ebay situation - maybe slight paranoia

ebay situation - maybe slight paranoia

Author
Discussion

mjb1

Original Poster:

2,556 posts

159 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
quotequote all
I've got something for sale on ebay with a buy it now. It is very large and bulky, and beyond the max. dimensions for most couriers. I did find a ParcelForce service that would deliver it at a sensible price. So I advertised it as preferable that buyer collects but could be couriered, within UK mainland only.

This morning I get a message asking how much to ship to Malta. I replied saying not possible, as it'd probably cost more than the thing is worth (advertised for £200). Just now however, someone has purchased it, and made payment with Paypal. However, the buyer is the same person (ebay user registered in Malta), that I told I couldn't ship to.

Normally, that would be obviously a cancel and refund situation, but they have given a UK shipping address, albeit with what appears to be some kind of reference number for a recipient name. Two minutes on google reveals that this address is for Asendia UK, which seems to be some kind of international postage/shipping company. Presumably the buyer has contracted them to receive it and forward on to him in Malta.

This is setting off alarm bells for me, with all kinds of thoughts of how it could go pear shaped and I end up screwed over somehow. What if it gets damaged somewhere in transit - how can I prove that it was after his shipping company got their hands on it? Do I have any get out within ebay's terms to cancel the transaction, after all he's provided a UK shipping address. Or am I worrying too much about about it, and I should just send it off to this UK address in confidence?

Oakey

27,565 posts

216 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
quotequote all
You send the item to the address he has provided and as far as you are concerned your role is complete. You'll have proof of postage for Ebay too should you require it. What happens in transit after that is between him and his courier.

Or refund his money and relist it.

theguvernor

629 posts

131 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
quotequote all
I'm very wary when selling on Ebay.
If i was you i'd just refund them their cost & re-list.
Block them from future listings.

eybic

9,212 posts

174 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
quotequote all
To jump through all the Paypal hoops, you have to ship to a confirmed address so you may fall foul of that one unless it shows as being confirmed?

C.A.R.

3,967 posts

188 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
quotequote all
You've looked up the address provided - surely there is a phone number too for this company?

toys

239 posts

259 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
quotequote all
A few years ago I sold several Smart Car parts to a chap from Malta via ebay. As with the OP I sent them to an address in the UK. Spoke to the guy on the phone, and had no problems whatsoever with the transactions.

mjb1

Original Poster:

2,556 posts

159 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
quotequote all
eybic said:
To jump through all the Paypal hoops, you have to ship to a confirmed address so you may fall foul of that one unless it shows as being confirmed?
Just checked, and yes surprisingly, it is a confirmed address, according to the email from PayPal.

Saleen836

11,111 posts

209 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
quotequote all
And when the item is delivered the other end you get a Paypal dispute opened by the buyer!
They will say it is damaged/not working etc and Paypal side with the buyer as you have no proof it wasn't damaged/working before you shipped it, you are now £200 down and no item!

Reverse the paypal payment tell the buyer why.

mjb1

Original Poster:

2,556 posts

159 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
quotequote all
Curiously, the paypal email says the address is confirmed, but when I login to my paypal account and look at the transaction details, the same address is noted as unconfirmed. Think I'll be cancelling this one...

abbotsmike

1,033 posts

145 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
mjb1 said:
Curiously, the paypal email says the address is confirmed, but when I login to my paypal account and look at the transaction details, the same address is noted as unconfirmed. Think I'll be cancelling this one...
Is it actually a genuine paypal email?

Muffsy

141 posts

120 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
mjb1 said:
I've got something for sale on ebay with a buy it now. It is very large and bulky, and beyond the max. dimensions for most couriers. I did find a ParcelForce service that would deliver it at a sensible price. So I advertised it as preferable that buyer collects but could be couriered, within UK mainland only.

This morning I get a message asking how much to ship to Malta. I replied saying not possible, as it'd probably cost more than the thing is worth (advertised for £200). Just now however, someone has purchased it, and made payment with Paypal. However, the buyer is the same person (ebay user registered in Malta), that I told I couldn't ship to.

Normally, that would be obviously a cancel and refund situation, but they have given a UK shipping address, albeit with what appears to be some kind of reference number for a recipient name. Two minutes on google reveals that this address is for Asendia UK, which seems to be some kind of international postage/shipping company. Presumably the buyer has contracted them to receive it and forward on to him in Malta.

This is setting off alarm bells for me, with all kinds of thoughts of how it could go pear shaped and I end up screwed over somehow. What if it gets damaged somewhere in transit - how can I prove that it was after his shipping company got their hands on it? Do I have any get out within ebay's terms to cancel the transaction, after all he's provided a UK shipping address. Or am I worrying too much about about it, and I should just send it off to this UK address in confidence?
You are worrying too much...
You told him you can't Ship to Malta...
Take the money...
Post to the Paypal verified Address...
You job is complete...

randlemarcus

13,521 posts

231 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
Muffsy said:
You are worrying too much...
You told him you can't Ship to Malta...
Take the money...
Post to the Paypal verified Address...
You job is complete...
You are reading too little.

Stop giving bad advice based on what your mate in the pub said.

Pulliptears

3,355 posts

166 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
Refund and give him the following options:

1. Add a UK address to Paypal and get it verified and repay.
2. Agree to a cancellation request
3. Pay via bank transfer.

Meanwhile, go into your seller settings and choose 'block buyers from countries to which I don't ship'. This should stop it happening again.


Muffsy

141 posts

120 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
randlemarcus said:
You are reading too little.

Stop giving bad advice based on what your mate in the pub said.
How is that bad advice Marcus...

Pulliptears

3,355 posts

166 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
Muffsy said:
randlemarcus said:
You are reading too little.

Stop giving bad advice based on what your mate in the pub said.
How is that bad advice Marcus...
Because you missed this bit...

OP said:
Curiously, the paypal email says the address is confirmed, but when I login to my paypal account and look at the transaction details, the same address is noted as unconfirmed. Think I'll be cancelling this one...

Vaud

50,458 posts

155 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
Pulliptears said:
Refund and give him the following options:

3. Pay via bank transfer.
Not sure that is a great idea as a seller. International transfers can be revoked, IIRC.

Pulliptears

3,355 posts

166 months

Friday 16th May 2014
quotequote all
Vaud said:
Not sure that is a great idea as a seller. International transfers can be revoked, IIRC.
From memory (though seller would need to check with his bank) a week to clear and it can't be snatched back. Worth checking anyway.

mjb1

Original Poster:

2,556 posts

159 months

Wednesday 21st May 2014
quotequote all
Just to wrap this one up, I refunded his paypal payment and went through the ebay resolution process to undo the sale on the basis that his UK address wasn't verified. All sorted, although I haven't checked what fees got refunded, I think I got back the final value fee but not the listing fee.

CraigyMc

16,403 posts

236 months

Wednesday 21st May 2014
quotequote all
Pulliptears said:
From memory (though seller would need to check with his bank) a week to clear and it can't be snatched back. Worth checking anyway.
In cases of fraud and/or money laundering there is no limit to how long before they can reverse it.