Turns out the guy used a 'hacked' ebay/paypal account (which I'm convinced was one of his friends who were both in on it, eg. Friend gives friend login details, after winning and collecting items the friend then reports fraudulent use of accounts). Paypal insisting on a tracking number, my paypal balance now in -£650 status and without a laptop. Fortunately I noticed royal mail recorded doesn't show the delivery address of the item on the tracking page, it simply says 'delivered from such and such depot' so I sent a letter recorded and when signed for provided this tracking number.

Paypal removed the negative balance and so I got paid, no doubt the scammers picked up the bill for that one as I didn't take the hit. The 2 other sellers never got their money back.

So how did that work then.

How did you "scam the scammer" ?

he said no, I could pay by Paypal and collect or pay by Paypal and have it delivered. very odd!

Cool.

Go for it. Then tell PayPal it wasn't delivered and get your money back :mrgreen:

Buyer insisted on collecting even though I had listed item with free postage.

And was far too insistent that Paypal was the only possible way he could pay.

Told him to do one.

........and how did you do that?

I learnt the hardway when selling a £600 laptop which the guy collected, fortunately I 'generated' a tracking number and scammed the scammer and ended up getting far above the typical selling price of the laptop.

Proof of posting ahoy!

It's mandatory to offer it as an option, but it's not mandatory to actually use it, cash on collection is fine

So if someone pays via paypal, as the option is listed, then wants to pick up?

Do you tell them to do one, refund and get cash on collection?