Is this an eBay scam?

[Humble Pi]

I’m selling a mountain bike on there. It’s not particularly rare, it’s in good condition with some nice upgraded parts on. £1,200.
Chap from London with only 1 feedback since he joined 2 years ago really wants it. Offered £1,100 which I’ll take.
I’ve said I would not post, cash on collection only.

He’s just asked if he sends a courier with the cash to my door would that be ok.
Aside from attempting to give me fake notes or rob me, I can’t see another angle for a scam? Maybe I’m being over concerned?

[Shakermaker]

Sounds like a scam to me and I'd pass it up really.

[wilwak]

Sounds a lot safer for you than sending it and being paid by PayPal with all their buyer protection.

Seems reasonable to send a courier with cash.

Can you ask that you meet at your bank where you can bank it before he leaves with the bike.

I sold a car for £5k cash and insisted on banking it before he left.

[Octoposse]

In general EBay scams do rely on seller and buyer communicating outside of EBay and paying not using PayPal (or people thinking they're using PayPal but aren't, thanks to spoof emails).

But, having said that, cash is cash, so how about borrowing a banknote checker of some sort, and asking a mate who handles money and knows what to look for, to be on hand? Give the courier a cup of tea and a hobnob and don't be rushed.

[Zoon]

Do couriers accept cash to give to people they are collecting from?
I've never heard of this.

[Humble Pi]

I questioned which courier is happy to carry cash for collecting items and he replied with a link for parcel force. I’m not going to click it, think I’ll tell him to do one.

[AJB88]

Maybe he is far away and is going to use something like shiply? I sold a car recently and the courier brought me cash, he was arranged by the buyer through shiply.

Payed the cash into my Metro bank account and all was fine.

[shakotan]

Humble Pi said:

I questioned which courier is happy to carry cash for collecting items and he replied with a link for parcel force. I’m not going to click it, think I’ll tell him to do one.

Generally couriers have different routes for deliveries and collections, so it seems highly unlikely that a delivering courier will be collecting at the same time, or vice versa. Either way, the courier isn't going to act as a money handler.

[Humble Pi]

He’s just replied and said ‘you are correct they won’t take cash, how about I PayPal the money and you post it?’
I’ve told him to Foxtrot Oscar.

[shtu]

Humble Pi said:

I questioned which courier is happy to carry cash for collecting items and he replied with a link for parcel force. I’m not going to click it, think I’ll tell him to do one.

Scammier than a £3 coin. The "courier" will be the scammer with a hivis and clipboard.

If you want to confirm it for yourself, call Parcelforce customer service on 0344 800 4466 and ask them if they have a service where they turn up at random houses with wads of banknotes to pay for items being collected.

Humble Pi said:

I’ve told him to Foxtrot Oscar.

Good.

At best, he's a chancer who wants the low price of collect-only, but with all the convenience of delivery. Most likely, you'd end up with no bike and no money.

Block him from bidding, or next he'll buy it then start badgering you to courier it.

Edited by shtu on Wednesday 10th July 13:50

[mgtony]

Humble Pi said:

He’s just replied and said ‘you are correct they won’t take cash, how about I PayPal the money and you post it?’
I’ve told him to Foxtrot Oscar.

"On yer bike" might have sufficed!

[mick987]

Humble Pi said:

He’s just replied and said ‘you are correct they won’t take cash, how about I PayPal the money and you post it?’
I’ve told him to Foxtrot Oscar.

If you won't take cash or Paypal, how do you expect anybody to pay for it ?

[Shakermaker]

mick987 said:

Humble Pi said:

He’s just replied and said ‘you are correct they won’t take cash, how about I PayPal the money and you post it?’
I’ve told him to Foxtrot Oscar.

If you won't take cash or Paypal, how do you expect anybody to pay for it ?

I would take cash for someone if THEY came to collect it and took it away

I would take PayPal and post something. but not something big, like a bike, I'd post something small, like a parcel.

But I wouldn't do PayPal and then have them collect it, or them try and arrange some third party to give me the cash who then takes it away. Then there is no money trail when it comes to the "buyer" making a claim for no delivery

[Turfy]

If I ordered a Big Mac Meal and the server asked me to meet him around the back of the restaurant in 5 mins with the cash, I would run away from the deal.

I accept the analogy is by no means close to the situation, rather my point is if something is so far away from the norm and you have to ask strangers for advice, run. It is not normal and you have to ask yourself why.

[anonymous-user]

I'm guessing that the OP has hit the wall of HAVING to accept Paypal on e bay but not wanting to.
It's a bit of a catch 22 really.

Having said that I sold a bike last summer. It was on e aby for ages and ages and I got all the " I can send you a bike box all you have to do is...……." blah blah variants

I stood my ground and clearly stated it would only be sold to someone paying cash.
Eventually it did to a nice guy who knew what it was and travelled over for it.

[Armitage.Shanks]

The real robbers in this are eBay who force you into PayPal which they own, then take a percentage cut of the funds you think you're getting then charge you for the listing and final value fees etc. Overall you're a third down!

I'd be tempted to let someone turn up with the readies but have a few 'chums' with me in case there was a disagreement.

I could believe it more if he paid PayPal and then arranged a courier who never delivered the bike to him and he did a claim on PayPal for refund blaming seller giving it to a bogus collector. It's good for the buyer as I learnt when I returned a camera to a business seller who stated that 'when I get it back and I find it works ok I shall keep the camera and your money'. eBay resolution had other ideas - full refund!

[anonymous-user]

One of the best ways to reduce costs on e bay is to take advantage of the £1 listings.

[Crossbot]

Armitage.Shanks said:

The real robbers in this are eBay who force you into PayPal which they own

eBay haven't owned PayPal since 2015 and the agreement they made at the time ends next year at which point they will stop pushing PayPal, although it will still be an option. They have done a deal with another payment service, it remains to be seen whether they will be any better.

[Humble Pi]

Shakermaker said:

mick987 said:

Humble Pi said:

He’s just replied and said ‘you are correct they won’t take cash, how about I PayPal the money and you post it?’
I’ve told him to Foxtrot Oscar.

If you won't take cash or Paypal, how do you expect anybody to pay for it ?

I would take cash for someone if THEY came to collect it and took it away

I would take PayPal and post something. but not something big, like a bike, I'd post something small, like a parcel.

But I wouldn't do PayPal and then have them collect it, or them try and arrange some third party to give me the cash who then takes it away. Then there is no money trail when it comes to the "buyer" making a claim for no delivery

Basically this.

[Fastpedeller]

I don't understand some of the negative here. If buyer is paying paypal (and is also happy to pay for courier)then there shouldn't be a problem as long as the bike is as described. I tried to buy a bike off Ebay last year, offered to take it without the rear wheel to decrease weight (rear wheel was bent, and I wanted to use cassette wheel anyway), also pay extra, but the seller refused. As it happens it did me a favour as I got a similar (but better condition) one cheaper a few weeks later - seller was happy to be offered a good price before auction end, packaged it up and it arrived the next day!