PSA: Scammer in the Classifieds.

pictures pictures pictures. the OP had it right, as did the jersey and tyres guys.

ask for a picture, next to something you randomly choose, or that day’s paper for example.

wont guarantee you wont get scammed, but a good start that they actually have the bits!

If the OP had checked the seller out properly then he might not have pursued further.

I did check the seller out properly, which is why I refused to pay by PayPal gift.

I posted it here so other people were not taken in.

I think that there should be changes made to the classifieds. At the moment it’s too open for abuse. I have bought and sold off here mostly without problems but I think STW could still help a little.

Let’s close off the classifieds forum for people with less than a certain postcount (for example)

Or limit the use of the classifieds to those who are premium members? This may also entice more premium members in!

I use the classifieds a lot less than I used to due to the number of people who come on to this site just to sell. It doesn’t feel as community based as it did.

Speshpaul, I agree with others comments in that you need to take responsibility for yourself. If YOU don’t like using paypal gift then don’t stump up the extra for the fees.
I have used paypal gift as a buyer and seller without problem but then I provide pictures of what I’m selling and communicate with the buyer. If I’m the buyer I check the sellers history and request pictures if not provided in the advert. If in my emails with the seller I don’t like what they are saying or they causing me concern then I don’t buy from them paypal gift or otherwise.
Mods aren’t here to hold your hand because your too lazy to look after yourself.

Let’s close off the classifieds forum for people with less than a certain postcount (for example)

Or limit the use of the classifieds to those who are premium members? This may also entice more premium members in!

There a question of web traffic here, STW aren’t going to do anything that potentially lowers the hit count.

Sorry speshpaul, if my post wasn’t clear enough.

I don’t think banning Paypal gift is the answer to preventing people being scammed on the classifieds.
I have personally used Paypal gift as a buyer and seller to avoid fees and never had a problem. Other times I have used bank transfer, which also offers no protection and not had any issues.

Banning Paypal gift payments is not going to solve the issue. Most of the time it’s not mentioned in the ads anyway, only in the emails, so how the hell could you ban it??

Aye, you need to checkout the buyers posts, sadly. I ‘bought’ a pair of gloves recently, guy claims they got lost in the post, and because I used PayPal gift, I’m snookered. Was only £7, but lesson learned. He only posts in classifieds as well, but I have a mate who buys and sells a lot of stuff, and doesn’t really post on here, so there are genuine guys who only use the classifieds.

I do, why would I accept 4% less (or however much it is now) than I was asking for?

I’ve no idea, I told you what I did, I didn’t ask others why they didn’t do the same

Or limit the use of the classifieds to those who are premium members? This may also entice more premium members in!

But there has been one scammer who was a premier member, and any mention of this gets deleted by the mods. Rather like diplomatic immunity!

Scammer or trader?

Issue with some dodgy brakes, it dragged out for a bit.

smell_it – Member

Or limit the use of the classifieds to those who are premium members? This may also entice more premium members in!

But there has been one scammer who was a premier member, and any mention of this gets deleted by the mods. Rather like diplomatic immunity!

Good point. That’s a bit strange.

He wasn’t a scammer, he was a very naughty boy.

Nearly bought some forks a week or so back but the seller only had half a dozen posts over the last year or so, all selling.

There was nothing to say he was a scammer and I don’t believe that he was. However as others have said, “buyer beware”. I didn’t need any potential hassle so I let them pass. Pity really as they were a very tidy set of forks.

On the other hand I’ve bought from a few regulars and never had a problem. Trust your instinct I suppose.

Getting into MTB would not have been possible for my wife and I without these Classifieds.
I’ve built up two bikes all from parts off here.

So far I’ve had such a brilliant experience as a buyer and all the people I’ve sold to seem to be happy. I really hope I haven’t jinxed it now!

There’s some wise words here about checking history, exchanging a few e-mails prior to purchase to ‘get a feel’ for the person and just generally trusting your instinct.
I hope honesty wins in the end and the scammers are weeded out somehow.

A quick google can help for email, mine probably would bring up Facebook, twitter, I use the same username for Ebay and most places, a scammer usually uses a few site and it can be easy to find a paper trail.

If its too cheap or looks suspect it generally is,

I’ve been on STW for years and have only been burnt on the classifieds a couple of times and not for much.
Now I only really use STW as a place to buy and sell as the “old school” users have slowly faded away and the conversation/opinions tend to annoy me more than educate me. Life is too short to get involved.
Saying that I’m honest and would hate to think people would be wary of buying from me just because I don’t dribble opinions on the site much!
Tim

When I have sold things on here I always use good old fashioned telephone and cheque method. I always require home address work address and telephone numbers. You can easily look up addresses on google map. I always call the person on their given telephone numbers and find out more info. If we are both happy then I just ask for a cheque. If you pay by cheque they have to give you an address where to send it. Check it is a proper address where they can be reached. Then if they are a scammer you can go round and sort things out with a suitable pair of marzocchis !

