To be wary of this eBay buyer?

[LiteraryDevil1]

I'm selling something (a pram part) on eBay on auction format that ends tomorrow night.
Since last night I've had loads of messages from a potential buyer asking if it fits the model she has, can I post it next day delivery as they need it for next Sunday, can I use UPS or another company and find my local drop off point, can I include another part (had said in the listing I could). I've spent a fair amount of time figuring out couriers and trying to weigh it which was difficult due to size and shape. I updated the listing with the price of the courier for next day delivery. Tonight I've had more messages saying she can get someone to collect it for me. She lives about 5 hours drive away from me so it seems odd that a friend could collect. She's asked if I can help package it for the friend to collect.

It all seems a bit odd but maybe I'm being paranoid

I've made the listing PayPal only now as worried that friend will turn up without means to pay for it having assumed the buyer has already paid. I've had trouble before with this happening so have learnt from that mistake!

I'm not sure if English is their first language so the questions might be coming across a little strangely but it just strikes me as odd.

The item is £28.00 (starting bid)and only one watcher so if they are the watcher they are quite likely to win it. It's been on a few weeks now with no bids so am eager to sell but something just seems odd about this.

Would you be wary or am I just being silly?

Mrsoprah that's a very tempting idea.
The bloke said collection would be Wednesday or Thursday if he won the item. Then it's his "missus" that did the bidding and I've not heard a peep from her. I've sent a message to her and payment reminder outlining what her OH said about collection, courier and needing it by Monday. No reply, no payment. Not impressed especially as he asked so many questions and I answered them all straight away and was really helpful. Of course it's only been 24 he's since the auction ended and they still have time to pay but he made such a thing of needing it for Monday and could I send it next day delivery to ensure it got there. Then could I make sure it was all packaged for collection. Wanted to know before he bid if I'd do that. All very odd and annoying.

Think I'm going to cancel the sale as still heard nothing. This has really annoyed me and I appreciate everyone who has commented with their advice and experience.

When cancelling a sale it can sometimes work out better if, instead of simply doing it because you prefer to, you find you can't sell the item after all - perhaps if you find when wrapping it up that it's broken or in some other way not fit for purpose. This would also protect you against claims of being a "non performing seller"

Whether you choose such a route has to be your decision of course; personally I prefer to be honest wherever possible, but in a situation where you're hung out to dry and you know ebay may be of no help at all, alternative steps are sometimes necessary

Still no contact from the buyer. So they won't be getting it for Monday now. eBay have said to either cancel the sale or open a case as an unpaid item. Am going to open a case and then they get 4 more days to pay plus daily reminders. And a strike against their account if they don't pay. I've bent over backwards to accommodate them and then they don't pay so definitely not going to make it easy for them to buy and not pay from others.

If you accept the courier, accept bank transfer or cash on collection only. They will have to give their courier the money or add the £28 to his fee - whatever they do, it’s their issue to sort.

I can’t imagine the cost of the courier for at least 5 hours of driving would be worth the £28 item!

Don’t use PayPal for collection in person. PayPal specifically rules out protection if the item is collected in person I believe, as they won’t have any proof that the item was collected by the buyer and that they have the item.

I think the buyer sounds weird. The two accounts is a massive red flag. Only communicate with the account that actually purchased the item. eBay can probably link accounts via IP address/device ID etc but I wouldn’t rely on eBay linking both accounts to your purchase and taking into account all the messages from the husband

Just seen your update, honestly that’s a good result for you! At least you don’t have the hassle of the rest of the transaction with them and the possibility of a case being opened against you.

Ive opened an unpaid item case now so will see what happens. They won't get the item for Monday though that's for sure!

Just a word of caution here. They know you are going away and they have your address?

No, they don't have my address. Collection was never actually arranged.

No, they don't have my address

I wouldn't be too sure ... unless they've changed the system, ebayers can request the contact details of anyone they're in an "active trade" with

If they've now got a set period in which to pay, what happens if they cough up on day 4? Won't you be away by then and unable to post or arrange collection of the item?

I'll be back by then.

Ah - good news there then

No response to opening a case. I messaged the bloke who'd been messaging me to say I couldn't dispatch as his "missus" hadn't paid. He told me to invoice her for the sale price only and they'd arrange a courier to collect. I don't think so! Have told him she needs to contact me. Have reported him to eBay and will just relist once the 4 days they have to pay is up. I've blocked him as a buyer and will block her too.
Obviously a scam as don't see how a courier if there's would be much cheaper than me sending by courier.
I looked at their for sale items and they are selling a buggy very similar to the one the seat is for which seems odd too.

In many ways, them not paying could be the best outcome all round ... when you close the case you should get your selling fees back and then simply relist the item

In theory they shouldn't be able to leave you feedback, but for some reason the buyers were still able to when it happened to me. If they leave you a neg don't waste your time appealing to ebay - just stay polite and reply saying they didn't pay; if future buyers look at it at all, they'll understand where the fault really lies

I tried contacting her again and no response so am sure now that they are scammers. Hopefully eBay will ban them both.

I had similar with a buggy I was selling on FB marketplace. It escalated to the point of an email from the ‘buyer’ saying I should go to a western union point and pay £250 for the courier they were arranging! I googled the wording of that email and it was a known scam.

Thunder that's awful! I've checked the address which is a real address except for some reason they've added Kent after Norwich yet the postcode matches the Norwich address. Weird. And only members since last year. 6 items bought, none sold. Messenger has only 2 items bought. I've reported them both anyway and still have my item so I've not lost out.

Crazy people lurk on eBay

Well, time was up so case closed and unpaid item marked on buyer's account.

Short of them actually behaving sensibly, that's probably the best outcome for you; at least you've dodged the bullet of them paying and then insisting on couriers, demanding a refund once they've got it, etc.

Utterly infuriating time wasters of course, but it honestly could have been worse

Yes it could have been worse so I'm glad it wasn't. Just pissed off that they've wasted my time when I did my best to help them.