eBay - scam or genuine?
Discussion
Mods, please move this somewhere more suitable if I've picked the wrong place... thanks
Evening all
I'm selling a bike on eBay (it's a Trek carbon so is reasonably expensive), and I recieved an email from somebody with a new profile and zero feedback, asking if I could let their courier collect the bike as long as they paid upfront via PayPal, as they live in the South of France and so couldn't collect in person.
I responded saying I'd rather not, given that they had a new profile, zero feedback, etc etc - to which she then replied explaining how it was a new account as she was buying it as a present for her husband, and she had been using eBay under another ID (that she provided) for 6 years, with 100% feedback. The "old" ID seems genuine.
She seems happy to pay upfront via PayPal, and then for "her" courier to come and collect the bike once the payment has cleared from PayPal (i.e. once I have withdrawn the funds). She also asked whether I could end the auction early for a pre-agreed price (a bit naughty I guess, but I assume this goes on all the time).
So, does it seem like a scam or genuine? I'm new to selling via eBay (been buying for years) so don't want to let my bike go to some Ugandan con artist (for a start, it'd be rubbish on their roads...) - can a PayPal transaction be "reversed" like some Western Union-type transactions can be?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts
Evening all
I'm selling a bike on eBay (it's a Trek carbon so is reasonably expensive), and I recieved an email from somebody with a new profile and zero feedback, asking if I could let their courier collect the bike as long as they paid upfront via PayPal, as they live in the South of France and so couldn't collect in person.
I responded saying I'd rather not, given that they had a new profile, zero feedback, etc etc - to which she then replied explaining how it was a new account as she was buying it as a present for her husband, and she had been using eBay under another ID (that she provided) for 6 years, with 100% feedback. The "old" ID seems genuine.
She seems happy to pay upfront via PayPal, and then for "her" courier to come and collect the bike once the payment has cleared from PayPal (i.e. once I have withdrawn the funds). She also asked whether I could end the auction early for a pre-agreed price (a bit naughty I guess, but I assume this goes on all the time).
So, does it seem like a scam or genuine? I'm new to selling via eBay (been buying for years) so don't want to let my bike go to some Ugandan con artist (for a start, it'd be rubbish on their roads...) - can a PayPal transaction be "reversed" like some Western Union-type transactions can be?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts
Probably a scam.
Certainly don't let her pay by paypal, it'll be reversed within hours of you letting the bike go.
www.paypalsucks.com
I'd tell her that if the courier brings cash, happy days, otherwise, no thankyou.
Certainly don't let her pay by paypal, it'll be reversed within hours of you letting the bike go.
www.paypalsucks.com
I'd tell her that if the courier brings cash, happy days, otherwise, no thankyou.
Might be genuine but is wide open to a chargeback. Can't she buy the bike in France?
Bank transfer might be a better option, but even they can clear payments then reverse them.
Oddly enough, Western Union would work - she sets it up and you collect real cash from the nearest agent (eg Thomas Cook). That way she takes all the risk, not you!
Bank transfer might be a better option, but even they can clear payments then reverse them.
Oddly enough, Western Union would work - she sets it up and you collect real cash from the nearest agent (eg Thomas Cook). That way she takes all the risk, not you!
Edited by Simpo Two on Friday 16th October 18:07
Simpo Two said:
Might be genuine but is wide open to a chargeback. Can't she buy the bike in France?
Bank transfer might be a better option, but even they can clear payments then reverse them.
Oddly enough, Western Union would work - she sets it up and you collect real cash from the nearest agent (eg Thomas Cook). That way she takes all the risk, not you!
thisBank transfer might be a better option, but even they can clear payments then reverse them.
Oddly enough, Western Union would work - she sets it up and you collect real cash from the nearest agent (eg Thomas Cook). That way she takes all the risk, not you!
Edited by Simpo Two on Friday 16th October 18:07
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