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eBay

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

Original poster

urgent advice needed...seller wants to send me cash

57 replies

alltoomuchrightnow · 09/05/2013 18:29

Sold an item for a good amount and my listing says that i only take Paypal or postal order. Buyer is obviously a dealer, who buys items such as what he bought off me, and sells on. His feedback as a seller isn't great. Anyway...he has messaged me, saying his Paypal account is frozen due to a dispute with one of his buyers in Russia. I have had experience of similar myself..i now longer sell to Russia / E Europe as has been nothing but a nightmare (items going 'missing', stolen etc, and i'd lose money every time as eBay would automatically refund the buyer from my Paypal). So his reason could easily be genuine... He wants to send me the cash, by Registered post. Would you accept? I know cash thru post is against eBay rules. If i then got the money checked out by bank (as to if were genuine notes) i could post his item , also by Registered. Would i as a seller, be protected? If he had a complaint or pretended item hadn't arrived.. could eBay refund him from my Paypal? I'm guessing not, as that would only happen if he'd paid me via Paypal? Of course receiving cash means i don't pay the Paypal fees either. Really don't know what to do! Is he dodgy?

OP posts:
fergoose · 09/05/2013 19:05

why wouldn't you risk it? - the seller has nothing to lose if the buyer pays cash.

ReluctantlyBeingYoniMassaged · 09/05/2013 19:15

I once got sent a ripped envelope which supposedly contained cash and had been sent recorded delivery.
It's unlikely that his PayPal is completely frozen - just the amount in question would be held.
If alarm bells ring, it's not worth it.

lljkk · 09/05/2013 19:15

I've received small amounts of cash in post before, not a problem.
Fergoose usually knows her stuff, so probably right way to go.
I have had buyers pay by direct bank transfer, too.

fergoose · 09/05/2013 19:16

well if an envelope arrives ripped don't sign for it and return to sender I reckon?

Bank transfer is also as safe for you as cash is. And again ebay cannot force you to refund a bank transfer payment.

ReluctantlyBeingYoniMassaged · 09/05/2013 19:21

Can a bank transfer be reversed by the sender?

fergoose · 09/05/2013 19:37

no - not normally.

RedBushedT · 09/05/2013 19:41

If he seems cash, you receive it, get it checked and it's fake. What then? He will deny it's fake... Seems like there could be hassle ahead. Postal order or cheque would be only way I'd do it..

Original poster
alltoomuchrightnow · 09/05/2013 21:15

but if it's fake money... i won't send the item and can then re sell it. I would never take cheques again after bad experiences in past.

OP posts:
fergoose · 09/05/2013 21:40

if it is fake money you return it to them - I would think fake notes are unlikely though, but worth checking them with the bank.

SisterMonicaJoan · 09/05/2013 22:12

I thought that if any money presented to the bank is fake then they CAN'T give it back to you as they have a duty to keep fake notes out of circulation?

fergoose · 10/05/2013 10:37

that's a point. I am sure fake notes are highly unlikely though?

Flibbertyjibbet · 10/05/2013 11:00

Personally I would not let someone send me that amount of cash. When ebay first started I had a few people send cash in the post and I hated it in case it didn't turn up - they would have thought I pinched it! I get really annoyed when sellers start to dictate terms and hassle me.

I would ask him to do a bank transfer. If he can't do that then a postal order because I think that will have your name on it and can be paid into a bank account like cash.

Or you can transfer money at a post office or bank - he can take his cash into a branch of your bank, with your account number, and pay it into that account.

All much safer ways than him sending cash.

If he won't do any of those then I'd apply for the transaction to be cancelled on the grounds of him not paying by either of the requested methods, and relist.

If he is so desperate to have it, he will hotfoot down to his local branch of your bank or the post office.

