Forums > Kitesurfing General

How safe it is to buy from seabreeze using bank transfer

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Created by Bobby555 > 9 months ago, 1 Feb 2020
Bobby555
NSW, 7 posts
1 Feb 2020 9:07AM
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I am just curious how safe to buy from a seller in seabreeze. I usually do a lot of online shopping as they are cheaper. Mostly use ebay or Paypal as they provide buyer protections.

Recently wanted to buy a kite and harness from another state and I preferred to pay via Paypal and also agreed to any fee occurs. But the seller wanted only bank transfer. I am not sure if it would be safer to send money before seeing the item or if the item really arrives/posted. Didn't make the purchase at the end though.

Greenarrowz
NSW, 301 posts
1 Feb 2020 9:29AM
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PayPal.. offers protection or buy in person.
So there's no surprises.

montoya
VIC, 32 posts
1 Feb 2020 11:35AM
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I had the same question a while back. My research suggested paypal does not protect buyer unless buying through ebay. There is no simple answer. I checked the sellers profile - how long member, posts and prior sales, and made decision.

simon78
NSW, 115 posts
1 Feb 2020 1:21PM
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my biggest concern is the item being lost in transit.

I always give my bank the email correspondence from the transaction before transferring funds and Pay extra for tracked postage. Not sure whether it would make any difference but it makes me feel better about it. Never had any problems.

Most are genuine, honest and just happy to get any money for second hand gear. If you suspect otherwise- be cautious.

Realistically, if i can't afford to lose the money, I shouldn't be spending it on a kite anyways!

airsail
QLD, 1240 posts
1 Feb 2020 6:27PM
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I've used COD with Australia Post a few times, has tracking and Aust Post acts as the go between, the purchaser doesn't get the article until they pay, Aust post then pays you. Haven't had a problem with it.

Bobby555
NSW, 7 posts
1 Feb 2020 9:34PM
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Like the idea of using COD for Australia post. I think it adds a security that item will be posted and received.

Paypal does actually provide buyer protection. I receive my money back after returning an item as it was not as described.

Simon78: I am more than happy if my kite got wrecked in a session next day of buying. But that doesn't mean I think you will be happy if the item does not arrive.

AquaPlow
QLD, 1051 posts
1 Feb 2020 8:59PM
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Select to expand quote
Bobby555 said..
I am just curious how safe to buy from a seller in seabreeze. I usually do a lot of online shopping as they are cheaper. Mostly use ebay or Paypal as they provide buyer protections.

Recently wanted to buy a kite and harness from another state and I preferred to pay via Paypal and also agreed to any fee occurs. But the seller wanted only bank transfer. I am not sure if it would be safer to send money before seeing the item or if the item really arrives/posted. Didn't make the purchase at the end though.




2day most posters re regulars..
i buy on SB based on just that..
part of the community volunter help and opinions 24 months on.. = tick

else it is like gumtree
caveat emptore
so far so good..
cheers AP
BTW 1will be selling shortly.. + descripion + phtos plus video if asked looking 4 win win

johnskom
VIC, 7 posts
1 Feb 2020 10:52PM
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Ozone reo v5 10m $1000 just posted phone number prefixes 04800..... joined January are ads by scammers. Previous 2 ads have been removed for switchblade 12m 2017 and rpm 9m 2019. How do I know ? I sent money and got caught out. Buyer beware when it comes to direct deposits these f$%kers are out there

psychojoe
WA, 1799 posts
1 Feb 2020 8:20PM
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johnskom said..
Evo $1000 just posted phone number prefixes 04800 joined January are ads by scammers. Previous 2 ads have been removed for switchblade 12m 2017 and rpm 9m 2019. How do I know ? I sent money and got caught out. Buyer beware when it comes to direct deposits these f$%kers are out there


Go to your bank Johnskom.
Sometimes they are able to recover money.
They paid back money that was "stolen" from me for a service I didn't receive.

johnskom
VIC, 7 posts
1 Feb 2020 11:54PM
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My mistake reo not evo.

