Buying from Facebook Marketplace - is it safe?

[BigbreastsBiggerbeard]

A friend has asked if I'd mind buying something on her behalf from Facebook Marketplace as she doesn't have a Paypal account. I'm happy to do this, but am wondering if it's safe? I've only ever used Paypal for ebay purchases.

Obviously the item will be sent to my address, which is fine. I've always felt quite comfortable ordering from ebay because of their buyer protection, but don't know about Facebook's policy.

This sounds unusual... I've only ever done cash on collection for Facebook marketplace, I've never used PayPal for it.

AFAIK there is no policy. So check out PayPal own policy if you want to be covered. But really you're taking the piss. People selling their own possessions second hand aren't shops and don't owe you a refund if it doesn't arrive or arrives broken. That's why things are cheaper second hand, because as the buyer you're taking a risk, both in trusting the seller and the delivery service. If you've got no trust how about you don't hold the seller to ransom with PayPal and go to a shop for a new whatever-it-is? Lots of people will ask for payment by PayPal friends and family only, so that people like you can't treat them like a shop.

I wouldn’t use PayPal on Marketplace tbh. Usually cash on collection, but assuming it’s for something not local to you? It’s not difficult to sign up for a PayPal account so why can’t they do it themselves?

I ask for PayPal if I am delivering - eg a sofa. (we've got a van) because I cba to empty the van and pack the thing in for them not to be there etc. One person bargained 50/50 with me which was fine.

On FB I would say only do what you want. I don't care if our approach puts people off,,someone else can buy it.

@EllieLucy - That was quite an aggressive post. Not entirely sure why you felt the need to be so venomous about this, it was a straightforward question from someone who has never used marketplace before, trying to help a friend.

I made an initial enquiry to the seller, and she herself said she accepted Paypal and gave me her paypal details if I decided to go ahead with the purchase.

My friend, although happy enough to use facebook and sites she is familiar with, has a degree of learning difficulty and is not able to navigate setting up a paypal account herself. She also cannot travel to the sellers home to collect (and neither can I).

It's an item relating to a cartoon character that she is somewhat obsessed with.

Thank you.

Just make sure you pay Goods & Services on PayPal as you’ll then get the PayPal protection should anything go wrong

Thank you, @NelliesWellies, that's useful information.

I've done it a few times. Just use goods and services. Never had an issue

I've done it for buying and selling, no issues. As far as I'm aware PayPal protects you as a buyer and seller Incase anything goes wrong.

@LifeIsBusy

I've done it for buying and selling, no issues. As far as I'm aware PayPal protects you as a buyer and seller Incase anything goes wrong.

Only if you pay by goods and services rather than friends and family.

@LifeIsBusy

I've done it for buying and selling, no issues. As far as I'm aware PayPal protects you as a buyer and seller Incase anything goes wrong.

There's no protection from PayPal as a seller. It's a marketing myth.

The law protects you as a seller. If you're not a business you're not legally liable for something which breaks/doesn't arrive, as long as you listed it with an honest description and actually sent it to the buyer.

Using PayPal as a seller puts you at risk of scam buyers. And also people like the OP who wants to treat everyone as though they're a shop, isn't prepared to take any of the risk themselves despite getting a bargain and couldn't care less about the seller potentially losing both the cost of postage and the item if anything goes wrong. Unfortunately the world is full of selfish people. Some of them are outright scammers too, who'll do things like put in a claim for "items not as described" when they've deliberately broken it so they can get a refund, because it's not quite what they want.

Search whoever it is that's selling it first. If anyone had problems they may have done s scam alert.
I personally wouldn't use PayPal on fb as there is a lot of ways it can go badly. I always do cash on pick up.

Why are you so angry at the OP EllieLucy?

It’s very sensible, as a buyer, to check you’re protected if - for instance - the item doesn’t arrived or it’s not as described. Facebook is full of scammers on both sides - buyers and sellers.

Ive used PayPal for FB before and asked sellers if I can pay by PayPal which has never been a problem if they have it.
Main reason being so I don’t have to stop ans take out cash..!
It’s maybe also safer / more protection yeah if the item is being posted / delivered rather than collected in person.