Mailing a check for a Craigslist item...

[fuzzybabybunny]

I'm about to buy a pair of skis (2012 Sir Francis Bacon) and the seller wants me to mail him a check...

Uhhh... checks are kinda like cash right? Once it's deposited you can't get back your money, right? Even if the goods are never delivered?

 

[KeithTalent]

How is he getting the skis to you?

I thought the Craigslist rule was buy local, cash only, in person only.

KT

 

[Crono]

With your routing number and account number he can charge you anything.

Hopefully you don't have a million dollars in your account.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

How is he getting the skis to you?

I thought the Craigslist rule was buy local, cash only, in person only.

KT

He's shipping them to me. I found them on a search for all of CL.

With your routing number and account number he can charge you anything.

Hopefully you don't have a million dollars in your account.

Uhhh... I don't think so. Otherwise checks would be the most insecure method of payment, ever.

 

[KeithTalent]

So what recourse do you have if you mail him a cheque before receiving the product? I'm thinking none? Sounds like bad idea jeans to me.

KT

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

So what recourse do you have if you mail him a cheque before receiving the product? I'm thinking none? Sounds like bad idea jeans to me.

KT

Exactly. Which is why I asked. I pay by check maybe once every two years for something so I don't know the ins and outs. Not sure what the methods for recourse (if any) are.

 

[Jaepheth]

If you go through with this you'll deserve exactly what happens, whatever that may be.

 

[CrackRabbit]

I don't mean to be an ass, but are you really that clueless?
At least use eBay and PayPal *Shudder* where you have some semblance that you might receive the goods you paid for.

 

[Crono]

Uhhh... I don't think so. Otherwise checks would be the most insecure method of payment, ever.

Google "check fraud".

Almost any form of payment is insecure, the best you can hope for is some kind of guaranteeing agency (as with credit cards). But at least with cash, in-person payment, the guy would have to stab you to rip you off.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

He originally told me he doesn't use Paypal or Chase Quickpay and only accepts check, MO, or cash. So I told him that I only pay by Paypal / Credit Card for security reasons.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Google "check fraud".

Almost any form of payment is insecure, the best you can hope for is some kind of guaranteeing agency (as with credit cards). But at least with cash, in-person payment, the guy would have to stab you to rip you off.

So yes, checks *are* one of the most insecure methods of payment, especially for goods that you expect to get shipped to you.

 

[lxskllr]

Is there an escrow service that can be used for something like this?

 

[Crono]

So yes, checks *are* one of the most insecure methods of payment, especially for goods that you expect to get shipped to you.

Pretty much. Checks are fine for trusted organizations and person-to-person payments where you really know the other person.

I would only use cash for a purchase via Craigslist. I'd be extremely wary of any kind of transaction on CL where you aren't exchanging cash for an item right then and there in a agreed upon public place. That's just asking for trouble.

For any other kind of purchase, your better off sticking to ebay or Amazon where there are at least some protections.

 

[RockinZ28]

As long as the seller is a Nigerian prince, there's nothing to be concerned about.

 

[KLin]

Sending a check for goods purchased from craigslist = EPIc FAIl

 

[MontyAC]

With CL, I just buy/sell locally and only with cash transactions.

 

[Mixolydian]

are you really that clueless?

This.

 

[Anonemous]

Post office money order? If it's fraud, sick the post office on him/her?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Post office money order? If it's fraud, sick the post office on him/her?

If you insist on doing so, get a USPS MO.

Try to find a reputable person in the SF area that will act as an escrow agent for you.
Send them the MO, have the seller meet with the skis with shipping container prepaid. Escrow checks skis to endure that us what you are getting and turns over the MO. Then escrow ships the skis.

Or find out how they intend on shipping and location. Make arrangements to have that place act as an Escro agent. Some smooth talking may be needed, but explain the concerns

 

[Schfifty Five]

How can someone with 8k posts and 7 years of AT be this clueless?

 

[pontifex]

How can someone with 8k posts and 7 years of AT be this clueless?

sad thing is, he isn't the only one.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Hey I have those exact skis, you can send me the check and be SURE to receive them.






























































bwaHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHA

 

[natto fire]

With CL, I just buy/sell locally and only with cash transactions.

PERIOD. End of story. Done.

All those rants about CL being a scam? Well it is because of people like the OP that are too busy smelling the roses instead of protecting themselves from fraud.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Cheques have all the information required for someone to withdraw money from your account. When you setup a bank account with an utility for example, it's just a cheque they need, so be careful who you give cheques to. Only pay that way to companies/people you trust.

 

[IEC]

Checks require trust on BOTH sides. The recipient has to trust you actually have the funds in your account, that it's actually your account, etc. - or they are burned for a NSF/fraudulent check fee. The sender (you) has to trust the recipient won't take the routing and account #s on the check and ACH some money away. Only pay via check to trusted parties.

Money orders you generally have no recourse if you get scammed. However, US Postal Service money orders are generally considered somewhat more secure, as a scammer getting paid in USPS MOs means they are committing *Federal* mail fraud, and USPS Postal Inspectors can and will hunt down people committing mail fraud.

For Craigslist and other similar buyer/seller matching sites, there is no way to track the reputation of the seller as there is no feedback system like heat/eBay/forum feedback. Therefore you should only buy/sell in person* and in cash.

One caveat about the in person - you should always insist on meeting in a parking lot of a big box store or some other place with video surveillance in broad daylight - people can and will agree to your asking price for high ticket items like laptops, TVs, etc. - only to get overly trusting sellers to go to a location where armed robbers lie in wait.