Gumtree scam? Or how to make sure it's not one?

james72

Hi,

Not sure if Gumtree falls under this forum?

There's something I want to buy

BUT the seller has this:

"I will accept cash on collection or Bank transfer only. NO PAYPAL I'm not and never am going to be a paypal user."

NOW that screams 'scam'

The deal/price seems reasonable [as in not crazy low]

Is there anyway [considering I can't go and collect] of making this transaction 'safe'

Or do I just have to forget about it - as there's no way to protect myself?

Thanks for any help

I think the answer is obvious - but if it is too unsecure, how does the post go up - why wouldn't Gumtree stop it...? So maybe someone with more experience of Gumtree can explain a listing like this and how it could ever be safe to make the transaction.

Thanks for any help/advice/abuse

x

purple45

As a seller on gumtree I won't accept paypal because the payment can be reversed. I will only accept cash on collection. Buyer gets to inspect what they're buying, seller gets cash payment and a face to face sale is safer all around.

james72

Ah - ok

It's just the whole bank transfer offer - and the person living far away in Wales... I mean right on the coast...

I wish they were close enough so we could meet up

In fact I may even take a day trip to Wales to meet - but would be devastated if the items were not real / trying to pull a fast one...

purple45

I appreciate your concerns over the bank transfer as that is a risk to you and wouldn't be advisable. I'm sure gumtree has guidelines for safe transactions.
Wales is a nice place for a daytrip...or maybe wait until something turns up closer to home? or on ebay with protection or on local facebook sales pages? Depends on the item!
I've sold several large items on gumtree and had to refuse to sell to buyers who only wanted to pay by paypal. It is difficult for everyone to go about it safely! I just wanted to let you know that it wasn't necessarily a scam but there can be reasons for it.

dlusman

Gumtree is designed mainly for "face to face" selling . so cash on collection is usually the best way of paying. Using paypal on face to face transactions is very dnagerous for the seller

custardy

james72 wrote: »

Ah - ok

It's just the whole bank transfer offer - and the person living far away in Wales... I mean right on the coast...

I wish they were close enough so we could meet up

In fact I may even take a day trip to Wales to meet - but would be devastated if the items were not real / trying to pull a fast one...

They offer cash on collection.
How do you see a scam there.

Not taking Paypal protects them.

If you buy on Gumtree and its not face to face then its at your risk. there is no buyer protection.

Voyager2002

custardy wrote: »

If you buy on Gumtree and its not face to face then its at your risk. there is no buyer protection.

You could of course use an escrow service, but make sure that it is genuine.

theonlywayisup

Voyager2002 wrote: »

You could of course use an escrow service, /QUOTE]

Assuming the seller agrees.

Gumtree is cash - face to face.

The buyer "can't go and collect", which is their issue, not the seller.

There is nothing in the post that suggest this is a scam - quite the contrary as it looks like the seller will accept BT. I wouldn't.

TripleH

I agree, this does not sound like a scam. It does mean that you have to verify what you are buying is as described and that you are 100% happy with the item BEFORE you pay your money and walk away with it.

Korkyb

No way would I accept payment by Paypal on Gumtree. Absolutely no protection for me at all in my experience.


I have however had people ask if I will post an item (which I've advertised for local pickup).


I agree to do this but only by bank transfer - as above - if I'm offering something as local pickup I'm pretty unlikely to be a scammer.


Its far more likely to be the buyer who wants to use Paypal that's up to no good.

soolin

Korkyb wrote: »

No way would I accept payment by Paypal on Gumtree. Absolutely no protection for me at all in my experience.


I have however had people ask if I will post an item (which I've advertised for local pickup).


I agree to do this but only by bank transfer - as above - if I'm offering something as local pickup I'm pretty unlikely to be a scammer.


Its far more likely to be the buyer who wants to use Paypal that's up to no good.

I don't entirely agree, I am finding more and more now that my sales are coming from a number of platforms not just ebay , and paypal is still popular wherever I sell. Without it I don't think I would be shifting half the stuff I do. However, I have been using paypal for years and know how to stay safe, and just treat the customers exactly the same as I would on ebay, paypal is no worse and no better whether used on ebay or off.

However, I only use paypal for items to be posted - all my non ebay items are available for pick up but wherever it is feasible I do also automatically put the postage charge - so for instance £6 for pick up £9.50 to include UK 2nd class postage.I don't have average weeks, but I suppose less than a third of my items are now collected, sometimes not even that much. I offer paypal or bank transfer, a few people still use bank transfers and that's fine I would treat them exactly the same way and provide tracking etc. interestingly a fairly high proportion of my paypal payments come as friends and family, I don't ask for that it is done entirely voluntarily .

I've sold a lot of things recently to a TV drama production who paid via paypal, a 'proper' antique shop that used friends and family and a Theatre company that sent a bank transfer. There seems no logic to how they choose how to pay, but paypal certainly keeps my non ebay sales very high.