PayPal Risk as Seller for Gumtree (Non-eBay) International Postage

skywalka on 16/04/2020 - 09:38

Hi guys,

I have a rare item listed on Gumtree. Someone from Indonesia is interested. He seems legit & unfamiliar with Gumtree.

He asked if I can accept PayPal & also if I can halve the declared value of the item from 1000 to 500 when posting.

Halving the value doesn’t bother me. It’s value is debatable. Except that I’ve heard horror stories of buyers not receiving items and getting refunded by PayPal &/or eBay leaving the seller out of pocket. I’m wondering if this would affect our transaction?

Thanks for any insight.

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Comments

  • Forfiet on 16/04/2020 - 09:44
    +3

    Well I wouldn't…. If he really wants maybe put it on ebay, but those horror stories exist for a reason. Don't think like you will be lucky, think instead of what you could loose…..

  • dust on 16/04/2020 - 09:44
    +5

    Scumtree is for cash transactions in person. Don't do it.

  • Diji1 on 16/04/2020 - 09:44
    +4

    Accept nothing other than bank to bank transfer or cash.

    Do not use PayPal.

    • limucat on 20/04/2020 - 14:19

      I just bought a $20 game boy cartridge on gumtree and paid via PayPal. Sorry why don’t use PayPal in gumtree. I am confused

  • RockyRaccoon on 16/04/2020 - 09:44

    Hey I'm interested, sell it to me and I'll save you the postage to Indonesia, just let me know which currency you want to be paid in, and I'll get PayPal to arrange.

    No worries mate . Trust me I'm on the internet and I'm on Ozbargain, Got to be ok isnt it?

  • pegaxs on 16/04/2020 - 09:46

    You're selling an item through Scumtree, to Indonesia, using PayPal… I think your question is rhetorical…

    My bets are on, OP's next post will be about buyer did a reversal for "item not delivered/received" or "not as described" and OP has no money and no item…

  • zonra on 16/04/2020 - 10:03

    Just in case the first 5 posters weren’t enough persuasive.
    No, don’t do it. Do not use Paypal when selling on Gumtree.

  • Hithere on 16/04/2020 - 10:09

    I wouldn't accept Paypal for an Australian Gumtree sale let alone an overseas buyer.

    Your leaving yourself wide open to be scammed and losing the item and/or your money.

  • Ughhh on 16/04/2020 - 10:12

    I’m wondering if this would affect our transaction?

    Why wouldn't it? If anything, the risk is higher.

    • skywalka on 16/04/2020 - 10:13

      Thought it might be an eBay policy not a PayPal one.

      • Ughhh on 16/04/2020 - 10:14

        Higher chance of being scammed without ebay

  • Maisie on 16/04/2020 - 10:17

    I wouldn't trust anybody that asked me to help them avoid taxes! Don't do it, and certainly don't send it overseas where they could easily claim not received.

  • [Deactivated] on 16/04/2020 - 10:20
    -1

    If they pay first, why not? No refund on Paypal gumtree.

    • PissLUR on 16/04/2020 - 10:32

      They can still do a CC chargeback.

      • skywalka on 16/04/2020 - 11:24

        And they can pass that on to me?

        Anyone can just chargeback anything?

        • PissLUR on 16/04/2020 - 11:27

          YES.

  • PissLUR on 16/04/2020 - 10:31

    What is the item?

    • Baysew on 16/04/2020 - 10:44
      +1

      Jousting sticks.

      • Eeples on 16/04/2020 - 11:17
        +4

        $500?…. tell him he is dreaming.

        • PissLUR on 16/04/2020 - 11:28

          read the OP. $500 is the declared value. so that he pays less import tax.

      • Hithere on 16/04/2020 - 11:31

        Straight to the pool room?

  • blitz on 16/04/2020 - 10:50
    +1

    How much money are we looking at? If you are desperate to sell to this person (numerous red flags, in my opinion), you could consider using Friends and Family to prevent a chargeback. Me, I'd sell elsewhere.

    • Eeples on 16/04/2020 - 11:16

      Does F&F prevent a chargeback?

      OP, get the money first; you need to see it in your bank account.

      • Anonym0us on 16/04/2020 - 11:20

        F&F does not stop credit card charge back.

        Even if the OP's see money in his bank account unless he is happy to lose his Paypal account that's the only way.

        Paypal will put the account into negative.

        • blitz on 16/04/2020 - 11:54

          F&F does not stop credit card charge back.

          But it will stop a Paypal charge back. Paypal offers no protection on F&F transactions. As I said, if it were me, I'd sell elsewhere.

