Potential eBay Scam, Please Help!

adamm12 on 26/12/2019 - 13:15

I sold my gaming desktop through a best offer option and I had the option of pick up or post for $29.95. The buyer from SA chose the pick up option (VIC) even though he wants it posted and advised that he will pay the courier fee from a separate account? The buyers account has been opened since 2010 but only 13 transactions made and none in the last few years.

I'm a little suss about this, for one it's not a huge delivery fee and I provided him with an ebay promotion code that would have covered the delivery fee. Is there a way to claim that the item was not delivered as shipping fee not paid?

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Comments

  • FireRunner on 26/12/2019 - 13:26
    +6

    Smell of a scam to me. Correct me if I'm wrong but eBay/PayPal doesn't offer seller protection on local pickup.
    They're expecting a local pickup and providing a tracking number won't help.
    I wouldn't go through with it if I were you. You're in danger of losing the whole amount not just the delivery cost

    • adamm12 on 26/12/2019 - 13:48

      Yeah same, initially i didnt think of it much but the whole option to pick up and ship provides them an opportunity to scam.

  • adamm12 on 26/12/2019 - 14:47

    I ended up speaking with an ebay consultant, they are saying as long as the buyer has request shipping through official eBay email and I have tracking ID and signature on delivery I am covered, I hope they are right.

    • FireRunner on 26/12/2019 - 15:24
      +2

      I would still not go through with it to avoid the headache this is going to cause

    • I Smell Pennies on 26/12/2019 - 15:48
      +3

      I've had this happen to me once. Spoke to eBay chat and they said the same thing. As long as you got the chat transcript with eBay asking them and as long as all communication with the buyer goes through eBay, eBay will probably protect you. In my case, ended up being an actual genuine buyer.

      As others here mentioned, it may not be worth the hassle. You can always nicely tell the buyer you will cancel the transaction and then relist it. So it is up to you :)

    • tomsco on 26/12/2019 - 19:21

      But will it be alright if escalated to PayPal?

  • 2pro4sho on 26/12/2019 - 14:58
    +3

    Avoid this like the plague. You organise the postage and pay for insurance

  • beaver2233 on 26/12/2019 - 15:41
    +1

    Yeah I definitely would not go through with it.

  • adamm12 on 26/12/2019 - 15:58

    So i received payment for the delivery from another one of his accounts, this other account has his middle name. They are both registered under the same address, same as ebay. I also found him on facebook, seems like an odd situation but it seems like he is a genuine buyer.

    • Kozhutki on 26/12/2019 - 16:05

      i don't understand why he needed to use another account to pay for delivery? None of this makes any sense.

      • adamm12 on 26/12/2019 - 16:09

        Initially didn't think much of it, but it seems odd, maybe he chose the pick up option in ebay by accident and didn't get an automated option to pay for delivery but than why use another account to pay for delivery, doing my head in.

        So I did a bit of research and the real estate photos matches the FB photos, so this person lives there I'm just worried that he could dispute the transaction somehow.

        • Kozhutki on 26/12/2019 - 16:12

          Hopefully I remember to check this thread in case there's an update, such a strange transaction…

  • Nutrino on 28/12/2019 - 07:42
    +1

    You have already convinced yourself to send the item (dispite peoples advice), so send it. Looking forward to your next post [popcorn ready].

    • adamm12 on 28/12/2019 - 11:06

      Yes I based my decision on additional research, let's see what happens.

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