OV9

I'm selling some wheels and winter tyres on FB marketplace and I just wanted some advice as to whether there's potentially something fishy with the buyer.

I'll try to keep this short.... I'm based in Cumbria and listed some wheels and winter tyres on marketplace. After only a few days, some guy (who lives in near Stoke on Trent so 120 miles away) messaged me and was very interested in them. They're a bit scabby (winter set, so I wasn't bothered about them being perfect but the tyres are a good brand with plenty of tread) and he made a low-ball offer based on them needing to be couriered and refurbed. I didn't entertain the offer and he increased it to be close to the asking price. I was a little put off with having a courier collect the wheels, as to me it's adding another party to the chain whereby blame for damage in transit could be levied against me. I therefore suggested I drop the wheels off with him, as I have a meeting south of Manchester and it's only circa 30 miles from where he lives. He then suggested I could drop them off at the wheel refurb place he is going to use, which is en route to my meeting (and would actually be easier for me and him). We haven't discussed payment method yet, although he's keen to make payment. I've suggested we arrangement payment (bank transfer, probably) the day before I drop them off at the refurb place. He's offered his mobile number 'in case I need to call him or would like to provide payment details outside of FB messenger'.

My concern is I drop the wheels off at the refurb place and they/him claim they were never received or claim the wheels were not in the condition advertised. I've asked if he could meet me at the refurb place to receive the wheels, but he's not keen as it's a 2 hour return trip for him.

Am I being overly cautious with this? He seems very trusting (I am a trustworthy person ), but his ease at which he is trusting makes me think this may be a scam. I've checked out his profile and he seems legit. I even found him on LinkedIn too.

TL:DR - I'm selling wheels on FB and I think everyone is a scammer!

Doesn't sound that weird to me - although I would have thought he'd pay you before you release the good?

Take pics of you at the wheel refurb place with your boot open showing the wheels (and one where your reggie is visible).

Take pics of the same wheels inside the refurb place.

Take a pic of some custard or something.

mik wrote: Fri Nov 01, 2024 10:31 am Doesn't sound that weird to me - although I would have thought he'd pay you before you release the good?

Take pics of you at the wheel refurb place with your boot open showing the wheels (and one where your reggie is visible).

Take pics of the same wheels inside the refurb place.

Take a pic of some custard or something.

Cheers Mik. Yeah, I'd expect payment before I drop them off.

Good ideas on photo evidence

I'd be cautious simply because facebook marketplace is the wild west with no recourse if things go tits up. Althohgh it makes sense that he'd want them dropped somewhere because moving sets of wheels around is a PITA. However, if you drop them at the wheel place and get payment via BACS before leaving then I don't see what else can go wrong. Also could ask if he wants to meet you there?

Ask the wheel place to give you a signed receipt for them? If they are reputable they shouldn't have any issue doing it.

We only do cash with marketplace, there's always some scammer knocking if it's an item of any value. They're not very subtle though, always want to do some shit involving PayPal.

However if you've found them on LinkedIn etc it sounds pretty low risk. I've been pretty trusting when buying stuff and it's always been fine, so maybe it's not that weird that he is if you seem legit.

Gavster wrote: Fri Nov 01, 2024 10:59 am I'd be cautious simply because facebook marketplace is the wild west with no recourse if things go tits up. Althohgh it makes sense that he'd want them dropped somewhere because moving sets of wheels around is a PITA. However, if you drop them at the wheel place and get payment via BACS before leaving then I don't see what else can go wrong. Also could ask if he wants to meet you there?

He seems keen to pay now (not dropping the wheels off until Mon 11th). I asked if he could meet at the refurb place but as it's a 2 hour round trip for him to meet me there, he wasn't keen.

Zonda_ wrote: Fri Nov 01, 2024 11:18 am Ask the wheel place to give you a signed receipt for them? If they are reputable they shouldn't have any issue doing it.

Good idea, I'll ask them when I drop them off.

duncs500 wrote: Fri Nov 01, 2024 11:26 am We only do cash with marketplace, there's always some scammer knocking if it's an item of any value. They're not very subtle though, always want to do some shit involving PayPal.

However if you've found them on LinkedIn etc it sounds pretty low risk. I've been pretty trusting when buying stuff and it's always been fine, so maybe it's not that weird that he is if you seem legit.

Cash is preferable for me too, but I suppose bank transfer isn't bad if that's the other alternative.

He does seem legit, it's probably just me being a pessimist/doom-monger