People sometimes ask me about Craigslist and how supposed buyer offer to send a deposit or payment and have a shipping company pick up the pinball machine. My response - NO!!!!! The only way to be safe is to receive cash! (a bank wire is also good provided it clears before you release the game).

Here are some common questions/scams.

Example: Buyer said he would paypal me a small deposit, send the rest when the shipping company arrives. Is this ok? Is paypal safe?

Answer: Paypal is not a recommended method for receiving payment for a pinball machine. Why? Because even if the buyer sends the money "Friends and Family", he can still reverse the charge if he paid with a credit card.

Here is typically how this occurs - you sell your beautiful game via Craiglist and a buyer offers to pay asking price. He offers a small deposit to hold the game. He organizes the shipping company to come pack and ship the game. A day before pickup, he sends final payment. All is good right? - WRONG - Buyer received the pinball machine then claims there is a problem with it (although there is nothing wrong with it). Buyer, because he used a credit card to fund the paypal transaction, files a dispute with the credit card company which then issues a chargeback to paypal. Your money is now stuck.

The Buyer then claims he wants to return the item or wants money back. You are now stuck and have no choice but to fight it ( and have your money tied up ) or take money off for a bogus problem. Bottom line - always deal in cash unless you know the Buyer!

Read our posts to learn about other scams. To sell your pinball, please contact us!