Dangers of selling to a new member?

[ovim]

I come to all you experienced international sellers to ask for advice.

I have a few low priced items posted on the marketplace and received a pm from a new member from the other side of the world. He's interested in a lens but has just today registered here. What do you think? What's the best way of protecting myself if I decide to sell the lens to him. I've understood that paypal buyer protection gives the buyer a refund if he declares not receiving the item and I can't prove otherwise?

And prospective buyer if you read this I hope you understand my concern.

[Attila]

Buyer must pay first, send it with registered air-mail , describe it honestly and I not expect any trouble. I am unsure paypal buyer protection is valid on NON -EBAY purchase also.

[stingOM]

[peterqd]

Make sure you send it by insured post to cover the cost of the lens, signed-for delivery, and keep the proof of posting. If the lens is reported lost you can make a claim and if the postal service reports correct delivery you know the truth.

You might need to check this is possible in the country you are sending it to before you post it.

[Orio]

Paypal covers (in theory! reality may be different) also transactions that are not made through Ebay.
But you must pay through Paypal, of course. And you must request - and pay for - a traceable mail system
that allows post offices to verify where the packet has gone.

But the reality is that buying online has always a part of risk - even when buying from Ebay.
If you are in doubt about a seller, just skip.
I follow my instinct and it is usually a good one, but once I have been frauded, too. Although once over 400 transactions
is not a bad average - and it was years ago. Since then, they never fooled me anymore.

[Attila]

[peterqd]

The OP is selling, not buying.

[Himself]

[Orio]

[mo]

Would it be good to ask for a buying history reference...ie ebay name?

[visualopsins]

Cash in hand before shipping product is pretty solid buyer credit. Paypal payment for goods and shipment to verified address carry Paypal guarantees.

Seller references are more important imho.

[xjjohnno]

Ovim I'd add to Atilla's advice of pay first and send via trackable post. Take photos that include the serial number as proof of the condition of the item before sending. Everyone's a first time buyer at some time in their life, whether it's Ebay or in forums.

[ovim]

Thanks for all the replies! It seems that there's no sensible priced way of shipping low value items halway across the world with both tracking an insurance offered by Finnish post so I'll keep waiting for another buyer.

[AlunH]

Hi

Whilst I understand the caution of selling to an unknown buyer, please also consider the eagerness of that same buyer when they finally find someone selling a copy of a lens which he or she has most likely lusted after for some time. Of course, if that search brings them here and the only way they can respond to your for sale add is to register as a member first. My guess is that their first post will be in response to your add.

This is an interesting thread for me. I'm relatively new to the world of manual lenses for their digital kit.

Searching for good lenses to buy is what brought me here in the first place. I too registered here in order to make my first post... a response to an add from a member who was selling a CZJ Triotar 135/4. A lens that I had wanted for some time. I didnt buy his copy in the end because of a missunderstanding on my part about the type of mount.

The one I did buy last week on eBay has presented it's own little problems. Check the Equipment Care and Repairs section of the Forum for details!

Someone far wiser than me said "It is far better to trust and be disappointed in a person than to distrust and be disappointed in life."

AlunH

[GrahamNR17]

What about an Escrow service? There must be a reliable one out there somewhere.