Ebay Advice

HaX

HaX

HaX

Associate
Joined
19 Oct 2002
Posts
2,080
Location
Berkshire
I've just sold an old camera on Ebay.

All was going seemingly well until I checked the status of the auction.

The high bidder has bid about £20-30 more than I would have hoped for in my wildest expectations, they only registered their account today and have set their ratings to "Private".

I have looked on their profile and the account was set up today and has zero feedback for either buying or selling. Added to this, the postal address they have given for delivery is in Berlin.

I stated on the auction that delivery is to UK addresses only.

Does this sound like a potential scam here. I am very reluctant to send a camera, memory card and case (worth about £120) to a buyer with 0 feedback,
 
Last edited:
In the "Post to" field I stated "United Kingdom".

Would this constitute stipulating that I am only prepared to post to the UK?
 
A2Z said:
...did you not set your selling preferences?
Click to expand...

I'm not quite sure what you mean there,

On the auction right at the top below my postage rates it States "Post to: United Kingdon", so I assume that my selling preferences were set by default.
 
sr4470 said:
Yes.
Click to expand...

In that case what would be the best thing for me to do, should I cancel the winning bidder's bid or relist the item from scratch?

I have already had to cancel one bid earlier tonight because one bidder mistook my camera for a different model and requested I cancel his bid.
 
When you set up the auction, by the payment settings there's more settings for who can bid etc. See if you can edit there. I'd remove his bid and email explaining why. Most likely a scam.
 
HaX said:
I'm not quite sure what you mean there,

On the auction right at the top below my postage rates it States "Post to: United Kingdon", so I assume that my selling preferences were set by default.
Click to expand...

no....

in My Ebay, on the left under My Account, click Preferences, then under Seller Preferences they is an option called Buyer Requirements
 
Hi there,

You successfully bid on the above Ebay Item. I see from the delivery address you supplied that you are located in Berlin.

If you refer back to the auction, I stipulated that postage is only available to UK Addresses.

Please provide me with a UK based address, otherwise I will have to cancel your bid.
Click to expand...

I have just sent the message to my successful zero feedback overseas bidder.

If this fails to elicit a suitable response and I cancel his/her bid, will the winning bid automatically go to the previous high bidder?

Thanks for the info about selling preferences, I will alter this now.
 
HaX said:
I have just sent the message to my successful zero feedback overseas bidder.

If this fails to elicit a suitable response and I cancel his/her bid, will the winning bid automatically go to the previous high bidder?

Thanks for the info about selling preferences, I will alter this now.
Click to expand...

Contact the previous high bidder to let them know what is happening and find out if they are still interested or not. They may be bidding or thinking abuot bidding on something else as they didn't win your auction.
 
Just received the following e-mail from the winning bidder in response to the message I sent them earlier.....

HI,
Thanks for the fast communication,you see iam sensing the item to my faince in Nigeria and not germany.i will conct paypal and make the payment im very sorryt if i have cause you any inconveniency..regards
Click to expand...

There is no way I am sending the camera to Nigeria - not a chance.....
 
I've been thinking about this issue today.....

I've emailed the previous high bidder and given them the chance to make a last chance offer before I relist the item.

Anyway, two questions.

If I re-list the item will I have to pay for an additional listing.

What route should I take with regards reporting the scammer? Although there is a miniscule this person is legitimate, it reeks of being another typical Nigerian scam type operation.....
 
Just offer it to the next legit bidder. I wouldn't sale to some one in berlin with no feedback and private settings. who just registered.
 
AcidHell2 said:
Just offer it to the next legit bidder. I wouldn't sale to some one in berlin with no feedback and private settings. who just registered.
Click to expand...

Just did, and they have declined - apparrently they have gone out and bought a camera from a shop.

I have chosen to relist the item (and been recharged the listing fee), however the original auction is still showing as unpaid.

There are various different options I can select such as report unpaid item etc, however non which conform to untrustworthy scammer.

What should I do here?
 
Select 'Report unpaid item', then there will be a drop down list of a few options, just choose whichever you think, e.g, You have mutually chosen not to carry out the transaction.
It's then up to the buyer to respond to the dispute, but until then just forget about it as your camera is still safe with you.
I doubt that you have any leg to stand on to go and pursue a complaint against the buyer without evidence, etc.
I suppose innocent ebayer's can appear to be dubious sometimes. I agree though, it does sound a bit suspicious.

Just out of curiosity, did the potential buyer pay for item?
 
Last edited:
No, the ebayer has not paid for the item yet. I don't particularly want them to because if they do, I'll be obliged to send the item to Nigeria.

I have heard of instances where money has been paid to paypal accounts and then subsequently removed due to it not existing in the source account.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom