Is this guy an ebay scammer ?

Daniel Grenier · Nov 29, 2005

After a few dozen problem-free ebay sales, I now have this winning bidder from Asia that I am not comfortable with. He is ebay "unverified" and has hidden feedback and has only been registered on ebay since Sept 05. He says he can pay with PayPal.

Now there's no way in hell I'm shipping anything out before payment but question is, what are the scammers up to these days and is PayPal payment a 100% safe sign to go ahead and ship the item out? What tricks do they have (if any) after a PayPal payment is made?

clay · Nov 29, 2005

Paypal can get you ripped off if a crooked buyer pays with a credit card. I know a guy who sold a $3000 rollei kit with lenses and backs who was ripped off this way. As soon as the stuff arrived, the buyer cancelled the credit card transaction(through the credit card company), and paypal dipped into his bank account and took the $3000 back. So no camera, no money, and no recourse.

One of my problems with some Asian buyers has been when I get a last minute bid that is huge, and then I never hear from them again. So I end up having to relist.

Andy K · Nov 29, 2005

I never saw anyone with 'hidden feedback'. Feedback is the cornerstone on which Ebay operates, I see no reason to hide it. In fact I just looked at my ebay options and couldn't find a 'Hide feedback' option, maybe I'm missing something here.Perhaps you could contact Ebay and get them to check he isn't a scammer.

laz · Nov 29, 2005

I've seen hidden feedback a couple of times. It will hide the comments not the rating. I don't deal with them.

I agree that you should not accept a paypal payment that is not linked to a bank account. Unfortunatly all dealings with Asia are suspect and one should proceed with great caution.

Jorge · Nov 29, 2005

Daniel Grenier said:
After a few dozen problem-free ebay sales, I now have this winning bidder from Asia that I am not comfortable with. He is ebay "unverified" and has hidden feedback and has only been registered on ebay since Sept 05. He says he can pay with PayPal.

Now there's no way in hell I'm shipping anything out before payment but question is, what are the scammers up to these days and is PayPal payment a 100% safe sign to go ahead and ship the item out? What tricks do they have (if any) after a PayPal payment is made?

Stay away from it. You are getting all the signs of a scam. No verification, hidden feedback, short term membership....what else do you need, a neon sign saying "CROOK"....

Daniel Grenier · Nov 29, 2005

Overnight, this guy has removed the private feedbak from his profile and it now shows Zero feedback.... no better. He still shows as "unverified".

This guy makes me nervous. Can I unilaterally cancel this transaction based on his profile? What penalties can ebay impose if I do so and do the selling/listing fees still aplly?

BruceN · Nov 29, 2005

I generally put in my auctions that I reserve the right to reject bids from foreign bidders and those with no/low feedback ratings. I've had good luck selling to Europe, Australia, Canada, etc. The only problems I've had have been in Asia and the Carribean. I'd shy away from him and make a second offer to the next lowest bidder.

Bruce

Daniel Grenier · Nov 29, 2005

BruceN said:
I generally put in my auctions that I reserve the right to reject bids from foreign bidders and those with no/low feedback ratings. I've had good luck selling to Europe, Australia, Canada, etc. The only problems I've had have been in Asia and the Carribean. I'd shy away from him and make a second offer to the next lowest bidder.

Bruce

I hear you, Bruce, but what happens to the original listing/selling fees etc.. Do I get nabbed for those too?

Jorge · Nov 29, 2005

Daniel Grenier said:
Overnight, this guy has removed the private feedbak from his profile and it now shows Zero feedback.... no better. He still shows as "unverified".

This guy makes me nervous. Can I unilaterally cancel this transaction based on his profile? What penalties can ebay impose if I do so and do the selling/listing fees still aplly?

Yes you can, you can remove and block any bids/bidders you want. Scroll down to the help section and there is a section telling you how to remove bids from bidders. There are no penalties for doing this, I have had to do it a few times.

Daniel Grenier · Nov 29, 2005

Jorge said:
Yes you can, you can remove and block any bids/bidders you want. Scroll down to the help section and there is a section telling you how to remove bids from bidders. There are no penalties for doing this, I have had to do it a few times.

But that's no good after the listing has expired and the item has sold...right?

Anyway, this guy is history so what's the best option now. Simply relist? Do the "second chance" thing? Contact the other bidders directly?

srs5694 · Nov 29, 2005

clay said:
One of my problems with some Asian buyers has been when I get a last minute bid that is huge, and then I never hear from them again. So I end up having to relist.

In situations like that you might be able to use the "second-chance offer," in which you offer the item to the next-highest bidder. Of course, if you wait and wait and wait to hear from the seller, by the time you give up the second-highest bidder may no longer be interested. It might be worth a shot, though....

Jorge · Nov 29, 2005

Daniel Grenier said:
But that's no good after the listing has expired and the item has sold...right?

Anyway, this guy is history so what's the best option now. Simply relist? Do the "second chance" thing? Contact the other bidders directly?

