Posted on 09/19/2011 7:30:45 AM PDT by Former MSM Viewer
If I sell online, can I get scammed if they pay me thru Paypal?
As far as non titled items. I can see where a titled item could be disputed.
That’s true. Either send in the top of the Title. Or now you can even do it online.
Even the Craigslist help pages indicate payment and item delivery should be made face-to-face. Craigslist isn’t really intended to sell things long distance. That’s what ebay is for. I’ve bought and sold on craiglist and ebay, and I’ve found that PayPal works well for ebay transactions if one uses proper caution. However, it never even occurred to me to make a craigslist transaction with anything other than cash.
if you demand cash, you should also invest in a counterfeit marker like most stores use.
Do not use Paypal. They have a dispute and arbitration process that strongly favors the buyer and gives the buyer every possible benefit of the doubt. If you are shipping an item, even if you have proof of shipping and delivery, Paypal can still “at their sole discretion” hold up your receipt of funds. At buyer’s request, at Paypal’s discretion, and for no reason at all except for Paypal’s interest in holding the money as long as possible.
You stand to lose the item, the money, and the shipping costs. (If it’s an ebay item you’re expected to ship immediately even though Paypal may clamp a 3-week hold on the shipping funds.)
Don’t use Paypal.
Also, you say you have a “suspicious” potential buyer. Already suspicious? Go with cash, local pickup, written receipt and a witness — or just don’t sell.
If you’ve never used Paypal you are practically certain not to have the money before 21 days are up. If ever. You must also pass a verification process to receive money, and you will have to cough up your SSN too, though Paypal is not a bank...and not your friend.
Don’t use Paypal!!
Two things make Craigslist work:
Face to face.
Cash (or check - at your potential peril)
Take one of those away and you take away what is good about Craigslist.
I don’t know if this will help you but I have purchased a lot of items from Craigslist. I have always paid cash. I have even had firewood delivered to the house and the seller always says, “Cash only”. I make sure I have my husband or son home when they deliver since I don’t know them (and they don’t know me. Many times, they look a bit nervous when first arriving). I have never had a problem with any of the buyers or they with me.
“Make sure the buyer registers it. So that you are released from liability as owner. In case the buyer runs over someone, crashes into something, runs up big toll bills and so on.”
I had that exact thing happen when I sold a motorcycle last year. They guy wanted to keep the license plates, but here in Colorado the plates belong to the owner and the buyer must go get their own plates. I knew this was the scam: Get the bike but keep my plates and not register it. So, once they paid in cash I took the plates. They were pissed. F’em. Couldn’t care less.
Once I had the signed bill of sale I went to the DMV and registered the bike in the buyer’s name. It was easy: I simply said I sold it, showed the BOS, and they entered the buyer’s name into the DMV system so that if he did anything with it my name wouldn’t show as the owner.
People of all types try to not register a vehicle by buying a used one and keeping the plates. They don’t want to register a vehicle because they have arrest warrants or other issues they keep them out of the DMV.
Ha ha. Good story.
And yeah, here in Texas, they are suggesting that private sellers pull their plates off when they sell. The buyer can get temp plates at the tax office (DMV) or even download them and print them off the internet.
These are feral affies and we seem them with increasing frequency stealing from stores in mass. The media has downplayed these events by calling them flashmobs. It is becoming part of their culture.
Can you donate them instead and take a tax write-off?
BS, see my post 31. Learn to work the system!
Or come in this:
I’d ask you what part of my post you consider “BS,” but the very fact that you responded so is sufficient to conclude that you have nothing of merit to offer.
As for your experience with Paypal, you’ve been lucky. So was I when I sold on ebay.
Thousands have not been lucky.
No one has to believe me. They need only read Paypal’s terms, and briefly peruse the community help forums of ebay and Paypal.
PS: I don’t care to “learn to work” a crooked system.
PayPal rules on ebay are not the same as private sales. Paypal dictates to ebay over thier policies not private sales, like I said, learn the rules, not just ebays.
I suggest adding html to your ad.
put in red letters :”if this is still listed, it is still for sale” ...help weed out the retards and spammers who try to get your # constantly asking “is it still for sale”?
Also, format your phone # as 651 555 55 five five ( or something similar) that automated dialing systems won’t pick up. Otherwise, you’ll likely get calls from some ad company telemarketers trying to get you to advertise with them for a fee.
Lastly, only take cash. Plenty of people will risk bouncing checks and faking money orders. Not too many want to deal with the Secret Service for fake money.
you need to have a job/income to NEED a tax write off. After 20 years of caregiving my invalid mom, there is absolutely nothing for me in the work place so I need the money desperately. My professional credentials are all expired & were in other states & even then employees do not want an older employee
If I were hiring I would want a healthy youthful 30 year old over a mid 60 person.
I did not work many years in the work force. Was a stay at home mom.. worked a bit & then divorced & came to help mom.
my social security is right now my income and it is pretty small.. so yes, I could donate but need heat, food, water, to pay taxes etc.
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