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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be worried about being scammed.

25 replies

Eeksteek · 17/09/2022 22:11

I’m selling an electric bike on eBay. It’s a fair whack - I’ve been offered £1000 and I really need the money.

Obviously, the person wants to try it first, so they are coming tomorrow. But I’m uncomfortable with it. I can’t put my finger on why. The chap is just a bit too nice - said my user name was a lovely name and things. It’s Sunday, they won’t be able to get cash, I’m certain they want to go ‘off eBay’ - he’s already sent me his mobile number in another language - and I’m really antsy about it. His feedback looks ok, but there’s nothing recent. The auction has a few days to run, but he’ll want to take it away, tomorrow, I’m sure.

Am I being silly? What should I do to not get conned? I hate this kind of thing. I hate haggling, I hate selling, I hate feeling vulnerable. But I really do need the money.

OP posts:

cardibach · 17/09/2022 22:14

If you don’t let him take it from the house until you have the cash I don’t see how he can scam you. Insist on cash. If you are getting dodgy vibes from him make sure you aren’t alone.

SenoritaNaturista · 17/09/2022 22:14

Have you a male relative or friend that can be there with you so you aren’t alone?
A male friend with his own bike? - who could accompany him on the test drive?

IvyPlant · 17/09/2022 22:16

Don't do it. I would never sell a high end value item like that. Can you not sell it via a local group or enthusiast bike group?

CoffeeLover90 · 17/09/2022 22:19

Have someone with your, preferably male, they tend not to try haggling in a harassing way with another man.
If you have a secure garden only let them test drive there, otherwise have another bike or car to chase them. For what it's worth, I wouldn't be happy to spend a grand on something I wasn't able to try first.
Cash on collection only. No bank transfers, they can download fake apps to make it seem like it's been transferred.
Ask him to sign a receipt or send you a message while he's there agreeing to sold as seen once they're happy to purchase so he can't claim fault and ask for a refund after.

YelloCar · 17/09/2022 22:31

I’d ask them to bring ID before they come. Are they driving over? I’d ask to hold their ID and car keys while they took it out for a test ride. Or their ID & phone if they don’t drive over. But don’t prewarn them of this incase they bring a dummy phone.

As PP have said, don’t do this alone and make sure payment is given legitimately and a receipt/record provided.

YelloCar · 17/09/2022 22:32

The ID is also for you to get their full name and address by the way, not just to keep hold of.

WaveyHair · 17/09/2022 22:34

Might be better selling it through a bike shop or they could recommend cycle clubs who could advertise it amongst their members.

MrsMarlowe · 17/09/2022 22:40

I understand how you feel. You’re less likely to get scammed in person than online though. Just make sure you’re personally safe, and either take payment in cash, or if he does a transfer check your account for confirmation it’s gone in.

Mrsfussypants1 · 17/09/2022 22:41

I'd listen to your gut instinct. Cash only, don't let him take it out for a test drive it would be too easy to find of into the sunset and into the back of a van, and do have someone with you, and lastly don't fall for the bank transfer scam. He could also be legit but Its a high value item so I would be a bit cautious too.

CastleCrasher · 17/09/2022 22:46

Any time I've sold high value like this, I've done some/all of these

asked them to leave the full purchase price with me when they went on test drive
kept their car keys and Id while on test drive
went with them on test drive (maybe not possible in this case)
counted and checked the cash before they left

(insisted on cash obviously, no Bank transfers)

Original poster

Eeksteek · 17/09/2022 22:53

cardibach · 17/09/2022 22:14

If you don’t let him take it from the house until you have the cash I don’t see how he can scam you. Insist on cash. If you are getting dodgy vibes from him make sure you aren’t alone.

I’m not concerned for my physical safety. Just the money. Realistically, they’ve got to try it, haven’t they? I wouldn’t buy it if I hadn’t. But it would be so easy to have a second car parked half a mile away and just ride off to it. How could I actually stop them?! I’m going to see if I can get my cousin to come and be male at them (but I’m at a bit of a loss to see how he could stop them either, frankly!)

I don’t know of any other way I could sell it, really. I don’t even want to sell it, but my only alternative is to sell the car and I hate selling those even more. (My car is worth less, too)

It really bugs me. Mostly, I am fine with being on my own, and believe I can do virtually anything I’m prepared to put the legwork into, but anything do with vehicles and I feel totally out of my depth.

OP posts:

Justanotherlurker · 17/09/2022 23:06

This is the problem with selling such an item on ebay, you either have to trust them or not, he could be genuine and realising the siutation and trying to calm the nervers or just a genuine nice person.

Alternatively, it could be like on of my situations where she fucked off with my bike and was no where to be seen.

