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Original poster

Collect in Person (Money Laundering?)

41 replies

AddToBasket · 20/04/2015 20:57

Hi, perhaps someone with more Ebay experience than me can advise me. Be aware that I am crime-paranoid and capable of over-reaction at the mere sight of a crowbar and sports bag. Grin

I sold an easy-sell item yesterday for £70ish, this morning the local buyer asked if she could collect in person. I said of course, happy to arrange if payment made through Ebay, and sent an invoice without any P&P.

She didn't pay and asked me for my address so her partner who she says works locally could collect it. I said OK, gave a bit of the address, asked for exact time of collection and for payment. She didn't pay and asked for the postcode. I basically ignored the postcode request and said 'yeah, we're difficult to find. Please can you arrange payment?' She still hasn't paid.

It felt teeny bit dodgy from the start TBH. If I had hot cash that I wanted to turn into easy-sell non-suspicious stuff, I'd look for easy-sell items that were local, go and pick them up and try to pay in cash. Then sell non-dodge legit items in my Ebay shop, pay fees/tax/whevs and - hey presto - clean cash in an account.

Am I being OTT? You can tell me straight. Grin

OP posts:
sanfairyanne · 22/04/2015 13:05

ebay is maybe not going to be your thing. its usually the sellers who get ripped off and you sound the suspicious type (eg the phone numbers, it is helpful surely to give two different contact numbers?)

SistersofPercy · 22/04/2015 13:16

Would have been so much easier to refund the payment and just ask for cash on collection.
Most people out there aren't out to get you. I agree with San, if you are this suspicious for every transaction eBay isn't for you.

BunnyLebowski · 22/04/2015 13:18

You sound cracked OP.

We always do cash on collection not as sellers and buyers. It means avoiding Paypal fees.

No-one has staged a home invasion yet.

Original poster
AddToBasket · 22/04/2015 17:16

Hah, yeah, I am very suspicious.

I am shortly going to be all out of items I can Ebay - my cupboard is pretty literally bare. Maybe I'll mellow before the next bonanza!

OP posts:
Original poster
AddToBasket · 23/04/2015 08:14

Definitely dodgy. Less exciting than money laundering, just plain theft/scam.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/ebay/2362032-Help-That-buyer-IS-dodgy-I-knew-it

OP posts:
sanfairyanne · 23/04/2015 09:03

on this page though, it sounds like she was planning cash on collection and you wanted to pay via paypal, not realising the possible implications.

HeyDuggee · 23/04/2015 09:09

when you send it tracked, isn't a signature needed to verify delivery is made? If I bought a collect local item, which then arrived while I was at work and went back to the depot for me to pick up, I'd be giving you a negative feedback, OP. Our depot is packed and sometimes you stand in line an hour.

DiDiddlyIDi · 23/04/2015 09:10

Let them collect and pay you. If they were to pay via PayPal come and collect it then raise a case to say they hadn't received the item I suspect you'd be miffed and you wouldn't have a leg to stand on!!!.

HeyDuggee · 23/04/2015 09:11

And you declined a cash buyer for your property? Because they had cash?! I was a cash buyer. Because I had sold my flat and moved into rented while looking to buy in a new city. That made me a cash buyer, not a dodgy money launderer.

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 23/04/2015 09:23

Yeah I'm sorry but I'd be hacked off if something I'd arranged to collect was sent tracked delivery. I'm often not home and then would have to trek out to the depot to collect stuff which is in the second nearest town to my house, so quite an out of my way journey. It's also not what we agreed so I'd be cross that you hadn't discussed it/listened to me! I've always accepted cash payments for things collected, even big things. Fgs, you are being incredibly paranoid and a bit silly.

Original poster
AddToBasket · 23/04/2015 09:25

Oh, no, I haven't been clear, sorry. She never offered me cash on collection.

OP posts:
Original poster
AddToBasket · 23/04/2015 09:26

And, yes, on the listing the postage said 'Tracked Royal Mail'

OP posts:
sanfairyanne · 23/04/2015 09:40

it sounds though like she assumed you would want cash on collection, as is the norm, as she didnt pay by paypal until you insisted on it?

sanfairyanne · 23/04/2015 09:43

in fact in even your first post you are suspicious because of money laundering of cash
sorry op but i think you have an overactive imagination
on your other thread you are suspicious she said something nice about your (imaginary?) sick pet dog!

Original poster
AddToBasket · 23/04/2015 10:43

Just to say again. She never offered cash. My original listing was Tracked Postage with no offer of local collection.

OP posts:
sanfairyanne · 23/04/2015 11:41

yes but on your other post you are saying she wanted to pay via paypal. on here, she ignored several of your attempts to get her to pay via paypal, probably as she knows it is usually cash on collection. you were worried about her using cash to money launder, and now you say it was not even advertised as available for local collection! what money laundering idiot would bid on your shoes if they didnt even know for sure it could be paid for in cash?
now you have moved on from that theory to another scam based on one email asking if you might have mixed up some labels?
this is a very stupid scammer as she didnt even claim it was royal mail, as you told her earlier

op, you have an overexcitable imagination!

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