Selling interstate on Gumtree

An interstate buyer has messaged me saying they were interested in my item. Read similar past threads but since Gumtree is designed for face to face transactions, I wanted to be absolutely sure I've followed steps to protect myself before I agree to it. The item in question is a phone worth a few hundred dollars.

Payment:

Paypal's not recommended as the buyer can claim it was faulty or not received and get their money back. It's recommended to use bank transfer. So I just send the seller my acc number and bsb? Anything to look out for here? If accepting bank transfer, how long should I wait before I ship the item?

Shipping:

Use a registered Aus Post option (with tracking). What if the buyer has their own preferred courier? Any potential scams involving using a courier? or any scams in general to watch for in regards to what shipping method I use? I'd rather make my address visible to the buyer, if possible.

Any advice would be appreciated!

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Comments

  • +13

    Any advice would be appreciated!

    Don't do it.

    • Thanks. I know there are some genuine interstate buyers. From past threads, many people have done this without being scammed as long as they follow the right precautions

      • Always a risk when not doing cash on gumtree. Commonsense and precautions will most likely be able to pick up scammers but there's still always a risk factor. If it's a (semi-)valueable, popular item (like iPhones, laptops, tablets, etc.) there's a much higher risk compared to some low value and/or niche item

  • +2

    grabs popcorn

  • No.

  • +1

    I have sold interstate. Only send the item after cleared payment

  • +3

    No dude.

    Plenty of phones for sale all over the country!

  • +3

    if your phone is the only one in this whole world, then go ahead.

  • +1

    I Sold a bike interstate to QLD (I'm in WA), waited for the guy's funds to clear before sending it.
    Probably not advisable but it worked for me.

  • Don't do it.

    But if you must do it, don't send the item until money clears and only accept payment via bank transfer.

  • Accept money only via Bank Transfer as once the money clears you can then ship the item.

    They won't be able to reverse the transaction like many scammers do with PayPal.

    I've sent many items interstate via Bank Transfer and have had no issues. I wouldn't accept PayPal because they can dispute payment for up to 6 months which is a hassle and they always favour the buyer.

  • +1

    If you're going to receive any funds by bank transfer, do it by PayID (Phone number) its safer, and doesn't reveal your BSB / Account info that some people have used to setup direct debit payments later down the track. If you can delay sending it for 2-3 days that would be ideal to ensure no immediate chargebacks.

    The second reason why you should use PayID is a scam developed by a person walking into a CBA branch, and as long as the seller was a CBA customer, a cheque was deposited using the sellers BSB/Account Number through the automated ATM's that are popping up in most branches. This deposit showed up in the persons app / transactions, the bank balance increased, but it was not "available" balance so you couldn't withdraw the cash, until the cheque cleared, which that cheque would be attached to a bank which obviously didn't have the funds, but no one would know that for 12-24 hours until it was processed by the bank and unfortunately people were sending products they thought were paid for, before the funds were cleared and the funds never came…

    Use Registered Post, and make sure the parcel is scanned in at a post office when posting it so you get the "received by xx post office" log on the tracking and it activated the insurance.

    • or use Beem it

      Use Registered Post, and make sure the parcel is scanned in at a post office when posting it so you get the "received by xx post office" log on the tracking and it activated the insurance.

      Also keep the lodgement receipt & take a photo showing the receipt and package

  • -4

    Mate ask them to pay you in livestock. Once the livestock arrives, confirm its real livestock by slaughtering it and eating it. If its fair dinkum, then send the item. If its not fair dinkum, return the deadstock to them.

  • +1

    Only ship when payment is cleared.

    What if the buyer has their own preferred courier?

    Youre the seller, you've got the phone, you set the terms. If buyer doesn't like your terms, tell them no deal. Don't be desperate, don't think that you have to sell it to them, youre not a business.

  • yes use payid or hermit though

  • +1

    Depends on the item. Phone NO. Some old 3ds game from an obvious fan YES.

  • People saying use registered post, aren't all parcel deliveries inside Australia now tracked for free?

    • Hardly free but yes, no such thing as unregistered parcel post.

    • Express post is tracked, but due to the nature of the service it doesn’t require a signature on delivery so it can be marked as delivered by the post man without signature, and that’s risky.

      Avoid Express Post for any valuables for this reason.

  • +2

    Just make sure its not James from ACT…

  • Phones are the prototypical scam target.

    How does it feel to you? Did they agree to pay you your full asking price no questions asked? Does your Gumtree ad stipulate payment methods accepted?

    I would concur PayID - it's easy, instant, and you know that they have the cash.

  • The problem with PayID that then the buyer has no protection (done a few interstate buys).

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