Pictures. Other forums (non biking) I have used to buy and sell stuff insist on pictures in the post (why sellers insist on emailing them instead of using photo bucket is beyond me!) with a hand written note in the shot with their username and current date.

Seemed to work well in cutting down the scams.

@Radioman – insisting on cheques probably cuts your buyer pool down, I know I wouldn’t bother, but I guess if it works for you…

I can see us not only needing pictures soon but a copy of the day’s newspaper + our forum name in it as well as evidence :p

@Radioman – insisting on cheques probably cuts your buyer pool down, I know I wouldn’t bother, but I guess if it works for you…

It probably does a bit TBH
I don’t have a cheque book any more

What’s a cheque?

What’s a cheque?

What is a type of payment, that is a complete pain in the arse to use?

JEOPARDY!

I don’t think I’ve written a cheque in this millennium….

There is no need for Ppgift now. My PayPal account links straight to my bank, and no fees are charged by this method. Win/Win – protection and free :-))

There is no need for Ppgift now. My PayPal account links straight to my bank, and no fees are charged by this method. Win/Win – protection and free :-))

You still pay fees for receiving a PP payment – nothing has changed AFAIK

My PP has been linked to my bank for years

trouble is legit sellers use pp gift, i don’t like doing it, if in doubt i’d offer to cover the cost as a buyer (3%?) it’s worth it for buyer protection.

I’ve been scammed twice in the last month on the classifieds. Once by Bridger2 who took my money over a month ago but never posted the goods out and has since disappeared – blaming myself for that as it was his first, and only, post. Secondly by Alexandro who paid for a phone by PPG, accepted and acknowledged delivery, then reversed the payment. Paypal actually took the money back out of my account so he now has my phone, and his money back!!

I agree with andyhilton – make it so only Premium usres can sell/buy on the classifieds.

I only accept cheque or bank credit transfer and always make that clear if I’m selling anything. Never had a problem with that, ie nobody has said ‘shove it’ 😉

People really need to do their research to check out the buyer/seller and ask questions. If in doubt then don’t!

so is it money straight to there pocket? is there no dispute or anything that can be done?

so is it money straight to there pocket? is there no dispute or anything that can be done?

Which method are you asking about ?

chunkymonkey, someone complained to pp after using gift to buy a phone, and got their money back? 😯 pp should have told them to shove it.

I’ve used the pp direct to bank ac for a few transactions recently, and chatting with the other side, no fees were levvied. Maybe companies may pay, but not an individual.

I used pp gift glad it was only £13. Was not aware there was no fees If it’s direct. So can I dispute this with pp for not getting an item I received or that this person is a repeat fraudster?

craigxxl – Member
Speshpaul, I agree with others comments in that you need to take responsibility for yourself. If YOU don’t like using paypal gift then don’t stump up the extra for the fees.
I have used paypal gift as a buyer and seller without problem but then I provide pictures of what I’m selling and communicate with the buyer. If I’m the buyer I check the sellers history and request pictures if not provided in the advert. If in my emails with the seller I don’t like what they are saying or they causing me concern then I don’t buy from them paypal gift or otherwise.
Mods aren’t here to hold your hand because your too lazy to look after yourself.

CraigXXL, why note read the posts?
You might understand the issue then

I understand the issue very well. You can’t do a basic bit of research or ask the right questions to find out if you are dealing with a genuine seller or a con artist. Instead you wish that Paypal, the Mods, your mum or anyone else protect you from doing something stupid.
If you want a risk free way of buying goods from others stick to the shops and mail order for your protection.

Well it seems this e mail address and user may be pretty common with the paypal disputes. I went through the resolution centre and they are refunding my money. So Sean madden you we feece hope you buy a dodgy burger with my money and get the runs for a few days.

Bought and sold by PPG regularly over the last 5 years with no problems. But I also accept that if there is a problem then that’s my own fault.
Well, if ‘trusting people’ is a fault.

I agree that making the classifieds Premier would force me to join.

Why not just add a feedback section on a member’s profile: would it be such a hard thing to code?

Failing that, when buying why not update the ‘selling’ post with the outcome? At least it would show up in a search…

I’ve bought and sold a fair bit on here, made a few donations and now subscribed as a thank you. People who tend to be polite and friendly by email tend to be in real life. Arsey, impatient or trite emails at the start means I don’t take the sale/purchase any further. Hardly a perfect system but it is free…

Why not just add a feedback section on a member’s profile: would it be such a hard thing to code?

Its not ebay so you cant link a ‘sale’ to a bit of feedback so it would have to be an open system and there are enough arguments on here already (even in this thread) which could lead to inappropriate ‘feedback’ being left for one or more posters. A bit like the ‘tags’ issue a while back.