To ask you the best way to go about this (item selling)

[PassingStranger]

I'm selling an autographed item for a fair bit of money.
I put it on fb and someone said they will travel and collect it.
They have offered me full price. They've not mentioned how they will pay or expect to pay.

The other scenario is a buyer who buy and sells has offered to send me postage and asked me to send it to them.
When they have checked it they will send money. They have good reviews but have to send item first.
They have offered me fifty pounds less.
Which route would you take?
If the person from fb comes how do I know they won't run off with the item. I don't know them.
Would it be OK to ask for payment via PayPal first, so I haven't got the worry?
Who trusts who in this situation?

On the other hand, what happens if I send my item.off to.buyer and I don't get paid?
Not done this before for a higher amount only much lower cost items?
Advice please from anyone whose sold higher price items? Help please.

Well obviously you don't send your item across the country to a stranger without getting the money first.
Just ask the person who wants to collect to bring cash and have them hand it over at exchange. If you're nervous, ask a friend to be with you.

I wouldn’t do either if not comfortable but definitely not the one who wants you to send it before paying.

This

Don't send it anywhere without payment.
Could always meet somewhere neutral with the FB buyer, ask for PayPal payment beforehand or insist on cash before handing the item over. Have a friend with you as back up.

Or, the best and safest option, list it on Ebay

I wouldn't sell on FB for starters. Use eBay or an auction site like Bonham's who have memorabilia sales, they sell things of high value. Use a local auction house or your best bet would be a fan club of the person.

Let the buyer come & collect from you.

I'm not able to sell on ebay plus they take a large commission.

🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ you really need to read up on common scams. 🙄 come on OP, have you got anyone in real life that can help you with this?

Ebay don't take commission any more.

Read up on scams there's a PayPal one and bank transfer one. I'd tell buyer you want cash and meet them in a public place.

I have bought and sold many excessive bikes in my time. Similar kind of situation:
1- meet in a neutral place
2 - buyer examines item
3 - buyer pays cash

Not anymore they don't

Of course you don't post it without payment ffs.
Ebay or Vinted.

Cash only ever on collection.

A paypal payment can be easily reversed once they have the item.

That's why ebay offers pay pal protection to stop that happening.

I'll do that then thanks.
Cash on collection and hope they hand the money over and don't run off with said ítem.

Meet publicly and check the notes are fraudulent.

Everytime someone's bought something off me on Facebook they've paid cash. You could ask them how they will be paying, tell the other person you'll think about it and if the person from Facebook doesn't show you have a back up - however I don't recommend sending without payment

Op how much is this item worth?
If you are talking thousands you might be better with a specialist auction.

No not thousands.

I’d set up an eBay listing and forward the link to them which will cover both you and them. You can set it up to so they can have it posted or collect in person if they like and they have to give you a code to type into eBay before you hand it to them so that you are covered by ebays insurance and they can’t say they didn’t receive it. Definitely don’t send anything before receiving payment.
good luck OP x

Just read you can’t sell on eBay then I’d go with vinted. I’m not sure if they offer a collect in person on there but it’s also a good selling site and no commission for you to pay. X

Honestly, even if eBay did still take commission, it would be worth it for the stress this is causing you.

I used to sell Buffy the Vampire slayer memorabilia, I went to conventions to meet the cast and would get in person autographs to sell, which helped to cover the cost of my personal collection. I did all of this on eBay.

You seem very concerned that the first person might run off without paying. Obviously you don't hand it over until they have the money out if you decide to sell to them. Do you have a ring doorbell or similar that would record everything? If they want to inspect it first, you could always arrange to meet in a public place where you can go indoors making it harder for them to do a runner. I would also check their Facebook profile to see if it looks fake. If they have it locked down, ask them to add you as a friend and if they ask why, explain you've had issues with scammers in the past so you like to check that buyers are genuine/real people - say they can remove you after the sale. If they don't want to or delay doing it, I would ask myself why and consider trusting my gut. Google their name with scam or Facebook scam after it to see if anyone has posted before to say they are a scammer.

As for the second person, if offering you £50 less AND they want it up front, I wouldn't even consider that. EBay it - as far as I know private sellers no longer pay fees, but even if you do have to, it won't be £50 and you won't have to send the item up front before payment.

If you do post it to a buyer, insist it is sent by a service with insurance (eg Special Delivery in the UK) and don't accept offers to pay less postage to get it sent in a cheaper way. If it went missing (or they claimed it did) the standard insurance on 1st class or even recorded delivery is bugger all, and certain items aren't covered anyway. If sending abroad, check very carefully the options as some don't offer tracking once outside of the UK, don't need a signature, etc. Put the cost of the postage on your listing. Always get and keep your proof of postage!

Well that ended up longer than I intended - whoops! I hope you sell it successfully and have no problems getting your money.

Sell via a different platform where you have protection. And for an item like that you want the postage insured, tracked and signed for.

Also, definitely do NOT send something without being paid first.

Rude.
It has taken you more time and effort to try and insult OP, than actually offering constructive advice.

Do not ask for PayPal from the one collecting it is a massive scam that they then say they never received the item and get their money back. Get them to do a bank transfer and wait until it's gone in person or bring cash.