eBay sellers: WWYD

Well.

Anyone who has sold coins on eBay knows the excitement of receiving that notification that an item has been sold. That excitement only gets better when it's a higher value item...but then every once in a while you get one that just throws red flags up all over the place. This is one of those transactions.

Here are the facts:

Buyer joined eBay TODAY and has 0 feedback or transaction history.
Buyer does not have a PayPal account and used Guest checkout to pay with a credit card.
Item sold for $1,250 USD through BIN (for full price.)

I called eBay looking for guidance, and their "customer support" was, as usual, completely incompetent. Two calls, two reps who don't speak english (and, as a result, don't even comprehend what I'm asking.)

I called PayPal, and they couldn't see anything fraudulent about the seller, but said that sometimes it takes a few hours before they figure out a sketchy transaction, at which time they will place a hold on the funds.

My main question is this: those of you who are experienced sellers on eBay, what would you do in this situation?

What I am most worried about is the "empty box" SNAD return. If I end up shipping the item, it will obviously ship via USPS Registered Mail (tracking and signature required.) So it will show that it's delivered. But what I don't want to happen is that someone processes a return, keeps the coin, and mails me back an empty box. They charge back their CC, I'm out the coin and the funds.

Right now, this is my plan:

I have contacted the buyer asking them to contact me, and stating that I am not going to ship the item until they do.
I plan to wait 24 hours to give PayPal an opportunity to look at the transaction.
If I end up shipping the item, I plan to video the packaging of the item as well as the opening of any return package that is sent.

Anyone had this happen to them before, and have any advice/thoughts?

 

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I've never been there yet... But I do have a rule set up on my eBay account that will not allow anyone with a 0 or less feedback score purchase from me.

Also, If I just didn't feel right from the very get go, I'd probably just cancel the transaction and initiate the refund immediately. Yes, they potentially could ding you with a neg, but it's a heck of a lot better than being out $1250.00. That's just MHO.

 

I get quite a few of those with NO feedback and have just opened the Ebay acount within the month - and most of them are from out of this country (alot are from Saudi Arabia) - I just cancel their bid and then block them.

 

I don't sell on eBay, but I do have friends who have had bad experiences with new buyers. They've taken chances because the buyer seemed pleasant and "educated", but were screwed in the end. If it were me, I'd cancel the sale and block the customer.

Chris

 

Good news for you...



Years ago I had a sale significantly larger than this one that turned out to be nothing but a scam. Without getting into every detail, when finally delivered to the buyer, he not only signed for but was asked by the delivery guy for ID (he presented a passport), yet still claimed he didn't receive it and "won" the so-called "dispute". Even after being able to track down the delivery guy, who offered to send a notarized letter attesting to the above facts, it didn't matter. Again, this was a whIle ago now and perhaps things have changed, but I personally wouldn't put a great deal of faith into the judge, jury, and executioners.

With that said though, it seems all too easy to forget that everyone started out with zero feedback, so it alone isn't automatically indicative of a problem buyer. However, a thousand-plus purchase probably isn't the most comforting of choices for one's first at bat.

 

I actually just did "battle to the death" with Ebay on some high value stamps that were supposed to go via Global Shipping Program to China. Only to find out (after 2 people said I had to ship through other methods) that Ebay had put China on the restricted list for GSP - and would not comply.

I just told Ebay that I "WAS" cancelling the purchase and that they were obligated to protect me as a seller from fraud.

Ebay has screwed sellers of high value collectibles - royally. They have let people get away with so much fraud since their change from allowing negative feedback on buyers.

I have all of my protective tolerances set to maximum. Any negatives, minimum unpaid items, etc... If anyone has less than 20, I read all the feedback. This time I got lucky - someone had posted "SNAD empty box return beware" in the buyer's
"positive" feedback. I cancelled and they tried to blackmail me with negative feedback but I really don't care. Feedback is subjective and can be dealt with, hard cash is lost forever.

Consequently, I saved myself $1800 on a rare stamp.

I cancelled the transaction and to hell with Ebay's policies. If you as a seller aren't comfortable with the deal - cancel it and force Ebay to understand why you did. Make it painful for Ebay. If enough people do - they will be forced to change - or be bombarded with phone calls like this.

CAVEAT VENDIT!

