I paid £180 for an item off Facebook marketplace. It didn’t show up!

graceedmundsss

So while in isolation I decided that for my next year at university I needed an iPad to make my life easier, however, being a student I didn’t have the funds to buy a brand new one, so I turned to the Facebook market place, found the iPad I wanted at a good price (looking back now probably to good to be true). Messaged the guy he seemed legit, because of COVID I didn’t feel comfortable going to collect so asked him if he could post the item he said yes for an extra £5 which was fine by me. A month after he said he’d post it the iPad still hadn’t arrived so I messaged the seller and asked about this, I asked for the tracking number which at the start when he posted it he said “I’ve left it in my work jacket I’ll send it to you tomorrow.” Safe to say that didn’t happen. And now two months on I still have no iPad and am £185 down, every time I try And ask this guy for the tracking number he’s conveniently not at home or he’ll get his wife to send it to me (still yet to happen) so I then changed to a asking for a refund which he then ignored my messages for over a week so I reported to Facebook through the messenger app, and has now finally replied however, with another excuse about him and his wife splitting up. I’m just fed up and want my money back as it would be a great help next year as I no longer have a job to go back to in September. Any help please guys! 

JJ_Egan

Lot of these i bought xx from FACEBOOK posts last few months .

How did you pay ??

molerat

The only way to buy things on FB is to collect the item and hand over cash.  A Paypal purchase of goods can be OK if posting but they are clever enough not to allow that one. Any other way is likely to be a scam especially for higher value and electronic items. Unless you can track down the real person and send a couple of your 6ft 6in mates round to see him I am afraid your money is gone.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

graceedmundsss said:

So while in isolation I decided that for my next year at university I needed an iPad to make my life easier, however, being a student I didn’t have the funds to buy a brand new one, so I turned to the Facebook market place, found the iPad I wanted at a good price (looking back now probably to good to be true). Messaged the guy he seemed legit, because of COVID I didn’t feel comfortable going to collect so asked him if he could post the item he said yes for an extra £5 which was fine by me. A month after he said he’d post it the iPad still hadn’t arrived so I messaged the seller and asked about this, I asked for the tracking number which at the start when he posted it he said “I’ve left it in my work jacket I’ll send it to you tomorrow.” Safe to say that didn’t happen. And now two months on I still have no iPad and am £185 down, every time I try And ask this guy for the tracking number he’s conveniently not at home or he’ll get his wife to send it to me (still yet to happen) so I then changed to a asking for a refund which he then ignored my messages for over a week so I reported to Facebook through the messenger app, and has now finally replied however, with another excuse about him and his wife splitting up. I’m just fed up and want my money back as it would be a great help next year as I no longer have a job to go back to in September. Any help please guys! 

I don't think that going to university will not improve your situation. I guess you paid by bank transfer to someone you never met. If I bumped into you in the street and offered cheap perfume, would you buy it?

Robisere

I have bought and sold on Local FB Marketplace only, and had no problems. Asked for cash every time, stressed cash in phone calls. Buying, I insist on collection, refuse to pay in anything other than cash. One guy still turned up with a cheque and I sent him away for cash. As he never called again or returned, I counted myself lucky. Selling, I ask that they come to a spot outside the gates of my apartment block.

JGB1955

Marketplace is DEFINITELY somewhere where only cash is an acceptable currency.... as you've found out to your cost.  Sorry - but that's the way it goes.

soolin

JGB1955 said:

Marketplace is DEFINITELY somewhere where only cash is an acceptable currency.... as you've found out to your cost.  Sorry - but that's the way it goes.

I disagree, I have quite a thriving side line selling on Facebook and most weeks half to two thirds of my sales are posted. I offer PayPal and my buyers have exactly the same protection as they would have buying from anywhere else. 

I do get people still insisting on paying by bank transfer and when I have tried to explain that it is not a good idea to basically give a stranger cash many insist for some odd reason that they believe it is safer than PayPal! Obviously I would still treat losses exactly the same even if the buyer couldn’t open a PayPal claim, but it is worrying that so many people still believe that bank transfers are somehow safe. 

As for the amount of Facebook threads we are getting, yes it is worrying. Despite warnings everywhere and even from the banks themselves some people continue to believe that Bank transfers are safe. There even seems to be some sort of urban myth that there is some sort of bank form called a bank transfer reclaim form that will automatically get your money back if you insist the bank supply you with one.

however, you never know perhaps the OP will come back and say they actually paid safely by PayPal, and we can talk them through a PayPal claim! 

AW618

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth said:

graceedmundsss said:

So while in isolation I decided that for my next year at university I needed an iPad to make my life easier, however, being a student I didn’t have the funds to buy a brand new one, so I turned to the Facebook market place, found the iPad I wanted at a good price (looking back now probably to good to be true). Messaged the guy he seemed legit, because of COVID I didn’t feel comfortable going to collect so asked him if he could post the item he said yes for an extra £5 which was fine by me. A month after he said he’d post it the iPad still hadn’t arrived so I messaged the seller and asked about this, I asked for the tracking number which at the start when he posted it he said “I’ve left it in my work jacket I’ll send it to you tomorrow.” Safe to say that didn’t happen. And now two months on I still have no iPad and am £185 down, every time I try And ask this guy for the tracking number he’s conveniently not at home or he’ll get his wife to send it to me (still yet to happen) so I then changed to a asking for a refund which he then ignored my messages for over a week so I reported to Facebook through the messenger app, and has now finally replied however, with another excuse about him and his wife splitting up. I’m just fed up and want my money back as it would be a great help next year as I no longer have a job to go back to in September. Any help please guys! 

I don't think that going to university will not improve your situation. I guess you paid by bank transfer to someone you never met. If I bumped into you in the street and offered cheap perfume, would you buy it?

I think most people would take great care to ensure they never bump into you in the street.

graceedmundsss

Thank you! I do realise my mistake however, I was shielding so going to collect wasn’t really an option for me. I have definitely learnt my lesson and will never buy anything off Facebook again as people can be very deceptive I guess previous times I have gotten very lucky when buy on Facebook. 

soolin

graceedmundsss said:

Thank you! I do realise my mistake however, I was shielding so going to collect wasn’t really an option for me. I have definitely learnt my lesson and will never buy anything off Facebook again as people can be very deceptive I guess previous times I have gotten very lucky when buy on Facebook. 

You don’t have to be lucky at all, just understand how to pay properly, it’s the same with everywhere, if you are going to give random strangers the equivalent of cash you need to be very aware of the risks.

I have a fairly thriving Micro business selling On Facebook , my buyers are encouraged to use PayPal but I am always surprised at how many insist on bank transfers as they don’t trust PayPal. I don’t understand it at all And of course I would treat them no differently, but I worry that other sellers might take advantage .

mattyprice4004

There's no need to avoid it, just be sensible and use cash. They can't turn around on the doorstep and not deliver the item. 
Avoiding it completely is cutting off your nose to spite your face - just use it as it was designed and it's very safe.

If you want something delivering, only use companies with a good reputation rather than private sellers for a more stress-free experience.