Buying from Facebook Marketplace

Forums › Social networks, social media and tools › Buying from Facebook Marketplace - any protection?

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MadEngineer

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#2910221 4-May-2022 18:26

The local neighbourhood watch emails frequently suggest using a dedicated safe trading parking spot that’s directly under a camera. Not sure how much good that’ll do you if things go sour.

https://www.pncc.govt.nz/Council-city/What-were-doing/Ongoing-projects-and-programmes/Safe-community/Safe-trading-zone

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JaseNZ

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#2910223 4-May-2022 18:30

I have sold a few things and bought a few things via FB , I always do it via public space and cash that I know is monitored.
Never had any issues, but waiting on cops to swoops thinking we are doing a drugs deal or something lol.

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Handle9

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#2910375 5-May-2022 00:07

jonathan18:
1101:

Seller drives all the way out to your house. You change your mind & say dont want it now (or just dont bother being home). Seller has wasted his time & petrol .
So seller might be trying to cover his arse

Facebook BUYERS , often , after saying they want & will buy it , will change their minds & you never hear from them again, they wont even answer FB messages
Ive had that too many times on FB .
So that seller is taking a chance by driving to you house with it in the back of his van/trailer.
That may be why he wants payment first .
Or it may be a con .

Sure, but expecting payment in full prior to delivery is going too far and is totally unreasonable (even if not a scam).

I agree with some others above in that a meaningful deposit before delivery is appropriate in such situations; while I don't and won't use FB, I have used this exact approach recently with a relatively expensive purchase arranged here on GZ.

That’s the way it always used to work on Trademe. Payment in full prior to delivery. It’s very common.

OnceBitten

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#2910387 5-May-2022 08:03

Handle9:

That’s the way it always used to work on Trademe. Payment in full prior to delivery. It’s very common.

yes - if an item is being couriered then no seller would send it without having received full payment.... but with trade me you have some protection / comeback should the sale turn sour.... it appears on FB Marketplace you don't

jonathan18

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#2910392 5-May-2022 08:16

OnceBitten:

Handle9:

That’s the way it always used to work on Trademe. Payment in full prior to delivery. It’s very common.

yes - if an item is being couriered then no seller would send it without having received full payment.... but with trade me you have some protection / comeback should the sale turn sour.... it appears on FB Marketplace you don't

Yep, FB vs TM is not a direct comparison.

TM exists for the purposes of trading goods; while things can (and do sometimes) go sour, there is at least information on a seller's reputation (ie, feedback) that allows a purchaser to make an assessment as to whether they should purchase from them in the first place (whether it be negative feedback or simply a lack of feedback); further, TM has methods by which payments can be disputed and refunded (eg, if payment is made by credit card) and a framework to manage disputes.

FB has none of these things, which is why I compared it to purchasing items listed on a site like GZ: while I totally concede the chances of getting ripped off here are far less than on FB, the types of risk are not too different, given neither is set up as a trading platform.

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#2910394 5-May-2022 08:33

jonathan18:

FB has none of these things, which is why I compared it to purchasing items listed on a site like GZ: while I totally concede the chances of getting ripped off here are far less than on FB, the types of risk are not too different, given neither is set up as a trading platform.

And you really don't want a site full of geeks hunting you down :D

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freitasm

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#2913596 13-May-2022 16:14

Or if you are a seller: Christchurch teens allegedly pull knife in Facebook marketplace iPhone robbery - NZ Herald

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