How to pay pick up Ebay...cheque, Paypal?

ANNA

I bought a collection in person item from a private seller on Ebay yesterday. The item cost £400.

I asked the seller how he wants me to pay. He wasn't keen on Paypal because of the fees and said a cheque would be fine.

When I arrived to collect and I presented my cheque, the seller changed his mind and wanted Paypal and said I should go on his pc. But I didn't have my login passwords with me.

The seller said he would keep my cheque but I should pay by Paypal over the weekend and then he would tear up my cheque.

What do you think?

Also, will Paypal charge me as well as the seller? I have a zero balance on my Paypal account but the account is linked to my credit card and so the payment would be taken by Paypal from that.

Owain_Moneysaver

Paypal won't charge you (but some credit cards treat Paypal as cash advances).

If you are going to pay by paypal you should stop the cheque with your bank before doing so.

Sharon87

Paypal will be fine for you as a buyer, but I would ask for the cheque back though, or cancel it with your bank as 'lost or stolen' so you dont get charged.

ANNA

Thank you OS and S87 for some very sound advice.

Kingsd316

A £400 pick up only item and your seller is accepting paypal, more fool him and good job you are honest!

Crowqueen

I wouldn't pay any other way than electronically tbh, on a £400 sale I wouldn't want to carry that amount on cash on me - which is a problem for the seller and a problem in general with high value sales on eBay given the risks involved for both parties.

What I would offer if they absolutely insisted on cash - which they can't on eBay, but can elsewhere - is to pay it into a bank in their presence.

NeverEnough

I have sold several high priced items, collection only, on ebay with no problem. Each time i made sure someone was with me for handover and collection of the cash and there has been no problem at all. I have also bought some equipment collection only and paid hundreds of £££ in cash, again no problem. I suppose it depends on your risk assessment of the whole transaction - doing it with someone with you does make sense on several levels. Plus many or most people are just as honest as the majority - not everyone is a lying thieving creature, sometimes one has a hunch about a particular buyer or seller or transaction, I have always followed by gut feel for this and limited any possible harm as far as possible.