Yep, if your listing has ended you have the option of relisting (you have to pay for the listing and the buyer fee), offer a second chance and explain to the nearest second bidder you did not feel comfortable selling to the other guy. You might want to make it difficult for the buyer to pay you so that you can file a "non paying bidder" claim with e bay and avoid having to pay another listing fee and the commision for the sale.

If I was you, I would ask the guy to make a Western Union payment that you can collect in cash in your home town. This usually puts them off and they dont follow up.

Dave Parker · Nov 29, 2005

In this instant the only way I would sell is as Jorge suggested a Western Union Cash transfer period, that way when you pick the payment up, you will have good ole green in your hands, then it won't matter, and in the future you might look at limiting who may bid on your auctions, I won't accept bids from anyone with less than 90% feedback, I require new members to email me before bidding and I won't accept bids from anyone with hidden feedback, not being discrimitory, but Asia and SE Asia can be a hard challenge when dealing with ebay sales and many sellers will not accept bids from that area of the world.

Dave

John Bartley · Nov 29, 2005

Daniel Grenier said:
But that's no good after the listing has expired and the item has sold...right?

Anyway, this guy is history so what's the best option now. Simply relist? Do the "second chance" thing? Contact the other bidders directly?

Dan,

There's a question that no-one has asked you yet. Did you place any restrictions on either "feedback numbers", "type of payment" or "ship to"?

If you haven't excluded him up front with sale conditions, then (and I hate to be a wet blanket) you have legally contracted with him to sell him the item.

May I suggest that you examine your listing for "outs" and if you have none, maybe you should contact him and being absolutely truthfull about your concerns, insist on Western Union as others have already suggested.

cheers

jimgalli · Nov 29, 2005

Your best option going forward is to offer it to the next highest bidder as a second chance offer. Contact them on the side with a friendly 'message' explaining what transpired with the original buyer and try to put them at ease that your second chance offer is bonafide ebay, not some phony scam. If your 3rd bidder was close at all, offer it to them also.

big_ben_blue · Nov 29, 2005

The first guy definitely has all the hallmarks of a scammer and you wouldn't be wise to sell to him - but he could still give you a negative feedback if he wants to be nasty. I would restrict bidding the next time to the Americas, Australia and Europe. And put in a large "reserve the right to cancel bids" comment. For payments, limit any Paypal to the non-credid card based kind, bidpay, and money orders. I am not too keen on the "second chance" option either (as bidder) - many bidder see it as VERY suspicious (again, due to a large number of scams out there). But try it - it can't hurt now. But DON'T ask the second or third place bidder directly outside of ebay!!! That person could report you to ebay then, which could land you in even more trouble.
Just my thoughts.

Good luck,
Chris

Daniel Grenier · Nov 29, 2005

Thanks guys for all the good suggestions.... I am now more "ebay-wise" after this adventure.

Cheers

laz · Nov 29, 2005

Daniel Grenier said:
Thanks guys for all the good suggestions.... I am now more "ebay-wise" after this adventure.

Cheers

Keep us posted on this (I'll fall over in a dead faint if this buyer turns out to be okay!)

Bob F. · Nov 29, 2005

It is also interesting that this unverified new member with no feedback knew enough to snipe in the last few seconds of the auction...

Cheers, Bob.

Daniel Grenier · Nov 29, 2005

Bob F. said:
It is also interesting that this unverified new member with no feedback knew enough to snipe in the last few seconds of the auction...

Cheers, Bob.

Indeed, Bob... a mere 10 seconds before listing`s end! And that would have been like 4AM his time! Pretty sharp for a first timer!

Daniel Grenier · Nov 30, 2005

Jorge said:
..........If I was you, I would ask the guy to make a Western Union payment that you can collect in cash in your home town. This usually puts them off and they dont follow up.

Well! What do you know. I told this guy to send me a W.U. full payment (complete with insurance & proof of delivery receipt) and he's going for it !

Unless this guy has some new crafty scam using Western Union, then maybe I was too quick bringing out the hanging rope!

Bob F. · Nov 30, 2005

Sometimes, when it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it occasionally turns out to be a halibut in disguise...

I'd wait see if the money actually turns up. Also make sure you send it insured and signed for (read Dave SatinSnow's tale elsewhere in the Chinese camera thread).

Good luck! Bob.

Changeling1 · Nov 30, 2005

Daniel,
Even if all goes down well, don't leave positive feedback until he is "completely satisfied" and leaves positive FB for you first.

laz · Nov 30, 2005

laz said:
Keep us posted on this (I'll fall over in a dead faint if this buyer turns out to be okay!)

I guess I'll have to prepare myself for falling over.....maybe

I don't think we ever asked, what did you sell him?

-Bob

Daniel Grenier · Nov 30, 2005

laz said:
I guess I'll have to prepare myself for falling over.....maybe

I don't think we ever asked, what did you sell him?

-Bob

I sold him a 360mm Rodenstock lens, Bob. Not a huge ticket item but still substantial enough for me to be very cautious. I'm not sure this guy's enjoying his first ebay purchase all that much, though!

Is this guy an ebay scammer ?

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