Yo bro thanks for the advice will do

lucy5
QLD, 102 posts
2 Feb 2020 12:53AM
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I've bought and sold a few no issues ever

Bobby555
NSW, 7 posts
2 Feb 2020 10:17AM
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I sold few items here in seabreeze, and buyers did bank transfer. Though I offered them if they want to use Paypal and pay the fee I am more than happy to use it. And, I actually bought few kite gears from WA kitesurfing shop with direct transfer. That was a legitimate business so I wasn't worried.

warwickl
NSW, 2173 posts
2 Feb 2020 4:18PM
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If you buy from me 100% reliable track record.
Items mostly receive better than expected comments.
I am not a shop just change my gear a bit so most items are still like new.

gdownie
NSW, 141 posts
2 Feb 2020 5:28PM
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Only PayPal ,no bank account transfer.
or C.O.D

Peahi
VIC, 1467 posts
3 Feb 2020 10:12AM
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bought and sold many an item here and used EFT no issues, most are regular kiters

Check profiles of sellers if they have just joined with no forum posts or selling history that should ring alarm bells, also if the item is priced well below equivalent kites on the market is another red flag, if they refuse to answer phones and the bank account name does not match theirs etc there are a million checks you can do.

if I'm a bit wary or low on cash I will use paypal, at least if paypal doesn't play ball, then credit card company can step in but paypal when you pay for a service generally covers you (as why they charge an exhorbitant fee)

horey69
QLD, 495 posts
3 Feb 2020 8:04PM
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airsail said..
I've used COD with Australia Post a few times, has tracking and Aust Post acts as the go between, the purchaser doesn't get the article until they pay, Aust post then pays you. Haven't had a problem with it.


I second that works well.

laurie
WA, 3848 posts
3 Feb 2020 7:05PM
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johnskom said..
Ozone reo v5 10m $1000 just posted phone number prefixes 04800..... joined January are ads by scammers. Previous 2 ads have been removed for switchblade 12m 2017 and rpm 9m 2019. How do I know ? I sent money and got caught out. Buyer beware when it comes to direct deposits these f$%kers are out there



John has contacted us (Seabreeze) via email. Thanks to his help, we managed to catch this person each time they've returned, and are building additional anti-scam based on what we've learned.

This scammer is really the first we've had in 15 years, which is a pretty good run. We've managed to detect/catch all others prior to this.

In my experience, these Scammers are generally overseas, and these days can do VPN's, can get Aussie bank accounts and use stolen Aussie credit cards... they appear like they're in Australia, but are actually in some sketchy country OS.

So, if in doubt, a verbal phone call is always good. It's old school, but can be worthwhile if you smell a rat.

And always, please do let us know so we can take them down... thanks ..

(We've submitted all the details we have to www.cyber.gov.au/report and suggest you do as well.)

FormulaNova
WA, 14044 posts
3 Feb 2020 8:55PM
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horey69 said..
airsail said..
I've used COD with Australia Post a few times, has tracking and Aust Post acts as the go between, the purchaser doesn't get the article until they pay, Aust post then pays you. Haven't had a problem with it.


I second that works well.


Just keep in mind that a determined scammer can fool you with this one too. They can send you a box with bricks in it to weigh what you expect, and when you pay for it, then you get the package. There is no guarantee that it contains anything in particular and there is as far as I know no right to return it to Auspost and get your money back if you don't like what you see.

salvatore13
QLD, 50 posts
4 Feb 2020 12:01PM
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As I'm living in rural Tassie I can only buy gear online (no local shops or enough kiters around to get a second hand gear) and I was never scammed fortunately.

One time however, I bought a kite where a seller claimed he has "spares" for the kite which I haven't found with it. That was a bummer but there isn't much you can do, at least the kite was as advertised which is more important.

