Safest way to complete a transaction

[Thormind]

If the item needs to be delivered by mail and I am buying directly from the owner (not from Ebay...) What is the best way to complete the transaction?

What I want is a way for me to make sure I will get the item I pay for... Only solution I can think of is COD but there must be others?

[Sir Prime A Lot]

People don't understand that Paypal and eBay are 2 separate companies. Whether you buy from eBay or from some guy on the street, paying through Paypal is exactly the same. If you don't mark it as a gift, you'll be covered for the entire purchase amount no matter where the item is being purchased from. Ta-da, instant safety.

[CAF]

Paypal is the way to go. It's the only real way to have any recourse if you get burned. It costs a little bit though. As any service does. it costs 2.9% plus .30 cents per transaction.

I have been asked to use bank transfers, but I just can't seem to bring myself to open up my bank info like that to someone over the internet. Unfortunately the minuscule amount of scammers have made it like this, even for the honest folks.

It only takes having your entire bank account cleared out once to realize paypal is dirt cheap.

[down_shift]

Guns

[Masta_Skidz]

Originally Posted by down_shift

Guns

best answer yet lol

[omegaprime]

Pay as "goods " via paypal

[elburrito]

Electronic bank transfer does not share any bank information. Nothing. The only info the recipient gets is an email address. If you've had an account cleared, it wasn't because of an e-transfer.

[Tekkamanraiden]

Originally Posted by elburrito

Electronic bank transfer does not share any bank information. Nothing. The only info the recipient gets is an email address. If you've had an account cleared, it wasn't because of an e-transfer.

This is correct and perfectly safe, the only catch is if something goes wrong the bank won't do anything.

Paypal is probably your safest bet, just DON'T send it as a gift.

[Megatron75]

Originally Posted by omegaprime

Pay as "goods " via paypal

That's how I do it too.

[Sun Swipe Prime]

Envelop full of cash sent with no return address and the word "CASH" written with a bright red sharpie on the front. I guarantee you will get exactly what you deserve

But seriously, what the others have said, PayPal, and NOT as a gift. A few extra dollars for Pay Pal fees is way worth the peace of mind. I always just count the Pay Pal fee as the cost of doing business.