To pay a deposit for an item on Facebook Marketplace being held for me

[jclm]

Posting here for traffic.

I would like to buy a bike for £300 from Facebook Marketplace and I've asked the sellers to hold it for me whilst I arrange transport and the day off work to pick it up. They agreed that I could pick up the item in 14 days (we are currently on holiday). However other people are enquiring about the item and the sellers have asked me for a deposit of £50 to secure the item so they don't lose out. Has anyone got any ideas how I might send the deposit securely (if this is even possible) or whether I should just let this one go... I'm worried that should something go wrong I will lose the £50.

I wouldn’t pay a deposit, you’d have no come back if they then sold the bike and kept your money

I wouldn't pay a deposit either

I think 14 days is a long time for them to hold it.
Depends how much I want it and can I afford to loose the 50 quid. If its a real bargain and unlikely to come up that often I probably would take the chance

I wouldn’t pay a deposit but I also wouldn’t hold an item others are interested in for 2 weeks.

I think you're being cheeky asking them to hold it.

Marketplace is a see it/buy it type of site.

I've held things for people in the past, turned down numerous other offers, and then the first buyer has pulled out! Really winds me up.

So no, I wouldn't hold it either without a guarantee you were going to come for it.

Check out their profile.

Could you send it via PayPal? They offer buyer protection.

I'd either pay a deposit through PayPal, or let them sell it to someone else.
You can't expect them to hold it for 2 weeks, when there's other interest with no guarantee that you'll actually buy unfortunately.

You should offer to pay it PayPal goods, cover any PayPal fees so they get the full £50. In order notes state its a deposit for the £300 bike. Save all conversations with the seller to back this up & should be all good.
Very good of them to offer to hold it for you!

Do you have a friend or family member you can transfer the money to and get them to collect it for you?

I wouldn't do it. What's to stop them keeping your money and selling it to someone else anyway

You should pay it via PayPal or bank transfer. They are asking for a deposit to ensure that they don't hold it for two weeks and then you just decide not to buy it. Its very common when taking so long to collect something.

I have paid a deposit on fb marketplace and think if you’re serious buyer, why not? However, £50 is far too much. Have paid £5 and £10 deposits. As you have no comeback for your money if the seller disappears, I wouldn’t pay anything other than a minimal sum (no more than £10)

How about asking a family member/friend to collect it and you transfer the money to them instead ? You will get the bike and not have to leave a deposit.

Pay it over PayPal not friends and family. They'll help you get it back.

You would be very unreasonable to expect them to hold on to it for free, especially for 14 days.

Can you transfer to a friend who could collect it for you and bung them a bottle of wine for their troubles? Otherwise, PayPal marked specifically as a transfer for ‘goods and services’ as this gives you protection. Absolutely NOT bank transfer or a PayPal ‘gift’ transfer.

I wouldn't sell it to someone who wanted to wait two weeks. Can you get someone local to collect it?