On selling via craigslist & scams... Help please

Crockettnj · #1 08-11-2008, 08:09 AM

Hello.

I have some items (MI and other) that I listed for sale on craigslist. A few of the responses I got were from people who were out of state. They offered to pay via check, money order, or paypal.

I dont worry so much about being scammed through the TB classifieds but I have been burned on ebay and ultimately DIDNt get refunded. I am curious, what is the SAFEST, most scam proof method of receiving payment.

I am considering asking for a postal money order and not sending the package until I deposit the MO in my account.

Thoughts on this please?

Greg

**baba** · #2 08-11-2008, 08:10 AM

USPS Money Order only, and cash it at the Post Office. If they hand you cash, you are good to go. Accept nothing else, unless they mail cash.

Thunderscreech · #3 08-11-2008, 08:34 AM

I'd use paypal. tell them it does NOT get shipped until the paypal money hits YOUR account. and bank account, i mean. After it does, cash it just to be sure. i did something like this recently and it seems to have worked okay.

Crockettnj · #4 08-11-2008, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

I'd use paypal. tell them it does NOT get shipped until the paypal money hits YOUR account. and bank account, i mean. After it does, cash it just to be sure. i did something like this recently and it seems to have worked okay.

Thunder

my concern was that someone recently told me you can reverse a paypal payment later on, so essentially even if I "withdrew" the money he sent he could pull it back out, and it would come from my bank account (linked).

I dunno. I like the post office MO cash option .

other thoughts. anyone esle!?

thanks

Croox · #5 08-11-2008, 09:59 AM

Local Cash Transactions only. easiest way to do it.

steve21 · #6 08-11-2008, 11:37 AM

The safest (and only, as far as I'm concerned) way I'd use craigslist is cash + meeting the person.

jwbassman · #7 08-11-2008, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Croox

Local Cash Transactions only. easiest way to do it.

Couldn't agree more.

MyUsernameHere · #8 08-11-2008, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crockettnj

Thunder

my concern was that someone recently told me you can reverse a paypal payment later on, so essentially even if I "withdrew" the money he sent he could pull it back out, and it would come from my bank account (linked).

I dunno. I like the post office MO cash option .

other thoughts. anyone else!?

thanks

I just got done talking to a guy who tried to get a refund from PayPal (through the linked bank account). PayPal won't do it, he could only get what was in the actual PayPal account.

I haven't read the user agreement fine print, but I think if you wait to ship until the money clears into your bank account you'll be good to go.

However, USPS money orders are definitely the best way to go for a seller. The post office should always be able to tell if its a fake.

Crockettnj · #9 08-12-2008, 08:39 PM

the buyer mysteriously stopped answering emails and phone calls ...

hmmmm

I guess local only in the future.

thanks for your replies.

::::BASSIST:::: · #10 08-12-2008, 09:10 PM

The one advantage of paypal over any sort of money order is the power of GAS. If they have to actually leave their house and go down to the post office they will consider the purchase alot more. If paypal is a payment option, a couple clicks of the mouse and they are done while the GAS is still fresh.