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If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

eBay

Is this some kind of scam or have I passed up on an amazing offer?

16 replies

Dumbledoresgirl · 19/01/2016 20:27

Last week I had an almost brand new pair of trainers belonging to dh listed in an auction with £10 start price. They cost dh £25 new, he wore them once, decided they weren't right for him.

The trainers did not sell so I relisted them, still with a starting price of £10. I had an email via ebay from someone asking me if I was still selling them. I said yes I had relisted them, but did not say anything more than that.

I then receive this email via ebay:

'consider it sold to me by ending the auction, I will offer you £70 for the shoes and add £20 for postage through Royal Mail International Signed For: I will need your P-a-y-P-a-l Name, P-a-y-P-a-l Email & Item number to make payment now. Send it directly to my box through my hot mail account and my hotmail ID below'

A little bit of nosing told me the buyer is in the USA, has been a member of ebay since 2009 but only has a feedback of 2.

Now much as I would love to accept £70 for a pair of trainers dh bought for £25, I do not think they are worth that much and something tells me this contact is very suspicious. What I have actually done is ended the auction, put the trainers on BIN for £30 and informed the buyer I have done so. If he wants them, he can buy them for £30. If he is a scammer, I can alter the listing back to auction format after a couple of days.

Was this the right thing to do? Am I right to be suspicious?

OP posts:

Report

WinterBabyof89 · 19/01/2016 20:30

I'd be suspicious.

BanningTheWordNaice · 19/01/2016 20:30

Very odd, don't know how he could scam you but unless you've got some pair of trainers that are actually a limited edition then it sounds odd enough that I'd agree being cautious is a good idea.

LexieSinclair · 19/01/2016 20:31

Definitely a scammer, you did right to avoid!
On a separate note, will you really get £30 for a used pair of trainers that are only £25 new?

RumAppleGinger · 19/01/2016 20:32

That is what I would have, given them a BIN price and let them complete the sale as standard via eBay. That way you have recourse if anything dodgy occurs.

Some people are crazy about trainers so not necessarily a scammer.

Princesspond · 19/01/2016 20:38

It's a scam. Anything that's too good to be true usually is. They want you to go outside eBay. They could reverse the payment after you've posted the trainers. There might even be more to the scam - avoid

lynniep · 19/01/2016 20:39

You were correct in what you did. I'd be well suss too!

Dumbledoresgirl · 19/01/2016 20:45

Lexie - no, I would be very surprised if I got £30 for them, although dh bought them for £25 in a sale. I think they are usually about £40ish. But no, I don't expect anyone to pay £30 for them, but just in case this buyer is genuine, I might as well ask a price that will allow us to get back the money dh paid.

OP posts:

Thisismyfirsttime · 19/01/2016 21:19

He might be genuine if the trainers are ones he particularly likes and are no longer sold (either there or here as well) but you've done the right thing. If he wants then he'll BIN and you'll be up and he'll have a bargain! If he doesn't buy them you've lost nothing at least.

Thisismyfirsttime · 19/01/2016 21:20

Oh, he was trying to take it off Ebay, I bet he doesn't buy them!

Dumbledoresgirl · 19/01/2016 22:47

Well, I've not heard back from him in several hours and he was quick enough off the mark earlier so I don't think I will be hearing from him. It's bizarre the way some people behave sometimes.

OP posts:

lljkk · 23/01/2016 10:08

scam

emm2016x · 02/02/2016 06:34

I've actually had this once or twice before from 2 "buyers" who were willing to pay above and beyond for items. They wanted them sending to Africa I believe.
They ask for your PayPal details so they don't have to do the transaction through eBay which means no security on your part. If they are genuine they will pay through the necessary process on eBay as ebay are generally able to verify their identity.
Also find out how much p&p would be to the USA just incase (I highly doubt it) they are genuine.
Overall I really think they're trying some scam. Relist and if they contact tell them you only accept payment via eBay or that you don't post internationally.

19lottie82 · 02/02/2016 10:24

Emm2016x..... You still get protection if you buy / sell with PayPal. As long as you mark the payment for a "good or service" and make sure you send it to the address accompanying the payment, and use a service with proof of delivery.
eBay alone does not protect a buyer, PayPal does.

emm2016x · 02/02/2016 10:32

19lottie82 oh sorry, didn't know that I thought it was ebay security. I don't use PayPal for anything other than ebay that's maybe why I didn't think of the security on their behalf.
Thank you

19lottie82 · 02/02/2016 17:35

Emm2016x........ Well eBay do offer protection too but you have to pay through PayPal to get it. You can go through eBay OR PayPal if you're not happy with a purchase for some reason.

FredaMayor · 03/02/2016 11:57

Don't touch this one, OP. If a buyer wants to pay via Paypal off eBay (which I don't recommend) you can simply email them a Paypal invoice.

It sounds to me like this person wants access to your Paypal account.

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