Getting a refund for a Craigslist purchase?

[JaJ19]

Hi everyone. I’m a little confused on how buyer protection works with PayPal. I’m going to meet with someone on Craigslist to buy a Computer Graphics Card off of him. We agreed that I would pay through Pay-Pal. What happens if I get home and the card is broken? Am I protected from that? I want to make sure I’m not being scammed. Thanks!

[kernowlass]

@JaJ19

Your best bet is to go and actually read up on buyer protection in paypals user agreement so you can risk assess the transaction.

[JaJ19]

@kernowlass Thanks so much for the response. I did read up on it but all of it has to do with shipping and online transactions. I can’t find any info that has to do with a face to face transaction.

[kernowlass]

@JaJ19

Oops sorry missed the face to face bit...................
You should never use paypal for an item that is to be collected or personally delivered as you have 0 seller protection.
Your buyer can collect the item and then file a dispute for non receipt of item. As you would have no tracking number to prove delivery of the item to him then you would lose the dispute.

That is why Ebay give you the option of 'cash on collection' and you can state in your decription that that is the only payment you will accept. If a buyer pays with Paypal then you are allowed to refund that payment and re-state 'cash on collection'.

That way you have cash in hand / no wait / no fee / no risk of a dispute.