advice needed: how not to get scammed

[ungeheuer]

Howdy wise ones 

So.... pretty soon I'll be selling off some stuff.  One of the items will go for more than a grand and whilst its not like having your entitre bike scammed away from you, it'd still piss me off to lose $1000+.   So is the only safe option when getting paid (I'm talking ebay sales or perhaps via a sale from around here) to insist on direct bank transfer rather than accepting Paypal?? 

Thanks

[Mr.S2R]

Paypal has sensational buyer protection, to the point you can cancel the transaction after receiving said goods and lodge a dispute getting your money back yada yada yada

short answer - either cold hard cash (COD otherwise) or direct bank transfer would be the way to go - saves on Paypal fees too! 

[ID_DUC_MON]

Not sure how it would work in OZ, but I like postal money orders, even wally world money orders work. Both are backed by the fact the buyer has to use cold-hard-cash to get the them.

[suzyj]

All my sales on ebay (admittedly only maybe a dozen things) have been with paypal.  When I buy stuff, I tend to stay away from ppl who want money transfers, as there's zero protection for a buyer.  So when selling, I use the method that'll get the most potential buyers.  The most expensive thing I sold on ebay was a bicycle, for $2K, and that was with paypal.

The things I do to ensure stuff works is:

• Cancel bids from people with no feedback.
• Don't give out your whole address to people who are picking stuff up - I tell them the address of my block of flats, but not my unit number, and meet them outside.
• Arrange for sales to finish at about 8pm on a Tuesday or Wednesday, as that will get the largest number of people bidding.
• Start everything at 99c.  It's very stressful at first, but it's a way to ensure heaps of people watch the auction, and that'll get more bidders at the end.

Good luck!

[loony888]

if you're selling stuff and want an easy transaction paypal works well provided you follow one simple rule, and that is to not send the item until the money paid to your paypal account, that you transfer from your paypal account to your savings account has actually reached your savings account.

paul.

[Mr.S2R]

if you're selling stuff and want an easy transaction paypal works well provided you follow one simple rule, and that is to not send the item until the money paid to your paypal account, that you transfer from your paypal account to your savings account has actually reached your savings account.

paul.

just to add to that when you send your item send it via registered post with tracking number (I ask additionally for a delivery card to verify it has been received).  This will protect you against people scamming who say they havent received it - and it is part of Paypal's policy to protect the seller. 

[NFG]

Paypal's seller protections are actually pretty decent as well, but read the rules.  A lot of people hear 'seller protection' and think they'll be fine, but you gotta know what your responsibilities are.  I've done well over three thousand paypal transactions, and I've never had a problem.

send it via registered post with tracking number

One of the niggly little rules is that the parcel be trackable online.  If they can't verify your tracking claim online, it doesn't count.  (at least, last time I checked.  Read the rules!)

[Mr.S2R]

Paypal's seller protections are actually pretty decent as well, but read the rules.  A lot of people hear 'seller protection' and think they'll be fine, but you gotta know what your responsibilities are.  I've done well over three thousand paypal transactions, and I've never had a problem.
One of the niggly little rules is that the parcel be trackable online.  If they can't verify your tracking claim online, it doesn't count.  (at least, last time I checked.  Read the rules!)

yep that is how I got caught on one, person claimed to never have received item - sent it express post, which has a tracking number, but Paypal didnt accept that - so got burnt!