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New to Ebay - being asked if item can be purchased as "buy it now"
New to Ebay and have an item listed. I was emailed asking what the "buy it now" price would be. Because I did not list the item with a "buy it now" option (it's on the auction) can I make an offer and/or is it ok to respectfully decline and just let the auction play out? Thank you
2 comments
woodland_gnome
·2 years agoIf you mean you got a "Message from a member" containing an offer, you can (if there are least 12 hours left to run) but it is usually not in the seller's best interest to accept such unsolicited offers. They are frequently made by scammers but even at best are made because the offeror a) doubts that the amount would win if the auction goes to the end and/or b) is 1) chronically and/or 2) situationally impatient. To accept it you have to cancel all bids and end the listing early without a winner (ticking off your existing and prospective bidders and incurring an extra fee) and then relist the item in a manner that allows the offeror to buy it properly at the correct price, with no guarantee that s/he will do so (it is likely s/he has made multiple such offers).
eburtonlab
Mentor2 years agoAs a new seller, you will attract many more scam offers than legitimate ones.
A message that says "I am interested in your item, kindly text me", an offer equal to or greater than your buy it now price, asking for your PayPal email address or a request for a gift card is generally the start of a scam where the scammer winds up sending a phony payment email that makes it look like the seller has received a payment when none has actually been received. Scammers like to target new sellers, particularly those selling expensive items.
Sending contact information (text or email) prior to a transaction payment is a violation of eBay policy; this policy is designed to protect honest buyers and sellers from this sort of thing, and to prevent off-eBay sales.
Never buy a gift card for anyone unless you are giving them a gift.
As a seller you should always check your account directly (not following a link in an email) to see if you have actually been paid prior to shipping. If an actual buyer does not send an actual payment, after four days you can cancel for nonpayment; this will prevent either party from leaving feedback and give the "buyer" a nonpayment strike. Be sure to set your buying requirement to reject bids or purchases from users with two or more strikes in the last year.
eBay will likely remove the scammer's account shortly, but the scammer will just create a new one or hijack an old one and continue sending scam offers and messages. Sellers must remain wary of any user that wants the seller to violate eBay policy.
You can avoid many common scams by listing your item for a fixed price with immediate payment required and by not accepting any offers. That way the buyer must complete checkout and actually pay in order to proceed.