urgent advice needed...seller wants to send me cash

[alltoomuchrightnow]

Sold an item for a good amount and my listing says that i only take Paypal or postal order. Buyer is obviously a dealer, who buys items such as what he bought off me, and sells on. His feedback as a seller isn't great. Anyway...he has messaged me, saying his Paypal account is frozen due to a dispute with one of his buyers in Russia. I have had experience of similar myself..i now longer sell to Russia / E Europe as has been nothing but a nightmare (items going 'missing', stolen etc, and i'd lose money every time as eBay would automatically refund the buyer from my Paypal). So his reason could easily be genuine... He wants to send me the cash, by Registered post. Would you accept? I know cash thru post is against eBay rules. If i then got the money checked out by bank (as to if were genuine notes) i could post his item , also by Registered. Would i as a seller, be protected? If he had a complaint or pretended item hadn't arrived.. could eBay refund him from my Paypal? I'm guessing not, as that would only happen if he'd paid me via Paypal? Of course receiving cash means i don't pay the Paypal fees either. Really don't know what to do! Is he dodgy?

[alltoomuchrightnow]

It's approx £152 in cash that he wants to send me.

[alltoomuchrightnow]

I hadn't made a decision (as to whether to wait till his Paypal is working) so havent answered him yet. But he keeps hassling me asking for my address so he can send the money. I hadn't agreed to this yet! I do really need the money but i feel slightly wary

[CajaDeLaMemoria]

£152 won't be protected, if it gets lost, Royal mail won't refund it.

I also believe that PayPal can take money from your account even if he didn't pay that way, unless it's changed.

This seems suspicious to me. I'd say no:too much risk.

[Rowanred]

Can't he send it by bank transfer? If he can do that and you send the item tracked you should be covered?

[alltoomuchrightnow]

it's not the money getting lost i'm worried about...as i won't send his item unless i receive the money. So that's his call and he must send it Registered. My concern is about me receiving the dosh then sending his item worth £152 (inc postage). How protected would i be, if he claims item doesn't arrive (though i will send by Registered too) or if he makes a complaint about item (eg if he's a con artist!)

[fergoose]

yes it is perfectly safe, plus no fees, I would bite his hand off for it - plus you don't have the risk of a chargeback. Take the cash to your bank to pay it in first to verify it isn't fake, then send the item with online proof of delivery - you can't lose then.

Paypal can't take money from your account if he didn't pay that way btw.

[alltoomuchrightnow]

if i get the money safely.. and i send item Reg..i can prove the item is sent safely? so it will be him has no comeback if he makes up a complaint?? or am i wrong

[fergoose]

as a buyer paying by cash you have absolutely no buyer protection - as a seller a buyer paying you cash there is absolutely no risk whatsoever, unless the cash is fake, hence you should check it with your bank first to be safe.

[alltoomuchrightnow]

if he sends the money reg it should be safe... DP has often received money in this way. So if i send the item registered also..i should be covered?? but not by eBay, only who i post with?? am i right?

[fergoose]

Yes - send it adequately insured - recorded will not be enough, so courier or special delivery. But yes, check the cash is not fake and send with proof of delivery and you will be fine.

[alltoomuchrightnow]

well... i guess i'll get him to send it then... and get the money checked out as to being real...then if he doesnt like the item , ebay can't protect him... as he's paid by cash thru post

[alltoomuchrightnow]

any rough idea as to price, to post it insured? item is quite flat, about size of a magazine, just slightly fatter but not over 8 cm depth. Sold for £148 plus postage

[alltoomuchrightnow]

Royal mail special delivery?

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

I would insist on a Postal order, if I were you.

[fergoose]

there is no need for a postal order whatsoever

go to royalmail.com for a quote

also try My Hermes and even Collect + for a quote

[alltoomuchrightnow]

ok so if he can send the cash safely... and i then send the item safely..he has no comeback, if i have proof of (insured) postage to back up his parcel?

[fergoose]

yes - he has no comeback with ebay. Could always take you to small claims if it is damaged or lost but that is it.

[alltoomuchrightnow]

So i assume..he is taking the risk, to be unprotected (eg not have the protection that Paypal would offer him) as he wants to receive his item, to sell on... guessing he needs the money as his Paypal account is frozen. As a buyer myself, i would never send that kind of money thru the post!

[fergoose]

yes he is.

[alltoomuchrightnow]

hmmm ok. thanks everyone! As long as i get my money, and he is happy with purchase..he can take that risk! If he's not happy, not a lot he can do! (not that there's anything wrong with item, i just mean, if he tries to pull a fast one..)

[CajaDeLaMemoria]

I thought a SNAD case could succeed in these circumstances?

Provided that he sent it back tracked, of course.

Glad that I appear to be wrong! It causes chaos on the ebay forums at the time.

[alltoomuchrightnow]

probably then, he's got a dealer waiting to give him cash.. for my item. As he can't have his ebay selling right now. My gut feeling anyhow!

[alltoomuchrightnow]

Cos he has been really pushing it , that he wants to send me the money!

[fergoose]

no a SNAD case cannot force a seller to refund if the buyer paid by cash.

[ReluctantlyBeingYoniMassaged]

I wouldn't risk it.