eBay buyer - scam?

[TheGreatSoprendo]

I listed a blender on eBay recently and it was bought today using buy it now. However, looking at the the buyer's account, they only joined eBay today, have zero feedback and the delivery address appears to be a branch of Argos in Durham!?

Feels decidedly scammy to me, but not sure what the best course of action is?

[designforlife]

they may well have selected click and collect for delivery, i believe that goes to argos branches...

[anonymous-user]

It does sound like there’s a scam brewing but as mentioned, I sure Argos is a click and collect type place, what was the item and value? How have they paid?

[TheGreatSoprendo]

pablo said:

It does sound like there’s a scam brewing but as mentioned, I sure Argos is a click and collect type place, what was the item and value? How have they paid?

Paid £45 by Paypal

[underwhelmist]

A common scam is claiming not to have received the goods (after they have of course), then opening a case with PayPal. PayPal always seems to side with the buyer, who gets refunded. Buyer ends up with a free blender and you're deficient in the small kitchen appliance department to the tune of one.

Make sure you send it using a method where you get some proof of delivery. Or can you just decline the sale?

Edited by underwhelmist on Wednesday 23 January 21:30

[Spare tyre]

The Argos thing is fine

Probably a little less risky than the post.

Gumtree trumps eBay

[anonymous-user]

The buyer may just have seen it and joined today in order to buy it
The Argos address may look something like this

Collection address - Directions
ARGOS Blagport
ARGOS Unit 5
eCP:UIYTFBNM Flaxley Parkway
Blagport B12 6TY
United Kingdom

Use a trackable method of delivery
One odd thing you may find that whilst the buyers Argos address is on the e bay order details page it isn't on the paypal page
Paypal are aware of this and from past enquiry they cover it if you dispatch to the address as per e bay order page and use a trackable delivery service

Only yourself can decide if its a scam

[Lemming Train]

TheGreatSoprendo said:

I listed a blender on eBay recently and it was bought today using buy it now. However, looking at the the buyer's account, they only joined eBay today, have zero feedback and the delivery address appears to be a branch of Argos in Durham!?

Feels decidedly scammy to me, but not sure what the best course of action is?

If you offered click and collect in your listing then everything is normal. They've chosen this option and are waiting for you to send it to Argos so they can collect it. Get it boxed up and sent.

[Armitage.Shanks]

underwhelmist said:

A common scam is claiming not to have received the goods (after they have of course), then opening a case with PayPal. PayPal always seems to side with the buyer, who gets refunded. Buyer ends up with a free blender and you're deficient in the small kitchen appliance department to the tune of one.

Make sure you send it using a method where you get some proof of delivery. Or can you just decline the sale?

And another 'scam' - an issue I've got at the minute. Sell an iPhone, get paid by PayPal. Buyer then decides it's 'faulty' and wants to return it. This opens a case where PayPal decide to refund what I've been paid BEFORE I actually receive the phone back. And would you believe it, the phone was never returned, eBay won't help saying its a Royal Mail issue. RM not interested as they say it's the senders responsibility to claim compensation if it's lost. Sender surprisingly is refusing any contact. Go back to eBay, 30 days resolution period is up and tell me to fk off. So out of all this I've lost £200 plus the auction/PayPal fees incurred for the 'sale'.

For some reason I can't trace the phone via IMEI now to find out if it's active?

[stevensdrs]

The chance of someone trying to scam a blender at £45 are fairly low. The chance of someone trying to scam an I phone are probably near 100%. Never sell phones on e-bay, not worth the risk.

[Armitage.Shanks]

stevensdrs said:

The chance of someone trying to scam a blender at £45 are fairly low. The chance of someone trying to scam an I phone are probably near 100%. Never sell phones on e-bay, not worth the risk.

Too true chum. I think the best is to buy off eBay and sell your own stuff elsewhere.