Ebay

sarlyka

Hi,
I've just bought an item through the ebay auction. No problem there, not the first time I've used ebay. I've contacted the seller to arrange a suitable time to collect the item as it's too big to post and I'm now getting a little concerned and want some advice.
As far as I can tell, the person (A) who listed the item is selling it on behalf of a friend (B). I have an address and mobile phone number of the friend (B). But, I've now received an email from B who says A wants payment through paypal rather than cash on collection. I'm very confused because I now don't know who I am buying the item from and, as I have to go and collect it anyway, I don't see why I can't pay cash on collection. I'm very wary about paying through paypal due to the odd situation. To make it worse, both A and B seem to have the same name. A has only 8 feedback responses through ebay so hasn't carried out many transactions.
Questions: Is it fair for me to insist on paying cash rather than paypal? Does it all seem a little suspicious or am I being paranoid?

pinkshoes

Paying by paypal gives YOU protection and not them, so go for it!!

(and if you don't get the item for whatever reason, just open an "item not received" dispute and you'll get your money back)

Cardinal-Red

I think it's good you have an initial scepticism about the Paypal thing but let me provide you with another scenario.

I've sold several guitars on eBay all too big too be posted and always arrange for people to come pick them up. Also went for the cash on collection idea. The first few times I had people:

- show up with less than the bid and claim it's all they have, sorry;
- show up and attempt to haggle anyway;
- show up with no cash and a cheque;
- show up and say "they thought it was this much (always less) and give them the item and they'll send the money when they get home..."

Now as well as the sheer craziness of the situation, I also now have a person I am arguing with at my house, knowing where I live, etc.

As such I now ALWAYS insist on Paypal before people come to collect. And as Pinkshoes says, it offers you more protection too.

Am not saying drop all your defences (especially with the name issues) but there are lots of good reasons why cash on collection is not a good idea for everybody.

sarlyka

Thanks for your responses. I do understand that paypal provides protection and I can see that it would be annoying if someone turned up to collect something and tried to haggle. However, I am very sceptical of this, especially as I have now found out that person B has their own ebay account.....why didn't they sell the item through their own account?

CHR15

Report it to Ebay and see what they say.

I think you are right to be sceptical (Personally I would pull out of the deal)
If you are going to collect it, you will only have B's address

If he is nowhere in sight, A can simply deny all knowledge and say it's nothing to do with him.
How much are we talking about??

Enough to sell something, get the money and clean the account out??

Enfieldian

Cardinal-Red wrote: »

As such I now ALWAYS insist on Paypal before people come to collect. And as Pinkshoes says, it offers you more protection too.
.

You do realise that this leaves you wide open for potential "Item not received" claims and clawbacks, don't you?

advent1122

I bought a set of golf clubs on Ebay and asked if I could pay cash on collection.... No he wanted it put in his paypal account. No problem.
When I went to collect the clubs I asked him why he didn't want hard cash and instead wanted it put into payapl. He said if he had cash then his wife would spend it, whereas in his paypal account he could use it to buy more junk on Ebay.

fozzeh

advent1122 wrote: »

I bought a set of golf clubs on Ebay and asked if I could pay cash on collection.... No he wanted it put in his paypal account. No problem.
When I went to collect the clubs I asked him why he didn't want hard cash and instead wanted it put into payapl. He said if he had cash then his wife would spend it, whereas in his paypal account he could use it to buy more junk on Ebay.

Ha ha, brilliant!

sarlyka

Have contacted ebay for advice. Like CHR15 says, it could very easily be a scam. It isn't a huge amount of money but it's quite a journey to get there.

pinkshoes

Cardinal-Red wrote: »

As such I now ALWAYS insist on Paypal before people come to collect. And as Pinkshoes says, it offers you more protection too.

I think you got that the wrong way round.

For a seller, if an item is collection only, you should ALWAYS insist on cash to protect you.

From a buyer's point of view, if a seller wants to offer Paypal, then great !

Cardinal-Red

pinkshoes wrote: »

I think you got that the wrong way round.

For a seller, if an item is collection only, you should ALWAYS insist on cash to protect you.

From a buyer's point of view, if a seller wants to offer Paypal, then great !

Not at all - for the reasons provided in my original post....?