PayPal question

[DEAGLER]

I posted something on Craigslist and some guy emailed me from Michigan to ship it to him. He doesn't sound sketchy at all like the scammers normally do. If he paypals me is there any way he can withdraw his money back?

[kanekutter05]

I posted something on Craigslist and some guy emailed me from Michigan to ship it to him. He doesn't sound sketchy at all like the scammers normally do. If he paypals me is there any way he can withdraw his money back?

Honestly I would NEVER ship anything on craigslist. I mean even if he does send you the money he could still put a claim in with Paypal and drag you through the whole process of proving your version of the story is correct. Just my $0.02 though

[CrufflerSteve]

He can dispute the transaction. I did this once and got my money back when some maroon sent me something delicate with no padding in a shipping bag and it arrived in pieces.

There is newer crap being pulled by paypal where they will hold onto your money for a variety of BS reasons until the deal is done. I'd make sure this won't happen to you.

If he seems reasonable and you wouldn't be out much - go for it.

Steve

[BushMasterBoy]

He can file a claim saying it is "significantly not as described". Then Paypal might give him his money back and you can be SOL. Google Paypal scams...

[00tec]

Postal money order

[bigshane]

Postal money order

+1

[netsecsys]

Make him pay with USPS Money Order. When the MO arrives, use it to pay for shipping the product to him. If the MO is fake, the Post Office will catch it before the item leaves your hands (vs. depositing it in your bank acct only to find out a week later it is bad...)

[T-Giv]

Well I would tend to agree about the not shipping things on Craig's. However, last year I was selling my truck on Craig's and I got a phone call from a South Dakota area code. The guy said he was coming into town for a few days and had been looking for a truck just like mine. I was thinking, "Yeah right." So he came into town and I met him. He said he was a fire fighter from Dakota and that he was ready to buy the truck. I said cool throw me some green and let's do it. He said that his bank was closed and that he would have to wire the money to me on Monday but that he was leaving town tomorrow (A Sunday) to head back. So what did I do? I let the dude roll out of town with my truck on Sunday. What a dumbass! I couldn't sleep that night thinking what did I just do? Sure enough Monday morning the dude called me up and said that he had just wired me the $18,000 and all was well. Moral of the story is you either trust the guy or you don't. Sometimes you are going to get burned but sometimes it works out. [Beer]

[ChunkyMonkey]

Yes, paypal can be scammed. He could have deposited bogus echeck or based on stolen checking info. It takes couple weeks for Paypal to find out - then despite all the 'assurance and insurance' paypal has, it will take the money or pursue the money from the recipient.

Happened to me.

[kanekutter05]

Well I would tend to agree about the not shipping things on Craig's. However, last year I was selling my truck on Craig's and I got a phone call from a South Dakota area code. The guy said he was coming into town for a few days and had been looking for a truck just like mine. I was thinking, "Yeah right." So he came into town and I met him. He said he was a fire fighter from Dakota and that he was ready to buy the truck. I said cool throw me some green and let's do it. He said that his bank was closed and that he would have to wire the money to me on Monday but that he was leaving town tomorrow (A Sunday) to head back. So what did I do? I let the dude roll out of town with my truck on Sunday. What a dumbass! I couldn't sleep that night thinking what did I just do? Sure enough Monday morning the dude called me up and said that he had just wired me the $18,000 and all was well. Moral of the story is you either trust the guy or you don't. Sometimes you are going to get burned but sometimes it works out. [Beer]

Wow dude I am really glad that worked out for you! Even if I liked a guy I'm not sure I'd have the nuggets to let him take my $18,000 car out of town without paying for it. I guess that's a testament to the fact there are still good people in the world.

[sellersm]

Another common scam is to send a fake PayPal receipt that says you've received your $$.

If your 'gut' says to trust this person, then USPS Money order, cuz if it's fake, then it's a bigger crime than just a 'scam'...

[Inconel710]

I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole. Craigslist is full of too many scammers for me to do anything other than FTF and cash in hand.

[yankeefan98121]

If dude is willing to use paypal then he won't be apposed to sending a postal mo, and if he doesn't want to then f him, just my .02

[DEAGLER]

I might be testing his bluff and say I have a cousin near him and I'll ship it to my cousin and can meet FTF with him.

[Great-Kazoo]

If they cannot have some one locally pay you, pass on the deal.
Talk to your bank to see what a safe verifiable form of payment would be that can be deposited w/out any dispute of payment later on.
An out of state buyer wants something i have, it is their responsibility to have all their ducks in a row prior to purchase.

[Badger]

I do lots of OOS and long distance business and definitely agree that postal money order is the best way to go if FTF/cash isn't an easy option.



Badger

[mahabali]

Paypal gift and he cant get his $ back.

[hatidua]

I posted a $1200 sofa on Craigslist and a guy in Texas wanted it. He paid with Paypal and had a company called www.youshipit.com pick it up the next morning. I received an email from him a week later thanking me for the sofa. Scams certainly exist, but I've bought a great many things off of Craigslist in other states and had the seller ship them to me in addition to the items I've sent people via a Craigslist deal.

[newracer]

If you cover all your bases you should be fine. Ship with a tracking number and signature required for delivery. Take pictures of how the item is packed and it's condition. Get a phone number and call the guy before you finalize the deal.

[CO Hugh]

Cash in Hand. You could do a wire transfer but people don't like to give out that much info. Though as some informed me every time you write a check the payee has your bank account information.

I guess you could use a gift card, like Visa or Amex for payment, I've never tried that and certainly have doubts.

[sniper7]

Don't do it. almost certainly a scam. Why would people out of state be looking for items in other states unless it is a very big item or extremely rare?

And if it is big or rare he would either drive out to get it, or be okay with a USPS money order or certified bank check.

don't ship until it is cashed and CLEARS several days later.

[bulletproof]

As a buyer and seller on ebay. I will only pay/accept payment through paypal. I haven't had that many issues. However, craigslist is a little different story... If someone wants to buy something and have it shipped, I'd make sure you talk to them on the phone first. An email can come from any country, but speaking american english isn't something that can be faked. ;) If they have a US based PayPal account with a Verified Address, I'd say you're gtg. But you can always call PayPal CS to ask about the buyer. There is also a place to add the tracking number of the item being shipped as well. I'd ship with a real courier and not with the USPS, they don't have real tracking or good insurance... Which of course always depends on the value of the item; a $100 item is always covered by default. Just make sure you purchase more if you need it. ;)

[CO Hugh]

Don't do it. almost certainly a scam. Why would people out of state be looking for items in other states unless it is a very big item or extremely rare?

And if it is big or rare he would either drive out to get it, or be okay with a USPS money order or certified bank check.

don't ship until it is cashed and CLEARS several days later.

i AGREE too good to be true. As the quote is you can't cheat an honest man!

[bigun1962]

You have several good suggestions. At th SO where I work you pay with a USPS money order,cash or you wait 10-14 business days for service. USPS money orders are the only way to go.