How can I best protect myself in this transaction?

[christmaspuddingoverload]

Good people of MN I need your help please!

I am not the most financially savvy person and as a result tend to be fairly cautious. I'm not quite as bad as my SIL who never shops online as people might see her bank details, but anyway..

I've seen a large furniture item I'd like to buy. It's about 250 miles from me. The seller is a small business and offers payment by bank transfer or PayPal (friends) only. As I'm spending nearly £1000 I'd hoped to pay by credit card as my understanding is that offers more protection. However I don't think that's an option by either of the above?

So in my position wwyd? Take a chance and pay by bank transfer? Or just hope the item comes up elsewhere with a seller who will take credit cards?!

I agree with PPs. The friends & family thing is a massive red flag. I run a small business (very small, it's just me!) and I wouldn't dream of asking clients to use the friends & family option - there's a reason the goods and services option exists. Transaction fees are just a cost of doing business. I suspect this 'company' is just trying to avoid paying them, but that's not really the hallmark of a professional business.

Walk away and keep looking. It all sounds a bit off and credit card payment is your best option in al cases if £100 or more. I have never heard of paypal friends.

@Finderscrispy

Businesses are not allowed to charge an extra fee for the privilege of paying by PayPal. They must charge their customer the same as any other method of payment. It's part of if the terms and conditions a business just agree to in order to open a PayPal business account. So the OP should not pay the extra fee.

Sorry, second hand velvet sofa for £1000 must be a genuine antique piece with certificates galore as otherwise you are being massively ripped off. Google respectible antique dealers who offer various payment methods and guarantees.
For anything less remarkable, £1K is a ludicrous price for second hand sofa.
How are you planning to spend £300-400 on 500m trip is another mystery. Van hire for a day is less than £100, petrol £80. Sorted.

Definitely not pay by bank transfer you will have no come back. Credit card gives you more protection. Walk away

I bought an iPhone on gumtree that turned out to be a scam. PayPal have said ill get my money back. If when you pay for it you put it down as a purchase rather than a transfer to family or friends.

Ava businesses are also not allowed to insist on customers using family and friends when they are blatantly buying goods or services! I don't think sticking to Paypal T&Cs is a priority here. However Findus's suggestion might be easier for the bots to spot so they might not go for it.

Wakeme I think it's a factory second, not second hand. Makes me wonder the extent to which both of those groups are covered under the credit card guarantee though.

It's not a second hand sofa sorry, it's a shop second. So one that has been returned to manufacturer as not in perfect condition or slightly damaged on display, that kind of thing.

Sorry xpost re second hand.

I'd need to go at a weekend as they're only open then. Weekend van hire where I am is £180-200. Fuel, toll charges and possible overnight stay would take it over £300.

I'm resigned to walking away from it. Something else will turn up I'm sure.

@MacaroniPenguin
Read my previous posts - I already said that.
I said OP should insist on doing it properly or walk away.

Do not pay by friends and family. And especially do not pay friends and family via credit card - doesnt that count as a cash transaction, with the crazy fees attached?

I would walk away, personally. But they likely want friends and family or bank transfer because PayPal take a 1.9 - 3.4% A+ 20p per transaction...

If I was really eager for the item, I might offer to pay £34.20 extra to cover the fees, but insist on paying by ‘goods and services’.

When sending the money I would be very clear in the description box about what I was paying for, explicit stating all agreed flaws, or referring to an email correspondence that confirms all agreed flaws if there is not enough room for the former.

Does paying by Paypal friends invalidate your rights under the distance selling regs (refund within 28 days iirc)? If so, I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole, tbh.

Walk away, not worth the risk and hassle.

Yes, friends and family is for chucking your pal a tenner after they paid for lunch instead of faffing about at the table... (amongst other things!!)

Ask if they will take payment by paypal goods & services if you pay the costs. I know you shouldn't have to but if you want the item and want to be protected, its the best option.

If it's a second, I wouldn't buy it without having seen it in the flesh, especially if it's costing you a grand. That's a lot of money to spend on a sofa that you haven't seen, or tried out to see if it's comfortable.

Also, the fact that they only want payment by bank transfer or Paypal F&F screams dodgy business to me.

Walk away.

Does paying by Paypal friends invalidate your rights under the distance selling regs (refund within 28 days iirc)

No it doesn't make a blind bit of difference, but having rights and actually being able to invoke them are two different things.