Selling Gear on the internet ( unverified buyer )

[soymilk]

i'm selling a lens on a different forum. Finally got a bite, but then noticed the user isn't verified with paypal. ( around $600 )

It is worth selling it to him? Should I just refund the money and ask him to get verified? What are my risks sending it to him?

:

what would you guys do?

[rfortson]

Can you talk to the person on the phone? Do they have an online presence somewhere that gives you any more confidence?

At the end of the day, regardless of all the verification steps you can find, it's still an act of trust between two people. If your "Spidey senses" are tingling, then just back out. Otherwise, take the leap of faith.

Essentially any business transaction you conduct is based largely on trust. When you give your credit card to the waiter, you trust they don't abuse it when they go to run the bill. When you order over the phone, same thing for person taking your CC number. Same thing when you order from a website.

[biggin]

I do not know that the verified does a lot for you...maybe like a night light.

I have been on the bad end of a deal, lost a few hundred via PayPal...3 weeks after it was confirmed and I thought all was good. I had met the guy in person a number of times, had his phone, email but no address.

If it does not feel right, I would not do it. Once you loose the money paypal is worthless... and they will take it right from your paypal account.

[TXAvi8tor]

I purchase with paypal on ebay, because it's now the only payment method ebay allows. But I would NEVER sell thru paypal, verified buyer or not. Short answer: USPS MO. Cost for a $600 MO: $1.50 (beats the snot out of pp fees), and fraud gets the Feds involved, not just ebay/paypal dispute process, which now heavily favors the buyer.

In this case, regardless of whether you originally told the buyer you would accept PP, I would have no problem saying 'Sorry, you're unverified. If you want the lens, go to your local PO and spend $1.50+a first class stamp, and send me a USPS MO."

PAYPAL ISN"T YOUR ONLY OPTION FOR ON-LINE, PRIVATE PARTY BUYING AND SELLING.

[soymilk]

thanks for the tips guys.

I guess if it is fraud, then using a USPS MO across state lines would be a federal crime. But I decided to take the leap o faith. Got my fingers crossed.

[TXAvi8tor]

Good luck! Pls report the outcome.

[tc95]

Unverified Paypal's...is not a good thing...if it is a stolen card or bad checking account then paypal will just take the money back...and you have no recourse...

I would ask the buyer if they would trust you with them sending you a check or money-order or cashiers check...out of the three I like the personal check...you take the check to there bank...and cash the check...if it is not a local bank you wait for it to clear....once it does...then you send the merch...if they don't like it then don't sell it...a money order or cashiers check can be voided or reported stolen, if this is the case the bank will charge you back immidiately...

That is what I would do...it's a $600 dollar lens...I would rather keep it then fill out a fraud report...!!!

[groovyone]

I sell through paypal on the other forum. Somehow I don't think my address is listed as verified anymore. I typically just send an email confirming the address with the one given via paypal. Never had an issue and sold a LOT through paypal.

[nbrooks503]

Have you considered setting up a seller account on Amazon?

I've sold a number of photographic items through my seller account with no problem whatsoever.

[HuyMan]

I've noticed that when users pay me through pay pal on my iPhone it shows unverified. But when I log on my computer it's verified. Also what you could do is once the payment is made to you send it to your bank first. Contact the buyer by phone and advise him the item will be shipped as soon as the payment has cleared in your bank. Otherwise refund the money. Is it his address or user unverified?

[elguapo]

How does a buyer scam a seller on PayPal? Would the buyer just claim they never received the item or it wasn't as described?

[tc95]

The only way on an outside sale...is with a stolen card or bank account...or in my case a buyer had a pre-paid card that had a balance on it one day then the next did not...so paypal took the money back...out of my account...and I never heard from the buyer...and by then the package had been delivered and long gone...it was only a couple hundred but it still hurt...

[SCone]

The only thing "verified" means to PayPal is the person has added a bank account to the PayPal account. Anyone can create a PayPal account, all it takes is a method of payment. To get paid needs to have some way to transfer money, unless you plan on just leaving the money with PayPal. So when someone attaches a bank account to the PayPal account, they debit the account with a small amount (usually .10 or so). Once the transaction is complete, you log back into PayPal and confirm the amount. After that the account is "verified".

If someone is scamming you, then they would have to get PayPal to reverse the transfer of funds. It's possible, but I've never had it happen to me. I check out the buyer and if they have a good history, then we deal. If not, then I want CASH before anything ships.

On the buying side is where I've seen more scams. Once they have my money, it's difficult to get PayPal or eBay to do much about getting my money back. Again it comes down to history. I don't like to deal with anyone without a good deal of positive history.

I get better responses when my attorney drops them a letter demanding refund or the goods. That one gets them busy.

[tc95]

Originally Posted by SCone

I get better responses when my attorney drops them a letter demanding refund or the goods. That one gets them busy.

Scone...that is awesome...!!! if you don't mind I will keep that one just in case...But your right...I don't deal with anyone that does not have a high Positive on eBay or if they don't I can not talk to them on the phone...

But again...Awesome...Scone...!!!