Safe buying on Gumtree

[AyBee]

Found an item I want on ebay from a guy who's been selling stuff on there for 9+ years (according to Gumtree). Unfortunately the guy is 600miles away (Aberdeenshire, and I'm in London) so short of catching a flight (£150 and a long day), I'd need it shipping to me. Value of the item plus shipping would be £725. The guy has said he doesn't have PayPal and that bank transfer was preferable (and I could call him on his landline tonight). Is PayPal (paying for goods) the only way to cover myself for a purchase like this?

[Shuvi McTupya]

where in Aberdeenshire is he?

If he is local to me i could go and view the item and let you know if he seems legit.

I am suprised he doesn't have paypal if he has been selling online for so long, but Gumtree is usually cash on delivery i suppose.

[AyBee]

Oldmeldrum?

[Mr Pointy]

Gumtree plus Bank Transfer gives you zero security & Gumtree will do very little to assist if anything goes wrong (I know this from personal experience). Gumtree is really for personal collection & cash payment & it works ok on that basis.

[JagerT]

Is it key or combination ?

[AyBee]

JagerT said:

Is it key or combination ?

[Shuvi McTupya]

AyBee said:

Oldmeldrum?

no problem for me, its just up the road.

PM me with further details if you like.

[deckster]

AyBee said:

JagerT said:

Is it key or combination ?

[227bhp]

deckster said:

AyBee said:

JagerT said:

Is it key or combination ?

[AyBee]

Thanks all, especially Shuvi

The guy selling has now opened a paypal account - I assume, as long as I click the "pay for goods or services" button, that PayPal will give me my money back if the item doesn't turn up, is that correct?

[eybic]

Nope, read the ins and outs but specific requirements have to be fulfilled for them to refund you.

[AbzGuyGTI]

I'm 5 miles from Meldrum too (MIL stays in meldrum) so any help needed let us know although looks like Shuvi is on the case!

I hope this isn't my MIL selling something as she isn't the brightest! haha!

[Shuvi McTupya]

AyBee said:

Thanks all, especially Shuvi

The guy selling has now opened a paypal account - I assume, as long as I click the "pay for goods or services" button, that PayPal will give me my money back if the item doesn't turn up, is that correct?

No Problem, and my offer stands.

Oldmeldum is not exactly a hot bed of crime , chances are you have nothing to worry about, but if you want to tell the guy you are sending a mate over to check out the goods, just let me know

[SpeckledJim]

AyBee said:

Thanks all, especially Shuvi

The guy selling has now opened a paypal account - I assume, as long as I click the "pay for goods or services" button, that PayPal will give me my money back if the item doesn't turn up, is that correct?

Not necessarily. If an empty box with a tracking number turns up, you'll have to convince Paypal that of the two of you in the transaction, it's you that is the honest one, not him.

[loafer123]

AyBee said:

Thanks all, especially Shuvi

The guy selling has now opened a paypal account - I assume, as long as I click the "pay for goods or services" button, that PayPal will give me my money back if the item doesn't turn up, is that correct?

Assuming that button takes you to PayPal and not a clone phishing site...

[Dolf Stoppard]

I bought a Mac from Gumtree. Did half bank transfer and half PayPal. Exchanged work contact details with the seller and spent a bit of time messaging each other to get a feel for the seller. I think if you 'buy the seller' rather than the product, you'll hopefully be ok.

[Durzel]

Just to flip this..

I've provisionally sold an iPhone on Gumtree, guy coming tomorrow to collect. I have no reason to suspect anything is amiss other than the fact that he didn't attempt to haggle at all, when others have, but now I've got thoughts of counterfeit cash going around my head.

I haven't done much business on Gumtree but what I have done has all gone smoothly. But there's something about phones that seems to attract scammers like moths to a flame.. I guess it's because they're easy to shift onwards.

I don't have a black light or one of those pens to test the notes. What is the safest way for me to accept payment? Ask him to draw it out all in those polymer £10 notes? Bank transfer when he's here?

[SpeckledJim]

Meet him at your bank and pay it straight in.

[227bhp]

What weird times we live in where people are genuinely scared of hard cash

[Wacky Racer]

Be VERY careful buying or selling using Paypal.

You have to follow their terms and conditions (Which is fair enough) to the letter otherwise you could be seriously out of pocket.