Taking Payment from Someone in Hotel Quarantine

Hello everyone.
I am trying sell someone of my camera lenses to someone who is in hotel quarantine at the moment (international traveller).
He can't do cash because of his situation and hence asked if I am ok for him to bank transfer or paypal. In return I will leave the lens in a box at the hotel reception, with his name on the label.
I am not sure how safe would it be if he does bank transfer or paypal. Have heard lot of bad stories!
Do you guys have a suggestion? Should I agree for the bank transfer?
Thanks.

Edit: Thanks everyone for your responses. I have communicated to the guy about meeting in person once they are out of the quarantine.

Poll Options

  • 2
    Bank transfer
  • 2
    Paypal
  • 1
    Don't know
  • 57
    Don't sell

Comments

  • +2

    if you have priced the product fairly , and are not in desperate need of the funds , the risk is far to high, find another buyer.

    • Thanks. I am in no hurry to sell. And with that price I am confident that it will go eventually.

  • +2

    SCAM

  • +4

    Wait till he is out

  • +1

    Sell for cash & in-person only.

  • +4

    Tell him to leave the exact amount in cash with the hotel reception. Accept the cash hand over the camera and walk away.

    • Are they allowed to get to an ATM? And are they allowed to go to reception?

      • He is happy to do a bank transfer so I'm sure if he asks nicely someone who works at the reception will be willing to pay the cash to the seller after the buyer transfers that amount to that person's account. Also it is possible that he could get the hotel to pay in cash and add that amount to the hotel bill. As strange as it may seem it is not that uncommon. Once I got some flowers delivered to the hotel when I wasn't in the room and they happily paid the florist and added that amount to my bill. I'm sure if he is genuine there will be a way to find the cash even if he is not allowed to goto an ATM

      • I don't think they are.

    • Who is going to clean the cash? You don't want to be on the news, if something happened…

  • +1

    Wait until he leaves quarantine, and sell it to him in person and for cash payment.

  • +2

    At least they didn't say they are in Darwin or somewhere else, looks like the scammers are learning. Good on em.

  • May be you'll end up on a "A current affair" episode. Just find another buyer.

    • Haha, thats is what I am worried about.

      • Hi mate,

        I recently sold about 4k worth of lenses. I had heaps of interstate interest but decided I wasn't in a rush to sell. Over time, people slowly messaged me and I sold them for cast, bit by bit. Like you, I wasn't in a rush. If you still haven't sold in two weeks, see if he is still interested.

  • +1

    Run away - it's a scam.

    • Stay away - it's Covid.

  • +1

    Everyone seems to have jumped to the conclusion that this is dodgy. I have a slightly different perspective; that the request is not unreasonable. However, when you say "leave the lens in a box at the hotel reception", I took that to mean that it's being left with a person, rather than a reception area (which would be nuts, frankly). It's not unusual for a concierge/receptionist to receive packages on behalf of people, just as what happens all the time in corporate buildings or workplaces. And, in your case, to cover yourself, you'd simply post with registered mail AND you'd get insurance. Maybe ask them to pay for the additional postal add-ons so you're not further out of pocket.
    Not everyone is a scammer. And no, I'm not the buyer. :)

    • Agree that hotel reception can receive/hold packages for someone but would they allow a non-quarantining person into the hotel? I thought they're supposed to be pretty tight (well these days anyway). Not sure if security would do it. Either way reckon better to find another buyer.

  • -5

    Ask Dan to pick it up

  • +3

    Thats a good one, I'm in hotel quarantine instead of an oil rig.

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