Conflicting Gumtree Advice - Buyer Protection

[andrewtrace]

Hi there, On PayPal's website I'm seeing conflicting advice, some pages say "tick for goods" box and you will be covered for any purchase. However, on another page I see "Note: PayPal Buyer Protection does not apply to payments made through Gumtree. " The only distinction I can seem to make out is, if I never met the seller in person and if I send the money as payment for goods through the PayPal app or website rather than within gumtree, I will be covered by PayPal buyer protection? Is this correct? I'm buying a £1600 camera and so I need a very solid answer on this! Thanks

[kernowlass]

@andrewtrace 

Correct me if i am wrong but isn't Gumtree a site mainly for 'face to face' transactions?

So the reason Gumtree transactions are often not covered by Paypal buyer protection is because paypal does not cover items collected or personally delivered.

However if you want to pay with paypal and have the item posted then the ONLY time you do NOT have paypal buyer protection is when you send the payment using the friends/family option OR using a f/f personal paypal.me link and do NOT tick the goods/services box at the bottom.

If you get the seller to send a money request or invoice fully describing the item you are paying for OR you use the send money > goods/services option again fully describing the item you are paying for then you should be covered.

HOWEVER buyer protection is not an insurance policy OR 100% coverage of everything that can go wrong, so you need to read up on it so you can risk assess your transaction.

I would also 'fund' that payment if you go ahead via a credit card as that may give you extra protection.