 

I no longer ship coins overseas, one bad experience with a coin to China, which I won the case but my very first sale, back in 2002 was an autographed photo of Luke Skywalker in a X-Wing Fighter to Canada. Buyer did a chargeback after receiving the item and I lost it all. I only use the global shipping program now ( for non coin items) in which the packages are taken care of at ebay's facility in Erlanger, Ky. They do all the paperwork and follow ups for me. Better safe than sorry. But no more coins.

 

1. Don't ship
2. Cancel transaction
3. Block buyer
4. Protect yourself next time - clearly say you only accept Paypal accounts, nothing else. One single click and you wouldn't have this problem now.
5. Use best offer option, this way you can review buyers before selling.

 

I have to agree with everyone else that if you have any doubts just cancel the transaction. Ebay has unfortunately created a selling environment where it has become far to easy for sellers to get ripped off and anyone who has sold enough things on there usually has a story of their own of how they were taken advantage of. I actually made the decision last year that it was not worth risking higher value sales on their anymore and now send all of those items to Great Collections. A few things may not get quite as high of a price but not having to pay a large chunk and fees and having the protection is worth giving up a couple dollars to me.

 

Near as I can tell, Paypal will not commit to Seller Protection for Guest purchases. Run away.

 

I'd cancel the transaction as the end result is likely going to be a charge back on the CC for being unauthorized once they receive the item.

 

Had this problem a few times on e bay. Just one reason of many I don't sell on ebay any longer!
Had the same thing happen to me. A gold coin purchased from a buyer in the US so he said from Oregon . Wanted it shipped to Japan. He made the purchase and paid in full.
I smelled a bad fish, e bay no help so I canceled the transaction , blocked the buyer. Told e bay to byte me!
Another member here friend of mine sold, shipped, got paid. Buyer said never received , sale charged back.
3 years he got up every morning logged on to e bay. And checked the gold coins. "The coin sold was graded and numbered." Caught the guy red handed selling the coin. Contacted e bay. And it's now year 4 later, and he still hasn't been refunded by e bay for the coin in question .
Just cancel the sale . So what if he gives you a negative feedback $1200. Means more in my pocket then a stupid negative means to an honest business man.

 

You are suspicious and you SHOULD be suspicious. Zero feedback. $1250 item.

With that said, I would first wait until you get a reply before cancelling. I'm not sure there is anything they could say that would totally convince you it's not a scam, but maybe they will say something that convinces you it is a scam.

Is the shipping address in or outside the country?

 

Wow, ebay still hasn't refunded him even though the buyer (now seller) has it listed on ebay?!!! This seems ripe for a lawsuit.

 

Brave souls using eBay - I swore it off in '09.

 

With that dollar amount involved you should just cancel the transaction. TC

 

Lawsuit would tie it up for a very long time, and in the end the only winner would be the lawyers!
You know what ebay did to those whom wouldn't link their bank accounts, and a credit card,and SS# ?
Well if you don't here's what they did...
You sell me a coin, I pay for it, you ship, I received the coin and Leave POSITIVE FEED BACK!
We'll ebay said not enough , we're going to hold your funds for 90 days. Before we allow you to transfer or get a check from Pay Pal.
So how long can a small seller stay in business with no monies coming in? Then E Bay wants you to ship free, ship to other countries , and shoulder all the risk.
Oh and like you to ship it free within 24 hours....
Why don't I just jump off a bridge and sing them a song on the way down! E bay needs to be cut down to size.
They are unreal with their low over head, no liability , policy .

 

@stldanceartist ...and all others here that are online sellers...

One tip I have for you all that could help give some assurance is check who owns the shipping address property. If it's in the USA you can google search the name of the county the property resides in. Then go to the property appraiser website for that county and look for property search. If the owner of the address matches the name on the order then it can give some assurance. Of course it definitely doesn't mean it's not a scam, but it would be less likely that the scammer would have it shipped to their residence or a place they own.

Of course a name that doesn't match doesn't necessarily mean it's shady either. Could be a renter.

For the item in question in this thread I would most likely cancel the sale. I would wait to see if I can get more info first though.

 

It may very well be in court for a long time, but maybe you could find a lawyer that would take the case and be willing to wait until settlement is made to get paid. ???
As it is now, your friend will have the loss for the rest of their life if they do nothing about it. So what's a few years compared to that?

The hold on new sellers makes sense. If they don't do that then they will have fraudlent sellers all over the place.