Help me avoid a potential scam

[Guitalia]

all suggestions good practices, options include...

1. CASH. (hopefully it ends here)
2. meet at their bank teller for in-person cash exchange (public in front of other ppl, CCTV)
3. NO other means of payment that can be reversed (even PP could be reversed if using stolen CC but thats an outlier)
4. USPS Money order, cash out at USPS counter together.
5. Always invoice/receipt item as-is (two copies signed by both parties)
6. Always photo both of you; seller with cash in hand, buyer with item (ebay/et al started the in-person pickup option like this with QRcodes)

Maybe not a good idea to suggest walking into a bank with a gun-sized instrument case.

 

[tb-player]

I do PayPal F&F/Venmo all the time. Transfer on the spot. Take a photo of them with the item if your overly paranoid.

I typically meet in a hotel lobby or at a guitar store. I arrive early and ask if it’s ok to do the exchange in their place. They’re usually fine with it.

Of course, last time I sold an upright and we met at a guitar store, I was too early and ended up trying/buying an acoustic guitar. THAT’S the real scam.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Paypal has no place in this transaction IMHO. Just meet at a very public place (a police station is even better), they give you cash and you give them the banjo. Easy peasy.

 

[Karl Kaminski]

Maybe not a good idea to suggest walking into a bank with a gun-sized instrument case.

lol

well all those listed are things ive done over the years for sales in the city. Some are a bit antiquated in the new digital paradigm, but goes to show there are more ways to skin the cat (no pun intended)

 

[brstma]

I actually took a PayPal payment for a craigslist sale just the other day for the first time. I would normally be skeptical, but it’s something I had for sale for a long time and needed to get rid of. I figured it can’t be much different than taking PayPal from somebody on talk Bass that I’ve never met or seen.

I had the guy come over and check the gear out first so that was a chance to meet face-to-face before any transaction happened. Then he sent the PayPal payment and when I confirmed it was received he left with the gear.

It all went well in this case

 

[blacktocomm]

All local sales are cash only for me. There is no reason to bring anything digital into the transaction if we’re meeting face to face.

 

[JazznFunk]

Cash only. Secure public area. Be careful... you might end up with TWO banjos if you're not careful.

 

[Pings Bass]

I've always done cash or venmo and never had an issue.

I've definitely had scammers contact me with the "I really want your _____. I'll pay full asking price now, and have somebody meet you to pick it up" business. I don't know how that scam works, because I never fell for it.

 

[Luther]

Alright, here’s the situation. I’m trying to meet up with someone to sell a banjo to them from craigslist. They originally said the wanted to pay in advance via PayPal and have me mark it sold, then meet up tomorrow. I shot that down and asked to just have a PayPal transfer tomorrow at the exchange, and pay friends and family.

My fear- they pay me via PayPal, take the banjo, then later claim to PayPal that I didn’t hand over the banjo or something similar and demand a clawback of the money.

My counter scam (if they don’t ghost me)- accept money via PayPal friends and family, continue in the text thread that they are purchasing the banjo and have them respond back affirming the sale, maybe even take a picture of them buying it (this might be crazy). The hope is I’ll have a record of them confirming the purchase.

Alternative counter scam- just take cash.

What am I missing? If this a scam, what do I do to avoid this? How do protect myself if it is a scam, but give the benefit of the doubt as if they actually want to buy it?

Thanks everyone!

Cash is king.