WTB Terry Susan B

[GeoCam]

Claudia - thanks for the suggestion. I don't do it exactly like you mentioned (great idea, by the way!!) - I use some free software called "craigspal" that lets me search ALL cities and can even limit the search to the "bicycles" category. I have been checking that daily for months. I had seen the one in Austin, but that bike is just too big.

Edited to add:

Even though I have been searching nationwide on Craigslist, it has worried me what I would actually do if I did find a bike. I mean, how could you do a long-distance transaction like that with a perfect stranger and build in some safety for yourself that they would actually send the bike once they got your money. At least eBay has some buyer protections - I'm not sure how you could protect yourself in an interstate Craigslist transaction. Has anyone ever done that or do you have any ideas? The only idea I've had is to try posting here to see if a fellow TE member lives in the same city and might be willing to help do the deal, but I'd love to hear other suggestions.

[uforgot]

I'll have to try the Craigspal. Thanks! I sold a bike to someone in Washington. I was a little surprised at his trust in me. I even sent him my ebay handle so he could check me out, but he wasn't worried. Said something about small town people and honesty and I just had to reply small town meth-capital of the US. Anyway, he was thrilled with the bike so it turned out okay. You could use your credit card and paypal I suppose and if paypal didn't come through, (which it didn't for me once) make sure you had used your credit card on paypal. Still a little iffy, I agree. My only problem was with a pair of capris here on the TE for sale thread, so it does happen, and about 4 months later I eventually got my money back.

[Cataboo]

Claudia - thanks for the suggestion. I don't do it exactly like you mentioned (great idea, by the way!!) - I use some free software called "craigspal" that lets me search ALL cities and can even limit the search to the "bicycles" category. I have been checking that daily for months. I had seen the one in Austin, but that bike is just too big.

Edited to add:

Even though I have been searching nationwide on Craigslist, it has worried me what I would actually do if I did find a bike. I mean, how could you do a long-distance transaction like that with a perfect stranger and build in some safety for yourself that they would actually send the bike once they got your money. At least eBay has some buyer protections - I'm not sure how you could protect yourself in an interstate Craigslist transaction. Has anyone ever done that or do you have any ideas? The only idea I've had is to try posting here to see if a fellow TE member lives in the same city and might be willing to help do the deal, but I'd love to hear other suggestions.

I've bought a few things off craigslist long distance and sold a few things. A couple of people have wanted to just mail me a check, and that's for not so high dollar items. I do have an ebay account & good feedback, so I can usually give people that if they want some reassurances.

Otherwise when I've tried to buy things - it can be initially very difficult because they will think you're some sort of nigerian scammer, especially if it's someone that is not very comfortable on computers and are suspicious after hearing about all sorts of internet crime & fraud. I wanted to buy a camera lens off some lady by mail and I basically had to talk to her for a couple of weeks giving her camera advice and critiquing her photos before she felt comfortable enough that I was a real person and she would try selling long distance.

Whoever you want to buy something from are not necessarily going to have a paypal account. I've managed to talk a few of them into making them, but some will be suspicious that you're trying to lead them to a website that is asking for their bank account information. I don't think paypal gives you protection with that sort of transaction - but what I do is make very clear that there's an invoice and an agreement on it to send such and such item for however much money... If you have someone that's reasonably web savvy, you can have them set up a google base account... basically anyone with a google base account can post things on froogle... (you can use your gmail acocunt info for the base account) to sell.. and if they sell, google charges 2% for the credit card transaction via google checkout. HOwever, that is a transaction that is protected - both by your credit card & by google. That's going to be a complicated one to talk pople though, however.

My little brother once tried to buy a pda off of a guy on some forum... I think he mailed the guy a check for $450... and the pda never arrived, and the guy stoped responding to emails. My brother reported it to the police and a few other internet watch dog websites... It took about a year or two... but at some point he got a check in the mail from the pda guy, which was a requiment of the court....

[uforgot]

Cat - why would the google account be any different than paypal? I don't have a google account, so I'm just curious. Seems like you would still put your cc number in it. As for many not having a paypal account, I've purchased quite a few things on TE and craigslist long distance and only once did someone not have a paypal account.

As for protection, I had a problem with a TE member when I didn't receive some capris from her. I set up a complaint with paypal, won, but her account was empty at that time. Paypal deducted the funds as soon as they became available which was several months later, so it took awhile, but they eventually came through. If I had paid with a credit card, I could have filed a complaint with my cc company, so that's what I do now, back it up with a cc instead of paying for "iffy" transactions with my bank account. I'm not sure if that's any better or not, and hopefully I won't have to find out!