Original poster
alltoomuchrightnow · 15/05/2013 14:12

I could cry, I really could. I'd agreed that he could send me the cash, by registered post. I am desperate for this money. I'm out of work at the moment due to stress/ depression (had a breakdown in Feb) etc and other people (not all eBayers) owe me money too. I'm fed up of people taking the piss. This buyer owes me £152 so that's over 2 weeks of benefits money to me. ie A LOT. He said he'd send it Monday. He also said he may not have computer access. (how convenient) I've just messaged him and asked if it was sent. If i re list, it's all the waiting around again. I need this money desperately. The bidder below him...they are no longer interested as have no money now. The person below them, the bid is too low for me so i won't be contacting them. I know this buyer only buys to resell. DP reckons he won't pay me until he's found the right price for my goods...so he won't pay me if he can't find his own buyer. Bastard! That's about 10 people not paid me in the last month..over £200. I have a good reputation, over 3000 positive feedback.... I have 100% pos feedback too

OP posts:
Original poster
alltoomuchrightnow · 15/05/2013 14:12

so much for him making out he was desperate and couldn't wait to pay me by Paypal so would be sending me the dosh

OP posts:
fergoose · 15/05/2013 14:57

so open the unpaid item case now, get your fees back then in 4 days relist it.

lljkk · 15/05/2013 15:01

Wait, don't panic.
When did auction end?
What date are tickets for?
When did he say he would post the cash, and on what date would he post?
There are ways you can report a buyer or move to cancel a transaction, but need more info to see if which rules apply in this situation.

Original poster
alltoomuchrightnow · 15/05/2013 15:27

i don't have fees, as i started it at 99p and was lucky it went up to £148 plus the postage. He has just replied , all he said was 'been sent'. So..fingers crossed. It's not for tickets, lljkk. I just really need the money asap as I don't think i'm going to be able to claim ESA for much longer . I literally need it to survive. I need the money now, not in days or weeks

OP posts:
Original poster
alltoomuchrightnow · 15/05/2013 15:29

It ended on the 5th and my listing states to pay in five days and to pay by Paypal but he couldn't do that so asked if he could send cash. He acted really desperate so i'm surprised it's taken him all this time

OP posts:
fergoose · 15/05/2013 15:42

you do have fees - 10% of the £148, final value fees. They will be showing in your ebay account, ebay will invoice you and ask you to pay them. You need to file a non paying bidder report now, the buyer still has 4 days to pay, and if he doesn't you close it and get those fees back and they get a strike.

fergoose · 15/05/2013 15:43

and please don't send them a cancellation request, you must file it as a non performing bidder, otherwise they can refuse it and you will be lumbered with the fvf still to pay, plus they can still leave feedback too.

fergoose · 15/05/2013 15:47

this is what you need to fill in - do it now, you have already given 10 days, I very much doubt they have sent you the money.

Plus make sure you add them to your blocked bidder list too

rebulk.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?CreateUPIDispute&opencase=true

lljkk · 15/05/2013 17:29

I think OP is desperate enough that no way she she want to cancel & relist and wait again for it to sell unless there is no other choice.

If he has sent it by registered post is there some kind of tracking info he could give OP to reassure her payment is on the way?

fergoose · 15/05/2013 17:32

yes but even so, I would still open the unpaid case. If the money arrives then just close the case - but what if she waits another 5-10 days, that is time she could have filed a case, got her fees back and relisted it and been paid by another buyer. I know what I would do. Many people promise payment and it never arrives. Waiting any longer won't change that. 10 days waiting is far too long already.

lljkk · 15/05/2013 18:50

That makes sense (do what Fergoose said).
And then I suggest relist it Buy It Now. Only 40p fee and you can start with a price of £148 since you know demand is out there. BINs get excellent prices for desirable items, I prefer them myself, better than waiting for an auction to finish.

Original poster
alltoomuchrightnow · 16/05/2013 18:58

wellllllllllllll....after all that (and thanks for everyones replies!) i received the cash today. Bank checked it out..fine...and i paid it in. Big relief. I sent his parcel by Registered. Maybe i was being v pessimistic but i've had so many bad buyers lately and this guy was initially messing me about. Fingers crossed he's happy with his items, but not much he can do if not!

OP posts:
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