Where do you meet?

GadgetGuru

When selling something via Facebook or Gumtree, for instance, where do you meet your buyer for collection?

I once had a buyer who was a little mentally unstable and ended up sitting in my house for 3 hours testing an external RAID Drive, chatting as though he was my friend or something, telling me how he'd been in trouble with the police for climbing scaffolding etc! I was a little concerned asking him to leave in case he kicked off!!

So since then, I generally try to meet at the train station that's a 5 min walk from home, or by the Post Office that's also just as close, as its covered by CCTV etc. Seems fitting and secure for both parties. 

Ive just had someone contact me via Gumtree for an item I'm selling. We agreed a price of £340 and he asked for my address. I stated we could meet at the station as its covered by CCTV etc, to which he said he thought he could collect from outside my house. I explained it was safer for both parties to be somewhere with CCTV coverage, to which he agreed. Asked me to text the postcode across. I text the postcode for the station, but also stated if he was driving and it was easier he could come to the top of my road and I'll walk down and meet him there, whichever was easier. 

Hour later received a text stating he realised he didn't have enough money in his account so would have to leave it for now! lol

I know I can sell the item so it's no biggie, would rather be safe then sorry - but maybe I'm overreacting and should just provide my home address?? 
What do you do?

challengedavid

i found some decent sales on facebook and some right idiots

including someone tried to shortchange me which was intentional, i always count the money infront of the buyer now, and if im a buyer i insist the seller counts mine too

in general i dont give up my house number till they confirm they are on the way as lots have just not turned up
if they dont turn up i just block them with no comms

have no issue with someone coming to my house, if i have any reservations i check out the facebook profile as much as i can
afterthat its just a risk you have to take,  you dont have to invite them in but i always ask it they want to test the item

soolin

I never meet outside, I've done it a few times and you either stand and wait for ages only to be told they 'forgot' or they turn up and offer less knowing you don't want to lug the item home again , I tend to sell large glass and china things for collection, everything else is offered with postage. 

As per challengedavid, they don't get my house number until they confirm they are leaving. I have a locked porch, I leave the item there and close the main door behind me and pretend my dog is trying to get out (I have no dog), and deal with them on the doorstep. If they ask to come in for any reason, I have had someone ask to use the toilet and another who just tried to walk in as it was raining, I block them and apologise that my dog is a bit of a rascal and doesn't like visitors.

If something is an odd amount like £12, I have change in my pocket so I don't have to open my main door again..

The exceptions to all that is some cheap items , I often leave things like vases or bowls in the front garden and ask people to put the money in an envelope through the door - I just want the item gone most of the time and its never more than £1-£3 , never been cheated yet. There are also a couple of dealers that I allow into the house, just into the hallway as they will often buy more things when they get to me and if I have something I know they will like I leave it handy to show them.

I've had several people ask me if I can drive them home which I obviously refuse.

At the moment I'm doing very badly on marketplace , barely a sale a week if that, let down twice last week and I had  a message yesterday from someone about collecting an item today- but it is someone with an unusual name and who I remember is a serial time waster and I pointed out to him that he has requested and failed to collect on numerous occasions in the past so the item isn't available for him. 

GadgetGuru

soolin said:

I've had several people ask me if I can drive them home which I obviously refuse.

lol - the cheek of it!!!!!