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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU about Ebay buyer?

31 replies

Quietlyseethingonthesofa · 09/02/2021 06:07

Just sold an item on ebay for just over £100. The buyer has just joined this year, no feedback, and their username is anychri1234 (numbers been changed) but the letters have been chosen to look like antichrist.

I am nervous about sending this one, I hear so much on here about eBay buyers scamming people. I did have my settings as no one able bid with feedback less than 10 however it's been so long since I have sold anything it looks like they have reset them.

Would you send this item? I have no issue with cancelling it and refunding the buyer what would you do?

OP posts:
Original poster
Quietlyseethingonthesofa · 09/02/2021 06:08

Sorry that should he antichr1234

OP posts:
ButDoYouAvocado · 09/02/2021 06:09

I’d say really sorry I’ve just discovered the item is damaged and refund. It may well be fine but what if it’s not?

something2say · 09/02/2021 06:12

Have they paid you the money?

Original poster
Quietlyseethingonthesofa · 09/02/2021 06:13

@something2say

Have they paid you the money?
Yes they've paid, immediately, into PayPal
OP posts:
Original poster
Quietlyseethingonthesofa · 09/02/2021 06:16

@ButDoYouAvocado

I’d say really sorry I’ve just discovered the item is damaged and refund. It may well be fine but what if it’s not?
This is my concern...they used buy it now which is just over the retail price. The item is no longer available in stores, very popular and bnib. It's only 10 over rrp but it is free postage and size and weight means it will cost me that.

I know people have to start somewhere!

OP posts:
Rollmopsrule · 09/02/2021 06:24

I don't understand the problem. They've paid for the item??

BrutusMcDogface · 09/02/2021 06:25

But you have the money, so what are you worried about?

FrostyChocolateMilkshake · 09/02/2021 06:25

Is this not a bit presumptuous OP? Just because this person has a strange username doesn't mean they are going to scam you.

However, ebay are NOTORIOUS for siding with the buyer. If your gut is telling you something is amiss, it probably is.

I agree with the PP who said to cancel the item, deeming it damaged. I think you may be able to block users too, so you could cancel then relist?

Original poster
Quietlyseethingonthesofa · 09/02/2021 06:29

@Rollmopsrule

I don't understand the problem. They've paid for the item??
The problem is...they are a brand new ebay user, with no feedback at all. Therefore I have no idea if they are a good buyer or seller and if the item "goes missing" ebay will side with them and I will have to refund and lose the item.

It happens too often, it has happened to me before hence why I usually have a block on anyone bidding or buying with feedback less than 10. Unfortunately this setting seems to have been reset on my profile, probably as it has been so long since I listed anything.

OP posts:
Original poster
Quietlyseethingonthesofa · 09/02/2021 06:32

@FrostyChocolateMilkshake

Is this not a bit presumptuous OP? Just because this person has a strange username doesn't mean they are going to scam you.

However, ebay are NOTORIOUS for siding with the buyer. If your gut is telling you something is amiss, it probably is.

I agree with the PP who said to cancel the item, deeming it damaged. I think you may be able to block users too, so you could cancel then relist?

Yes I am being presumptuous but have been caught before so there is a reason for my concern! But I understand why you would think that ..... would you think the same or am I being unnecessarily cautious?
OP posts:
Rollmopsrule · 09/02/2021 06:36

Do you send it recorded delivery and signed for if your worried about this kind of thing? Harder to just go missing and if it does you can claim from the postage company.

swinglowsweetchariot12 · 09/02/2021 06:37

Send recorded and signed delivery

Video or photo graph quality before hand with time and date on

lockeddownandcrazy · 09/02/2021 06:40

@Rollmopsrule

Do you send it recorded delivery and signed for if your worried about this kind of thing? Harder to just go missing and if it does you can claim from the postage company.
But recorded delivery is no longer a safe option as the postie doesnt get a signature.
NothingIsGoing2GetBetterItsNot · 09/02/2021 06:40

Cancel it, no doubts. Not worth it.

Then reinstate previous settings, block old buyer and relist in a week. Easy.

You're entitled to do this, youre refunding the buyer; you could even say you realised it wasn't broken after all if you're worried about being questioned but you won't be.

FrostyChocolateMilkshake · 09/02/2021 06:42

@Quietlyseethingonthesofa the username wouldn't put me off but the fact they are a new seller would put me about a bit, especially as the item is expensive. I think sometimes we as humans have to be overly cautious!

I would cancel the item OP, block the seller and relist. Smile

FrostyChocolateMilkshake · 09/02/2021 06:42

New buyer* sorry

Chloemol · 09/02/2021 06:57

So if you are that concerned why are you selling on eBay in the first place?

Say something is wrong with it, refund and don’t sell on eBay anymore

But dont forget that everyone on eBay has to start somewhere

MoominKitty · 09/02/2021 07:08

Use dpd to send it, you can get it really cheap on parcels2go.com they photo the area and insure for the full cost of item if 'lost or damaged' so ebay would be more likely to side with YOU. If an issue rises.

Russell19 · 09/02/2021 07:14

I'd send but make sure I had recorded and correctly insured postage. If it goes 'missing' you'd be able to claim through the postal company.

Someone with lots of feedback could still be a scammer so you'd still be in this situation anyway.

sandyso · 09/02/2021 07:15

If they have no feedback I doubt eBay will automatically side with them.

Get as much proof of postage as you can.

Bigwaves · 09/02/2021 07:20

Life’s too short to worry op. Refund, block and relist . I’d be cautious too. I ask for cash only on large items but get that it’s difficult to do that at the moment.

Cam2020 · 09/02/2021 07:20

Massively judgemental. There's nothing odd about paying £10 over rrp if the item is out of stock and postage is included - specifically if postage would have been expensive

For anything that you're not prepared to write the value off of, you send tracked/signed for. What if the item really does go astray, even if bought by a 'reputable' buyer? That's still the seller's responsibility.

The buyer paid immediately - they've done nothing wrong.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 09/02/2021 07:49

If it is an electronic item, like a phone, computer or play station type of thing I wouldn't send it, in fact I wouldn't sell this type of thing on ebay unless you listed it as 'for spares or repairs' as that way there is no comeback (although 'not received' is still a risk and Royal Mail's 'tracked and signed for' does not help as because of Covid they no longer get a signature.

It is not uncommon for the buyer to say, it wasn't delivered or it was broken / faulty and Ebay will side with the buyer and refund your money to them. There are cases where an item has been returned to the seller as 'broken' but the device returned is not the one that was originally sent.

Sad
BarbaraofSeville · 09/02/2021 08:08

I've sold lots of phones on ebay without an issue. I also sold a food processor that had been sitting unused in a cupboard for a decade for more than I'd paid for it as they were in short supply during the first lockdown baking boom, so it's not necessarily a scam.

If they've paid, I'd probably risk sending it, making sure the package is fully insured (not Royal Mail recorded, which only covers for £50) and I had photos at all stages of the packing up process - make sure you are sending to the ebay approved address for the buyer.

Of course, this doesn't prove that you didn't swap the item for rubbish at the last minute, but as others have said, it's not necessarily a scam because we all have to start somewhere with feedback. Feedback above a certain level isn't always protection against rogue buyers because people can buy good feedback accounts or buy a dozen cheap things to get the feedback in preparation for scamming.

LaurieFairyCake · 09/02/2021 08:09

Yes, send recorded/special delivery - photograph every part of box/video yourself wrapping it etc