Hi there,
I recently got myself a new laptop and I'm looking to sell my old laptop online.
I posted it a few weeks ago on Gumtree and had numerous dodgy people message me they could pay today via PayPal if I delivered it to X address.
I've read up about how people can do chargebacks on PayPal and possibly even on bank transfer payments. So how do I sell my laptop online without risking losing the money and the laptop? Nobody is interested in paying cash on pickup.
Thanks!
The unfortunate truth it seems. Thanks for validating what I suspected. It's so crap that this seems to be the only way to sell it, making it easily difficult.
Make that cash on pickup during day time at a public place where there’s other people / harder for anyone to do a runner.
I dunno man, nobody ever been murdered via a paypal scam…
There was that one kid recently murdered trying to sell something off facebook…
Specify Cash only, No Pickup.
I have sold through Paypal on Gumtree, and the guy came and picked up. tranaction took 30secs.
I was selling records. @ $300 worth.
The other option is to accept credit card payments, using your phone? There are solutions at HN, JB & Officeworks for $59 called the Square that you may use in the future.
Nobody's going to set up Square to sell a single laptop!
You'd probably get higher quality buyers on somewhere like Overclockers Australia but you need to wait 3 months from joining to use buy and sell.
How would eBay protect me from this if I still get paid via PayPal?
It wouldnt, PayPal is only ever good when you buy.
Mention in your ad that you only accept cash and you will only trade in person. Optionally, instruct prospective buyers to wear something nice.
And no caps or glasses. (because of your security system)
Sunglasses*
Prescription glasses are okay.
Edit. On second thoughts, prescription glasses aren't okay. Guide dogs only.
What’s your laptop?
I’m currently working on an oil platform offshore so can’t meet you.
I’m happy to pay a premium with PayPal if you ship it to my friend in PNG.
lol yeah that's the exact types of messages I got, instant red flags.
Try Facebook Marketplace and say cash pickup only. If you are only getting scammers the price is too high
What laptop is it, and what sort of value? If it's a year old MacBook Pro, I'd say you'll get scammed. If its some old clapper worth $200 you'll probably be ok.
It's a 2017 Razer Blade
It's understandable that sometimes it is hard to sell a laptop if you live in a low population area or just hard to get to.
Very true! Maybe I'll span out my suburb pickup place.
I believe BeemIt payments can't be reversed so that could an alternative to cash?
Sell it cash only at a public place. I recently sold a Macbook at my local police station and they were cool with that.
Paypal is biased way too far in favour of the purchaser so don't bother.
State that clearly on your ad and ignore anyone who isn't willing to do that.
Cash on pick up ONLY is the safest way.
Then don't proceed unless you are prepared to give away the laptop.