What is the scam?
Discussion
Hi all, sorry to start a new thread, but I just need a bit of advice. A while back I sold something on ebay and the winning bidder had zero feedback. Predictably I never heard from them again and I had to open a case etc etc.
I have got a rather expensive watch for sale at the moment and have had a good offer from a zero feedback member, and am obviouslyin two minds. My question is; What is the scam? What am I missing? They buy something, don't pay, I don't send it and I lose nothing but a bit of patience. I don't get it.
I have got a rather expensive watch for sale at the moment and have had a good offer from a zero feedback member, and am obviouslyin two minds. My question is; What is the scam? What am I missing? They buy something, don't pay, I don't send it and I lose nothing but a bit of patience. I don't get it.
They pay for it, you send it, they open a 'not as described' case or any other route to reclaiming their money. You get no money and the watch is gone.
Alternatively they pay using a hacked paypal account, or pay with their own paypal but then pick the watch up because they're 'in the area' and then open a non-delivery case
Postscript: I've seen enough online and had enough hassle myself that I wouldn't sell anything of any value whatsoever on ebay unless it's cash on collection
Alternatively they pay using a hacked paypal account, or pay with their own paypal but then pick the watch up because they're 'in the area' and then open a non-delivery case
Postscript: I've seen enough online and had enough hassle myself that I wouldn't sell anything of any value whatsoever on ebay unless it's cash on collection
Edited by oldcynic on Monday 18th January 22:47
oldcynic said:
They pay for it, you send it, they open a 'not as described' case or any other route to reclaiming their money. You get no money and the watch is gone.
Alternatively they pay using a hacked paypal account, or pay with their own paypal but then pick the watch up because they're 'in the area' and then open a non-delivery case
Appropriate username. Alternatively they pay using a hacked paypal account, or pay with their own paypal but then pick the watch up because they're 'in the area' and then open a non-delivery case
Spot on.
If the buyer pays via Paypal and I send the item recorded signed for and all insured, how can they scam me?
Also, they said they could pay by bank transfer but would want some kind of proof that I am not some random with a picture of a watch on ebay, what what proof could I give them?
Also, they said they could pay by bank transfer but would want some kind of proof that I am not some random with a picture of a watch on ebay, what what proof could I give them?
Speed Badger said:
If the buyer pays via Paypal and I send the item recorded signed for and all insured, how can they scam me?
Also, they said they could pay by bank transfer but would want some kind of proof that I am not some random with a picture of a watch on ebay, what what proof could I give them?
Try to claim a partial or full refund after they've received your item. For example, they say you sent them an empty box. How are you going to prove otherwise?Also, they said they could pay by bank transfer but would want some kind of proof that I am not some random with a picture of a watch on ebay, what what proof could I give them?
As far as proof goes, take a picture of the item with a copy of today's paper in the shot.
Speed Badger said:
A while back I sold something on ebay and the winning bidder had zero feedback. Predictably I never heard from them again and I had to open a case etc etc.
Flea-bay is a shark tank! Competitors will open phantom accounts and bid way over the market price to steer traffic to their own listings! oldcynic said:
I've seen enough online and had enough hassle myself that I wouldn't sell anything of any value whatsoever on ebay unless it's cash on collection
Ive had so much hassle in the past that i only offer cash on collection. Ebay/Paypal are a nightmare and offer no security to sellers if you have a scam buyer, or someone who just tries it on and claims an item is faulty etc.That said, i listed 4 items the other week (watches & car parts, ranging from £50 to £250) and stated "strictly cash on collection". When i got the inevitable messages of "i am miles away will you post, innit" i said "i will only post if you pay via bank transfer (BACS) & include the extra £x for postage". Two agreed, and it worked very well - i didnt get stung with Paypal fees, and i know if any suffer with buyers remorse that they cant go crying to Paypal who will refund them and then take the money from my account. The other two paid in cash.
(Additionally it was a "pay only 1p on final ebay fees" so i did over £400 of sales and it only cost me 4p, vs ~£40 had it been normal listing and i'd accepted paypal!)
Another cautionary tale with me as a buyer but the point is to illustrate the attitude of the poor seller.
