PSA: Don't buy from user stupidflanders

Sep 15, 15 10:18

Post #1 of 33 (7461 views)

Edit: I decided to out user stupidflanders so nobody else gets burned by him

So this is just a PSA about why NOT to send PayPal gift.

I have been in this forum for a number of years and have bought and sold numerous items without incident.

I posted in the classifieds asking if a Basebar was available from a seller. A different user saw my post a pm'do me saying he had one for sale and would ship out if I got him the money.

As usual on this forum I PayPal gifted to save user the fees as I always do.

Well needless to say I never received said Item!!

It's been over 2 weeks and all attempts (7 emails) to contact user have gone with no repsonse.

I assume he gets the messages as he was active in the forums as of yesterday.

It was not a lot of money and I have made slowman aware of it.

I am also not here to burn anyone although I would like to

It's just a word of warning to make sure you pay the extra for the insurance

Slowman if this is not appropriate feel free to take it down

[URL=http://s1257.photobucket.com/...2524C7D1BC2.jpg.html]

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[URL=http://s1257.photobucket.com/...26ED2B1EFDC.jpg.html]

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Yellowfin Endurance Coaching and Bike Fits
USAT Level 1, USAC Level 3

Last edited by: surfNJmatt: Sep 15, 15 15:15

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [surfNJmatt] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 11:08

Post #2 of 33 (7315 views)

Thanks. 3% is a small price for protection, even on Slowtwitch.

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [surfNJmatt] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 11:31

Post #3 of 33 (7195 views)

I have always been paranoid to buy something through classified because of these types of issues.
So, based on your experience and if you can do it again, you would do paypal gift with insurance?

Or is there some other way to do it, like paypal without gift with insurance?

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [auto208562] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 11:41

Post #4 of 33 (7136 views)

I have bought and sold a ton through here and not had any issues. For me, I don't mind the small paypal fee just so I don't worry about it. It's a very small fee and typically I find deals that are still deals even with the paypal fee. I know many are penny pinchers, and I don't like to throw away money, but one bad incident where you lose the investment can outweigh any savings realized by gifting the paypal. Just my $.02.

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [surfNJmatt] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 11:44

Post #5 of 33 (7116 views)

As an aside, and not to take away from your message which I think is incredibly reasonable (esp if it's an expensive item), don't buy something that something that says "$$ shipped" and send just the "$$" amount through the non-gift without notifying the seller.

It's unfair to blindside the seller to paying for your insurance. Add the 3% ($$/1.03).

Happened a couple times and sort of peeves me.

auto208562 wrote:

I have always been paranoid to buy something through classified because of these types of issues.
So, based on your experience and if you can do it again, you would do paypal gift with insurance?

Or is there some other way to do it, like paypal without gift with insurance?

Two general options to send money:
Gifting (in Paypal's eyes, there is no transaction of goods/services) [No Fee]
Sale (good/service transaction that includes a quality assurance) [~3% fee]

Last edited by: Nonojohn: Sep 15, 15 11:46

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [surfNJmatt] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 11:52

Post #6 of 33 (7055 views)

Am I the only one that has an issue with lying about the nature of the transaction to Paypal to save 3%? Seems like outright fraud. I've volunteered an extra 3% on things I've bought to avoid having to be dishonest about the item being a gift.

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [surfNJmatt] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 11:58

Post #7 of 33 (7022 views)

I always give the buyer the option of gifting or adding 3%, it's been about a 50/50 split.

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [surfNJmatt] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 12:03

Post #8 of 33 (6985 views)

For $30, I have no problem using PayPal gift. Especially when the seller isn't charging shipping. But for high dollar items, I'd definitely NOT use the gift option. I've been majorly ripped off (on this site, by a fraudster) before on a high-dollar item, and wound up having to do a chargeback on my credit card to PayPal. In return, they blacklisted me for years.

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [auto208562] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 12:10

Post #9 of 33 (6930 views)

auto208562 wrote:

I have always been paranoid to buy something through classified because of these types of issues.
So, based on your experience and if you can do it again, you would do paypal gift with insurance?

Or is there some other way to do it, like paypal without gift with insurance?

Of course I will use classifieds again.

Never had an issue before this.

I will just pay the extra 3% to do standard PayPal
I blame myself for sending gift which is why I have not "outed" the person

But if I see him selling in classifieds again I will before to post that he is a non shipper

Yellowfin Endurance Coaching and Bike Fits
USAT Level 1, USAC Level 3

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [Thom] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 12:29

Post #10 of 33 (6860 views)

Thom wrote:

Am I the only one that has an issue with lying about the nature of the transaction to Paypal to save 3%? Seems like outright fraud. I've volunteered an extra 3% on things I've bought to avoid having to be dishonest about the item being a gift.

This has crossed my mind from time to time.

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [Thom] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 12:30

Post #11 of 33 (6855 views)

It's not just you.

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [rijndael] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 12:45

Post #12 of 33 (6789 views)

Doesn't paypal get paid either way? If its not a gift, the recipient pays a fee. If its a gift, the sender pays a fee (you can see it on the OP's screen shot)...

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [gibson00] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 12:50

Post #13 of 33 (6767 views)

gibson00 wrote:

Doesn't paypal get paid either way? If its not a gift, the recipient pays a fee. If its a gift, the sender pays a fee (you can see it on the OP's screen shot)...

Yes, The sender pays the fee

so it just saves the seller the fee

Yellowfin Endurance Coaching and Bike Fits
USAT Level 1, USAC Level 3

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [gibson00] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 12:54

Post #14 of 33 (6732 views)

gibson00 wrote:

Doesn't paypal get paid either way? If its not a gift, the recipient pays a fee. If its a gift, the sender pays a fee (you can see it on the OP's screen shot)...

