You may have used items in your home youd like to sell on Gumtree quickly and effectively. Fill in the requested details and click "Next". The only way is cash on pick up - gumtree have no protections. He will not respond to any further messaging and has rejected my countless requests to reimburse me. Of course it's possible that it's legitimate, or it could be a scam. Lets face it, does Joe Blow from down the road need to know your first AND last name, just because they want to buy some old books from you? 1999-2023 PayPal, Inc. All rights reserved. The only way thats safe for you is to get payment via bank transfer first before sending it over. Gumtree is a platform to help bring local buyers and sellers together. The payments went through straight away and an email was received each time. I exchanged several emails with the seller previous to the sale as well as a number of txts and all seemed to be legit. he is in Sydney surrey hills as far as i know, it was a small amount. Step 3: Check your email. Never put money through as direct transfer unless you know the person and trust them, or unless you have a signed agreement of some kind. If youre not sure how to price your item, its well worth taking a look at existing Gumtree ads to see how people have priced similar items. If youre really wanting to keep your email address private and nuisance-free, setup a separate free email address just for Gumtree. What I mean is, they valued the time it would have taken to learn how to deal safely on the site (e.g, read the obvious warning in several places stating that you should use it for face-to-face cash-in-hand transactions only), more than they valued their $80. % of people told us that this article helped them. Ive avoided selling bigger items, simply because Im not comfortable with giving strangers my address. Gumtree was and is intended for face to face, cash only transaction. PayPal reimburses you and chases the seller. My sister recently put up something on Gumtree and the buyer was asking for her PayPal email. And to also search the sellers number or business online to check their history or for any previous reviews. Gumtree also says to be waryof buyers or sellers that ask you to switch payment method, normally to one that has no consumer protection. Apr-05-2021 11:45 PM. Police Sergeant, Mountain View Police Department. Note if you are firm on the price by writing "FIRM" next to the price or by writing, "No negotiating.". In this case, 89% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Oct-03-2017 02:00 PM. Like others have said, use Paypal 'goods and services' so make sure you are protected. Goods and Services. Gumtree say keeping it in-house means you are protected by their filter system which blocks any spam or suspicious emails. Click the green "Post an Ad" button at the top of any Gumtree page and follow the steps to create a great ad. PayPal is probably the best bet though. Let them pay you first, send the parcel, if they say they never got it, tell them to fuck off and sue you. If youre super vigilant about your personal information, note that PayPal often gives out your basic information in transactions (full name, email, address). PayPals pages on Buyer Protection clearly state they dont apply to purchases of secondhand or used items you pick up in person. Delete your item from your listed ads: Log in to your account; click on your name; click on Manage Ads; click on Delete. "I want to use Gumtree but I have never sold anything on line before. I recently bought a few academic books from a seller off Gumtree. It's also a very good idea to photograph the item being boxed and boxed with tracking code. Choose a simple background if possible like a plain wall or free corner of carpet. Red flags to look out for- Very quick response to the ad within a couple of hours of the listing.- Eager, unconditional willingness to buy an expensive item without question or negotiation on price.- Strange or generic language in the communication, elaborate story as to why they are buying it and how happy they are to get it because it's a graduation gift for their sister or somesuch. Try to include sub-categories like Furniture in Home & Garden or Electronics in Computers & Software. This will make it easier for buyers to search for your item. You have to find a parking spot. PayPal is SUPER convenient, and one of the safest ways to pay for just about everything these days. For any purchase, give the buyer ample opportunity to inspect the item in person. The information I provide is not a replacement for legal advice. Help. A friends / family (or gift payment) is intended as a transfer of funds from family or friends to one another. Gumtree is an alternative to The Trading Post. By browsing this website, you consent to the use of cookies. I was originally supposed to pick them up in person and pay at the same time. And lastly, dont enter your home address for your Location in your Gumtree profile. He lives in QLD. Gumtree is an alternative to The Trading Post. There's not a lot that you can do. Exactly, police have more important matters to help the community. Just to say this scam is still current as he contacted me Easter Sunday ( 4/4/21), except name changed to advocdodave (signed Wolfe) and now he's not on an oil rig, but 'in a wheelchair' so can't view the car which 'he' wants for daughter Jennifer! He earned a Master of Business Administration from the California State University Stanislaus and a Juris Doctorate from the Laurence Drivon School of Law. This content may be old or outdated. You might even like to use synonyms; for example, if you are selling a pair of bedside tables you could also put bedside drawers or nightstands in the title. In rare cases, you may offer to mail the item to the buyer. Conversely, the anonymity of Gumtree (and the fact its free to setup a profile and start selling) also makes it a breeding ground for scammers. You can also note if you are willing to negotiate the price by putting down "OBO," which stands for "Or Best Offer.". This potential buyer will ask to buy it and for it to be delivered. There could be any number of ways to be scammed from the info you've given here, but probably one of the first two. Its also a good idea to take pictures from lots of different angles and include some close-up shots this will ensure buyers know exactly what theyre getting. Because they're accepting paypal payments for in-hand exchanges, or non-trackable posted, or giving bank deposits, or paying 'agent fees' for delivery of their car to an oil rig (and all variations on that ridiculous theme), or handing over cash before getting the item, or paying when getting the item but before making sure it works (phones with IMEI blocks or fake iPhones/tablets especially), or any of the other myriad ways in which naive or lazy buyers and sellers leave themselves open to easy abuse by unscrupulous individuals. This article has been viewed 22,383 times. Sep 20th made contact and paid for items. Do not do Friends and Family on PayPal. I'll send my transport guy around to pick it up". The dodgy PayPal trick that left Melbourne Gumtree user with a surprise $2,250 debt. Dodgy powerpoints do exist, and you wouldnt want the buyer thinking youre flogging an electronic item that doesnt work! Lets be clear on this you pretty much have no buyer or seller protections whatsoever, when using PayPal on Gumtree. 4. or do i need to type that myself? Second to that is an Auspost money order. The amount sent to you includes delivery charges 105.00 GBP. Several people pointed this out, she just blew them off. Facebook Marketplace car scams. Prominent Member. http://www.gumtree.com.au/scam-security-centre/. Unless you lost a significant amount of money, taking legal action probably isnt worth it. This article has been viewed 122,842 times. Sep 20th made contact and paid for items.Sep 25th (last contact) asked if item had been shipped yet. Have you got the exact text where they say that ? You might also receive via text a response to your 'for sale' ad that looks a bit odd. People are human, and mistakes (and opportunistic people) happen. Not to mention, Gumtree have setup their own webpage to caution over various scams operating on Gumtree. Any message stating that you need to make a payment NOW otherwise your ad is going to be deleted or your account is to be closed, needs to cause concern. Which I did not get my money back, Paypal is holding it because of the claim. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Collect together any extras like power cords, instruction manuals or accessories. Using the "My Messages" tab will also make it easy for you to keep track of all of your potential buyers and have a history of your conversations with them. If they claim they are having account issues then, as mentioned above, search their seller number online to read previous reviews, or halt the sale until youve contacted Gumtree. I politely decline and advise that post is not possible. Take a look at Gumtrees community guidelines before you post your ads. Now youve learnt how to sell on Gumtree and can breeze through the selling process, create your listing and sit back as potential buyers flock. 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