Are bank transfers safe to buy goods from here?

[lushuk]

Hi guys just a quickie, something that recently cropped up whilst I was trying to purchase some equipment on here and the seller would only accept a bank transfers, is that the way to go or is there a better way to do a protected transaction? Thanks for any help 😊

[Steve Browning]

I don't think a bank transfer offers any protection. 

[JoeEvans]

It's kind of a leap of faith, I've done it but it made me a bit nervous. Might be worth discussing acceptable ways to make it a bit safer, eg the seller could send some evidence of who they are, address etc?

[SurroundedByManatees]

Indeed ask for a bit of evidence, and maybe do a video call where the seller can show the bass. It's also wordt checking out the feedback for the seller on this site and/or elsewhere.

Ive used banktransfer mostly for trades on here, and never had any trouble. 

 

Edited yesterday at 07:02 by SurroundedByManatees

[Beedster]

There are people on here I know and trust with whom a bank transfer is no problem at all. There are other people I don't know so I check their feedback thread, and given the place that Basschat is, there's a fairly good chance that several members have dealt with them successfully, which is reassuring. In other cases, if I'm buying blind so to speak, I'd need an extra layer of security provided by PayPal, in which case I pay the small % transaction fee so the buyer gets the total amount. When a seller I don't know or doesn't have feedback says "I don't accept PayPal, it's bank transfer or nothing", it tends to be the latter  

[Cat Burrito]

The vast majority of trades on here go off effortlessly with both parties being happy. We have had a tiny handful of problems over the years, as one would expect with any site. Our quick guide is here Advice for Buyers and seller but I would always just say, even the slightest doubt and wait for a better deal. Personally, I have only ever done bank transfers face to face when collecting or selling the gear. 

[Beedster]

30 minutes ago, Beedster said:

There are people on here I know and trust with whom a bank transfer is no problem at all. There are other people I don't know so I check their feedback thread, and given the place that Basschat is, there's a fairly good chance that several members have dealt with them successfully, which is reassuring. In other cases, if I'm buying blind so to speak, I'd need an extra layer of security provided by PayPal, in which case I pay the small % transaction fee so the buyer gets the total amount. When a seller I don't know or doesn't have feedback says "I don't accept PayPal, it's bank transfer or nothing", it tends to be the latter  

 

...and amusingly I've had at least a couple of sellers say "I don't do PayPal because I don't like their morals.....".

 

Yet they're still prepared to use the banks  

[Beedster]

2 hours ago, Steve Browning said:

I don't think a bank transfer offers any protection. 

 

You're right Steve, none at all, likewise PayPal friends and family. If in doubt always use the standard PayPal with fees which allows you to secure a refund. This of course - ironically - means that as a seller you have to also be. a little careful who you sell to if using standard PayPal  

[SurroundedByManatees]

2 minutes ago, Beedster said:

 

You're right Steve, none at all, likewise PayPal friends and family. If in doubt always use the standard PayPal with fees which allows you to secure a refund. This of course - ironically - means that as a seller you have to also be. a little careful who you sell to if using standard PayPal  

 This indeed.

 

I rarely accept standard PayPal. And if so, I must be sure that the buyer won't be screwing me. So they need to have tracable feedback, and probably do a video call or something. 

 

But mostly buyers understand why I don't want to use the standard PayPal. In that case I offer to send them enough evidence for their assurance.

[tauzero]

I've used bank transfer when collecting basses (and motorcycles) in person, and when selling basses (and motorcycles) and they've been collected in person. In those cases, we did the transfer on collection.

[pst62]

I recently made a purchase on here via bank transfer, everything went as smoothly as I'd expected.

I've had no problems whatsoever with any transactions with fellow BCer's over my 14 years on board.

Though I have read about some despicable goings on that have happened to others. 

I think all you can do is check sellers/buyers feedback and go with your gut feelings.

Edited yesterday at 11:46 by pst62

[chris_b]

I've bought and sold basses using bank transfers, here and in Europe, pre B***** of course.

 

It is a leap of faith but as I only buy and sell on Basschat and you can get a feel for the situation if you know the person or have seen them around for awhile. I probably wouldn't get into a sale with someone who had only just joined, or had no history.

 

My preferred process is to meet up with cash. I've driven to Birmingham, Brighton and Margate and a few places in between for the right gear.

Edited yesterday at 12:10 by chris_b

[Beedster]

23 minutes ago, chris_b said:

I've bought and sold basses using bank transfers, here and in Europe, pre B***** of course.

 

It is a leap of faith but as I only buy and sell on Basschat and you can get a feel for the situation if you know the person or have seen them around for awhile. I probably wouldn't get into a sale with someone who had only just joined, or had no history.

 

My preferred process is to meet up with cash. I've driven to Birmingham, Brighton and Margate and a few places in between for the right gear.

Margate, mmmm, wonder who that was 🤔

[gjones]

Unless I have dealt with the seller before, I would always make payment by Paypal and offer to pay the fees.

 

If the seller doesn't accept Paypal (and there's no excuse not to, as it's really easy to set up) then the sale is off.

[tauzero]

48 minutes ago, chris_b said:

My preferred process is to meet up with cash. I've driven to Birmingham, Brighton and Margate and a few places in between for the right gear.

