Paypal a safe way to get paid?

v8440

v8440

Well-known member
Hi all,

Is paypal a reasonably safe way to get paid for something? I may be about to sell a transmission, and I really want to insist on cash. Problem is, the buyer is in Washington state and doesn't know me or anyone around here to deliver cash. I have a paypal account, but I don't really like using that because paypal seems to generally suck. So, am I fairly safe if I accept paypal from this guy?
 
Paypal can be fine. It is certainly safe.

The trick is to get the payer to send it as "Other" and "Personal"
rather than as "paying for an item"

This way, Paypal charges zero fees.

I've never had any issues with PayPal. The key is knowing how they're going to screw you over.

The problems start when you sell something on eBay. eBay owns PayPal.
When you sell something on eBay, they charge you some fees - listing fee, and a cut of the final amount, more fees if you post more pictures or use "feature" services.
That's bad enough unless you're able to factor it in to your pricing.
So, now that you've got a successful bidder and they are ready to pay...... oh yeah, did I mention that eBay pretty much forces you into using PayPal?
No big deal right?
Well, now that eBay has forced you into accepting PayPal and made everything wonderful for the buyer, PayPal wants THEIR cut for handling the credit card transaction (yeah, you carry that not the buyer) AND another fee when you go to take the money out.

This is one of the reasons why eBay has become less friendly for folks just trying to clean out the basement/garage/closet and more attuned to the "stores." People running businesses expect the fees and write them off as business expenses. Plus they have a better view of what the costs are and just factor it in to their Buy-It-Now price and forget all about what made eBay fun in the first place: no reserve auctions.

*rant off*
 
is this some golden booger of a trans? why is a guy in WA buying a trans located in AL? crap like that gets my paranoia fur up.

Just like checks, make sure the payment is able to clear your bank (some credit payments delay this process several days)

Yeah, I really do hate what they (ebay paypal) did when they started hanging all responsibility on the seller.
 
It's pretty rare, and it's advertised here if I remember right. (the guy found it on another site) It's a g56 transmission out of an '06 diesel dodge ram. You just don't see them up for sale much, and the ones you do find are usually remans going for nearly $3k, plus core. I priced mine at $1800 because it stayed for sale for like 3 years at a higher price and not one person ever asked about it. I noticed the guy registered on the diesel site as a new user the day he asked me about the trans, which initially got me a little worried. But then it occurred to me that he could not have contacted me any other way, as I did not put my phone number or email address in the ad. Sending me a private message through that site was the only way for him to get hold of me. I also watched his activities from time to time through his user profile, and he was scanning around the site reading various posts not related to things for sale. I find that to be normal behavior for someone who has found a new site about a vehicle they have and are interested. None of this guarantees it's not a scam of course. I guess I could also maybe send it COD. We have not really talked about payment yet. He mentioned paypal as a possible route, along with "any other payment route I'd desire". That doesn't sound like the MO for someone trying to run a particular type of scam on me.
 
Have him pay for it with money orders as ( if they are like up here in the far North) they have to be paid with cash up front, therefore you have no worries when you cash it as he would have to have your name and address on the M.O.
 
paypal is plenty safe....just dont send it till the money has actualy cleared

when you do ship that beast get me a weight and if you could..some measurements....
 
I've used paypal a lot, the fees as a seller suck but you can keep them to a minimum if you transfer the money into one of your registered bank accounts. If he's open to other forms of payment get him to send you a USPS money order, they are as good as cash. I've received USPS money orders and cashed them no problem up here in Canada.


Mmmmmm G56 6speed tranny......:drool: Wish I had been in a position to buy that unit...but too many other things I need to spend my money on...guess my 5 speed will have to do.;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

SiteLock

SiteLock
Back
Top