Question for the eBay wiz

[Oualawouzou]

Hello everybody,

I would like some feedback from experienced eBay sellers.

I recently sold my first item ever on eBay. The item itself sold at $270 US. But I am starting to wonder if I should trust the buyer or not...

The buyer has 0 feedback, but I must keep in mind that not long ago, I had 0 feedback as well, so... His eBay profile says he is in Texas, USA but he is requesting the item be shipped to Argentina (which bumps up the price of the item to $380 US). I inquired about this but haven't got a response so far. Today, he asks if his buddy could pay for the item on his behalf by transferring the amount to my PayPal account.

I am starting to have second thoughts. The combination of these three factors (no feedback, shipping different than what profile says, 3rd party paying) make me nervous. But as I said, this is my first time selling on eBay, so maybe I am being paranoid. Were you in my situation, what would you do?

Thanks!

[Katana]

Strange behavior, but, if his buddy makes the payment on Paypal before you ship the item, what would be the risk?

What's the item, by the way (just curious), if you don't mind my asking?

[Lothian]

As I understand, one fraud is when check is sent with the request you send the good when the cheque clears.

This relies on the fact that cheques appear credited to your account before the confirmation process is finished so that after you send the goods you get a note from the bank saying the cheque had bounced.

I don’t think paypal does this.

[Oualawouzou]

So, basically, if I get the payment through PayPal, I'm good?

Oh, and the item is a Nintendo Wii console.

[Katana]

So, basically, if I get the payment through PayPal, I'm good?

Oh, and the item is a Nintendo Wii console.


I would think so. I don't think that there is a way for a buyer to take back the money once it has been credited to your Paypal account.

Others may know more than I, though.

[Lothian]

So, basically, if I get the payment through PayPal, I'm good?

Oh, and the item is a Nintendo Wii console.I think so.

Here is the UK paypal page (http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/ebayexplained/paypal/index.html) It gives contact points and suggests you are protected against losses arising from fraudulent chargebacks. Check to see what the American page says.

[Oualawouzou]

The ebay.ca website redirects me to paypal.com for seller protection. And from what I read, while I am covered against "fraudulent chargebacks", I am not covered for a "real" chargeback, i.e. if the guy really uses someone else's CC to pay for the item. Then I'd be screwed.

Hum... decision, decision... Would it be bad form of me to require that I wait a few days after the payment is made to ship the item?

[TheDoLittle]

I've been eBaying since it's early inception, Bought and sold hundreds of junk items (at least Wife says it is!). Last summer, I help set up operations for 3 different "Sell It on eBay" storefronts. Here are a few pointers you might want to consider.

Reveal everything up front. Even if it's got a minor-nobody-can-see-it-unless-you-hold-it-up-to-the-moonlight-scratch-on-the-back. It's rare to come across that certain buyer, but they are out there and they're a pain to deal with... and eBay won't always side with you if you don't state it up front.

State the shipping and handling charges and where you will ship in the description. Be sure to call it "Shipping and Handling", eBay is a real stickler about that. I usually will do a flat rate for US, Canada, Mexico, plus $10 for the "handling". I'll ship USPS for local stuff (usually cheaper) and UPS for anywhere outside the US. If the buyer is overseas, state in the description that "they must e-mail you the location BEFORE BIDDING" so you can give them the cost of shipping. That way if they pull something like what is happening to you, you can back out of the contract. eBay will almost always side with you on this point.

Also, it's a good idea not to ship anything immediately. I usually wait a day or two after I receive the payment. You will also have to state in the description "Seller will ship item X number of hours after recieving payment".

Accept Paypal, Money Order, or Cashier's Check ONLY!! No cash, no credit cards (not even through PayPal), no checks!! Give the buyer a reasonable amount of time to pay (I allow 2 weeks) but again don't ship anything immediately. Wait about 48 hours before wrapping it up and sending it. If someone is scamming you, they usually do it almost immediately so they don't want to (and usually don't) wait 48 hours to pull something.

Also, don't click on anything in any of their e-mails. I just got finished scambaiting (http://www.419eater.com) someone who tried to scam me in one of my auctions. He sent me a fraudulent, yet convincing looking PayPal e-mail that linked to a bogus website that said he had paid. I quick hop over to the REAL PayPal proved otherwise. I hopefully wasted enough of his time an energy to reconsider doing it again, but I know better and he'll be pulling his kind crap soon I'm sure.

All in all, most people on eBay are good, honest folk who are just looking for a bargain. In the 10+ years and several hundred auctions I've done, I had 8 that give me any kind of a problem, and only 2 ever gave me negative feedback. Just be sure to cover your a$$ by writing everything out in the description. eBay is terrible about helping out an arbitrating, buyer or seller, but PayPal does pretty good about money aspect.

[volatile]

Also - make sure that you send the item to be signed for. Never, ever, ever send an item in the regular mail. Burden of proof in Ebay disputes is on the seller, not the buyer, so you need to be able to show that the item was signed for. Proof of posting is not enough, you need proof of receipt.

