Gumtree vs eBay for Selling Items via Post

Optimistic Goat on 04/01/2022 - 19:13
Last edited 04/01/2022 - 19:49 by 1 other user

Hi OzBargain, I was wondering if I could get some input on selling online.

I'm currently selling an old eGPU enclosure and posted it on Gumtree and an auction on eBay as well. I had an interested buyer on Gumtree request that I post the item to him and he'll pay via Paypal or bank deposit. I immediately thought this was a classic Gumtree scam, but to give him the benefit of the doubt I suggested he purchase it via my eBay listing instead. To my surprise, he was happy to purchase it via eBay.

I've sold numerous items on eBay and posted them before without issue, but I just wanted to double-check with the savvy OzBargain community on whether this is looking like a scam and I just haven't noticed it yet. How safe is eBay for a seller? Am I walking into a trap?

Thanks for any advice!

Financial

Related Stores

Gumtree
Gumtree
eBay Australia
eBay Australia
Marketplace

Comments

  • Twix on 04/01/2022 - 19:18
    +2

    Cash only. What's the eGPU enclosure worth?

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 04/01/2022 - 19:19
    +7

    How does selling on eBay keep you any safer from being scammed?

    • Optimistic Goat on 04/01/2022 - 19:41

      I thought eBay had some protections for their sellers while Gumtree has none, but from reading this post, it sounds like those protections don't count for much.

      • brendanm on 04/01/2022 - 20:12

        PayPal probably has better protections than eBay, and has to answer to the financial ombudsman, whereas I don't think eBay does at this point.

      • Quantumcat on 04/01/2022 - 20:36

        Both ebay and PayPal are more likely to side with the buyer. You've just given your buyer two chances to scam you and you have lost the selling fees as well. And you've missed the opportunity to be paid by bank transfer which is risk free for the seller (assuming you don't accept screenshots and check the money has cleared).

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 04/01/2022 - 20:36

        Honestly after that guy tried to see his rgb cpu cooler on scumtree then the buyer threatened him with consequences if he didn’t accept a return, I’m pretty hesitant to sell anything full stop. Rather just sit on it and hope I get a use out of it some day.

      • SlavOz on 04/01/2022 - 20:54
        +1

        eBay will side with the buyer 100% of the time. Very little respite for sellers who get done over.

        That being said, it's generally safe if you know what you're doing.

  • xuqi on 04/01/2022 - 19:20
    +4

    Stopped selling on eBay when a buyer purchased an almost new GPU (R9 Nano), and then 31 days after receiving it returned it as 'Item not as described'.

    When I received the GPU back, he had switched the PCB from another unit, returning me his faulty/dead GPU.

    The guy lives in the same city as me albeit an hour away, but it didn't stop him pulling such a stunt.

    Ebay & PayPal didn't care, considered outsourcing payback to bikies, but I was far too busy at the time to follow-up, so wrote it off as a learning expereince and moved on.

    If the GPU is decent & in-demand, and you're not asking some astronomical price for it, then it should sell on Gumtree (cash, pickup) without issues.

    If you are asking an astronomical price and someone offered to buy it (Paying with PayPal, wanting it shipped), it's most likely a scam.

    • Optimistic Goat on 04/01/2022 - 19:44
      +1

      Thanks for sharing your story, that is definitely a really annoying experince.
      Just for clarity, I'm selling an eGPU enclosure, not an actual GPU (I should have been more clear in the post).

  • Ocker on 04/01/2022 - 19:21
    +5

    Sadly almost all online selling these days is full of scams - really pot luck to avoid a disaster no matter how cautious you are

    • pharkurnell on 04/01/2022 - 20:38
      +1

      not only full of scams, theres no protection in anyway even when you give them the tracking number proof…

      me.. down 500.

  • Pikaloo on 04/01/2022 - 19:36
    +2

    If they already said bank transfer just do that. PayID transfer it's usually instant. Only send the GPU once the money is in your bank account.

    eBay using PayPal you lose money to fees and they can chargeback/dispute.

  • Drakesy on 04/01/2022 - 19:40
    +1

    Don't post or accept anything other than cash.
    If you do, lets be honest you really only have yourself to blame
    There's enough active buyers on marketplace and gumtree to not have to resort to this.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/01/2022 - 20:17
    +4

    You're both too paranoid and too naive at the same time. If the money actually goes into a bank account, and is available and cleared, then it's yours.

