Hey all,
I know we are encouraged to use PayPal for our online purchasing, and that is sensible advice.
However, simply using PayPal is not enough. Please note that you are not, not, NOT protected if you send a payment via the Family and Friends option in PayPal.
No matter what the seller says, you must use Goods and Services for your payment, or nothing! The seller will incur a small fee, which is the price of doing business with you. Your payment will be protected should the seller not send your goods.
If the person is not a family member or a (good) friend, do not use Family and Friends in PayPal. This goes for eBay, Gumtree and any online forum where goods are exchanged for money.
Amber