So, I've advertised a table on Gumtree. A woman has replied.
Her:Do you still have it?
Me: Yes, would you like to view it? I live in X town, with postcode.
Her: kindly send me your email address and name so as to know whom i am dealing with, so we can proceed. and how much do you want to sell it?
(Gumtree disguises email addresses for security)
Me: My email address is [blahblah] and it's listed at £100.
Her (direct to my email): Hello, I really appreciate your response to my previous mail, I'm buying the item for my daughter in Scotland and i will be the one responsible for the pick up and delivery stuff. Kindly get back to me with your full name and address so that i can forward it to the pick up agent to calculate the pick up cost for me. Thanks.
Now, not to be suspicious but this is where I started to think 'Huh?' Why would you be sending a table to your daughter, without seeing it, when she hasn't seen it either? Plus I've listed it as 'with minor scuffs' so I wouldn't be happy selling it unseen, and then it going all the way to Scotland for the DD to say 'but there's a mark on it, I don't want it, give us a refund and pay for shipping it back' (worst case scenario).
So I emailed: Sorry I'm a bit confused - how is it going to be picked up, and by who? And how are you planning on paying? I'd only accept Paypal or cash.
I'd also have to insist that you viewed it first to make sure you are happy - it is in a good used condition, but as I stated there are some minor scuffs, so I'd want to make sure you are entirely happy before you pay.
You already have my postcode so you can use that as a guide to calculate delivery costs.
Her (almost immediately this morning): Thanks for the prompt mail, i would have love to call you but due to my disability, i will not be able to do so. I'm deaf and i do not use Phone. I will be paying you through PayPal but the payment will be made before the shipping company come for pick up at your location. I just need your address to get the actual pick up and delivery cost from the shipping company. Get back to me ASAP.
Am I just being over-cautious and horribly suspicious? Should I insist she views it first/it's collection only? Or just make sure the money really does go into Paypal and then let some third party come and parcel it up and take it away? (Do they even do that??)