    If a buyer on eBay claims it's not as described you have to accept the return, and eBay will expect you to pay for it. You claim you received an empty box, or nothing at all? Too bad, eBay doesn't care. You now have no item, and eBay expect you to pay them for the privilege. There's your seller protection.

  • JimmyLmao on 04/01/2022 - 20:42

    Risks of selling for cash in person
    - They will know your address if meeting at your house
    - They might give you counterfeit money
    - Chance of physical harm / robbery

    Risks of selling online
    - They might claim the wrong item was sent or it was broken
    - They might lodge a chargeback via their payment method of choicee
    - PayPal/eBay/etc. tend to favour the buyer over the seller

    I think there are risks either way, but I definitely feel far more comfortable dealing with cash in hand in person. However, I think there are genuine people out there who want to buy things online via post. Perhaps they live rurally or can't travel easily? I suppose as people we are all trending towards buying things online and having them delivered to our homes.

    I think I've thought up a decent counter-measure to help protect against the risk of selling online. Would love to hear some thoughts on this!
    - Do it via FB Marketplace or Gumtree so you are dealing with the person via messages.
    - They have to agree to pay upfront via bank transfer.
    - Set up a new bank account with no link to any of your other bank accounts (activate via depositing cash if possible). This only needs to be done once of course, and can be used for future online sales.
    - Then, when they pay, withdraw the cash at an ATM so that the transaction cannot be reversed.
    - Finally, post the item at a post office so you get the receipt as proof of postage. As well as taking a picture of the parcel with their address on it.
    - Alternatively, they could pay via some sort of eGift card that you can instantly redeem (e.g. Apple gift card to add to your Apple account, for iCloud payments, etc.)

    • Presence on 04/01/2022 - 21:43

      Why would any buyer agree with those terms though?

      • JimmyLmao on 04/01/2022 - 23:36

        I think it's pretty normal. When you buy something online, be it new or second-hand, you pay first, not after it has been delivered.

    • bazingaa on 04/01/2022 - 22:36

      Risks of selling for cash in person
      - They will know your address if meeting at your house
      - They might give you counterfeit money
      - Chance of physical harm / robbery

      can easily avoidable by meeting at a public place like near a bank, so that the buyer can withdraw cash from the ATM and give it to you right away.

      • JimmyLmao on 04/01/2022 - 23:41
        +1

        Yep, very true. Although I doubt it happens that way very often. But technically that would be the least risky way to do it. You could even deposit it into your account with them there before they take off with the item, in the event they already had the cash with them.

    • Quantumcat on 04/01/2022 - 23:33

      Set up a new bank account

      This won't help you, if the bank wants to reverse a transaction for whatever reason (eg bad cheque) the account will just go negative. And maybe a dishonour fee.

      • JimmyLmao on 04/01/2022 - 23:39

        Hmm I suppose there's a chance of that. Still seems a bit safer to me than using the account with all of your money in it. At least you maintain a degree of control in this situation.

        Ultimately I wish there were a less risky way to sell stuff online and accept payment online :S

    • xuqi on 05/01/2022 - 11:43
      +1

      "They have to agree to pay upfront via bank transfer."

      If anyone asks me to pay upfront for a Gumtree/FB purchase, I automatically assume its a scam.

      What I've done for years is to sell only from work via Gumtree and in-person. Users need to be swiped in to building / meeting room for transaction usually in cash (<$1000).

      I have also accepted PayID (Payment to acount is near instant) over the past couple of years for larger transactions ($1500-$3000 GPU, Camera equipment), where the buyer didn't feel comfortable in carrying cash with them.

      On the rare occasion a buyer so seemingly keen for my address, instantly ceased responding after being sent the work address as pickup location, so you end up filtring out potential bad actors.

      • JimmyLmao on 05/01/2022 - 14:03

        Interesting, I would've thought paying upfront is standard. At what point do you pay then?

        That's a good idea you've got their about selling via a work meeting room. I'd definitely feel a lot more secure.

        Even if it were $2,000, I'd still want cash tbh. Bank transfers, such as Pay ID, can be reversed via a chargeback. I've done it once before when I was genuinely scammed trying to buy something via Gumtree online.

        And I know what you mean about filtering out weirdos. I had one person recently who kept agreeing to a price and then changing their mind and trying to convince me I should give it to them for free because it was a long way for them to travel, and kept asking for my address because they "like to be organised" - I didn't want that person turning up at my house lol.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join