Ok, I need some education. (Buying from an individual not a business).

I have bought used pinball machines and had them shipped to me before.

I have always done:
(A) immediate wire transfer as the game is getting packaged and loaded. The shipper and seller let me know that it is loaded. The seller validates the funds in their account and then releases the shipper. Basically real-time to protect the buyer and seller.

I was always told once you wire transfer as a buyer there is no getting your money back; hence I don’t give out money days in advance.

(B). PayPal via family and friends to save the 3%. I like this option better as it is even more real time and their are no delays. I do the transaction the same way as in option (A).

(C) go through PayPal as biz or eBay; but I hate paying fees and doing in advance. You have protection this way - but not that great.

(D). Cash in hand and local pickup. Hard to do this when seller is 12 hours away. I always do this way for local pickups.

So Pinsiders; how have you done it? I have a person that wants me to have the cash clear into his checking account from PayPal or Wire transfer days in advance. I am basically trusting he won’t take my money.

Have you all worked with a shipper who can intervene some how /help.

Let me know.

Thx

So, I am not a PayPal expert, but if you pay via Family and friends can you reverse a payment?

I thought you had to do as a biz transaction and pay the 2.9% fee.