Selling tech stuff and worried about scammers

[Snakesandbastards]

I found a laptop hardrive I bought by mistake a few months ago. Still have receipt, but no box and it is unopened with the seal in place.

I know computer and tech stuff is a nightmare sometimes with scammers. I'm thinking .....they pay for it, say it doesn't work, demand full refund, get full refund but return a broken hardrive which wasn't mine in the first place!

I am thinking I will advertise but only to people with good feedback. Nowhere other than UK. Maybe sign in indelible pen a part of the label so I can say for sure mine is returned (in case it doesn't work and is genuinely broken). Any other safeguards?

Just make sure you take loads of photos before you send, and as you mentioned, make a security mark.

However, even by doing this, it doesn't give you 100% protection, that's the problem with eBay. They tend to side with the buyer 99% of the time in cases. Scams are minimal but they do exist. It's just a risk you shave to take when using eBay as a selling platform.

On the off chance you were scammed and eBay refused to assist, there's always the small claims route.....

Can you test it to make sure it's working fine?

I'd probably sell it for spares.

Might be worth considering selling on Gumtree instead. You don't have to pay eBay / PayPal fees as its cash on collection only, and therefore sold as seen.

I don't get why it's a problem if it's sealed?

Surely it's a simple case of taking a photo of the seal intact, and any unscrupulous buyers will think twice when they see it's sealed.

not sure how to test it as I don't have a laptop. Bought it thinking it was for a PC.

It's not sealed in a bag but there is a seal which says warranty void if removed. Not sure it that gets removed when it's put it? Sorry total non tech person when it comes to hardware!

I will sell it as I know it should be ok and mark it up so that a broken one can't be sent back.

Not keen on gumtree as you have to pay up front and may not even get a sale.

I guess it's not that important as it was lying at the back of the cupboard, so I didn't miss it

Gumtree is free to list. You only pay to promote your ad or to bump it up the listings. I just post my ad, wait a few days, copy the description I use, delete the ad and then re-do it by pasting in the old description - then my new ad is at the top of the listings again.

A bit of faffing, yes but I find Gumtree great for selling. Cash on collection. No fees.

selling to people only with good feedback, well buyers only have pos feedback so that bit is irrelevant.