In my humble opinion it's most fair for both sides to agree on "cash on delivery" where the courier company collects the cash from the buyer and sends it to seller. The buyer will never get the shipment if they don't pay so there is really no downside to that.

salvatore13
QLD, 50 posts
4 Feb 2020 12:07PM
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Greenarrowz said..
PayPal.. offers protection or buy in person.
So there's no surprises.


It doesn't for purchases on gumtree or ebay, that only applies to ebay purchases.

cauncy
WA, 8407 posts
4 Feb 2020 6:02PM
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Good option for buy n sell seabreeze to set up holding account for a reasonable fee, Joe buys kite, Jim receives kite Laurie goes into hiding, all jokes aside wouldn't be a bad idea

psychojoe
WA, 1799 posts
4 Feb 2020 8:14PM
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cauncy said..
Good option for buy n sell seabreeze to set up holding account for a reasonable fee, Joe buys kite, Jim receives kite Laurie goes into hiding, all jokes aside wouldn't be a bad idea


Or better yet, Joe pays $20 on top of price to Laurie. Laurie makes $1,000 per 50 kites. Laurie provides PayPal style insurance.

salvatore13
QLD, 50 posts
5 Feb 2020 7:40AM
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LoL, I would love to be "the guy" people send the kites to for holding... Easiest job in the world!

NorthernKitesAUS
QLD, 1061 posts
5 Feb 2020 9:52AM
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salvatore13 said..

Greenarrowz said..
PayPal.. offers protection or buy in person.
So there's no surprises.



It doesn't for purchases on gumtree or ebay, that only applies to ebay purchases.


www.organicwebs.com.au/faq/43-faqs/e-commerce/75-paypal-myths-and-legends

BrendanRobb
WA, 70 posts
6 Feb 2020 11:40AM
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Some good suggestions in this thread. I've bought from inter-state via bank transfer and had no issues, but I make sure I can contact the seller and speak on the phone to them first.

KBGhost
QLD, 260 posts
6 Feb 2020 5:29PM
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Another way is you can ask for pics of ID before sending a large bank transfer. Drivers licence + credit card with paper stuck over numbers + Medicare card is a pretty hard combo to fake but easy for a genuine guy to take a pic and send.

Greenarrowz
NSW, 301 posts
6 Feb 2020 6:37PM
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I bought an 18m foil Last year from up north through SB.
Described as no marks tears holes or damage.
Paid with pay pal.... kite arrived with 4 holes in canopy....

Seller went quite after I asked if i could return it.... and did not reply to my request.

Pay pal made the decision to return my payment nearing 1k.

Even after the other party lied in an appeal attempt.

Pay pal DOES offer protection on all purchases except family or friends transfers.

Commbank is good at recovering your money after a scam if you pay by master card also.

KBGhost
QLD, 260 posts
6 Feb 2020 5:44PM
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Reminded me of this time

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Too-good-to-be-true?page=1

salvatore13
QLD, 50 posts
10 Feb 2020 11:53AM
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KBGhost said..
Another way is you can ask for pics of ID before sending a large bank transfer. Drivers licence + credit card with paper stuck over numbers + Medicare card is a pretty hard combo to fake but easy for a genuine guy to take a pic and send.


Sharing ID and Credit Card pictures with a random people over the internet? xD That's probably the worst idea I've ever heard of. It's against the basic internet safety rules...

laurie
WA, 3848 posts
10 Feb 2020 11:26AM
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..and just an update.

Given what we learned from this persons behaviour, we put a big chunk of last week into beefing up detection of people like them.

These people are rare in the Buy & Sell .. can only think of one or two others in the past 15+ years the classifieds have been running.

This individual returned on Friday, and thanks to the new systems, they were spotted, and was kicked immediatelly... pleasing result.

At this risk of sounding american, we remain vigilant...




ffifty5
VIC, 102 posts
11 Feb 2020 7:29AM
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Great to hear you "on the job" Laurie, active and reactive ....



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"How safe it is to buy from seabreeze using bank transfer" started by Bobby555