Thinkpads Forum

Distant Craigslist Item to buy via Paypal: Safe?

I found an item in a different city, state off craigslist. Email is of a small company who is getting rid of the item since it is used. The company site is also legit.

We chose to deal over paypal and that they would send me an invoice on paypal. They sent me a Money Request from the same email address, which has no invoice like / relevant info.

Is this the right way to do this? What way can I close this deal ASAP and not have to worry?

Make sure that you pay from your credit card and NOT from your bank account and you should be good to go...

Good luck.

ajkula66 wrote:Make sure that you pay from your credit card and NOT from your bank account and you should be good to go...

Good luck.

Yup. Always CC backed.

Just had them update the Money Request and invoice Info.

ajkula66 wrote:Make sure that you pay from your credit card and NOT from your bank account and you should be good to go...

Good luck.

Just curious, why? That's what I've always done on eBay.

@Bibin:

If the seller chooses to disappear, PayPal will leave you stranded if you paid from the bank account, and you're not likely to ever see that money again, if the seller emptied out his bank account.

When paid by CC-backed PayPal you can always file with the CC company, and get your money back 99% of the time. PayPal will have to eat your loss, but they're rich enough not to feel it..

ajkula66 wrote:@Bibin:

If the seller chooses to disappear, PayPal will leave you stranded if you paid from the bank account, and you're not likely to ever see that money again, if the seller emptied out his bank account.

When paid by CC-backed PayPal you can always file with the CC company, and get your money back 99% of the time. PayPal will have to eat your loss, but they're rich enough not to feel it..

Thanks for the sound advice. TP Forums and its people alway warm me up

Anytime the word paypal comes up on craigslist 99% of the time its a scam.

ajkula66 wrote:@Bibin:

If the seller chooses to disappear, PayPal will leave you stranded if you paid from the bank account, and you're not likely to ever see that money again, if the seller emptied out his bank account.

When paid by CC-backed PayPal you can always file with the CC company, and get your money back 99% of the time. PayPal will have to eat your loss, but they're rich enough not to feel it..

In my experience, Paypal doesn't play nice with sellers -or- buyers, and that's putting it mildly.
NEVER trust them with your bank account info.

I would never use them for large-dollar transactions. Call me old-fashioned, but I'd rather wait a few days for a USPS money order from an unknown buyer, than run the risk of PP suspending my account (and all funds) arbitrarily based on a dispute.