Suspicious of Buyer on eBay - how to protect myself?

mboy on 11/05/2020 - 00:49
Last edited 11/05/2020 - 10:05

Hi all,

Quick question - an eBay auction of mine ended tonight, and I'm a bit suspicious of the buyer.

  1. Buyer has a feedback score of 1 and signed up 5 days ago.

  2. When the Paypal payment notification came in, his address lists a different eBay ID. By which I mean, he seems to have included an existing eBay ID as part of his ' Mailing address' details (in a line between his name and address). Not sure why he'd even put his eBay ID in the mailing address in the first place. Anyway, I can't find any trace of that eBay ID anywhere - so I assume that account has been closed.

EDIT: Point 2 has been clarified by several users below. It seems this is an eBay feature which was implemented in October last year. Thanks everyone for your input!

My question is, how can I best protect myself against some kind of return scam?
I'm sending the package via registered mail, so that's one thing - but should I take a video of the item? Photos? Anything else before I send it?

Thanks.

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Comments

  • Axelstrife on 11/05/2020 - 01:07
    +3

    "Buyer's User ID:": if this is what you are talking about this isn't put in by the buyer, it's done automatically.

    If it's incorrect then contact paypal and/or ebay, i just checked some of my email's for items ive sold the last few days and every single one has the correct buyer ebay id.

    I wouldn't worry about a new account, there have been lots of them lately due to the lockdowns and people buying things online more.

    • Sammy2000 on 11/05/2020 - 05:28
      +2

      I have noticed this on my eBay parcels received lately too, is a code rather than the user id as it doesn't match my username.

      • mboy on 11/05/2020 - 09:12

        Just to confirm we’re discussing the same thing, it appears in the following exact format in the buyer’s address (obviously with details replaced):

        Joe Blow
        ebay: ufts7cc
        123 Fake St
        Suburbsville, NSW 2000
        Australia

  • Hybroid on 11/05/2020 - 01:20
    +3

    Take photos/video of the product (including showing it's working if electronic) and the final box with address on it.

    Only ever post to the address provided by eBay/Paypal confirmation. NO OTHER address. eBay ID doesn't really matter, you can even not put a name on it. Make sure to get postal/courier tracking number and update the eBay listing with it.

    Read PayPal’s Buyer Protection Policy section here: https://www.paypal.com/au/webapps/mpp/ua/useragreement-full#…

    None of this protects you fully as eBay almost always sides with buyers in any subjective dispute.

    • mboy on 11/05/2020 - 09:13

      Thanks mate. Will do.

  • whooah1979 on 11/05/2020 - 05:46
    -8

    The item has been sold and the buyer has paid. Do the right thing as a seller and ship the item.

    Or you may cancel the transaction and relist the item.

    • mboy on 11/05/2020 - 09:07
      -1

      I never said I wouldn’t send it off.
      Just asking if there are any extra precautions I can take before I send it off.

      • whooah1979 on 11/05/2020 - 14:38
        -1

        The only precaution that will guarantee a 100% that you won't get scammed is to cancel the transaction. Anything else a waste of time.

  • Pikaloo on 11/05/2020 - 05:49
    +2

    Make sure to weigh the item before hand (packaged up). Because I was watching some video and some guy got scammed and he got a refund based on the fact the weight of the item when he sent it did not equal or close to the weight of the item he got back.

  • popsiee on 11/05/2020 - 06:54
    -4

    Don’t auction in the first place if you are so concerned !
    Anyway your obligation is simply to send to theEbay address after payment .

    • mboy on 11/05/2020 - 09:27

      Bit dramatic I think.

      I’m not withholding the item. It sold last night, I’ll be sending it today. I’m just asking if there are any precautions I can take, before sending, in case I get stung by the world’s first eBay return scam.

  • elgrande on 11/05/2020 - 07:37

    What is the item value?

    • mboy on 11/05/2020 - 09:42

      Approx $400

  • seraphim2017 on 11/05/2020 - 08:33
    +1

    I cancelled one like this (zero feedback'new' ebayer). Glad I did as they didn't even query it, get in touch to ask why, leading me to think it was a chancer /scammer.

    • popsiee on 11/05/2020 - 08:37
      -4

      Sorry that is dumb as you will get a lower Ebay rating against your Ebay name for not providing a item paid for .
      Another person who has no clue about Ebay inner workings !

      • seraphim2017 on 11/05/2020 - 08:58
        +1

        Actually, I didn't.

        I used eBay chat and they advised me that I wouldn't get any 'strikes' etc. And I didn't.

        I always put in my auction conditions that zero feedback bidders must contact me first (whether eBay agrees or not) and if they do, that's fine, but if not, then

        That said, I'm not going to play pigeon chess with you, so if you disagree with me, I can live with that!

  • Ocker on 11/05/2020 - 09:46
    +1

    From eBay:
    In October, we will be adding a unique code to address line one for all eBay orders. The code will be a combination of the word ‘ebay’ plus seven case-insensitive alphanumeric characters (e.g. ‘ebay: 97sT3JJ’). This code will appear on your postage label as below, but won’t impact the delivery of your eBay orders.

    • mboy on 11/05/2020 - 10:01

      Ah, well this answers my question.
      Really appreciate the input.

  • Ocker on 11/05/2020 - 09:49

    "Another person who has no clue about Ebay inner workings"

    Let he who cast the first stone! - all depends on the reason you give for cancelling an order, viz. "something wrong with the address" does not give you a transaction defect.

  • seraphim2017 on 11/05/2020 - 14:30

    Just had an item sell, to a zero feedback bidder who registered an account today! Chatted to eBay "yes that's fine, rthere's no other accounts there". Then sent a message saying please get in touch to confirm it's all good.

    10 minutes later, a DIFFERENT ebay account send a message saying 'that's my guest account, I can't log in now, please send it to that address'.

    Yeah, nah, cancelled, zero strikes, zero fees (credited) and relisted. Something wrong with the address, like, they have contacted me from two different accounts to buy an item!

    Thing is, I would have had no issue selling to his 'normal' account with legitimate feedback etc. Too many ? over why he had to register a guest account, why he then couldn't remember the password but could remember the password on his normal one again etc.

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