 

For something costing more than a couple of hundred quid, I far prefer bank transfer (on collection and in person) to cash. If you're buying, you've got to get the cash out which if you want more than £500 probably means visiting an ATM more than one day, or visiting a branch to get it in person, and then you've got to carry that much cash to the seller. If you're the seller, you then have to get the cash to a bank and you might have to put it in in more than one transaction.

 

Of course, if you keep your money in your mattress, this doesn't apply.

[Reggaebass]

If it’s on here you should be able to see the sellers feedback, if it’s a new member or they don’t have feedback then I would only use PayPal and pay the fees ( not f&f as you don’t have any cover), I’ve bought lots from here and some things have been many thousands with no issues at all, only the people I know will I pay f&f or bank transfer 

[warwickhunt]

10 minutes ago, gjones said:

Unless I have dealt with the seller before, I would always make payment by Paypal and offer to pay the fees.

 

If the seller doesn't accept Paypal (and there's no excuse not to, as it's really easy to set up) then the sale is off.

 

Therein lies the dilemma... I personally don't accept 'regular' Paypal even if the buyer is offering to pay the fees because the payment can be reversed by Paypal to the buyer.  This isn't hypothetical for me; I sold a couple of items some years back and in one instance the buyer said the item was broken/dead and Paypal refunded without me having the option to dispute.  In that instance I received the item back... and it was the same model but a different item (I had the serial number), sadly Paypal would hear none of it and I was stiffed.  

 

On this group I have feedback and a decent reputation so if a buyer didn't want to collect and wouldn't do a bank transfer then that's the deal ended but no hard feelings! 

 

[neepheid]

Dealing on here, feedback is the main driver.  I'll happily deal in bank transfer with a BCer who has a long and distinguished feedback thread, and being a long time and active contributor is also in their favour.  But you're right, there's zero protection, it's all on trust.  So if anything feels wrong, insist on something with a degree of protection - Paypal (regular, not Friends and Family) for example.

 

I can only speak for myself, but I have gone to great lengths to be a seller of good standing on here, even if I'm not super prolific.  It's not rocket science - take good photos, write accurate descriptions, package items well, and keep the buyer informed as things progress.  That's the way to get good feedback.

[JoeEvans]

If I was selling I would happily do the following to reassure a buyer that a bank transfer would be ok:

- Video call showing the bass, and invite the buyer to record the call.

- Hold up my driving licence during the call (with the licence number covered to be on the safe side) and then send a scan of the licence (again with the number redacted).

- Step out onto the street during the call to show that my house number and street name were the same as on the licence

- Send a link to my employer's website, where there's a photo of me on the 'Our team' page.

But the seller takes a risk as well in sending a bass, because there's always the possibility of some scam in which the buyer claims it never arrived. So I'd ask for the same evidence from them.

I think if you have a phone call or video call with a seller or buyer and talk this kind of stuff through, you'll quickly get a sense of whether there's the right level of trust in place.

[SumOne]

6 hours ago, Beedster said:

 

You're right Steve, none at all, likewise PayPal friends and family. If in doubt always use the standard PayPal with fees which allows you to secure a refund. This of course - ironically - means that as a seller you have to also be. a little careful who you sell to if using standard PayPal  

 

I'm not sure I'd accept selling via Paypal as a business as isn't the issue then that all of the risk is with the seller: If I sell a £1k Bass as a Paypal 'business' rather than F&F and the buyer scams me (e.g. says it never arrived, or isn't what it should be) then Paypal refunds the buyer and leaves the seller out of pocket. Or I imagine the onus is on the seller to somehow prove that the buyer did receive it and it was what was described (good luck with that! my experience with trying to talk to Paypal is 'computer says no').

[SH73]

Never had issues ,buying or selling. Used bank transfer, cash on collection and PayPal. If I didn't recognise the members name ( Avatar name) I checked the feedback page. I've always sealed smooth and  worry free deals.

[SumOne]

I must have bought and sold on here more times than I care to remember! Probably 50 transactions. I've never had an issue with bank transfer of Paypal F&F.

 

As others have said, a quick check of feedback is useful, and check that they seem like a real bass player (e.g. getting annoyed about 'tonewood' opinions!) , if it is someone brand new to the forum with no feedback (or only feedback from another brand new account!) then use caution.

 

Basses being more expensive and delicate I've tended to try and meet up with people and do bank transfer. Pedals I've usually just done by post so there is a bit of trust involved.

[thodrik]

With longstanding members with decent feedback, I have done it a few times without problem. Had it gone wrong though I wouldn't have had much recourse. Paypal is preferred but never through the 'friends and family' option

[lushuk]

Thanks for the input guys, the item is several hundred quid ..... I would meet but we are at opposite ends of the Uk unfortunately, I'll maybe see if I can find some feedback , thanks again 

[neepheid]

3 hours ago, lushuk said:

Thanks for the input guys, the item is several hundred quid ..... I would meet but we are at opposite ends of the Uk unfortunately, I'll maybe see if I can find some feedback , thanks again 

 

How "opposite" is opposite?  I'm at a pretty opposite end of the UK by any measure...