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Flipping websites - How to protect myself as the seller?

by Robert Mangan
12 replies
Hi,

I'm going to flip websites on flippa and was looking for advice on how to prevent myself from being scammed by fraudulent buyers.

My sites won't be selling for many hundreds of dollar so I don't want to use the escrow service as this would reduce the profit I would make.

What steps should I take?

Thanks,
Robert
#flipping #protect #seller #websites
  • Profile picture of the author SuppaDave21
    I would suggest if you are selling and collecting payment via paypal to actually send the website files and information to the customer in the form if a CD or memory drive to the customers paypal shipping address, so that it is no longer a digital product, but a physical one.

    This will help you in case of a dispute to try and rip you off after you send the website files. You will be able to provide a tracking # to prove the product was delivered.

    This method has not failed for me yet.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexander K
      Originally Posted by I webs design View Post

      I would suggest if you are selling and collecting payment via paypal to actually send the website files and information to the customer in the form if a CD or memory drive to the customers paypal shipping address, so that it is no longer a digital product, but a physical one.

      This will help you in case of a dispute to try and rip you off after you send the website files. You will be able to provide a tracking # to prove the product was delivered.

      This method has not failed for me yet.
      Good idea.

      Normally when it comes to virtual goods, I've read paypal sides with the seller. I believe it is in their terms too. Should double check that to be safe though.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mr Lim
      Originally Posted by I webs design View Post

      I would suggest if you are selling and collecting payment via paypal to actually send the website files and information to the customer in the form if a CD or memory drive to the customers paypal shipping address, so that it is no longer a digital product, but a physical one.

      This will help you in case of a dispute to try and rip you off after you send the website files. You will be able to provide a tracking # to prove the product was delivered.

      This method has not failed for me yet.
      Yeah Robert, try this. Other than that, send your buyer an invoice and write something similar "Since this is an intangible good, buyer will not be able to request for refund" in the terms and condition box.
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  • Profile picture of the author infoaddicts
    CD idea if fool proof ..thanks
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    • Profile picture of the author LinkClub
      You can use escrow services like safefunds...they only charge around 30 bucks...
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      • Profile picture of the author Clintin
        A website is an intangible item, so PayPal will normally go in favor of the seller.

        Even with a CD it doesn't matter, the person who buys the website can still do a Charge Back on their Credit Card/Bank Card. A while back I had an issue like this but I was the buyer. PayPal wouldn't give me my money back because it was an intangible item. They told me to contact my bank, and do a charge back. When the company does a charge back, PayPal has to release the money back to your account. From what they told me!

        So, either way you are never safe. Most of the time when people purchases websites, they are not really looking to scam you, but there is always those few people that are.

        The CD or FD is a great way to show that you sent the item off, but that may decrease sales, and bids. Most people like to have their website that they bought up and running within 48hours.
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        • Profile picture of the author BackLinkiT
          Include in your listing a note that payment by paypal will trigger a 60 day waiting period, during which the domain and site files will not be transferred to the buyer.

          You will happily enter their affiliate details etc etc and offer free hosting during this period...

          At the end of the 60 day period all files and the domain will be transferred to the buyer.

          Stops the paypal chargeback scam.

          Good luck!

          Peter
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  • Profile picture of the author Oliver Williams
    If you use PayPal as a seller you ok because the buyer cannot file a dispute as PayPal does not provide any protection for non tangible items. So long as they pay your first you will be ok.
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  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Smale
    I'm pretty sure the Paypal & CD trick doesn't work anymore as they changed their TOS.

    Besides, Escrow isn't that expensive. It's not like Paypal is that cheap anyway.

    On a $500 transaction, Paypal will cost you around $15, whereas Escrow will cost around $25. The safety of Escrow makes it a no-brainer to go with every time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Robert Mangan
    Thanks to everyone for your help.

    I might look at escrow again and see if it would be something I could use without squeezing my profit margin too much.
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  • Profile picture of the author fin
    Use Moniker Escrow.

    It will be safe for your domain names. Also, in auction info, tell the buyer they have to pay 100% escrow fees.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jay Brass
    Originally Posted by Robert Mangan View Post

    Hi,

    I'm going to flip websites on flippa and was looking for advice on how to prevent myself from being scammed by fraudulent buyers.

    My sites won't be selling for many hundreds of dollar so I don't want to use the escrow service as this would reduce the profit I would make.

    What steps should I take?

    Thanks,
    Robert
    Not sure why you wouldn't want to use Escrow if you're looking for protection. Escrow may cost a bit more but you are nearly guaranteed your money. You could always request that the buyer pay the Escrow fees.

    But if you want to accept money via PayPal, that works too, but you're going to need to make sure you have all the money up front first, or at least 75% of it.
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