[Bullitrider]

I'm trying to sell my SC Bullit. This guy emails me for the first time like this:

Is your bullit frame still for sale? If so, do you accept paypal?

Very interested.

Joe Schmoe(not real name)

I tell him I haven't decided on a payment method. I think to my self, this guy hasn't even asked for pictures. Then I get another email:

Thanks for getting back with me. Paypal is the only secure way that I can
send the payment. So if you could open a paypal account, I could transfer
the money to your account ASAP. Just let me know.

Thanks,
Joe Schmoe

Has anyone been scammed by paypal in some way I haven't heard of? Any tips on selling online. I could do a search but I'm way too lazy. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[buildyourown]

If you got the money out of your account before you sent the bike, it would be hard for them to scam you. I recently bought a frame from a stranger and used www.escrow.com It was kind of a pain to jump through the hoops, but it was nice ot have a warm fuzzy during the whole transaction. It cost me an extra $25. $75 if you want to pay with a CC.

I suggest it for shady transactions.

 

[Bicyclist]

PayPal is a really secure way to do payment. If money is in your PayPal account (it's like an online bank account) nothing will happen to it. I have used PayPal many times with no complaints. It seems safer than a MO or a cashiers check. Plus, it's instant.

 

[NineFingers]

If he's offering to do paypal I'd jump on it. He probably saw your bullit pictures in your ad. I've done over 200 transactions on paypal, mostly over the past 6 months and have had no problems with the paypal service. It's an instant transfer and if you have their cc card you can go out that day and spend it. The only draw back to paypal is they dock a 4%ish charge of the total being sent.

The only way he might be trying to rush it is if he's hacked someone's paypal account. Or maybe it's a kid who's figured out daddy's password and is trying to send money before he gets home?

Paypal is really secure, it is basically like doing a wire transfer from bank acct. to bank acct.

 

[Toshi]

no no no, paypal is NOT secure in this manner. if he pays via paypal using a credit card and then reverses the credit card charge (or if paypal discovers or is informed that the card was stolen) then the money will be taken out of your account. if you already withdrew the money from your account then paypal will take it out of _your checking account_.

 

[quadricolour]

Make SURE his account AND home address are verified! Otherwise, as the seller, you will have no protection.

 

[NineFingers]

Man talk about the rules being setup to screw the honest guy... Not only do you receive the funds, but you ship the items only to get screwed out of both in the end. What a bunch of horse sh!t! I think if the funds get deposited into the account, then whoever got screwed the first time should be the one to take the hit! Meaning, whoever the crook stole the card from to pay for the items should be screwed over! It should be the credit cards obligation to investigate for the person who lost or misplaced, or got their card stolen. I don't think its fair to make the merchant who sold items to the thief to have to pay for this crime! I guess it's time to close out my paypal account and switch banks, I've sold to several unverified members and the last thing I want them to do is deplete my bank because the prick on the receiving end stole a card to pay for the items I sold him...Again, the rules are setup to benefit the criminal, not to help protect the citizen.

 

[zedro]

if you already withdrew the money from your account then paypal will take it out of _your checking account_.

only if its setup that way i believe. Maybe its because i have an international account, but Paypal has no authorisation to dip into my account.

 

[Transcend]

Paypal has certain procedures in place to protect sellers. Look into the seller protection policy. They have a step by step process you can follow and be safe.

It is only valid within the us, to verified buyers/sellers, but if you follow the directions it is bullet proof. (personal experience here). I have run about $45k through paypal in the last 9 months or so...

 

[Bullitrider]

Thanks alot for all the info. The thing is I can't fit the size of pix I have in my ad and explained I would have to email them. He still hasn't asked for them. I just find it hard to buy something without seeing it. If not selling it keeps me out of a paperchase then that may be the route unless paypal is as good as you've said then I guess that frame is gone ASAP. Thanks again.

 

[oly]

i know a few people who've used escrow.com with good results. Its costs a bit, and takes some time, but isnt not beign screwed worth it?

Also, paypal isnt perfect. Look up "paypal sucks" on google. Im sure you will find a website dedicated to that exact topic... i did when i first got on paypal. There are ways to weasel out of it. I always insist i wont ship large items without the paypal payment clearing into my bank account. That way if they try to reverse the charges they must somehow contact you and your bank (or at elast i believe so) So far ive had great transactions online, but am always weary. Ask for a phone #, e-mail a bunch, do what ever makes you feel secure. Bottom line, if you feel sketched make sure your protected. Hell, ask for a cashiers check or money order to be mailed with the condition that you wont ship till the checks have been turned into cash.

Oh, and if someone suggests western union, run as far as you can..... thats 99.9% a scam.

 

[Transcend]

That paypal sucks page and most of its issues are pre ebay buyout when paypal was EXTREMELY sketchy.

 

[oly]

That paypal sucks page and most of its issues are pre ebay buyout when paypal was EXTREMELY sketchy.

...and probably some over reactive net nerd with too much time to make an anti paypal site.....

like ive said ive done alot of buisness through paypal and have had good luck.....

 

[D_D]

Man talk about the rules being setup to screw the honest guy... Not only do you receive the funds, but you ship the items only to get screwed out of both in the end. What a bunch of horse sh!t! I think if the funds get deposited into the account, then whoever got screwed the first time should be the one to take the hit! Meaning, whoever the crook stole the card from to pay for the items should be screwed over! It should be the credit cards obligation to investigate for the person who lost or misplaced, or got their card stolen. I don't think its fair to make the merchant who sold items to the thief to have to pay for this crime! I guess it's time to close out my paypal account and switch banks, I've sold to several unverified members and the last thing I want them to do is deplete my bank because the prick on the receiving end stole a card to pay for the items I sold him...Again, the rules are setup to benefit the criminal, not to help protect the citizen.

If you had it your way it would be very profitable to steal cards. Retailers would benifit from turning a blind eye to people using obviously stolen cards as they would have nothing to lose. Then the person whose card it was would have a massive bill for spending on a card they may never have even possessed.

 

[Repack]

This has probably been said a bunch of times, but if he pays with Paypal and uses a CC, than you could have the money in your hand almost instantly. If it is international, who knows. I get worried about the overseas stuff. Don't ship till you have cash in hand. I have Paypal and it is pretty safe. Bank wire trtansfers take 3-4 days, but CC is instant.

 

[seismic]

Living in Europe and sometimes buying used stuff fron riders in the US I can say that in my opinion the safest way as the seller is to get the money wires directly into your account before shipping of the bike. Ofcourse this is a risk to take as a buyer, because the buyer risks getting scammed....but if he is really interested he will put the money in your bank account and you can ship of the stuff without being worried.

 

[grimm]

Make SURE his account AND home address are verified! Otherwise, as the seller, you will have no protection.

Paypal WONT let Non-us residents verify their adress tho, which sucks big time, but ive never had a problem getting a seller to send stuff to me, despite my unconfirmed home adress..

just wanted to chip that into the discussion