Want to Send a Laptop Interstate for a Gumtree Buyer... How to Not Get Scammed?

Blue Cat on 09/05/2020 - 13:47

I KNOW I KNOW, I SHOULD NOT ETC. BUT HEAR ME OUT

This is an older ThinkPad X200s which are hard to find/get in Australia and the buyer wants to buy it for BIOS modding, I talked with him about it and he knows his stuff. I understand why he is willing to pay extra for all of this and is willing to get it shipped as these laptops are rare here.

I am in Sydney and he's in Perth. I already told him I don't want to use PayPal as it's super easy to get scammed and he agreed, so now we are looking at bank transfer.

We also both have Macquarie Bank accounts.

I remember I once called Macquarie to ask them how they handle situations where the person who sent the money suddenly says "oh it's an unauthorized transfer please give my money back!". They told me that unlike other banks, they launch an investigation first where both parties have to provide proof for their claims. This way if you really sent the item and it got delivered etc. the charge back doesn't happen.

Anyone knows if there are any truths to this Macquarie claim?

And anyway, should I just say a hard NO to the whole deal and try to sell locally? I am having difficulty trying to sell locally as people don't know the value this ThinkPad holds and just assume it's a cheap-o underpowered laptop.

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Comments

  • elgrande on 09/05/2020 - 13:51
    +11

    Good luck brave one.

  • No Username on 09/05/2020 - 13:52

    BIOS Modding is quite common. I would take a video of you showing it working and then putting it in the shipping box and sending it off. That way you can dispute the charge back if that event occurs.

    • Blue Cat on 09/05/2020 - 13:54

      Yes, I am planning to film the whole proces, as my post office is nearby so a total of 20min should cover me packing the item and sending it out at the post office.

      • lunchbox99 on 09/05/2020 - 16:58
        +3

        Sounds like a weird porno plot, but go ahead…

        When does the sexy postmaster get their gear off?

    • CC123 on 09/05/2020 - 14:08
      +1

      adding onto this, make sure you show that the BIOS and OS are functional

  • Melb69 on 09/05/2020 - 14:16

    Sometimes GT sales by shipping may work. If the 2 people are genuine about the transaction. It is a risk both ways, that's why it should be in person. Personally, I wouldn't as I hate getting ripped off. You don't kbow the other person. No matter how nice he seems on the phone or text.

  • holdenmg on 09/05/2020 - 14:21
    +4

    Disappointed to see AusPost don't do C.O.D. anymore.

  • xuqi on 09/05/2020 - 14:26

    Send it, only if you're willing to lose the $ should something go awry.

    Personally I never post anything sold on Gumtree (cash sales only), as there will always be local buyer wiling to pay the price.

    Personally, the additional hassle & time spent selling a $100 laptop isn't worth my time.

  • EFC94 on 09/05/2020 - 14:41
    +7

    I'd send it, the guy seems to know what he's talking about in regards to why he wants it, especially when it's probably a topic that the average scammer has no idea about (I personally have no idea what BIOS modding is).

    Not everyone in the world is a scammer, there are in fact many genuine bidders out there.

  • bigticket on 09/05/2020 - 15:10
    +2

    If you have to…

    Don't use a common institution.
    Provide the account number information and only your first name.
    Have him go into the bank and make the payment in cash.
    Post item registered.

  • Seraphin7 on 09/05/2020 - 15:10
    +1

    I remember I once called Macquarie to ask them how they handle situations where the person who sent the money suddenly says "oh it's an unauthorized transfer please give my money back!". They told me that unlike other banks, they launch an investigation first where both parties have to provide proof for their claims. This way if you really sent the item and it got delivered etc. the charge back doesn't happen.

    Anyone knows if there are any truths to this Macquarie claim?

    Yeah. Macquarie.

    • RockyRaccoon on 09/05/2020 - 15:22
      -1

      Yep macquarie -

      They told me that unlike other banks, they launch an investigation first where both parties have to provide proof for their claims. This way if you really sent the item and it got delivered etc. the charge back MAYNOT happen.

  • vinni9284 on 09/05/2020 - 15:32

    Why would a person be interested in a $50 laptop from the other side of the country? Because of a BIOS chip mod?
    The postage will be more than the laptop.

    How much is he willing to pay for the laptop if I may ask?
    Cheers

    • Blue Cat on 09/05/2020 - 15:37

      He wanted to buy the laptop when it was priced $200, but at first I refused because I wanted pickup & cash only.
      I have reduced the price to $100 after 3 weeks and still people don't want to buy locally so he messaged me again.
      Thinking to do it before the price goes down to $50 and I still can't sell it locally.

      • vinni9284 on 09/05/2020 - 15:43

        Fair enough.
        It seems to me that he has the same laptop with BIOS that has been bricked.
        He needs your laptop (with the same BIOS) to replace it with.
        But then it requires disassembly (on both laptops), remove corrupt BIOS and re-solder your BIOS.
        But why would someone be inclined so much to do this as it is a big waste of time?

        Ask the seller more explicitly, why he needs the laptop for and use my definition as a guide of his excuse; to see if it is legit

        Cheers

        • Blue Cat on 09/05/2020 - 15:47
          +2

          But why would someone be inclined so much to do this as it is a big waste of time?

          Welcome to the GNU/Linux community! If you don't know the difference between "free as in free beer" and "free as in free speech", you don't have enough free time.

