Ebay Sellers - What Gives?

naefeart

naefeart

naefeart

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So I'm selling some items on ebay, it's my first time using it in this way and it's proving to be a learning experience.

I list a reasonable priced fashion item for auction, starting price is over £100 and payment is Paypal only. Immediately four people contact me, offering around this price if I end auction early or even 'do it offline' etc. I refuse politely and state we'll let the auction run the rest of the week.

It comes to the closing minutes of the auction, I have 13 watchers, but no bids. Auction closes with no bids and immediately the same people as before contact me asking if I'll accept offers. Why have these people not bid, especially when they could have won the bid for less than they have been offering?

Am I missing something here?
 
If you did go down the "do it offline" route, then you lose out on eBay's protection, and PayPal's is far more limited if not in conjunction with ebay - so yes probably a scam.
 
They are just hoping to get it cheaper by making you an offer outside of ebay saving the 10% auction final fee. You are still protected by receiving payment by Paypal anyway.

If I see an item being sold by a seller with hundreds of positive feedback then it's more than likely they have sold items outside of ebay and are open to offers thats why some items just end while you are watching them saying that the item is no longer available.
 
Uther said:
It's ebay so it probably involves ripping you off in some way.
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Armageus said:
If you did go down the "do it offline" route, then you lose out on eBay's protection, and PayPal's is far more limited if not in conjunction with ebay - so yes probably a scam.
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Instantly I thought it was a scam... but If I use paypal outside of the auction, I can send the item after the monies have been received. Doesn't this give me the upper hand and isn't it the buyer taking the risk?

cyber69 said:
They are just hoping to get it cheaper by making you an offer outside of ebay saving the 10% auction final fee. You are still protected by receiving payment by Paypal anyway.
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It becomes cheaper for me to sell, but why should they care... they were offering more money than they could have paid through the action. See why I am :confused:
 
naefeart said:
Instantly I thought it was a scam... but If I use paypal outside of the auction, I can send the item after the monies have been received. Doesn't this give me the upper hand and isn't it the buyer taking the risk?
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No because you then post item, then they complain to PayPal and get a refund (whilst keeping the item). A lot of eBay/PayPal's protection comes from eBays resolution process.
 
Can you sell things on ebay without accepting paypal as a payment method?
 
If its offline then PPG or bank transfer first (or if local cash on collection)

It can be done when selling clothing and saves the risk of buyers playing silly buggers later. (have done this in the past but involves a huge amount of trust from the buyer)

Ebay is totally hit and miss, I would not sell anything on there as buyers have few rights and the customer will always be right.

Some customers know this and will intentionally just screw you around. Needless to say I stopped selling on ebay years ago.
 
skaif said:
If its offline then PPG or bank transfer first (or if local cash on collection)

It can be done when selling clothing and saves the risk of buyers playing silly buggers later. (have done this in the past but involves a huge amount of trust from the buyer)

Ebay is totally hit and miss, I would not sell anything on there as buyers have few rights and the customer will always be right.

Some customers know this and will intentionally just screw you around. Needless to say I stopped selling on ebay years ago.
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PPG means nothing if they are using somebody elses stolen paypal account
 
Yeah, people offering outside is likely to be a way to scam more..

Or it could be like someone I know, had a laptop up for £800, offered the exact same amount to end it and for them to pay in cash outside ebay...

The guy then rocks up with £700, tells him to like it or lump it.
 
You can issue the buyer an invoice via paypal with all the items details and shipping costs.

Once paid and posted you upload the tracking* details to Paypals system.

Protected and secure.

* YOU MUST ALWAYS SHIP TRACKED AND INSURED
 
They're doing it wrong. If you refused their earlier offer and it hasn't sold they should be offering you a lot less the second time round. At least, that's what I do :p

For me when I offer a seller a buy it now price it's simply because I'm impatient and don't want to waste a week waiting for an item I want, but might not win.
 
Sold loads outside of ebay in the last 3/4 months with no problems, always ensure it's done either of the following ways:

1) They pay by bank transfer

or

2) if they pay via PP, they pay me extra for either recorded or special delivery so it's signed on delivery.

Had one "go missing", royal mail refunded/compensated me though so didn't lose out, just had to wait a little while to get my money back.
 
you still get good protection for paypal if you sell outside of ebay, just when they say they have paid, log into your account and make sure the money is in fact in there, they should have paid for the item as goods, and if so they would need to select a delivery address when they were paying. As long as they have provided the address and it says that you are elegible for protection, and you send it by a tracked/recorded service to the address given on paypal then you are protected.
 
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