Selling on gumtree to interstate buyer

LDiscoJango on 04/10/2015 - 17:41

First off, apologies if this is in the wrong section

I am selling a watch on gumtree and i have what appears to be an interested buyer, however they are interstate

i know the usual scammer tactics (been selling on ebay for over 10 yrs), the "i work on an offshore oil rig" scam etc, however this appears to be legit

i would have preffered an in person cash transaction, as its just easier overall. i will not do a paypal transaction as it is too easy for the buyer to simply claim they did not get the item, or that the item is faulty, and get their money back

The buyer has requested to be sent via "courier to the value of the watch" which i am not sure what this means

basically im just wanting to see if there are any new types of scams where the buyer wants to get something for free

my preffered method would be they transfer the amount to my bank account, and then i mail the item out. i cant think of any ways they can get their money back by doing this?

thanks :)

General Discussion

Related Stores

Gumtree
Gumtree

Comments

  • punter1 on 04/10/2015 - 17:46

    U can pay extra for cash on delivery with Aus post
    Buyer will pay Aus post when he pick up the watch

  • Paul Atreides on 04/10/2015 - 18:20

    ive sold interstate to a guy on gumtree (gpu). went pretty smoothly. he was happy with x price and agreed to pay x on top for shipping. i knocked down the price of the item a bit cos he lived in a rural area and was paying quite a decent amount for postage.

    as this is only 1/1 time, dont know if this is the exception or the rule.

  • spychiatrist on 04/10/2015 - 21:22
    +1

    If you're willing to sell interstate, why not ebay it instead? Yeah, the person looks legit, etc. - but so do all scammers when they target their victims. 10 years selling and you won't post on ebay this particular watch???

    I had plenty of inquiries about gumtree items from interstate but it is not worth the risk.

    I hear plenty of positive outcomes of gumtree interstate sales but I don't want to be the one scammed.

  • DiscoJango on 04/10/2015 - 22:51
    +1

    its my first time on gumtree, mainly because the ebay 15% total fee (of a $4K watch) is a bit much

  • Randxyz123 on 04/10/2015 - 23:14
    +1

    Send it registered via COD (Cash on Delivery). They pay Australia post, Australia post pays you.

    http://auspost.com.au/money-insurance/cash-on-delivery.html

  • kmwa on 05/10/2015 - 00:18
    +2

    "They transfer the amount to my bank account, and then I mail the item out. Any ways they can get their money back by doing this?"
    They put the money into your account by paying a cheque over the counter at a bank branch. You see the money appear in your account, and send the item off. The cheque bounces, and the bank deducts the money from your account. You never see the watch again.
    The only way to beat this is to wait about three weeks to ensure that the cheque has cleared. Even then, it could be a cheque from a stolen cheque book and you might get the police calling, asking for the money back. Or asking why you are participating in a money laundering operation.
    Seriously, a $4,000 watch? With an interstate buyer? This is setting off so many alarm bells.
    And the buyer is coming out with gibberish like - send via "courier to the value of the watch"?
    The Australia Post COD service may be a safe option, but it will cost you about $100 upfront, and there may not be a genuine buyer at the other end, so the watch might just get returned to you. If you cross a scammer, they will try to hurt you.
    You've got doubts about the transaction. You've got doubts about the buyer.
    I would walk away from the deal.
    Let us know what the outcome is.

  • Randxyz123 on 05/10/2015 - 01:52

    Money transfer is a terrible idea. It can be completely untraceable. I'd you use PayPal you can send it via a courier and have it traceable and they can't claim anything as long as it is signed for and delivered.

  • Kozhutki on 05/10/2015 - 03:06

    Definitely CoD it via AusPost. Safest bet.

  • Geewhizz on 05/10/2015 - 07:34

    The money deposited in your account should be fine.

    send via courier to the value of the watch

    simply translates to, he wants it sent via courier, with insurance cover for the value of the watch.

  • momov3 on 05/10/2015 - 18:26
    +1

    I wouldn't be selling a $4K watch online and to an interstate customer. I was nearly scammed once with a $1K product (Gumtree) and caught it just in time. The correct procedure for selling on Gumtree to interstate is - like EBay you get paid first. And not via cheque which can bounce, not via Paypal (I refuse to authorise PayPal w Gumtree as buyer can still come back to bite you 6 months later for non-working or some other lie) Your terms are clear: direct deposit into bank the amount + postage/courier which you have researched, only when the deposit is confirmed 48 hrs later, you post. This is the safest way. I only offer this option to buyers interstate, and never have had anyone refuse if they are legit buyers really wanting your item. If they don't agree to your terms, you are better off not selling to them , to me that is setting off alarm bells. Sure, it works both ways too, buyer may be afraid you scam them of their money and never post, but it's up to buyer to assess this risk.

  • altomic on 05/10/2015 - 19:05

    where is the buyer?

    maybe some one here will be your middle man if its convenient.

  • DiscoJango on 06/10/2015 - 09:42

    Thanks for all the replys, i appreciate all of them

    as mentioned, ive been an ebay buyer\seller for years, so i know how it all works, but nowdays theres always new ways for scammers to rip you off, and just because of the cost of the item, i dont really want to be out of pocket 4K, and potentially the watch itself, which would be a double wammy

    im going to go with: buyer deposits the money into my account, wait 3 business days to confirm clearance, and then post the item. if they do not agree, then unfortunately no sale.

    the other thing that is on my mind is, why wouldnt the buyer just buy a watch from a local store? im sure you can easily get a really nice watch for <$4K, rather than deal with all this gumtree interstate issues…

    • exc3113nce on 06/10/2015 - 09:49

      I've done plenty of interstate transactions outside of ebay - always use paypal for it (invoiced) so that there is buyer protection. But usually suss out the transaction first. If its for a large amount make sure you have details of theirs (ie. phone number, address, written details of the contract etc…) so that you can go to the police if need be - of course there are ways to circumnavigate that also but I guess the more details you have the better.

      • DiscoJango on 07/10/2015 - 14:09
        +1

        i would probably rather not sell the watch just to avoid all that hassle. ive heard some horror stories about paypal refunding the buyer without even giving the seller a chance to explain.

  • cupcake on 07/10/2015 - 14:40

    Don't sell it. I read about a horror story about exchanging cash to avoid fees.

    You'll just have to try and sell it to a local buyer, and get them to pay by direct deposit.

  • DiscoJango on 03/09/2016 - 15:27

    nearly forgot about this thread i made, so ill update it i guess. i got busy with work and life so i forgot about the gumtree ad for a few months, when i did eventually remember and checked it, the potential buyer hadnt messaged me for ages. obviously anyone genuinely interested in the item would have messaged multiple times.

    lesson learnt i guess, only sell high value items in person locally, preferably somewhere public and safe, eg: foyer of local police station. if the buyer has any issues with this, well then you know the rest :)

    cheers

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join