The most likely situation is that he will take it on a quick run about and either buy or not, if you are already this worried about the situation then just call it off and sell at a lower cost to a local retailer

Original poster

Eeksteek · 17/09/2022 23:10

CastleCrasher · 17/09/2022 22:46

Any time I've sold high value like this, I've done some/all of these

asked them to leave the full purchase price with me when they went on test drive
kept their car keys and Id while on test drive
went with them on test drive (maybe not possible in this case)
counted and checked the cash before they left

(insisted on cash obviously, no Bank transfers)

Oh, those are good ideas. I’m deeply uncomfortable with asking, but I will insist. If they are genuine, they’ll understand, surely? Maybe if I’m nonchalant and matter of fact enough, they’ll think I do it all the time, and be too embarrassed to say no. I’m generally such a confident person, but I have real heebie jeebies over this sort of thing.

God, I hate this. I have very loud dogs, which I will pretend are aggressive. (They aren’t at all, but they do sound it if you don’t know them!)

OP posts:

YelloCar · 18/09/2022 11:24

Maybe if I’m nonchalant and matter of fact enough, they’ll think I do it all the time, and be too embarrassed to say no.
If they say no then don’t have over the bike. You have the power here.

BeyondMyWits · 18/09/2022 11:32

Have you got an air tag/smart tag you can attatch under the saddle/battery out of view. Then you can stand a chance of tracking it.

But eould follow what others are saying. Hold something of value during test ride.

Roselilly36 · 18/09/2022 12:25

If you feel uneasy about it, don’t do it, so many people are being scammed at the moment.

Original poster

Eeksteek · 18/09/2022 15:17

I remain unscammed!

They seemed lovely people, and I had a neighbour for moral support.

They’ve left cash. I did accept £950, but I was just so grateful to get it over with. It’s been relisted several times.

Only now, I’ve scammed eBay, because they didn’t bid, just paid cash. I don’t know what to do about that.

OP posts:

Original poster

Eeksteek · 18/09/2022 15:20

BeyondMyWits · 18/09/2022 11:32

Have you got an air tag/smart tag you can attatch under the saddle/battery out of view. Then you can stand a chance of tracking it.

But eould follow what others are saying. Hold something of value during test ride.

I don’t, but I did rig my dashcam so it was recording and position the bike in full view of it. I also took pics of their car. Unless they come back and steal the cash later (a theoretical possibility. I can’t get it to the bank) we are in the clear.

OP posts:

Dreikanter · 18/09/2022 15:35

Eeksteek · 18/09/2022 15:17

I remain unscammed!

They seemed lovely people, and I had a neighbour for moral support.

They’ve left cash. I did accept £950, but I was just so grateful to get it over with. It’s been relisted several times.

Only now, I’ve scammed eBay, because they didn’t bid, just paid cash. I don’t know what to do about that.

Just cancel the listing as item no longer available.

Happens all the time with bikes on eBay.

Piffle11 · 18/09/2022 15:54

Eeksteek · 18/09/2022 15:17

I remain unscammed!

They seemed lovely people, and I had a neighbour for moral support.

They’ve left cash. I did accept £950, but I was just so grateful to get it over with. It’s been relisted several times.

Only now, I’ve scammed eBay, because they didn’t bid, just paid cash. I don’t know what to do about that.

So you've recouped the £50 discount and some

Original poster

Eeksteek · 18/09/2022 16:21

Won’t they….notice? I won’t lie, I could do with all the money, but it does feel a bit like stealing. It’s be just my luck to get caught, too!

OP posts:

Dreikanter · 18/09/2022 16:26

No they won’t notice!

^When you can end a listing

If you end a listing early, it risks disappointing potential buyers, so we strongly discourage all our sellers from doing so. However, we understand that there are times when it might be necessary to end a listing early. Some valid reasons include:

The item is lost, broken, or no longer available

You made a mistake, such as listing the wrong starting price in an auction

www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/listings/creating-managing-listings/cancelling-listing?id=4146

Original poster

Eeksteek · 18/09/2022 18:17

Won’t it look a bit fishy if I just end it after arranging a test ride? They do say they monitor messages.

OP posts:

Dreikanter · 18/09/2022 18:22

Nah. They have millions of listings. If you were doing it on a regular basis it might get picked up, but as a one off I can’t see that happening.

toomanydicksonthedancefloor1 · 18/09/2022 19:17

You will probably get away with cancelling an auction with bids once, but as they have messages between you arranging for them to come and see the bike, they will know what you have done. EBay have sophisticated technology which scans messages for certain words and phrases.

I did this with some alloy wheels and they restricted my account for 14 days. After that, they keep a close eye on your account and another instance and they will close your account. Which might not be an issue for some people, but I have sold over 2000 items over a 20 year period so I can't risk it happening.

Personally, I wouldn't list a high value item which is really easy to sell (such as a bike) on eBay. Gumtree or Facebook would be more suited I think. Ebay fees are expensive although for some things it is worth paying the eBay fees as you get better prices than other selling sites, an iPhone is a good example.

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