is this guy serious about...?

[Makaveli007]

Can someone read into this guy's mind?

"hi mate im intrested in your item for sale and wondering if i can buy it now and i pay by paypal and collect in person as the laptop is needed as a gift for my other half. can you get back in touch with me as soon as possible. can you send me a telephone number so i can contact you. thanks

- mathewcapo_123"

This guys has just bought my laptop (buy it now for £599) on ebay, I've just sent him a paypal invoice. He just called me on my mobile saying he's coming to pick it up tonight because he wants to give it to her partner for her birthday tomorrow (hence the collection tonigh).

Moreover, he can't pay instantly now because he is not allowed to use work's computer so he will do so as soon as he is home right before coming to collect the laptop.

I clearly told him that I would let the item into his hands as soon as I see the payment in my paypal account so now my fear is I might see the payment in my paypal balance and yet after he has taken the item with him, I have problems getting this money into my linked debit account (HSBC) and withdraw the cash.

Is that fear justified? I mean is it safe to say that once the amount shows in my paypal balance that I shouldn't worry?

Your experience would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Now

[aires69uk_OFFICIAL]

Say you can't do it. If it were me I would wait until the funds were in my bank account for sure. It's up to you but my advice is to say no. Tbh if he's in that much of a rush then why can't he give it you in cash anyway?

[Jeff_D]

Be careful, paypal transactions can get retracted.

[wierdwisewonderful]

Yes, you don't know this person so donot trust them! Have him pay first. Good luck!

[Mike_Webb]

Just say sorry. You are not giving the laptop away until you have the money. There are alot of foneys out there and he might be one of them.

[Well_i_Never_]

NO - dont ever hand the item over without recieving payment first.  Either he pays before hand, or pays in cash on collection - tell him

[adrian_p]

Once it shows in your Paypal account it is safe, obviously dont let him have it until you see that

[Ice_M]

Don`t do business with him

[Koko]

In my experience with paypal once the money is in my account it's good to go, generally when I make a purchase as well on EBay my Item gets shipped as soon as I've paid with paypal not when it clears, if you are unsure just ask for his personal info, just explain your worries i"m sure he'll understand, and if you're not comfortable with the whole thing don't do it.

[SimonC]

Whenever you accept payment by a credit card online, and this includes Paypal, you must send the goods to the cardholder's registered address. One of the online security checks looks at the registered address, so the payment will not go through if the address is incorrect.

If the card details have been stolen, the person receiving the goods won't be the person who ordered them. They are likely to send them back, so you won't lose out when the card transaction is reversed.

Be aware that any credit card transaction, including Paypal, could be reversed several weeks (I think up to 6 months) after the money has "arrived" in your account.

This is a scam. The guy wants to pay with a dodgy card and get the goods before you or the real cardholder notice. If someone is collecting the goods your only protection is to insist on payment by cash, and even then be very careful to check the notes are genuine.

[Josh]

Don't do it this is a fairly common scam, he will file a dispute stating item not received and as you have no proof of postage it's likely ebay/paypal will side with him.

If you do consider letting someone collect an item in person Insist any contact is made through official channels such as ebay contact so you have proof of these conversations if your going to risk it and wait until the money is actually in your bank account. Or get them to pay cash on arrival.

I would seriously advise against this though. As your leaving yourself wide open to be exploited

[Harrop]

Sounds dodgy to me, I wouldn't give it him until I had the money either in my hand or in my bank account, if he's so desperate to get it then he should have the money.

[spring_rainbows]

No it's not safe, if he uses a credit card he can get a charge back. The credit card company will take the money back and you will also lose the laptop as you have no proof that you gave it to him. You won't be able to claim through paypal as you have no proof of postage. He can tell paypal he never received the item and they will refund the money.

I would ask him for cash on collection or if he insist on paying by paypal then send it to him recorded to his registered address. If something was to go wrong you are not covered by paypal as they state if items are paid for using paypal they MUST be sent to the registered address for you the seller to be covered. The only way you should give him the laptop is to either accept cash on collection or use paypal and post the item to him. Don't risk it