Is this normal from a buyer on eBay?

[MintyJones]

I don't use eBay very often although have had an account for a decade or more

So today I've listed a bottle of perfume. It's £90 for 100ml. There's 90% left, it's only a month or so old and I've said all this in my listing complete with pics. I'm having a massive clear out of perfumes so I've sold this as a buy it now for a really good price

It went quickly. I have just received a message from the buyer saying ' hope it's genuine. So many fakes on eBay. I have bought a dip test kit and I'll test it on arrival as I don't want to waste anyone's time in returning it'

Err is this normal? I'm now concerned they'll receive it, say it's fake and I know full well that eBay always fall on the side of the buyer - so I've got visions of basically gifting someone a bottle of perfume if they decide to says it's fake. They've paid by the way

Is this a normal exchange?

PS goes without saying, it's genuine!! I do not have proof of purchase as it was a gift although I was with my mum when she bought it me!

I've never heard of a dip test for perfume either It might make you look guilty in a way but better than being scammed. This is why I don't sell on eBay! If it's a good price it will sell easily on a Facebook group or even Shpock

Yeah, it's well known that there are fake perfumes being sold on eBay, but I think a true buyer who was concerned about that kind of thing would be asking for things like serial numbers or batch codes. Never heard of a "dip test" - what would this even tell you?

I think I'll have an eBay selling re think

Very wise of you; the place seems to be absolutely full of scammers these days and I'm only surprised this one gave you advance notice with the silly "dip test" thing

Just in case you can't resist selling in future, make sure you put her on your blocked bidders list and don't even think of contacting her as no good can come of it

To be honest it sounds like a genuinely worried buyer scared they are going to get scammed themselves.
Otherwise why mention the kit?

I would cancel and say you don't realise Royal Mail wouldn't deliver.

You can make them send it back before you refund them. I had someone open a dispute about a handbag. They sent it back, I refunded them and resold it.

Hhm. I bought a diamond ring recently and emailed the seller to let them know id be having it checked by a jeweller. I just wanted to make sure they knew that before trying to flog me a fake

I had similar - much much lower value! A t shirt/top in decent nick, from Monsoon.
Buyer claimed it was 'stained' and 'unsaleable' (yes, the pedant in me did point out I wasn't selling in order to allow her to sell on).
She went APESHIT at me. I refunded. She didn't return. I opened a case for non-return. She got a negative rating. Ha. In your face, scammy cow.

@Themidnightcircus But at least you're employing a legitimate method of ensuring you're not being ripped off, rather than threatening the seller with some bullshit.

@Themidnightcircus I get that but this ain't a diamond ring

I'd have no issue with a buyer contacting me beforehand and asking me where I'd bought it and when etc

To be honest it sounds like a genuinely worried buyer scared they are going to get scammed themselves.
Otherwise why mention the kit?

Nah, I don’t buy that. Especially as dip tests don’t exist.

If you’re that worried that an item is fake, you don’t bid on it.

eBay is full of chancers who’ll take the first opportunity to scam a seller into issuing a refund without asking for the item back

eBay is full of chancers who’ll take the first opportunity to scam a seller into issuing a refund without asking for the item back

^

This. And, sadly, eBay polices unequivocally support these scammers and their tactics. Legit sellers are just shark bait.

Sorry my point was maybe they're trying to deter you and sound you out in case you were a chancer. I did take my ring to the jeweller but I had hoped that informing them that it would be checked would save my time being wasted with a fake. Maybe this buyer is trying to do the dame

sadly, eBay polices unequivocally support these scammers and their tactics

They do the same for some preferred sellers, though. There's one who lists a particular type of item I'm interested in, except that the listings are absolutely full of keyword spamming (think "xyz style" when xyz has nothing to do with it). I've reported the listings time and again but still they're allowed to continue

Because they're a high volume seller and make ebay a lot of commission

On them using the buy it now, I sent a message saying ' thanks very much. I will send perfume to you first thing tomorrow morning'

And they sent ...

..
Thanks
It is genuine as described. I have it tested on arrival from eBay just to make sure
Don't want to waste everybody's time returning it
Regards ...

I have copied and pasted the above so it's word for word

I responded with saying it absolutely was genuine, when bought and where etc and then they sent ....

... No problem at all if it is genuine. There are that many fakes on here. It got so bad I purchased a dip test kit. It has been well worth it.
Look forward to receiving
Regards...

And that just made every fibre in me scream STOP THIS SALE NOW

I'm assuming either English isn't the first language or it's just the odd typo in the first message as I had to read it a couple of tiles to understand what he or she was actually implying

EBay is constant scamming. I've had a great run with very few problems until the last 18 mo or so. Then aggressive messages, postal scams, eBay siding with the buyer without ever asking for the seller's response. I shut my account after all of that. I lost half of my profit to liars.

I'd cancel. They are so dodgy! It's screaming 'scam' to me.
Plus, with perfume you're going to have postage hassle. Just don't fall into their trap.

I stopped selling on Ebay a few years ago despite being a seasoned seller with 100% feedback. Too much hassle and too many people trying to scam. I'd rather take smaller things to the local charity shop and electrical stuff to CEX. It's worth getting less for my items for having no stress.