Overseas Jacket Purchase

[Windstorm81]

Hey guys;

I am in the process of purchasing a Jacket from a private seller overseas. He seems to be quite a reliable person. I was just wondering about what a secure way of paying someone overseas is ? Is PayPal a good option ? Any alternatives ? He has asked me to do a bank wire transfer. Do you feel that is an acceptable way to do it. I am just paranoid about him just making off with my money and I would never be able to track him down.

any suggestions / comments ??

 

[handymike]

I usually do Paypal.

 

[AdeeC]

Go Paypal always. Have been using them for over 10 years. I make a lot of sometimes high risk/ high value overseas transactions and always use them because there will be the inevitable bad deal. I recently got refunded $950 from them after I got ripped off. Several years ago, they managed to force a dodgy seller who refused to settle to refund me over $2000. I have a 100% satisfactory resolution rate with Paypal when I have struck trouble. With a wire transfer you are depending on the sellers honesty and taking a gamble. He may be reliable but all sorts of thing could go wrong. If you experience trouble the Paypal resolution process is simple and quick. Just keep records of all your communication and documents.

 

[Windstorm81]

AdeeC: All valid thoughts ! So, he says he does not have a PayPal account. I hear that I can still send money via PayPal even if receiptient does not have an account. Would that be covered under PayPal buyer protection ? And how would I send via PayPal so that it reflects that it is for a Product payment / transaction and not just a wire transfer to someone ?

thanks for all your input !!

 

[ProteinNerd]

I would 100% NEVER use Wire Transfer....its the preferred payment option of scammers worldwide. You cannot get your money back. Period.
If they insist on this method, my warning lights go off big time, pass on the purchase imo. As has been mentioned, paypal gives you security of a refund in case of a scammer.

 

[tropicalbob]

Wire transfer? No, no, no.

 

[Fanch]

You have already expressed concern about the seller diasppearing with your money. Buy the seller rather than the jacket. If there is any question in your mind whatsoever, walk away from the deal.

AND DON'T SEND A WIRE TRANSFER!!

 

[AdeeC]

I don't think you can send money via PayPal if he is not a confirmed PayPal user. Best check their policies.

 

[Novos]

It's worth noting to never send money via Paypal as a "gift" if you are unsure. Some sellers insist, but if you send money via PP as a gift, that means PP takes minimal fees and as a result you can NOT get your money back. A goods/services transaction is the way to go.

 

[Azog]

He may be an honest seller but there is just waaay too much risk.

 

[Windstorm81]

Exactly it , just too much risk.. there's no fall back if the seller bails

 

[rocketeer]

To all those in favour of PayPal, have you ever been on the receiving end of a buying scammer? I have and it can hurt.
All you have to do is check their returns policy(if it is eBay you are dealing with), If it does not meet PayPals criteria you just say it was 'Not as described' and way hay! You can get your money back and are not obliged to send the items back.
I have also been stitched up like a kipper with the old 'Unauthorised credit card usage' scam. Here it becomes a Police matter and PayPal are not interested.

PayPal + Ebay + Greed = ££££$$$$√Scam

 

[AdeeC]

To get my refund from Paypal when I bought over $2000 of fake antiques I had to send the items back to the seller and provide proof to Paypal that I did. Those were the rules about 7 years ago.

 

[havocpaul]

I have recently had to get my money back on a bad purchase and Paypal do insist you send the item back first with a tracking number before processing the refund. In your case, if he hasn't a Paypal account he should open one, as even if he is an honest seller, asking for payment by wire/bank transfer is not safe for you the buyer. If he refuses to have a Paypal account then it would flag up the warning signals.

 

[Monitor]

Thing is, in many European and Asian countries, you simply can't use Paypal. I've recently tried to purchase a jacket from a person in Romania, and the seller just couldn't set his Paypal up so that it'd receive the funds. We spent two days trying to figure out how to transfer the cash. Same thing happened when I was trying to pay for something in Indonesia. Paypal flat out refused to move the money to the sellers account, with no explanation other than that I should contact the company. I tried Emailing them and got an automated reply that was of no bloody use whatsoever. I sure as hell don't plan on calling them.

I often go with bank transfer when buying from European countries because there's just no alternative... And never once was I scammed.

Anyway, I'm not saying you should go with the bank transfer, of course, but ask the seller why he doesn't want to go through Paypal. There's a chance he's not a scammer, just genuinely unable to use to bloody thing.

 

[rocketeer]

To get my refund from Paypal when I bought over $2000 of fake antiques I had to send the items back to the seller and provide proof to Paypal that I did. Those were the rules about 7 years ago.

They change it last year in the UK at least, which is why I no longer sell on eBay. They now say you require a return policy, if not then you are entitled to a refund but you are not required to return the items.
So, they say buyers remorse is not good enough excuse for a refund but dealing with used items can be easy, you just read the description, if it describes as fair condition for age you can simply describe it as not as good as you expected it to be, same with sizing. Described as a ??inch chest, lots of store bought items differ from one to the next. Look at the fit issues here with contract A2s, one 40" can fit entirely different to another contract 40".

I'm not a scammer, even though I have been scammed, just that fore warned is fore armed as they say.

Thing is, in many European and Asian countries, you simply can't use Paypal. I've recently tried to purchase a jacket from a person in Romania, and the seller just couldn't set his Paypal up so that it'd receive the funds. We spent two days trying to figure out how to transfer the cash. Same thing happened when I was trying to pay for something in Indonesia. Paypal flat out refused to move the money to the sellers account, with no explanation other than that I should contact the company. I tried Emailing them and got an automated reply that was of no bloody use whatsoever. I sure as hell don't plan on calling them.

I doubt the above(By Monitor) is an eBay transaction but I have sold items to Indonesia and also to French Polynesia using PayPal. I just make sure I use couriers instead of standard postal services.

In the past I have also used the dreaded BidPay when eBay allowed it and received everything.

Johnnt Tee

 

[Monitor]

That Indonesian deal was an eBay transaction, actually. Vanson Enfield for a steal of a price. Hit the Buy it Now and then couldn't complete the money transfer due to Paypal strongly disliking my location. :/

 

[ykurtz]

That Indonesian deal was an eBay transaction, actually. Vanson Enfield for a steal of a price. Hit the Buy it Now and then couldn't complete the money transfer due to Paypal strongly disliking my location. :/

Perhaps eBay doesn't recognize Yurawp as a real place.

 

[mihai]

When using PayPal (outside eBay) always have the seller send an invoice(payment request) shortly describing what he's offering. This is preferable instead of sending them as gift.

@Monitor - in principle, PayPal is available in Romania since at least 2009. I still use this account. Check further with the seller what's the matter (if any )

 

[Monitor]

Perhaps eBay doesn't recognize Yurawp as a real place.

Exactly what I'm talking about!