          He wants the laptop to install custom BIOS actually, ever heard of Libreboot or coreboot? These are one of the reasons people want specific old ThinkPad models.

          His reasons for wanting to buy this laptop makes perfect sense to me to be honest.

          • vinni9284 on 09/05/2020 - 15:59
            +4

            @Blue Cat:

            His reasons for wanting to buy this laptop makes perfect sense to me to be honest.

            Well you have answered your own question.

            Ok, get the buyer to do a bank transfer, wait a few days until 100% cleared and in your account. Then send with a tracking number.
            Cheers

  • Dundundunnnn on 09/05/2020 - 15:44
    -1

    Get crypto transfer instead! No charge backs.

  • Quantumcat on 09/05/2020 - 16:25

    Should be impossible to reverse a bank transfer unless you claim your account was hacked or something. Only credit card payments are easily charged back.

    • plmko on 09/05/2020 - 17:27

      Definitely possible to make it looks like there's a transfer. Search OzB.

  • Heaps for Cheaps on 09/05/2020 - 16:56
    +2

    For a $100 laptop I think it will go fine. Just let him know that Australia Post has serious delays atm. A parcel Melb to Melb is taking over a week.

  • brendanm on 09/05/2020 - 17:44
    +6

    Far out it's $100 and he's willing to do bank transfer, just do it. I had to buy an old laptop a while back as I needed an rs232 port, and would have paid postage from interstate for it. Sometimes people have specific needs, it's not a new iPhone that he wants to pay for with PayPal.

    • TilacVIP on 10/05/2020 - 08:14
      +2

      Agree.

      You'd think the OP was risking thousands. Besides, once transfer is made, how can anyone claim an unauthorized transfer? What's your claim…, your fingers violated, your brain's decision not to send???? Just ridiculous. Also, the OP would have all the emails/SMS proof to show the buyer definitely wanted to buy the item.

      By the sound of it, this is a genuine sale.

      Man, there are some paranoid numpties in here.

  • Eeples on 09/05/2020 - 20:37
    +1

    Yer, its $100 just do it.

    If it was $1000 I would take out insurance at the post office.

  • Heaps for Cheaps on 09/05/2020 - 22:19
    +2

    I work on an oil rig and on mothers day I was unable to get anybody to send anything to my mum for the special day…

    • OZBargainer in SA on 10/05/2020 - 09:53
      +1

      Where does she live? Perhaps a fellow OZBargainer may be willing to drop off some chocolates on your behalf?

      • Ozpit on 10/05/2020 - 14:54

        Got a boat? She also works on an oil rig.

  • Brucet on 10/05/2020 - 10:01

    Better sell it local pick up.

  • ElderyMan on 10/05/2020 - 10:37

    Take 100% pre-paid before shipping it out and wait until the deposit is cleared in your bank account. Or take PayID payment. Worked for me.

    • Blue Cat on 10/05/2020 - 10:39

      How is PayID more secure than a regular transfer in regards to getting scammed as a seller?

      • ElderyMan on 23/05/2020 - 08:39

        It is faster/instant in most of cases. Don't have to wait a few days to get the funds cleared.

  • Ughhh on 10/05/2020 - 11:02

    If buyer is paying via bank transfer, as long you can see the payment in your account (dont rely on screen shots), you're all good. The buyer is on the short end on the stick.

    • Blue Cat on 10/05/2020 - 11:36
      +2

      What about all those horror stories where the money gets CLEARED into your account, but then the sender cries to their bank "uh I was HACKED and my money was transfered to an UNKNOWN bank account, can you undo it please?" and it gets undone!

      • Ughhh on 10/05/2020 - 11:41

        Can you link to those horror stories?

        • Blue Cat on 10/05/2020 - 11:42

          I won't find them now, but I am sure there is a couple on Reddit and OzBargain somewhere. Otherwise I wouldn't be so paranoid if I haven't read them.

          • Ughhh on 10/05/2020 - 11:47
            -1

            @Blue Cat: Because that sounds like a charge back, Which AFAIK, is a credit card feature. It's not as easy for bank transfers, which is why there are a lot of threads where buyer is asking what they can do because seller is not sending item or responding.

          • Heaps for Cheaps on 10/05/2020 - 11:47

            @Blue Cat: I think you are overthinking it tbh. It's a $100 laptop that the buyer has been chasing for a few weeks. I'd much rather sell it then keep it for longer until eventually you do sell for $20 on gumtree, and then you may start panicing about strangers etc.

            If it was a switch or high-value item that can be easily resold for $ then I'd worry, but don't see this as an issue. Also, if you do sell, be aware of extended delivery times now, one week at minimum on top of normal delivery.

      • brendanm on 10/05/2020 - 11:45

        It's $100. You honestly think someone is going to this much trouble over an old ThinkPad worth $100? I've done similar for much larger amounts, even had a guy interstate send me $8k via bank transfer for a car he had never even seen.

  • Inzo on 10/05/2020 - 13:15

    what kind of crazy stuff are you storing / or conspiracy theories do you have that you need non-proprietary BIOS software, so you own it and can;t be spied on? :/

    • Blue Cat on 10/05/2020 - 15:05

      Alright mister "nothing to hide; nothing to fear", can you PM me your OzBargain password, and your main bank login and password?

  • Ozpit on 10/05/2020 - 15:07

    Sounds legit to me. Send it. I would, just to get it over with. You’ve put in a fair effort to sell it locally.

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