Think that sender fee goes away if you link your bank to Paypal and use an actual direct transaction

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [surfNJmatt] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 12:55

Post #15 of 33 (6727 views)

surfNJmatt wrote:

gibson00 wrote:

Doesn't paypal get paid either way? If its not a gift, the recipient pays a fee. If its a gift, the sender pays a fee (you can see it on the OP's screen shot)...

Yes, The sender pays the fee

so it just saves the seller the fee

Then I guess I misunderstood what a Paypal gift is.

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [surfNJmatt] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 13:00

Post #16 of 33 (6703 views)

I send and receive money through Paypal all the time and neither person pays a fee

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [surfNJmatt] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 13:02

Post #17 of 33 (6693 views)

I used to hang out in a camera equipment forum, and what started as a good willed, lightly policed buy/sell forum eventually became rampant with fraud. Usually the fraudsters were pretty obvious due to poor command of the language or lack of knowledge of the field, but I did get burned once. The pics and description were lifted verbatim from an ebay ad, and I didn't ask enough questions. Luckily, paypal had my back. I'm actually surprised that the slowtwitch buy/sell has remained relatively safe.

A few additional tips for high dollar items:
- only buy from established posters-- I always look up a seller's posting history here to make sure they are legit. (Look for posts outside of buy/sell and the "fluff" posts to get the count up)
- establish some level of dialogue before purchasing. Even if you don't care, ask detailed questions that require knowledge of the item to answer, or another good one is to ask for additional pics of a specific part.
- search ebay and google for identical pics / language prior to purchase.

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [IronStork] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 13:03

Post #18 of 33 (6689 views)

Only when you are using your bank account or paypal balance as the funding source...

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [mt2u77] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 13:07

Post #19 of 33 (6670 views)

mt2u77 wrote:

I used to hang out in a camera equipment forum, and what started as a good willed, lightly policed buy/sell forum eventually became rampant with fraud. Usually the fraudsters were pretty obvious due to poor command of the language or lack of knowledge of the field, but I did get burned once. The pics and description were lifted verbatim from an ebay ad, and I didn't ask enough questions. Luckily, paypal had my back. I'm actually surprised that the slowtwitch buy/sell has remained relatively safe.

A few additional tips for high dollar items:
- only buy from established posters-- I always look up a seller's posting history here to make sure they are legit. (Look for posts outside of buy/sell and the "fluff" posts to get the count up)
- establish some level of dialogue before purchasing. Even if you don't care, ask detailed questions that require knowledge of the item to answer, or another good one is to ask for additional pics of a specific part.
- search ebay and google for identical pics / language prior to purchase.

This is an established user

Registered 3 years ago

post on lots of topics

Like I said this is a great website and great classifieds.

This was just a PSA not to gift paypal

Yellowfin Endurance Coaching and Bike Fits
USAT Level 1, USAC Level 3

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [Uncle Phil] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 13:15

Post #20 of 33 (6633 views)

Ah - got it. Makes sense, but seems like an easy way to avoid one party having to pay a fee.

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [surfNJmatt] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 13:20

Post #21 of 33 (6607 views)

That is really odd. Apparently whoever it is does not give a rip about his/her reputation. If they do not remedy the situation in the next week or so, I would definitely put them on full blast. (mods may not appreciate that, but would-be buyers should know)

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [mt2u77] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 13:26

Post #22 of 33 (6588 views)

mt2u77 wrote:

That is really odd. Apparently whoever it is does not give a rip about his/her reputation. If they do not remedy the situation in the next week or so, I would definitely put them on full blast. (mods may not appreciate that, but would-be buyers should know)

I will not put them on blast. It was only $30

the Mods have been made aware

Yellowfin Endurance Coaching and Bike Fits
USAT Level 1, USAC Level 3

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [surfNJmatt] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 14:05

Post #23 of 33 (6476 views)

So why not out them as ripping you off with changing the title of this thread with something like

"hey %ST Username% are you going to deliver my basebar or what?"

that should resolve it relatively quickly....

ishi no ue ni san nen | Perseverance will win in the end. | Blog | @nebmot | Strava | Instagram |

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [surfNJmatt] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 14:29

Post #24 of 33 (6400 views)

surfNJmatt wrote:

So this is just a PSA about why NOT to send PayPal gift.

I have been in this forum for a number of years and have bought and sold numerous items without incident.

I posted in the classifieds asking if a Basebar was available from a seller. A different user saw my post a pm'do me saying he had one for sale and would ship out if I got him the money.

As usual on this forum I PayPal gifted to save user the fees as I always do.

Well needless to say I never received said Item!!

It's been over 2 weeks and all attempts (7 emails) to contact user have gone with no repsonse.

I assume he gets the messages as he was active in the forums as of yesterday.

It was not a lot of money and I have made slowman aware of it.

I am also not here to burn anyone although I would like to

It's just a word of warning to make sure you pay the extra for the insurance

Slowman if this is not appropriate feel free to take it down

[URL=http://s1257.photobucket.com/...2524C7D1BC2.jpg.html]

[/url
[URL=http://s1257.photobucket.com/...26ED2B1EFDC.jpg.html]

[/url]

It appears you used a Visa? If so, easy solution here. Just call your CC and request a charge back.

Re: PSA: Don't do PayPal gift [7summits] [ In reply to ]

Sep 15, 15 14:38

Post #25 of 33 (6376 views)

7summits wrote:

Just call your CC and request a charge back.

If the primary funding source is rejected and/or contested, they'll just roll over to the backup source - which is usually a bank account.

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