Accept Paypal on Gumtree?

LJelIyfish on 27/01/2022 - 21:33

I have a listing on Gumtree and a guy wants to buy the item and pay via Paypal.

I know you generally shouldn't accept Paypal as a payment method on Gumtree, but I also have a flickering glimmer of faith in humankind so I am unsure how to proceed.

They did offer to pickup the item but I am away so I said it wouldn't be possible on the day it suited the buyer.

They want it posted to a business address and I doubt someone would involve their workplace in a scam purchase.

Value is ~$300 if relevant.

What would you do?

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Comments

  • oscargamer on 27/01/2022 - 21:42
    +23

    No

    • JimmyF on 27/01/2022 - 21:58
      +4

      /thread

  • RockyRaccoon on 27/01/2022 - 21:43
    +7

    I’d only expect to kiss around $300 good bye.

    You even posted why this is possible.

  • Pikaloo on 27/01/2022 - 21:52

    Either bank transfer or pay via PayPal (once you send an invoice via paypal or something) shipped to the PayPal address they've put and of course they'll pay for shipping + item + fees.

    If you don't ship to the address that is given on PayPal and don't have a tracking number they can screw you over in a dispute.

    If they're picking it up never PayPal.

  • Brucet on 27/01/2022 - 22:01
    +5

    Cash payment only.

  • salmon123 on 27/01/2022 - 22:05

    Value is ~$300 if relevant.

    For me it comes down to how sad I'd be if I got scammed. I'd be a little sad over $300, but it's not the end of the world. I could probably find a way to make $300 easily enough.

    Another factor is the actual item - electronics tends to attracts more scammers. Used things like kids bikes or furniture tends to attract less scammers. I'd probably decline paypal for the former, but accept it for the latter.

  • brendanm on 27/01/2022 - 22:12
    -1

    Take pictures of item and packaging. Send with tracking. Even if buyer tries it on, you have the FOS to back you up. Literally the only good thing about PayPal.

    • orangetrain on 27/01/2022 - 23:19
      -2

      LOL

      • brendanm on 28/01/2022 - 08:51
        +1

        Why laugh if you have no idea what you are laughing about?

        • orangetrain on 28/01/2022 - 09:41
          +1

          It's funny to put faith in PayPal when they have a reputation on Ozb

          • brendanm on 28/01/2022 - 10:31

            @orangetrain: Looks like you didn't read my post at all then. I have no faith in PayPal. I have faith in the FOS, who PayPal answer to.

  • Axelstrife on 27/01/2022 - 22:20

    Pick up cash only
    Postage Paypal only (ensure they pay for paypal fees and only send to there paypal address, Also purchase postage insurance.)

    Asking for bank deposit for postage is a massive red flag you will never see whatever your trying to buy.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 27/01/2022 - 22:39
    +5

    If you’re giving away $300 can I be next in line?

  • dust on 27/01/2022 - 23:06
    +2

    Depends if you like getting scammed or not.

  • orangetrain on 27/01/2022 - 23:21
    -1

    Easy to get $300 cash. If they insist on paypal then either they are dumb or they are relying on paypal for something here.

  • cashless on 27/01/2022 - 23:52

    Scum tree?
    Cash

  • Kranbone on 27/01/2022 - 23:59

    I don't accept paypal ever as it's heavily skewed towards the buyer.

  • AustriaBargain on 28/01/2022 - 04:52

    The fees are too high. Gumtree defaults to saying you accept PayPal so you need to turn that option off.

  • Nutrino on 28/01/2022 - 05:50
    -1

    "They want it posted to a business address and I doubt someone would involve their workplace in a scam purchase."

    Cool story bro.

  • Hithere on 28/01/2022 - 07:32

    I know you generally shouldn't accept Paypal as a payment method on Gumtree

    Why ask then?

    CASH only, face to face transactions, unless you don't care if you are scammed.

    • JelIyfish on 28/01/2022 - 08:00

      I thought a face-to-face (which was the buyers preference) sale with a Paypal payment was safe, but since reading these replied I can see that isn't the case.

  • Porker on 28/01/2022 - 08:00
    +1

    Could be that buyer doesn't have cash available and relying on PayPal so they can use their credit card.

    I once made a $3000 face to face purchase using PayPal. This of course was before scams of this type were so frequent.

    But yes, hard to not think that one is going to get scammed these days.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 28/01/2022 - 08:20
    +2

    Lol, cash only. I'd suggest also checking the $50's are legit as well. Scams galore at the moment.

    • JelIyfish on 28/01/2022 - 11:29
      +2

      I'm not worried about scam $50 notes, he offered to pay in $40's.

  • JelIyfish on 28/01/2022 - 10:02
    +1

    They're happy to go ahead with a bank transfer.

    Thanks for the replies, there was a very entertaining array of opinions and comprehension.

    • Gronk on 28/01/2022 - 10:26
      +1

      They're happy to go ahead with a bank transfer.

      Uh, that's worse.

      • JelIyfish on 28/01/2022 - 10:31

        How so?

        • Gronk on 28/01/2022 - 10:41

          Even if you see funds in your account, there's nothing stopping the payment from being reversed if there's fraudulent access to the account. The people saying cash only are doing so with good reason.

          • JelIyfish on 28/01/2022 - 10:57

            @Gronk: Explain how cleared bank funds are 'worse' than a Paypal transaction, as you have claimed.

            Separately, do you believe someone who has fraudulent access to a bank account (and Paypal account) is going to worry with a $300 item and have it sent to their place of employment?

            • Quantumcat on 28/01/2022 - 11:44

              @JelIyfish: Bank transfer is not worse than PayPal, it just isn't perfect.

              I am 99% sure this buyer is genuine given they tried to meet up with you to start with and are happy to do a bank transfer. The way to scam with PayPal is different to bank transfer so it is unlikely they were well prepared for both.

  • Hithere on 29/01/2022 - 10:49

    have it sent to their place of employment?

    It may not even be their place of employment. It has been known for scammers to watch someone's mail arrive and access it before the rightful owner retrieves it.

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