For Sale: What is the safest payment method making a purchase on SD ?

[Greenmist]

Do your homework first, check how long they have been a member of the site, when they were last on, are they a regular poster, check their sales history and interaction with other members.

 

[thefoxandthe.243]

I have bought and sold items on here and its always gone fine for me. Always been bank transfers. I think most members on here are probably fac or sgc holders, which rightly or wrongly I have assumed they are trustworthy. And I would imagine the same goes for the members that have bought from me.
(Although the theft at the Stalking show would prove that some certificate holders cannot be trusted! But I think they will be in the minority)

As has been said above, all you can really do is look through members previous posts or engagement in threads, plus the length of time they have been a member on here and trust your instincts from there.

 

[Jh1986]

Ok the flip side, as a seller, I'm no longer inclined to take PayPal.

Sold my old Habrok (goods and services), sent them recorded. Buyer confirmed receipt, and marked as such within PayPal. Buyer was as good as gold doing everything he could but PayPal kept the funds for nearly a month after delivery.

 

[andyk]

I’ve bought an awful lot on here over the years and can say the only issues I’ve had have been some ‘once fired’ brass that clearly wasn’t and a scope described as having no crimps which was lightly crimped.

The issue I see with asking for ID is who’s asking. If someone asks who has a decent presence on here then I’d be fine with it. A new member who wants a scan of my FAC to buy some brass isn’t getting it.

 

[NullMac]

My experience is we are a trusting and trustworthy bunch on here. I have bought and sold things for £2k and generally it is bank transfer and then it gets delivered.

I am sure that isn’t universally true but that what I ask and what I do.

 

[Bo Diddley]

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?

Sounds a

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?

Bit like what happens on Vinted. Purchase is agreed, money held by a third party, item posted/delivered, buyer agrees it is fit for purpose and meets the description, then the third party money holder releases the money to the seller. It's quite a simple process.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

I use Revolut occasionally. That gives me an option to send out an invoice that can be paid by credit card.

Regards

JCS

 

[Dragonfly Ordnance]

One thing a lot of people don’t realise: if a payment is made from one UK bank account to another via the Faster Payments system or CHAPS, there are protections.

First, raise a complaint with your bank, who must investigate. If they don't give an adequate response or refund, you can then escalate the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

This comes under the Authorised Push Payment (APP) scam rules, where you are tricked into sending money to a fraudster posing as a genuine payee.

FCA information here.

PSR information here.

Financial Ombudsman information here.

 

[suburban bushwacker]

A picture of your FAC, and a picture of you holding the FAC - probably some of the best photo ID possible

 

[enfieldspares]

If you were to buy a used Thermal on SD for say £ 2000, pay by bank transfer and it does not get delivered, you will have basically lost your £2000.

What method of payment does everyone on here use when making purchases that ensures that their money is protected ?

For that sum unless I knew the person or it was a shop such as MacLeod's at Tain I'd get in my car or get on a train and go in person.

 

[Greenmist]

Another thing which may seem obvious, keep all correspondence until you've completed and are happy with the purchase

 

[ruger77]

I must say I’ve sold quite a few high value items on here all paid with bank transfer never had a problem

 

[scarter]

I’ve often thought (maybe already been mentioned not sure if it’s be workable) about the site making a page with a list of trusted sellers

 

[KentCountryGent]

Remember paypal hates all things shooting. It sounds ike you need to go and collect it

PayPal in fact suspended my account for 'firearm related' transactions made on the SD. Personally, I am not an advocate and would avoid.

 

[thefoxandthe.243]

I’ve often thought (maybe already been mentioned not sure if it’s be workable) about the site making a page with a list of trusted sellers

Something along those lines would definitely put buyers minds at ease, but everyone is a first time seller at some point

 

[Pedro]

Buying privately, especially over distance where you can't go and get it and pay at the same time is, frankly a gamble. Take heart that the great majority of people are honest and there probably won't be a problem, but there's always the possibility something will go wrong, be that it never arrives (or wasn't sent) or it isn't as described. I have bought off here and thankfully haven't had an issue.

But I stick to the mantra that I won't buy anything privately online for more money than I can afford to lose.

 

[finnbear270]

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?

The system is known as "Escrow"

 

[pendle]

Collection 500 miles away in the highlands is not an option.

Buy one from someone else closer to you

 

[Rural Management Services]

I generally tell people to search back through my sales history on here for a bad comment and then happily share my FAC front page etc. Final trick can be to also add a photo of the item with said FAC. Bank details that match the FAC are also useful.

Never really had any problems apart from someone once who tried to retrospectively negotiate a discount based on their interpretation of condition. They did get some money sent back which was foolish of me as I should have just told them to return for a refund. It was a large item though that had gone to Ireland and it would be been a pain to return. Randomly they still try a smear campaign after getting their partial refund and then asked for more money back.

 

[Shabz]

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.

You need to not buy stuff from here then. PayPal including the fees is the best way for you but if that’s not for you then only buy stuff from shops. It’s your choice, your risk, your cheap deal.