What Are the Chances of Fraud ?
As a Seller, Will I get Paid ?
As a Buyer, Will I get the Book ?
Unfortunately we cannot guarantee that all will go well. The book may not be in the expected condition or there may be issues with payment. HOWEVER, this website has been operating since 2007 and we have never had a complaint of theft or fraud. Most folk are inherenty honest and nobody is likely to tangle with the possibilty of a criminal record for the sake of R100 or R200.
STANDARD PROCEDURE
The usual process is that the seller and buyer agree the price and the seller asks for payment to be made. When the transfer confirmation is received the seller parcels the book up and pops into a Post Office where the parcel is sent by insured Ordinary Parcel Post, Counter-to-Counter to the buyer.
A few days later the buyer receives a parcel slip in the post informing that the parcel is available for collection at the nominated Post Office. The parcel slip is presented and the buyer has his book.
While this works well for most people, it does expose the buyer to the possibility that the book is never sent. It could, theoretically, not even be in the seller's possession. And you are the cautious type. Or this is an expensive medical book or perhaps you have ordered six books from one seller and are now expected to hand over some R1,500 and the cost is significant. But there is another option...............
CASH ON DELIVERY (COD) Ordinary Parcel Post
The buyer does not make an up front payment to the seller.
Instead, the seller requests COD Service when posting the book at the post office and pays the standard ordinary parcel post fee.
When collecting the book the buyer can make a quick check that the correct book is enclosed, and the post office is paid the price agreed between the buyer and seller. In effect, the post office collects the payment on behalf of the seller.
An advice of payment slip is then mailed to the seller who presents it at the post office. The post office pays over the cash collected less a COD collection fee which is about R22 (March-2016).
This COD system does protect the seller at a small cost and, as a buyer, you may want to suggest it to the seller. To encourage the seller to use that facility you, as the buyer, could offer to add the COD service cost to the price or suggest that you split the difference in the price. You're now talking the cost of a single beer !
Buyer Questions