Buyer wants to Collect with PayPal Friends and Family

Hi all,

I have a friend who has recently sold a large item on eBay. It's a large expensive item that needs to be collected. She listed it to only accept PayPal.

The buyer now wants to collect the item today, but is insisting they want to avoid PayPal, but instead use PayPal Friends and Family.

I assume it's safest for everybody to use normal PayPal (given that the buyer is a stranger and so not a friend or family member). But after searching online, I can only find reasons why the buyer would want to avoid paying the seller with PayPal Friends and Family. I can't find any recommendations why the seller should avoid accepting it?

Is this a scam? Is there a reason why she shouldn't accept PayPal Friends and Family? Is normal PayPal safer? I've seen worries about the possibility of an "item not received" claim when PayPal is used for collection - is this another worry? What's the best way of dealing with this?

Thanks,

Jonny
«1

Comments

  • Don't accept PayPal at all for collection items because the buyer can simply raise a claim afterwards and you need proof of delivery to refute the claim, which you don't have.
    Warning: any unnecessary disclaimers appearing under my posts do not bear any connection with reality, either intended, accidental or otherwise. Your statutory rights are not affected.
  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 73,939 Ambassador
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    Don't accept PayPal at all for collection items because the buyer can simply raise a claim afterwards and you need proof of delivery to refute the claim, which you don't have.

    Friends and family preclude a INR or a SNAD claim, however there is anecdotal evidence that a 'fraudulent use of a card' claim is still possible.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • steveE2
    steveE2 Posts: 1,320 Forumite
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    Best way of dealing with this is cash on collection,if they want to avoid paypal that's the way to go.
    F&F can be recalled later if buyer says card was unauthorised payment.
  • pinkshoes
    pinkshoes Posts: 20,515 Forumite
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    jonny-f wrote: »
    Hi all,

    I have a friend who has recently sold a large item on eBay. It's a large expensive item that needs to be collected. She listed it to only accept PayPal.

    Your friend needs to read the PayPal rules - PayPal requires a TRACKING number... (so not suitable for collection only items!!)

    Cash on collection, or bank transfer.

    If the buyer pays with PayPal, they can then claim they did not receive it after collecting, and as you have no tracking, buyer will be issued a full refund, and your friend will have no money and no item.
    Should've = Should HAVE (not 'of')
    Would've = Would HAVE (not 'of')

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  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 73,939 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    pinkshoes wrote: »
    Your friend needs to read the PayPal rules - PayPal requires a TRACKING number... (so not suitable for collection only items!!)

    Cash on collection, or bank transfer.

    If the buyer pays with PayPal, they can then claim they did not receive it after collecting, and as you have no tracking, buyer will be issued a full refund, and your friend will have no money and no item.

    As per my post 3 friends and family payments mean an INR or SNAD claim is not available for a buyer. Senders are warned of that when they pay.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • Nesty
    Nesty Posts: 500 Forumite
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    Cash payment for any collection IMHO.

    Why do people want to pay by paypal when collecting, you have to question their motives.

    Like Soolin said you might get the card not permisson authorised trick.

    I had that once on a item. The husband citing his card was used without authorisation. Even though his wife left positive feedback and I had proof the item was delivered to his address & signed by the wife. It went the full distance and it went in my favour. So just saying the lengths people will go to with paypal to try and get a payment overturned.
  • ballisticbrian
    ballisticbrian Posts: 3,974 Forumite
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    Why do people want to pay by paypal when collecting, you have to question their motives.
    Quite often because they are not that fluent with eBay / PayPal and have read some blurb about how safe and protected they are by PayPal... go figure.
    Warning: any unnecessary disclaimers appearing under my posts do not bear any connection with reality, either intended, accidental or otherwise. Your statutory rights are not affected.
  • paulc333
    paulc333 Posts: 188 Forumite
    Nesty wrote: »

    Why do people want to pay by paypal when collecting, you have to question their motives.

    .

    Whilst I dont disagree with your overall point I will play devils advocate.

    If I have the money sat in a paypal account I can see why it's just tempting to send it through paypal rather than paying cash.

    To get the cash then you have to withdraw from paypal, wait for it to get to your bank account, potentially have to transfer it between bank accounts (I use different accounts for paypal and normal transactions) go to ATM (or if it's a large amount go in the bank and wait), get cash, and then have to carry a large amount of cash around.

    Whilst I agree the general advice should be cash on collection, no paypal. I will say I have paid people by paypal and collected things on several occasions, not everyone who wants to do this is a scammer, however there probably are enough scammers to make people wary of this.
  • jeffuk
    jeffuk Posts: 664 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Sometimes you the seller insisting on payment by Paypal only on collection only items.
    The OP does say that his friend asked for PayPal.
  • theonlywayisup
    theonlywayisup Posts: 16,032 Forumite
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    jeffuk wrote: »
    Sometimes you the seller insisting on payment by Paypal only on collection only items.
    The OP does say that his friend asked for PayPal.

    In case you missed anything.

    Ebay sellers have to offer Paypal.

    The 'friend' reference is something you appear to have lost in translation. Perhaps read the OP again.
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