Selling on Gumtree - Advice on Posting
Discussion
A couple of questions really, as I can’t seen to find the definitive answers anywhere.
I’m a real novice when it comes to selling on Gumtree and the likes, so looking to avoid getting scammed, and need a bit of advice from anyone who knows how to avoid the obvious pitfalls.
I have a couple of items up for sale on Gumtree. Both a few hundred quid (iphone and heavy food appliance).
Both have received a bit of interest, but from people not in the local area and want the item to be posted and to pay by Paypal.
Now some responses I can tell seem dodgy, but a couple seem more real (no way of actually knowing, but seem less dodgy by the way they are written).
Gumtree seems to favour face to face transactions, but at the same time does offer advice on how to post items.
I’ve also heard that Paypal is not a good idea when using Gumtree, as it’s too easy for the buyer to reverse the transaction. Again, although Gumtree favours cash transactions it also advises on Paypal.
The intenet is littered with tales of scams involving Paypal and items be sent by courier when using Gumtree. So is this a no no, and should I just insist on a face to face cash transaction?
I’m a real novice when it comes to selling on Gumtree and the likes, so looking to avoid getting scammed, and need a bit of advice from anyone who knows how to avoid the obvious pitfalls.
I have a couple of items up for sale on Gumtree. Both a few hundred quid (iphone and heavy food appliance).
Both have received a bit of interest, but from people not in the local area and want the item to be posted and to pay by Paypal.
Now some responses I can tell seem dodgy, but a couple seem more real (no way of actually knowing, but seem less dodgy by the way they are written).
Gumtree seems to favour face to face transactions, but at the same time does offer advice on how to post items.
I’ve also heard that Paypal is not a good idea when using Gumtree, as it’s too easy for the buyer to reverse the transaction. Again, although Gumtree favours cash transactions it also advises on Paypal.
The intenet is littered with tales of scams involving Paypal and items be sent by courier when using Gumtree. So is this a no no, and should I just insist on a face to face cash transaction?
Only way I'll post stuff sold via Gumtree is having the money in the bank first. Naturally buyers are wary of this so I've sent them pics of me holding the item and linked up with them via social media so they can satisfy themselves that I and the item being sold are genuine. Also given them my landline number so they can call me. Sent signed for with adequate insurance.
Yes they need to trust me, but I know I'm not dodgy.
Edited to add: I also send them pics of item packed and receipts obtained from the post office so they know it's in the system.
Yes they need to trust me, but I know I'm not dodgy.
Edited to add: I also send them pics of item packed and receipts obtained from the post office so they know it's in the system.
Edited by Amused2death on Friday 13th November 11:45
Amused2death said:
Only way I'll post stuff sold via Gumtree is having the money in the bank first. Naturally buyers are wary of this so I've sent them pics of me holding the item and linked up with them via social media so they can satisfy themselves that I and the item being sold are genuine. Also given them my landline number so they can call me. Sent signed for with adequate insurance.
Yes they need to trust me, but I know I'm not dodgy.
Edited to add: I also send them pics of item packed and receipts obtained from the post office so they know it's in the system.
This is what frustrates me. You have to jump through so many hoops, just because of a few sYes they need to trust me, but I know I'm not dodgy.
Edited to add: I also send them pics of item packed and receipts obtained from the post office so they know it's in the system.
Edited by Amused2death on Friday 13th November 11:45
tbags who want to scam you. The vast majority of people are honest. It almost puts you off selling things.Ham_and_Jam said:
This is what frustrates me. You have to jump through so many hoops, just because of a few stbags who want to scam you. The vast majority of people are honest. It almost puts you off selling things.
Quite agree, but scams come from both buyers and sellers. In all seriousness posting stuff out will usually take a day or two before it gets in the system so good communication during that time with updates does help to reassure the buyer. I always specify cash on collection in my ad's and if someone really wants what I'm selling then the deal will be done in a manner that protects me. If they don't want to do it I'm not forcing them to. The item will sell eventually and I'm not that desperate that I'll grab the first sniff of a sale.tbags who want to scam you. The vast majority of people are honest. It almost puts you off selling things.The Spruce Goose said:
I've sold via paypal on FB and gumtree, posting, never had a issue, the buyers just want a bit of security.
I’ll definitely give the buyer a bit of security. Piccies & tracked postage etc, but don’t want to be scammed. It’s the Gumtree - Paypal - Posting combo that seems to be the scammers favourite method.
Why is this more of a problem with Gumtree than with eBay?
I always state:
Collection only most evenings and weekends (2 mins from J7 M20 Maidstone) - No postage, No couriers and No delivery.
Cash on collection or bank transfer only. All stupid offers will be ignored.
That way they know roughly where I am, when I'm available, what I am prepared to accept in terms of delivery and payment methods.
Collection only most evenings and weekends (2 mins from J7 M20 Maidstone) - No postage, No couriers and No delivery.
Cash on collection or bank transfer only. All stupid offers will be ignored.
That way they know roughly where I am, when I'm available, what I am prepared to accept in terms of delivery and payment methods.
vikingaero said:
I always state:
Collection only most evenings and weekends (2 mins from J7 M20 Maidstone) - No postage, No couriers and No delivery.
Cash on collection or bank transfer only. All stupid offers will be ignored.
That way they know roughly where I am, when I'm available, what I am prepared to accept in terms of delivery and payment methods.
Yeah I’m going to update the ad to cash and collect only. Collection only most evenings and weekends (2 mins from J7 M20 Maidstone) - No postage, No couriers and No delivery.
Cash on collection or bank transfer only. All stupid offers will be ignored.
That way they know roughly where I am, when I'm available, what I am prepared to accept in terms of delivery and payment methods.
The biggest problems with PayPal is:
(1) Fake accounts funded with stolen debit and credit card details. When the PayPal realise this they try and reverse transactions. You end up with a negative PayPal balance and no item.
(2) The biggest st with PayPal on collections and eBay is even though the person has collected the item, scammers can claim no proof of delivery and get a refund. You can scream until you are blue at PayPal that the person collected, but their robotic agents will religiously repeat proof of delivery, which you don't have on a collected item. You can scream that you have CCTV, and a invoice/sig for all the fat use it is. eBay have gone some steps to address this by having a barcode that the buyer brings that you scan to confirm proof of collection.
(1) Fake accounts funded with stolen debit and credit card details. When the PayPal realise this they try and reverse transactions. You end up with a negative PayPal balance and no item.
(2) The biggest s
t with PayPal on collections and eBay is even though the person has collected the item, scammers can claim no proof of delivery and get a refund. You can scream until you are blue at PayPal that the person collected, but their robotic agents will religiously repeat proof of delivery, which you don't have on a collected item. You can scream that you have CCTV, and a invoice/sig for all the fat use it is. eBay have gone some steps to address this by having a barcode that the buyer brings that you scan to confirm proof of collection.
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