Craigslist Paypal before Pickup?

Mat

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http://houston.craigslist.org/vgm/3227270708.html

The yelling and horrendous grammar is enough to keep me away, but paying before inspecting a Pole Position, especially when it's local, seems crazy. I wouldn't pay for anything on Craigslist without laying hands on it first. Has anybody seen this tactic on Craigslist before?
 
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I've never heard of a cl seller asking for it before hand previously but I have offered it once or twice to a CL seller to hold a game I wanted. For me it's worked out well but there's always potential for the person to try and scam you I suppose.
 
I have offered to send deposits that way before to hold a game out of town, but i don't think i would have anything to do with him from the way he worded his ad. Just asking for problems.
 
He needs you to prepay before you pick it up because he does not want you in his house? But then you have to pick it up anyhow... At his house. Makes no sense.
 
Scam, scam, scam.

Doesn't know if it works? What, he can't plug it in?

One of the photos has another game in it. But he talks like this is the only game they ever had.

Payment in advance, in full.

3 red flags.
 
For a PayPal dispute to be filed, you have to have a link to the original sale. If he deletes the item, the link is dead and PayPal will not side with you in a dispute. I went through this before buying something with PayPal through CL, and not getting the item. They wanted me to go through a court subpoena for PayPal to release the original closed add. I asked the person at PayPal what was to keep me from screwing over tons of people by offering items and not sending them knowing they would not spend the money to pursue in court. She told me nothing was stopping me, and they were aware it was a flawed system, but CL had their hands tied. I would steer clear if I was you.
 
I just paid a CL seller half the negotiated price via paypal on a machine this morning to hold it for me for a week. I did this because it was a machine I wanted and I couldn't make the trip right away. Now I was careful enough to speak with the guy and get extra pics. But yes I am taking a risk.
 
Well, one thing is for certain-it's a POLE POSITION- it's NOT working.
Jay
 
Why wouldnt you just have TBBK pick it up for you?

I just paid a CL seller half the negotiated price via paypal on a machine this morning to hold it for me for a week. I did this because it was a machine I wanted and I couldn't make the trip right away. Now I was careful enough to speak with the guy and get extra pics. But yes I am taking a risk.
 
I just paid a CL seller half the negotiated price via paypal on a machine this morning to hold it for me for a week. I did this because it was a machine I wanted and I couldn't make the trip right away. Now I was careful enough to speak with the guy and get extra pics. But yes I am taking a risk.

It's a different ball game when you are putting a deposit on a game, but still a gamble.

Good luck with your purchase, hopefully all works out.
 
Call him up and tell him you don't want to go in his house either, so you are on the way and he can meet you at the curb with it and you will pay him cash once it is loaded.

Tell him it's for his own good. You are not in his house and he doesn't have to pay the Paypal fees.

ken
 
http://houston.craigslist.org/vgm/3227270708.html

The yelling and horrendous grammar is enough to keep me away, but paying before inspecting a Pole Position, especially when it's local, seems crazy. I wouldn't pay for anything on Craigslist without laying hands on it first. Has anybody seen this tactic on Craigslist before?

Gotta be a scam. No one in their right mind is going to pay up front via PayPal before picking something up.

Though, I suppose I shouldn't over-estimate the guy. Perhaps the post is just freaking stupid.
 
If I can't see it in person, and pay cash, I aint buyin' it.

I don't care if it's the rarest machine in the world, with tons of pics, going for $1. I don't do any CL transactions with Paypal.
 
I paid the seller a deposit for my new DK to make sure he kept it for me, but only after talking with him and feeling that he was a good guy.
 
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