For Sale: What is the safest payment method making a purchase on SD ?
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2-dead-in-the-air
Well-Known Member
Paypal, as goods ( % charge )
as friends no charge.
as friends no charge.
So the seller pays the Paypal fee for 'goods' selling ? Friends has no money back guarantee if the good do not arrive.
Collection 500 miles away in the highlands is not an option.
monarman
Well-Known Member
If use paypal friends and family there is no charge to either party but also no guarantee....
If you use paypal as goods the seller will be charged a percentage fee and there is a guarantee...
The seller may choose to add tat percentage cost to the overall cost of the item being sold so they aren't losing out... but at least the buyer has a guarantee even though they've paid a bit more.
If that makes sense......
There is a fair bit of trust involved with selling on here... especially when not opting for guarantee or paying by bacs.....
If you use paypal as goods the seller will be charged a percentage fee and there is a guarantee...
The seller may choose to add tat percentage cost to the overall cost of the item being sold so they aren't losing out... but at least the buyer has a guarantee even though they've paid a bit more.
If that makes sense......
There is a fair bit of trust involved with selling on here... especially when not opting for guarantee or paying by bacs.....
I’d say the only real protection you have is trust.
When selling, I’m a bit wary of PayPal (other than F&F) as there’s a 3.4% charge for using it. If the buyer is willing to pay that, I may be ok with it but I’m not hugely keen as there are multiple scams that look to take advantage of the ability to reverse a payment made with buyer protection.
My advice is not to spend large amounts with people who aren’t known entities on here. There’s no way I’d part with £2k to a new member or one with little to no selling history.
When selling, I’m a bit wary of PayPal (other than F&F) as there’s a 3.4% charge for using it. If the buyer is willing to pay that, I may be ok with it but I’m not hugely keen as there are multiple scams that look to take advantage of the ability to reverse a payment made with buyer protection.
My advice is not to spend large amounts with people who aren’t known entities on here. There’s no way I’d part with £2k to a new member or one with little to no selling history.
I had a NXS scope delivery to my RFD a few years ago I arranged it with him beforehand the seller sent the scope to the RFD who held it I went along had a look at it did a direct bank transfer to the seller he then rang the RFD and told him I could take the scope worked seamlessly and I paid the RFD £10 for his time I also agreed that if I didn't have the scope I would pay the return carriage.
Photograph of firearms certificate with address and driving licence photograph also, so I know exactly what door I'm knocking on.
If you’re buying something from me then you can either bank transfer it or pay by PayPal and add enough on for the fees. Or you can come and pick it up.
If you were to pay by bank transfer, I would happily send you a copy of my FAC so you have my details to dob me in to the police if I scam you.
Generally on this site everyone is a stand up person so I’m less bothered. I sent someone a lot of money for a rifle one or three times. Never had a problem. I’ve also sent several hundred pounds back to someone who didn’t like the scope I sold them.
If you were to pay by bank transfer, I would happily send you a copy of my FAC so you have my details to dob me in to the police if I scam you.
Generally on this site everyone is a stand up person so I’m less bothered. I sent someone a lot of money for a rifle one or three times. Never had a problem. I’ve also sent several hundred pounds back to someone who didn’t like the scope I sold them.
It is beginning to sound like a minefield. The Police would never have any interest in following a purchase up we can all be certain of that. Probably safer just to buy new at a fair price, as most of the comments above put me right off, especially as I have been scammed priviously by a SD member.
It’s posts like this @Charlie that make me think we need some sort of tag on a member’s tally that gives confidence to buyers. Totally recognise the potential minefield here and I don’t suggest an eBay type system - I have virtually given up on that marketplace. Trust does work for the vast majority of people on here but some of the kit we are dealing with is damm expensive. How can we easily recognise “good ones” - I write as someone who will NEVER deal again with another member on here 
I have purchased a few things off members of the SD, some were in the thousands and I never clapped eyes on the seller.
Trust plays a big part in it, members that have been on here for a good period of time and haven't had bad feedback etc.
I wouldn't part with my cash if a new member was selling a scope at 2k even if it seemed to be a bargain.
As said get an RFD to send it, might cost a wee bit extra tho.
Bavarianbrit
Well-Known Member
There is an American way I have been told about where the seller leaves/sends the goods to a straight up business that specialises in this service they check that the item is as advertised, the buyer then sends the funds to this entity then the entity sends the item onto the buyer. When the tracking proves that delivery was done the entity sends the funds onto the seller. I have forgotten the name for this, Our American SD members will know, was it called escrow?
I did 527 miles in the day with a trailer to collect a used motorbike. Bank transfer once there and satisfied worked for me, no risk, no chancers, the bike went away with me and we all lived happily ever after.
The end.
Edit just to add;
It cost me a full day and £60 in fuel, which I class as a small price to pay for the peace of mind.
Would have been even better on credit card etc… as I’m discovering from buying a Land Rover second hand from a dealer by bank transfer. Fortunately it has Land Rovered within 6 months of purchase.
As eBay will testify, any points system we could create on here is open to abuse so I'm not sure it provides the reassurance most would require when parting company with lots of £. The quality and tone of people's posts is often a good indicator of what type of person they are! It is one of the reasons we have a 30 post minimum for members before they are able to sell anything on here so I would encourage purchasers to look through a seller's posts and look at how long they have been on here. It's no guarantee, of course, but better than nothing. I would also add that fortunately, it is quite rare for us to hear of clearcut deliberate misrepresentation and those who are guilty of it are swiftly ejected from the site or classifieds.
If I'm buying something over £100, I insist on a video call with seller to see the actual item and for the seller to present their ID / driving license and ideally FAC or SGC. I will then only send bank payment to a bank account that matches the seller's name. This has worked well for me over the years. I've never had a seller think that my request was unreasonable. I would not buy from a seller that did not agree to something similar no matter how good the price.
I also like the idea of dropping with an RFD etc.
Buyer beware! Scammers will normally pressure for a quick payment and put pressure to complete or lose the item.
I also like the idea of dropping with an RFD etc.
Buyer beware! Scammers will normally pressure for a quick payment and put pressure to complete or lose the item.
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