Paypal by CC is fine for the seller. If he gifts it and pays fees then he would have no recourse against you, so it's fine. I wouldn't hesitate to accept it.

DON'T DO IT.

Even if he "gifts" you by Paypal, he can still file a chargeback with his credit card company.

Get all the money in cash, or wait for another day.

If it were $100 to lose, you might let it go, but for $3000 - that's real money.

Have him gift you that half before he comes.

Pays the rest in cash on pickup

That's the safest for you imo

Not true at all.

That is NOT safe for the seller at all.

You could list it as goods/services then up the amount by the fee. For example instead of a $1000 gift do a $1030 sale, it would be the same total to the buyer either way. But as others have mentioned, you could have a claim via PayPal or Credit Card Company. Cash talks!

There is no guaranteed safe method using CC.
Even as a gift, the buyer can still pull a "that is not my purchase" against his credit card. The CC will pull the money back from paypal and then paypal will pull the money from you....and charge you a reversal fee on top of this.

One thing I've learned in life, and in transactions...you lose the most from those who have the least to lose. If the buyer has no ethics, reputation, money, nor a credit card that he really cares about keeping...it's too easy to pull a "not authorized" chargeback. Gift, goods, signed paper, doesn't matter. Credit card company reverses payment to Paypal, Paypal reverses payment to you, and if you already withdrew it to your checking account, they'll lock your account and do everything possible to get that money back. So if you don't care about your Paypal account, legal notices, etc. (in other words, if you have less to lose), you don't have to worry

But realistically, this doesn't happen that often so you're probably fine. Cash can be a risk too. Go with your gut. But if you tell him no, especially now, then even more trust is lost among strangers and with both parties suspicious of the other you could lose the transaction.

For the record, my preferred method of payment anymore beyond a couple grand is wire transfer. I give an invoice/receipt, they pay right into my account, machine ships or is picked up right away.

Just do a bill of sale and have him sign that then gift you the cash.

Paypal turns it over to a collection agency and your credit is ruined.

Your account being locked is the least of your worries.

He could sign you your own decoration of independence and it would not stop his credit card company from doing a chargeback on Paypal, and then Paypal debiting you.

There is simply NO safe way as the seller to accept Paypal.

Sorry.

Oh I'm quite familiar with the process I've given away a few games over the years. It's in the back of my head everytime someone kindly says "How do I know that you won't just take my money and run?" I want to say, "How do I know you won't take my machine and run?"

Tell him to go to the bank and get a cash advance on his credit card.

Sure, it's higher interest, but currently he is asking you to take over his risk.

Very respectfully, how can cash ever be a risk?

Fake bills, bills counted wrong or stolen, temptation to immediately spend on hookers and blow...

All risks that sound fun enough to take ......

If looking for advise here you are probably more confused now! I'm with those that say if you have any concerns, just say cash only. Why even bother with the risk? If he wants it bad enough and he has the money available to send via Paypal, he should have no problem rounding it up in cash. You have a game that is easy to sell if he backs out.

Why be tempted?

Just go and spend it.

I accepted payment for a machine thru paypal once. I will never do it again. The problem had nothing to do with the buyer. He was happy with his purchase. Paypal locked up the money and I couldn't get it out without jumping through hoops.