 - 07:52

    What if you actually met up with the scammer? Would the cops care if you told them in advance and setup a sting?

    • alizzan on 09/01/2014 - 13:08
      +1

      I can imagine the conversation with the police when you ask them set up a sting. Something tells me they couldn't care less.

    • Tal_Shiar on 09/01/2014 - 13:12

      Yeah , much like the guy that was on the run from the cops and sold his iPad to someone without turning the iCloud off, the cops didn't do much at all at the start!

    • WT on 09/01/2014 - 14:25
      +1

      They would never show since they are probably overseas…

  • onlyletters on 10/01/2014 - 09:00
    +1

    Problem with PayPal even after they've paid, they can always reverse the payment and they WILL win if you haven't supplied a tracking number for postage.

    All of those China sellers that we get cheap shit from, you can get your money back from them all, why? because they do not have a tracking number to supply, this is the risk they take for 20c profit.

  • EnALup on 10/01/2014 - 13:29

    I have sold my camera lens over Gumtree through paypal and kept the receipt with tracking number and a photograph of items sending in the parcel.
    Worked fine.
    But for big items like this, it is a scam as they need to see it first.

  • Weezle on 10/01/2014 - 17:59

    Scam.

    Let me guess, he is a marine engineer living at sea and he wants to purchase it for his sick mother? Classic scam.

  • mskeggs on 10/01/2014 - 21:26

    I've bought stuff off gumtree no troubles including tickets, but I see scammy listings for mobiles and ipods etc all the time.
    My dad kept getting emails from guys working on "oil rigs" to buy stuff.
    I figure it works as good as the notice board at the local supermarket if you you go cash and face to face, but every extra complication adds to the potential for scams, buying and selling.

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