This is of course doubly important if shipping to a third party, and triply so if they have no feedback.

One last thing - always conduct discussions through the ebay console and not by direct email. This stops people who aren't the real buyers contacting you, pretending to be the actual auction winner.

[Oualawouzou]

Thanks for the advice.

So, that's what I'll do. I'll ask for a money transfer (no CC) by PayPal, give it a day or two and then ship. The shipping method he asked for requires a signature upon delivery, so that bit is covered.

Thanks everybody!

[TheDoLittle]

You will let us know how it turns out, right?

[tkingdoll]

Personally I wouldn't do it. In fact I have a 'no zero feedback winners allowed' for items worth over £150. If you are trustworthy, get some feedback buying something cheap first. The fees are too much to gamble.

It's highly suspect that he wants to ship elsewhere and use a friend's Paypal account. And although Paypal will protect you against fraud, you have to prove it's fraud and fight for a refund.

[_Q_]

Hello everybody,

I would like some feedback from experienced eBay sellers.

I recently sold my first item ever on eBay. The item itself sold at $270 US. But I am starting to wonder if I should trust the buyer or not...

The buyer has 0 feedback, but I must keep in mind that not long ago, I had 0 feedback as well, so... His eBay profile says he is in Texas, USA but he is requesting the item be shipped to Argentina (which bumps up the price of the item to $380 US). I inquired about this but haven't got a response so far. Today, he asks if his buddy could pay for the item on his behalf by transferring the amount to my PayPal account.

I am starting to have second thoughts. The combination of these three factors (no feedback, shipping different than what profile says, 3rd party paying) make me nervous. But as I said, this is my first time selling on eBay, so maybe I am being paranoid. Were you in my situation, what would you do?

Thanks!


I'm a fairly experienced eBay seller, and this would set off all sorts of alarm bells with me! There's no way that I'd proceed as you, in this thread, are planning. It all might be on the up-and-up, but it lies far outside my comfort zone. This is coming from someone who, over the past several years, has sent several thousand dollar's worth of merchandise internationally when he knew he wasn't eligible for any sort of "seller protection" - just taking calculated risks based on how he felt about the buyers, and on his perception that the "scam potential" was low for the sort of merchandise he was selling.

Do NOT fall into the trap of thinking that all is well as long just because the money shows up in your PayPal account. That is not the end of the line!

Payment by a third party? Not shipping to a "confirmed address"? Shipping to a country for which PayPal may not (I don't know about Argentina) recognize proof of delivery anyway? Item with high "scam potential" to begin with? If you have any concern about being "protected", then consider very carefully before proceeding!

Even if you've already received payment by PayPal, you aren't committed; you can still refund the payment through PayPal. If you do end up not completing the transaction, be aware that there are ways to have the "final value fee" for the sale refunded to you.

If you want to get opinions from folks with vastly more experience than I, then go the the "Community" section on eBay, find the discussion boards, and pose your questions on "Seller Central". There are folks there willing and able to tell you if there are any ways this could "go wrong", and exactly what those ways are. You also might get some helpful suggestions for how you could specify terms of sale in future auctions that might save you from similar headaches (e.g., only shipping to confirmed addresses, only shipping to certain countries, etc.).

[webfusion]

Jumping through all these hoops for selling a highly-in-demand Wii console system? No way.

Cancel that guy's bid, go to Second Chance Offer, and get a "normal" buyer.

[balrog666]

The ebay.ca website redirects me to paypal.com for seller protection. And from what I read, while I am covered against "fraudulent chargebacks", I am not covered for a "real" chargeback, i.e. if the guy really uses someone else's CC to pay for the item. Then I'd be screwed.

Hum... decision, decision... Would it be bad form of me to require that I wait a few days after the payment is made to ship the item?

Hell no, you aren't covered by PayPal!

Third party payments are never covered and fraudulent charges are always disputable.

If I were you, I would demand payment in cash via a money transfer (i.e., Western Union) or a money order send via Fed-Ex.

Otherwise wait 10 days and re-list it for free (explaining why).

[Oualawouzou]

Well, upon me requesting payment NOT by a third party's CC, I got another e-mail from the buyer requesting the item be shipped via USPS... Er. No, I'm in Canada. And I said that we wouldn't move forward until we've agreed upon the payment method. It's been silent since then. I reported the item as unpaid today, now I have to wait another 7 days to have the fees credited. Or less, if he gets his head out of his ass and move to have the dispute closed. I doubt he will though, he just got one feedback for buying a Wii off someone else.

Jerk.

[wooooody64]

I had an issue similar to yours, all of the same suspicions, the buyer actually paid, the money was in my paypal account.

Turns out, the buyer had access to the paypal that didnt belong to him, and paypal refunded the money to the real paypal account holder.

I would say communicate to paypal before sending any items, if in doubt dont send.

[Oualawouzou]

Your last post had me go back to eBay just to check that guy's profile. His feedback rating is now -1 (bought a Wii off someone, suckered another guy in the same situation I was, so 2 negatives and 1 positive).