Okies peeps, I've sold a Mac and the buyer wants to collect the item in person but pay using PayPal - this isn't a problem for me as I have a PayPal account, but he wants to use a credit card to make the payment.
Now I'm led to believe that much like other credit card payments, using one with PayPal isn't instant. Is this really the case? I thought that once someone had paid in to PayPal the money would appear in my account and that would be that.
Do I really have to wait a few(?) days before the money clears and I can use it?
I've made other transactions before using PayPal and there hasn't appeared to have been any delays with the money transferring from my account to theirs.
So can anyone tell me if he has to make a payment and leave it a few days for me to actually get the money before I can let him collect the Mac, or is this just a standard transaction - he pays me he can take the Mac?
*shrug*

Mark

It does normally take about 3 days from Paypal receiving the payment for the transfer to your account to go through.

The money will credit to your Paypal account straight away and will not need to clear much like any online payment. When people buy good off me and use Paypal I do not know if they've used Credit Card or Debit card or anything else. All I need to know is that Paypal have authorised the transaction and the balance is showing on my account. There is a period though of a few days though once you instruct the money to be transfered from Paypal to your bank account.

So basically, as long as I see that the money has gone in to my PayPal it's alright to let the guy take the item. Right?

Mark

Well... yes at that point the money is with Paypal and at that point I would mail out the item. The problem that can crop up (and it happened to my brother) is that if a stolen credit card was used this wont be picked up by the owner for a couple of days and by that time the item will have been posted/collected. Then if that happens (AFAIK) Paypal will be instructed to recover the money from you.

Dont mean to scare, I've never had a dodgy Paypal transaction yet, but I guess it can happen.

If you are meeting the guy, just ask for ID to prove who he is and if they dont match you dont hand over the item. Simples

If the guy wants to collect I would tell them "cash only"

Yep I'd agree with this. If he's honest I dont see why he'd mind bringing his passport with him.

It was a while ago, and the memory isnt what it was...I use Paypal and this rings alarm bells. Check by contacting Paypal direct. Or do as JohnSheridan suggests and accept cash on collection.

No, don't do it.

If he wants to collect the mac then get him to pay cash on pick up.

I sold a phone for about £200 on Ebay and the guy paid with credit card and then collected the phone by hand. He then contacted Ebay to say his card had been stolen and that he hadn't authorised the payment.

PayPal then took the money off me and gave it to him. I lost a phone and £200 in one go.

I never use PayPal any more anyway but if I was selling something and delivering by hand I would only ever take cash.

Either that or make sure you get irrefutable evidence (i.e. picture of the guy picking up the item and a signed document detailing the transaction with his card signature to make sure it matches).

Be very careful though.

Hm, odd, this is a scam I haven't heard of.

I'd go with the ID option. Ask to see something like his driving licence and note down name, address etc and make sure it matches the details on the card.

If they do screw you for the money, the Police have something to go on.

As a buyer I'd rather pay through Paypal than pay cash on collection, as that way I have some recourse should I find the item is not what I expected it to be.

I wouldn't let any dirty stranger come to my house.

Interesting point, I paid cash on collection for a second hand multi gym. When I went round to collect I gave the gym a good look over and once happy handed the money over. If I didn’t like what I saw I was going to walk away but thinking about I probably had no right to do that as I was already committed to buying as I purchases via auction

But you'll give dirty strangers your address via eBay?

I'd second that - as a buyer, I prefer PayPal, simply because it means I'm not about to carry a large sum of money to somewhere I don't know to see someone I don't know. I've rarely been more nervous than when I bought my car for cash.