Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18561
Buying warning including PayPal Gift
I have had a few reports of new users popping up on the forums offering parts via PM at prices that are too good to be true, and these parts never arriving once sold, and the user ignoring PMs and emails chasing them up.
This looks at face value like fraud/theft, so I have put together the following online purchase safety message.
When considering purchasing items from a forum member the following are absolutely essential:
1) Check the user's posting history. Have they only just registered and have very few posts to their name? They may have done this simply to get access to the PM system.
2) Get contact details from the seller, phone number (ideally not a mobile/cell phone), address. Simply having an email address at a provider such as Gmail or Hotmail and an account on a forum is not sufficient information to chase up any issues.
3) NEVER EVER pay via PayPal gift. If anything goes wrong you have no way of getting your money back. Reputable sellers will agree to pay the fees if they really want to sell you an item, and you then have PayPal on your side should anything go wrong. A gift payment is exactly that, a payment you can never get back should there be a dispute. A bank transfer is similarly risky as it is generally one-way only.
4) Consider the possibility that something could go wrong, even if the seller is genuine (such as items going missing in the post). What information do you need to be able to sort it out?
Be very, very careful about who you trust. Membership here is free and open and unlike a paid-for club there is no list of member's contact details to fall back on should there be an issue.
I cannot stress enough just how dangerous PayPal Gift payment is. DO NOT SEND MONEY BY PAYPAL GIFT. You have absolutely no comeback at all should anything go wrong. It is against PayPal's terms and conditions to sell goods and use PayPal gift for this very reason and I cannot understand why PayPal continue to offer it, giving it is used so fradulently.
I hope the above helps out and prevents members having money stolen but unscrupulous persons using the forum.
Any information anyone has about members who have been operating similarly to the above would be very welcome - please PM me.
Martin06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
27th Jan 2014 12:11 pm
DavidSally
Member Since: 31 Oct 2012
Location: Chesterfield
Posts: 565
Very good info. Thanks Martin
27th Jan 2014 12:15 pm
mcsimmo
Member Since: 08 Aug 2011
Location: North of the south
Posts: 1795
Man with no D3 anymore, but cant leave the forum....how sad.
27th Jan 2014 12:17 pm
Grunders
Member Since: 30 Apr 2011
Location: Manchester
Posts: 2329
good advice,
i would add if you see somebody trying to sell an item through the forum, have they fulfilled the criteria to be able to sell on here, if you're not sure check and get familiar with the "for sale/wanted" rules that Martin has put on, if you see anything suspicious, don't buy anything but report...they're there to protect usIf it ain't broke... Take it apart anyway, how else you gonna find out how it works
27th Jan 2014 6:47 pm
Bodsy Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
Have to be honest, I see everyone here as 'Friends and family', as do others.... so is that good or bad? I believe we are trusted supporters and it's an easy way of transacting that doesn't involve bank transfers.
I'm sure this will open up the debate further...Bodsys Brake Bible
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27th Jan 2014 7:07 pm
armalites
Member Since: 17 Aug 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 1918
What I've always done even with people I trust is go on to a paypal calculator and work out how much I would have to pay for a seller to get what they want They will get the same result as a paypal gift and you will be protected.
Martin, I'm sure I've seen adverts on here that request Paypal Gift I assume that is not acceptable?
27th Jan 2014 7:13 pm
Bobs
Member Since: 29 Oct 2013
Location: Manchester
Posts: 2330
Bought and sold on here ...
All v good prompt payments and deliveries
The odd one that I queried .... they didn't get back via PM ............ enough said D4 Front upgrade/cut back wings n things 'taking a long time but getting there'.
D4 rear upgrade - Narpys helped with that bit
Flack for problem solving and D4 Bluetooth Install/ D4 Heated Steering wheel with Flappy paddles n BBS enabling kit
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27th Jan 2014 7:41 pm
steve smith
Member Since: 11 Mar 2008
Location: up north towards the hills.
Posts: 2427
Top man Martin Steve
27th Jan 2014 9:49 pm
Leo Disco
Member Since: 22 Dec 2013
Location: Newcastle
Posts: 210
Paypal gift and item has not turned up, nearly 3 weeks
i think i have this issue. A member on here sent me a message for an item, quoted a price and asked from payment via Paypal gift. After loads of emails he said he had posted it but nothing ever turned up and he will not reply to emails.
I am waiting to the end of this week which will be over three weeks since payment before taking it further. Everyone is traceable via their email address, Paypal account ect.
But yes like you say ask for a picture and dont pay by Paypal gift.
Have to be honest, I see everyone here as 'Friends and family', as do others.... so is that good or bad? I believe we are trusted supporters and it's an easy way of transacting that doesn't involve bank transfers.
I'm sure this will open up the debate further...
With you Bodsy, we are all adults and can make the choice.
I use the to friends and family but only really with sponsors, supporters or people I have a good knowledge of
I often ask people to do the same for me to save fees, but it's a trust issue and you have to take that view, I for one sill continue to use it as I'm sure many I have sent too and received money from will.
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27th Jan 2014 11:05 pm
Iguana
Member Since: 14 Oct 2013
Location: 'Sunny' Zomerset
Posts: 9424
So I would think long and hard about sending money as a gift through PayPal.....as an example, if it's somebody like Beanie then I wouldn't hesitate based on his reputation on here ( and have done so already to him ). It all down to weighing up everything before making the decision.Iggy/Ieuan
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27th Jan 2014 11:11 pm
disco5
Member Since: 23 Dec 2012
Location: birmingham
Posts: 1088
Bodsy wrote:
Have to be honest, I see everyone here as 'Friends and family', as do others.... so is that good or bad? I believe we are trusted supporters and it's an easy way of transacting that doesn't involve bank transfers.
I'm sure this will open up the debate further...
I agree with Bodsy and beanie, its down to trust and how you feel about members ,
A point to mention I had dealings with SIB from the forum , can't say enough what a great guy to deal with iv'e never met Simon only chatted on here and spoke on the phone.
Sent a set of wheel arches ,I got courier to collect them of him wouldn't take payment till I had them and was happy ...over the moon paid
28th Jan 2014 6:10 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
Martin, can you publish the offending paypal addresses, in case they pop up again under different user names ?Duncan
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28th Jan 2014 6:12 pm
Martin Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18561
This is all about trust. If you totally 100% trust someone, then that's up to you. My advice is not to given the risks involved (i.e. never seeing your money again) but you can and will ignore me 06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
28th Jan 2014 6:14 pm
Martin Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18561
The problem is that the person who operated on Freel2 used a number of different email addresses (all Gmail), so this is going to be no guarantee of safety.06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
they didn't get back via PM ............ enough said 