  • ratoloko on 16/04/2020 - 11:32

    As a buyer and from stores — eBay for example —-, I always use PayPal for security reasons, especially against sellers looking to make easy money. I have had problems and PayPal gave my money back.

    I see no problem there. If you think it is a great deal, send it with the most expensive service which should provide you tracking code, etc. With that said, either you or the buyer can see where the product is.

    In case he opens a dispute with PayPal, you have all the information needed to prove that the product was delivered and the buyer is being a d1ck.
    But here in Australia, I would only take money. Here is full of low lives trying to f… you up —'

    • dazweeja on 16/04/2020 - 12:10
      +1

      Showing that the item was sent or arrived doesn't protect you. They could be using a hacked PayPal account, the owner of the account complains and the payment is reversed. They could be using their own PayPal account, they claim that someone hacked their account and the payment is reversed. There's plenty of common scams here.

      • ratoloko on 16/04/2020 - 12:38

        Thanks for letting me and to never use PayPal as seller :)

      • skywalka on 16/04/2020 - 13:03

        I wouldn’t mind seeing proof PayPal do this.

        • Ughhh on 16/04/2020 - 13:10

          Plenty of proof if you just google. Otherwise, go ahead with the transaction. Maybe you're lucky

        • dazweeja on 16/04/2020 - 16:05

          Google "PayPal chargeback scam".

    • TilacVIP on 17/04/2020 - 08:35

      Yes it can be proved it was delivered, but how can it be proved that the "actual" purchased items were inside the package instead of garbage or something worthless.?? As a seller, unfortunately, its easy to get scammed bu dishonest buyers

  • Ocker on 16/04/2020 - 11:36

    Aside from under-declaring the value of a shipment being illegal, if anything was to go wrong then the lesser amount would be the maximum insurance/compensation claim amount to which you would be entitled

  • FloatingPoint on 16/04/2020 - 11:44

    Paypal + Scumtree = 99.9% Scam
    Ask the buyer to do a telegraphic transfer if he really wants it.
    If he's a scammer, next thing he will send you a TT receipt and ask you to send the item immediately.
    Wait for the fund to clear before even think about packing it.

  • DoctorArd on 16/04/2020 - 11:47

    There are some very interesting comments here and I'm surprised as I assumed PayPal was probably the safest option. I'm selling PS4 games for under $50 at the moment on Gumtree, do people think cash is the best option for that simply because once it is handed over the buyer has no real chance to falsely claim anything like the game doesn't work properly etc?

    • nomoneynoproblems on 16/04/2020 - 12:07

      It's safe for the buyer as paypal normally sides with them. In your example yes, exactly that!

    • ratoloko on 16/04/2020 - 12:37

      I sold my PS4 and Xbox there. Both with cash and everyone is happy.
      On your case, do not accept anything else and be ready if the buyers want to see the console working.

      I would do the same as there are low lives selling PS4 in special with HDMI screwed and/or console banned from online matches. That is why I always buy brand new consoles and the both ones I sold were still under 1y+ warranty.

    • Ughhh on 16/04/2020 - 13:12

      The pros and cons are vastly different between seller vs buyer.

      think cash is the best option for that simply because once it is handed over the buyer has no real chance to falsely claim anything like the game doesn't work properly etc?

      Yes. Items sold as is.

  • EFC94 on 16/04/2020 - 11:52

    Don't do it. I posted something on eBay for $150 to China, item supposedly never arrived and stupid me didn't record the tracking number. Buyer claimed through paypal and I lost $150 and the item.

  • TheBilly on 16/04/2020 - 13:22

    PayPal will hold your money, the scammer will lodge a complaint with them and get a refund and then also get your product because you cannot reverse postage.

    • skywalka on 16/04/2020 - 14:00

      I think they only hold money for eBay sellers.

      • TilacVIP on 17/04/2020 - 08:37

        eBay new sellers. Established sellers are able to withdraw immediately, no holding back

  • Tomato on 17/04/2020 - 10:11
    +1

    Maybe tell buyer your concern and ask if buyer got friends in your area to pickup n pay for him instead of sending overseas. or at least do bank transfer for him, then once received, u then post the item with tracking. better if his friend can do the posting.

    • blitz on 17/04/2020 - 11:48

      Yep, this is an excellent idea. Ask the buyer to do some legwork, and gauge their responses. If they seem contrived, you may have your answer.

  • pufffdragon on 19/04/2020 - 23:20

    I'm pretty sure there is no PayPal buyer protection for gumtree sales. The risk of getting scammed is higher for him I believe.

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