Is PayPal safe payment on an automobile?

[SunnyD]

One of the candidates for POTY 2012.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2239129

Oh dear god. I didn't even have to get past the first line. :awe:

 

[SunnyD]

If she shipped via UPS or FedEx there is a package intercept option or something like that to re-route shipments.

Even if it was shipped USPS - sounds like international - it can be recalled assuming it has either Delivery Confirmation, Insurance or some other form of tracking (International requires customs, which has a tracking number on it) as long as it hasn't left the country.

Get her ass to the post office and talk to the postmaster ASAP and bring any documentation you have. They may be able to do something, they may not.

edit: err, not you mix, but shehateme. No wonder why shehateyou.

 

[MagickMan]

Off Craig's List? No. Off ebay from a seller with a great rep? Yeah.

 

[Leros]

Only take cash or a certified cheque.

This

 

[Red Squirrel]

For something big like a car I'd want to be in person for the entire transaction, and get paid with cash or a certified cheque. I don't get exactly how paypal scams work, but from what I understand they just do a charge back and get the money back, and the item.

Selling a car is more involved than selling a computer or something. There's a whole transfer of ownership, safety check etc that has to be done so keep that in mind too. Some of those will also cost you money.

 

[Leros]

For something big like a car I'd want to be in person for the entire transaction, and get paid with cash or a certified cheque. I don't get exactly how paypal scams work, but from what I understand they just do a charge back and get the money back, and the item.

Selling a car is more involved than selling a computer or something. There's a whole transfer of ownership, safety check etc that has to be done so keep that in mind too. Some of those will also cost you money.

I got scammed on Paypal once. A guy won a $300 auction from me. I shipped him the item using UPS with tracking. He got it and gave me positive feedback on eBay. Once I gave him reciprocal feedback on eBay, he filed a dispute with PayPal saying that he never got the item. Despite having tracking information and positive eBay feedback, Paypal sided with him and gave him a refund.

 

[Cattlegod]

Some people's trust is just amazing some times. This girl at work mentioned to us that she sold her TV online (i think on ebay) and the purchaser was using Paypal. The kicker was that the person buying it wanted it shipped to Nigeria. I just started busting out laughing. The only reason she told us was she had never shipped anything international before and asked if we knew anything about how to ship something to Nigeria.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I got scammed on Paypal once. A guy won a $300 auction from me. I shipped him the item using UPS with tracking. He got it and gave me positive feedback on eBay. Once I gave him reciprocal feedback on eBay, he filed a dispute with PayPal saying that he never got the item. Despite having tracking information and positive eBay feedback, Paypal sided with him and gave him a refund.

Wow sucks that it's that easy to do. You'd think Paypal would do a better investigation such as checking the tracking number.

 

[RossMAN]

Jeff,

I'm not sure if you're trolling. I'm going to assume you're genuinely asking if it's safe?

Hell no! Just Google "craigslist selling car scam" or click here http://www.swapmeetdave.com/Scam/

If you're OK with gambling and losing $2,500 then go for it. I can guarantee when all is said and done you will lose every penny and then some.

 

[marvdmartian]

Even doing what I do for a living, I'm fairly naive about paypal scams. Isn't it the preferred method of payment on ebay? If so, why can't there be/aren't there mass scams there.

What makes you think there isn't? A friend of mine, who deals in antiques, recently abandoned ebay, due solely to the fact that people would buy things from her, pay via Paypal, then, after receiving them, claim they weren't in the condition that they were described, and do a charge-back.

At that point in time, you're:
-at the mercy of the buyer to return your item(s)
-out the eBay fees you paid for your listing
-possibly even having your Paypal account suspended, if you already took the money out, until they are paid back what they paid back to the buyer.

Honestly, I don't know why anyone bothers trying to sell items on eBay any more!

 

[highland145]

What makes you think there isn't? A friend of mine, who deals in antiques, recently abandoned ebay, due solely to the fact that people would buy things from her, pay via Paypal, then, after receiving them, claim they weren't in the condition that they were described, and do a charge-back.

At that point in time, you're:
-at the mercy of the buyer to return your item(s)
-out the eBay fees you paid for your listing
-possibly even having your Paypal account suspended, if you already took the money out, until they are paid back what they paid back to the buyer.

Honestly, I don't know why anyone bothers trying to sell items on eBay any more!

Because I'd think it's in ebay's interest to keep sellers from being screwed. Looks like I'm wrong.

 

[Gillbot]

Without buyers, there is no ebay. Ebay is a success because many people (buyers) don't know things are ofter cheaper retail new than they bid them up to on ebay. They prey on the lazy uninformed buyer who gets into a bidding war.

 

[dud]

Because I'd think it's in ebay's interest to keep sellers from being screwed. Looks like I'm wrong.

Unfortunately, you are wrong my friend. I've been active on eBay since 1998 but stopped selling about 7 years ago. Ebay bought PayPal ... and then everything went to hell for sellers. Ebay has made it very difficult for sellers. A fraudulent buyer can make it very difficult for sellers there ... losing not only their product but also having to reimburse the "buyer".

I no longer sell there and probably never will again. I use eBay to buy odds and endds that you cannot find at "normal" retailers.

 

[Gillbot]

I use ebay to buy only as well. I stopped selling there long ago and never will again.

 

[DrPizza]

OP, if you think that there's any chance whatsoever that the person who contacted you isn't a scam, then, "Send the money to the shipper. When he picks up the vehicle, he needs to hand me the $2500 in cash."

 

[TridenT]

OP, if you think that there's any chance whatsoever that the person who contacted you isn't a scam, then, "Send the money to the shipper. When he picks up the vehicle, he needs to hand me the $2500 in cash."

This. Why did it take so long?

 

[db]

Jeffwo, any time a Craigslist buyer wants to send a shipper it's a scam.
Craigslist deals should only be done locally and for cash. If buyer insists
they need to do a check, you should both be at the bank and you *watch* the bank
generate a check from his account to you.