Guy wants to buy my sailboat by paying through paypal

[SteveOlsen]

I've listed my sailboat for sale on Boats.com

I get a text asking me to e-mail the sender's dad whether the boat is still for sale; because the dad is paying.

I e-mail dad that the boat is still for sale. he asks via e-mail what shape it's in, I e-mail back details.

He emails back that he'll buy the boat, sight unseen; and wants to pay via paypal. We're talking around $30,000.

This is a 36' sailboat that I'm not delivering. The Buyer will pick up

I e-mail back that he makes an earnest money payment to hold the boat & bring a cashier's check when his son picks up the boat & I turn over title.

He e-mails back:

"Try and reason with me. my funds are remitted into my paypal account and I have limited access to some facilities here at the base if not I would have send you a check or western union. just try to understand my plight. You can easily signup for a paypal account. It's just like an instant cash you can signup for paypal at www.paypal.com for your personal account is very easy, secure and absolutely free to setup your personal account. Let me know when you done signing up for the account with paypal"

1. I have a paypal account to pay for things I buy. Do I need another account for things I sell?

2. Sounds phishy to me. Who buys a used boat without looking at it. Why wouldn't he send the money via paypal to his son to get the cashier's check?

3. Does Paypal protect this kind of sale, where the item is not delivered; but is picked up?

4. Concerned that he'll get the boat then claim there are problems with it. Show me a boat that doesn't

Thanks

[sharpiemarker]

@SteveOlsen 

Boats are not covered under seller protection so proceed with caution. Buyers can't file Item Not Received claim on pick ups but can file Significantly Not As Described.

Seller Protection terms: 

https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/security/seller-protection

"I have limited access to some facilities here at the base"....don't like the sound of that. I wonder...if "base" means as in military base? Scammers say they're away at a military base, working overseas, working on an oil rig, and such. 

I'm all for cashier's check at pick up/title exchange, after the boat has been viewed. PayPal would put the money on hold, depending on the amount sent via PayPal, if its a sizable chunk.

You can buy/sell with same PayPal account.

Some selling advice from boats dot com:

https://www.boats.com/boat-sellers-guide/how-to-sell-your-boat/

https://www.boats.com/boat-sellers-guide/online-fraud-prevention-beware-of-common-internet-scams/