Geocam - guess what we are both saying is that it's possible to protect yourself, just be careful! Looks like there are many ways to do this.

[Cataboo]

Cat - why would the google account be any different than paypal? I don't have a google account, so I'm just curious. Seems like you would still put your cc number in it. As for many not having a paypal account, I've purchased quite a few things on TE and craigslist long distance and only once did someone not have a paypal account.

As for protection, I had a problem with a TE member when I didn't receive some capris from her. I set up a complaint with paypal, won, but her account was empty at that time. Paypal deducted the funds as soon as they became available which was several months later, so it took awhile, but they eventually came through. If I had paid with a credit card, I could have filed a complaint with my cc company, so that's what I do now, back it up with a cc instead of paying for "iffy" transactions with my bank account. I'm not sure if that's any better or not, and hopefully I won't have to find out!

Geocam - guess what we are both saying is that it's possible to protect yourself, just be careful! Looks like there are many ways to do this.

I've had several people on craigslist or through other forums who didn't yet have a paypal account. It usually isn't a huge deal if they're willing to set one up.

I haven't looked at the wording recently - but paypal used to be very clear that it protect transactions cleared through ebay. Ebay does own paypal. Money transfers for purchases not conducted through ebay were not covered. This may have changed, because they did expand what they covered via ebay recently and they did expand paypal for stores to use it.. If you paid via credit card via paypal, you had the added benefit of your credit card to protect you.

Google checkout is only conducted via credit card, so you always have the added benefit of credit card protection... And because you're posting something on google base or froogle to sell, Google guarantees the transaction. If it's an especially large long distance craigslist transaction - I would really prefer to do it via google base than paypal.

Google (I can check this, 'cause I haven't looked lately) charges 2% on all purchases conducted... Last I looked it didn't work for international people.

Paypal if you do not have a premier account, 4.9% + $0.30 USD (limit of 5 transactions per 12 month period) for domestic or U.S. transactions. Cash transactions are free. If you get a premier account, then they charge 2.9% + $0.30 USD in fees on any transfer into your paypal account (including cash). I tend to send cash transfers to people who don't have a premier account if I'm buying something - because usually the price you agree on doesn't cover the 5% in fees. But for peace of mind it might be worth it.



Here's what paypal says about buyer protection:

Buyer Protection when you shop on eBay

If you don’t receive an eBay item that you purchased using PayPal, or what you receive is significantly not as described by the seller, your eligible transactions are covered for the full purchase price and original shipping cost. Find out more and see eligibility.

Buyer Complaint Policy when you shop outside eBay

Regardless of where you shop online, PayPal’s Buyer Complaint Policy lets you submit a dispute for an item you don’t receive or an item significantly not as described. By doing so, you have the opportunity to resolve your dispute directly with the seller. See eligibility.

What is the PayPal Buyer Complaint Policy?

It is PayPal’s process to help you resolve a problem with a seller through the PayPal Resolution Center for purchases that are not eligible for PayPal Buyer Protection.

The PayPal Buyer Complaint Policy is similar to PayPal Buyer Protection in that it enables buyers to file Disputes for Items Not Received (INR), or for items that are Significantly Not as Described (SNAD). However, recovery of any amounts is not guaranteed and is limited to the amounts that PayPal can recover from the seller’s Account, even if PayPal makes a final decision in your favor


# What happens if I am unable to resolve the Dispute directly with the seller?

You may escalate the Dispute to a Claim within 20 days of the date you filed the Dispute. PayPal will make a final decision for some - but not all - Claims.

PayPal will generally make a final decision for an Item Not Received (INR) Claim, but will not make a final decision for a Significantly Not as Described (SNAD) Claim, or Claims involving the following purchases: intangible items, licenses, airline flight tickets, services, vehicles, live auctions, real estate, classified ads on eBay, or other items as determined by PayPal (collectively “Ineligible Items”). This means that unless the seller voluntarily refunds your money, you will not recover any amounts for a SNAD Claim or a Claim for an Ineligible Item filed under the Buyer Complaint Policy.

[uforgot]

Thanks for digging and posting paypal policy. Probably a good idea for everyone to see it.

[Cataboo]

Thanks for digging and posting paypal policy. Probably a good idea for everyone to see it.

I'm a bit uncomfortable with the wiggle room they give themselves with the "buyer compliant" policy.

That being said, I've for the most part not had any really bad transactions selling or buying things. Annoyances, definitely.