The seller wants me to pay for the item by sending a large amount of cash to them by Western Union. Should I do this?

Trading Post prohibits the use of money transfer services like Western Union and Money Gram so our advice is not to do it. Fraudulent sellers have been known to request buyers to pay by these methods. We recommend you use safer alternatives like online payment methods or credit cards that provide proof of payment.

Take a look at Paying Safely for more detailed info on methods to use.

If a seller asks you to transfer funds for an item via Western Union or another international money transfer service, please report them to our online customer support team.

The seller wants me to pay for the item by sending a large amount of cash to them through the post. Should I do this?

Sending cash via the mail is a risky and untraceable way to buy items. Trading Post doesn’t recommend it as a method of payment. Read about the payment methods we recommend at Paying Safely.If you’re having issues transacting with a seller, check out our tips on resolving issues with sellers, or contact our online customer support team for advice.

The seller continues to send emails asking me to send cash to them to pay for the item. What can I do?

Our tips on Paying Safely outline some safer methods of paying for the item.

If you have any concerns with a seller, transaction or payment method, please contact our online support team for advice. Alternatively, check out our tips on resolving issues with sellers

I’m interested in a car advertised on Trading Post but the seller wants me to pay a deposit or the full cost upfront without ever seeing or test driving it. What should I do?

To be honest, our advice is to tread very carefully. You should always view and test-drive a car prior to purchase. Fraudulent sellers have been known to request payment for cars, and then inform the buyer that the car is no longer for sale or they never make contact again. See our info on identifying scams for details on these types of scams.

If the seller continues to insist on receiving money and refusing you an inspection or test drive, then contact our online customer support team for advice.

How do I know I’ll receive the item I’ve purchased?

Buying and selling online is not without its risks, but we make every effort to make tradingpost.com.au as safe as we can, and we always advise our customers to take every precaution they would normally take if purchasing the item in person. Our best tips are:

• Do your homework - Does the ad contain enough information about the item for you to make an informed choice? Is the price on par with similar items?
• Get to know the seller - check out their feedback & ratings and read how they have conducted themselves in other transactions. Are they a Verified Trader?
• Ask questions - if you’re unsure about anything, ask the seller a question! Feel free to request more details, additional photos, etc. Anything to make you feel comfortable purchasing online.

Of course you can always get more info from our checklist on bidding & buying.

I have received an email requesting I update or renew my Trading Post details. What should I do?

Trading Post will never send you an email containing a link asking you to update your personal account information. If you receive an email like this (it’s commonly known as a phishing email) please delete the email from your inbox and also from your Deleted Items email folder.

Do not click on any link embedded in the email.

If you have received one of these emails, or clicked on an embedded link and provided information, contact our online customer support team immediately for advice.

Can I have my credit card details deleted from your system?

All credit card details are securely stored by PayPal Private Limited, a leading provider of online payment systems. According to law, such data must be kept for a period of at least 7 years. Your credit card data is archived securely. Paypal doesn’t disclose their data storage methods or policies to any external parties, and card details are not divulged (even to companies like Trading Post) unless required to by law.

For more details see Credit card security.

I’ve been receiving a lot of hoax emails. What can I do?

Phishing emails can be annoying and the best advice is to never respond to such an email, or click on any link embedded in one.

In the interests of your online safety, Trading Post will never send an email requesting you to provide or update your personal details, so be wary of anyone that pretends to be us and requests such info. If you’re feeling a bit ‘iffy’ about an email you’ve received, get in touch with us.

The winning buyer has not paid for my item. What can I do now?

As a first step, follow our advice on how to handle issues with buyers. If you’re still not having any luck, then get in touch with our online customer support team and we’ll attempt to follow up with the buyer on your behalf.

Why do I have to advertise as a business?

As annoying as it may be, there are some rules and laws you need to abide by when transacting online. If you are running a business and advertising your item as part of that business, the law in some states requires that you include one of the following in each ad:

• Business address;
• Business registration number;
• Business license number.

If you want to display any of the following information in your Classified ad, you’ll actually need to advertise your item as a business:

• Business name;
• Business phone number;
• Business street address;
• Business email address;
• URL’s.

What payment methods are best to use?

If you’re the buyer of an item, you are limited to the payment options that the seller offers in the ad. That said, it is best to select a payment method that provides some proof of payment. For a more detailed explanation of the methods we recommend, check out Paying Safely

If you’re selling an item, you can still take a look at Paying Safely for detailed info on what methods we recommend you offer your buyers.

Why has my ad been removed?

Trading Post will always advise you if we have to remove one of your listings for any reason.

You’ll be notified of this by email and Trading Post will always clearly explain the reason why the ad was removed and what your options are regarding listing charges and your re-listing options.

If you have any questions or queries, check out our Terms of Use or contact our online customer support team.

I was the successful bidder in an Auction/Buy Now ad and the seller is insisting I pay by direct bank transfer even though they have listed PayPal as a payment option in the ad. I don’t feel comfortable paying by direct bank transfer. What are my options?

If the seller provided more than one payment methods in their ad, you may have the right to withdrawal from the sale if the seller is insisting you use a particular payment method. Please contact our online customer support team for advice.

The successful buyer in my Auction/Buy Now has asked me to send the item overseas. What should I do?

Trading Post prohibits members conducting any part of the transaction outside of Australia. If a buyer requests that the item be sent to an overseas address, don’t send it.

If a buyer makes such a request of you please report it to our online customer support team immediately.

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