Gumtree

[Bigbox]

So i'm on the lookout for some new winter wheels and whilst browsing gumtree, i have noticed that there are a disproportionate amount of wheels being sold from various locations in Aberdeen of all places - whilst they may indeed be valid it does seem odd that 20% of sales are from in and around Aberdeen.

How can i make a distance purchase without being scammed?

[All that jazz]

Bigbox said:

So i'm on the lookout for some new winter wheels and whilst browsing gumtree, i have noticed that there are a disproportionate amount of wheels being sold from various locations in Aberdeen of all places - whilst they may indeed be valid it does seem odd that 20% of sales are from in and around Aberdeen.

How can i make a distance purchase without being scammed?

You have 2 options on gumtree.

1. meet face to face, pay cash.
2. get scammed.

Only a fool would send money electronically to a seller on gumtree.

[Fab32]

Gum tree is for people who have run out of Ebay accounts, best avoided at all costs

[Helicopter123]

Weather genuinely worse up here in Aberdeen and snow tyres almost essential if you are away from the coast. Don't assume all sellers are scam artists.

[Impasse]

Helicopter123 said:

Weather genuinely worse up here in Aberdeen and snow tyres almost essential if you are away from the coast. Don't assume all sellers are scam artists.

And certainly don't assume that every sale is a way of flogging stolen goods. That would terrible stereotyping. Terrible.

[Cyberprog]

Fab32 said:

Gum tree is for people who have run out of Ebay accounts, best avoided at all costs

No, GumTree is for shifting large items of furniture, when you expect people to come and collect, and offer stuff at a knock down price to suit. Similar to the facebook groups that exist.

We've picked up some nice things on GumTree by being willing to go and collect ASAP with cash. We've also gotten shot of a good few white goods (indeed I have a chap coming in 10mins to pickup a spare fridge) with very little hassle.

It has it's niche. I don't know exactly how it makes any money though as the listings are free...

[rallycross]

Gumtree = make payment face to face or assume it's a scam.
Run!!

[wc98]

also more disposable income per head than even that london place in aberdeen, every half decent car you see will have a set of bling wheels on it,so i would expect plenty standard wheels for sale.

[Bigbox]

wc98 said:

also more disposable income per head than even that london place in aberdeen, every half decent car you see will have a set of bling wheels on it,so i would expect plenty standard wheels for sale.

I've also bought and sold on gumtree - an added benefit is that it's fee free, however I just thought it unusual that 6 out of 30 winter wheel sets within my nationwide search were showing up as being in Aberdeen.
I can't believe that there isn't a fool proof way of purchasing from gumtree and having read the gumtree t&cs they take no responsibility for sales that are facilitated via their site

[All that jazz]

Bigbox said:

I've also bought and sold on gumtree - an added benefit is that it's fee free, however I just thought it unusual that 6 out of 30 winter wheel sets within my nationwide search were showing up as being in Aberdeen.
I can't believe that there isn't a fool proof way of purchasing from gumtree and having read the gumtree t&cs they take no responsibility for sales that are facilitated via their site

Why "can't you believe" it? It's essentially a free-ads site like you'd get in your local rag or Yeller. Using it to purchase stuff long distance it's not what it's designed for and anyone that uses it in that way is likely to end up out of pocket.

[Bigbox]

All that jazz said:

Why "can't you believe" it? It's essentially a free-ads site like you'd get in your local rag or Yeller. Using it to purchase stuff long distance it's not what it's designed for and anyone that uses it in that way is likely to end up out of pocket.

What I 'can't believe' is that in this day and age that the money can just be defrauded and disappear via a digital electronic transaction which in theory is traceable at both ends

[CMYKguru]

I bought a set of mint Jaguar Barbados wheels with pirelli tyres which would have cost £2500 without tyres from a Jag dealer for £300.

Guy was selling pickup only but seemed to be in a hurry to sell so i said i'd pay the postage.

Two days later they turned up no problems.

On the other hand some Gumtree sellers really have a different definition of MINT than most people.

Went to see some BBS last month described as MINT, New etc and they has more dents and scuffs on them than a meth addicts face.

Maybe I just got lucky but would normally trust anyone on gumtree

[Vince70]

I just wondered it there was some kind of time frame on the free ads on Gumtree..
I've got to sell both of my cars and have just sold the first one after advertising through Gumtree and Pistonheads (which sold this week).
And when I've put the second ad up on gumtree for my second car I was asked to pay £15 for the advert.

[Vince70]

I just wondered it there was some kind of time frame on the free ads on Gumtree..
I've got to sell both of my cars and have just sold the first one after advertising through Gumtree and Pistonheads (which sold this week).
And when I've put the second ad up on gumtree for my second car I was asked to pay £15 for the advert.

[All that jazz]

Vince70 said:

I just wondered it there was some kind of time frame on the free ads on Gumtree..
I've got to sell both of my cars and have just sold the first one after advertising through Gumtree and Pistonheads (which sold this week).
And when I've put the second ad up on gumtree for my second car I was asked to pay £15 for the advert.

Use a different email and put a different phone number on your 2nd ad. They do it to stop traders but it's easy to circumvent if you're creative.

[Vince70]

Thanks for that

[Vince70]

Thanks for that

[offshorematt2]

Just post up in the Scotland forum. Plenty of aberdeen folk in there - sure someone will check out the wheels existence before you transfer money.

That said, the scammers do have a habit of choosing out of the way locations so people won't try and collect in person. One guy, clearly west African based, had claimed to be from the village of Tain on the Moray Coast. Unluckily for him my mate who was interested in the sale had parents five miles away

[Bigbox]

offshorematt2 said:

Just post up in the Scotland forum. Plenty of aberdeen folk in there - sure someone will check out the wheels existence before you transfer money.

That said, the scammers do have a habit of choosing out of the way locations so people won't try and collect in person. One guy, clearly west African based, had claimed to be from the village of Tain on the Moray Coast. Unluckily for him my mate who was interested in the sale had parents five miles away

Very kind of you to point out - i hadn't thought of that

[mwyatt82]

seems perfectly credible. Large oil industry, transient workers, recent panic over oil price means job cutting by firms, workers intend to leave, need to sell winter wheels they had. I wouldn't be too bothered.