I've bought a fair few bits and bobs from different sellers, some of which were faulty. Fair enough, it happens. This has happened a few times with different sellers. I contacted the sellers and asked how I could return the faulty parts so they could send me out another.
Their response was to either provide an immediate refund with no questions or they just sent out another item. I've never been asked to send a faulty item back, which I would have expected to do and would quite happily have done. Certainly if it were me I would want the faulty item back.
With these being quite high volume sellers, I think they must have just got used to the unfair e-bay and paypal system and reached a point where it wasn't / isn't worth them trying to fight it. As such I think they just write things off and add it to the cost of sales. A system that oppressive and unfair that it generates an attitude like that cannot be right.
A very sad state of affairs, it must be a thankless task selling stuff for a living on there.
The point is, as a seller, especially with a single high value item like a watch, you are taking a huge risk as others have said of loosing your payment and the watch.
If e-bay cash on collection or sell it to one of the watch buying companies that advertise for slightly less. Avoid the risk.
I've bought a fair few bits and bobs from different sellers, some of which were faulty. Fair enough, it happens. This has happened a few times with different sellers. I contacted the sellers and asked how I could return the faulty parts so they could send me out another.
Their response was to either provide an immediate refund with no questions or they just sent out another item. I've never been asked to send a faulty item back, which I would have expected to do and would quite happily have done. Certainly if it were me I would want the faulty item back.
With these being quite high volume sellers, I think they must have just got used to the unfair e-bay and paypal system and reached a point where it wasn't / isn't worth them trying to fight it. As such I think they just write things off and add it to the cost of sales. A system that oppressive and unfair that it generates an attitude like that cannot be right.
A very sad state of affairs, it must be a thankless task selling stuff for a living on there.
The point is, as a seller, especially with a single high value item like a watch, you are taking a huge risk as others have said of loosing your payment and the watch.
If e-bay cash on collection or sell it to one of the watch buying companies that advertise for slightly less. Avoid the risk.
Edited by colin_p on Tuesday 19th January 15:33
Speed Badger said:
If it's as easy as claiming the item you sent is missing to get an automitic refund and leave the seller minus his item and his money then surely nobody would sell on ebay? I mean I could buy a £5k Rolex and say all I got was an empty box and get a full refund plus keep the item??!
Yes, it is that easy.Get item, raise "not as described", eBay ask for proof of post that you sent it back so send the seller an empty envelope by signed-for delivery, you get refund and item, seller gets an empty envelope.
I stopped selling anything valuable on eBay (or with PayPal) after realising how easily you can get scammed.
Speed Badger said:
Hi all, sorry to start a new thread, but I just need a bit of advice. A while back I sold something on ebay and the winning bidder had zero feedback. Predictably I never heard from them again and I had to open a case etc etc.
I have got a rather expensive watch for sale at the moment and have had a good offer from a zero feedback member, and am obviouslyin two minds. My question is; What is the scam? What am I missing? They buy something, don't pay, I don't send it and I lose nothing but a bit of patience. I don't get it.
Buyer pays by legitimate PayPalI have got a rather expensive watch for sale at the moment and have had a good offer from a zero feedback member, and am obviouslyin two minds. My question is; What is the scam? What am I missing? They buy something, don't pay, I don't send it and I lose nothing but a bit of patience. I don't get it.
You send watch, tracked and signed for
Buyer opens a "not as described" case on Ebay
Buyer sends watch back to you, tracked and signed for
You open package to fine a good quality replica instead of the watch you sent
Paypal refund the buyer
You cry into your pillow.
SlimRick said:
Buyer pays by legitimate PayPal
You send watch, tracked and signed for
Buyer opens a "not as described" case on Ebay
Buyer sends watch back to you, tracked and signed for
You open package to fine a good quality replica instead of the watch you sent
Paypal refund the buyer
You cry into your pillow.
Worse still, buyer just tells Ebay it's a counterfeit. Ebay tells buyer to destroy it. PayPal refunds buyer. Ebay tells seller "too bad, it's the law".You send watch, tracked and signed for
Buyer opens a "not as described" case on Ebay
Buyer sends watch back to you, tracked and signed for
You open package to fine a good quality replica instead of the watch you sent
Paypal refund the buyer
You cry into your pillow.
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