seller contacting buyers outside of ebay for obvious scam
Hello, bought an item (listed with free shipping) and the seller somehow found my personal number to text me and ask me to pay additional shipping outside ebay. I reported them (but there was nowhere I saw to include the messages so I'm not sure that was any good without the proof) and I see from new reviews (which are all negative) they have been doing this to others so likely others have reported as well, but their account is still up reselling the same scam listings.
Anyways, the seller tells you if youre unwilling to pay extra that you should cancel your order, but then denies the cancellation request. Is waiting for the delivery period to pass the only way to get a refund here? They have multiple other negative reviews with text message screenshots showing them asking for money, is there a more direct way to report this?
sorry somehow got lucky and never had to deal with a scammer before lol so any help appreciated! can post the messages/their profile if allowed or needed
simba6
·4 months agoNot so much a scam as a clueless seller. Still not allowed.
anteset
OP4 months agoThank you everyone, I've read through the replies. I'll wait and file an item not received dispute (unless the item is miraculously received lol). It is embarrassing to me that I didn't look thru their other items and profile first, hopefully this annoyance will remind me to in the future. Additionally I somehow didn't realize sellers got my number, that solves one mystery!
Overall I just wanted to check I had done my due diligence to prevent others from getting stuck in the same refund waiting game, and if the seller is not long for the site like you say then I suppose that's enough. Again, thank you all.
pickapaper
·4 months ago@anteset wrote: "It is embarrassing to me that I didn't look thru their other items and profile first, hopefully this annoyance will remind me to in the future."
Nothing to be embarrassed about. You came here to ask questions and got the right answers, so you now know to vet sellers before buying from them and what to do if a problem arises. And that you can always come back here if you have other questions or problems. I call that a success.
mudshark61369
·4 months ago@anteset ,
Just so you know sellers can get contact info from ebay.
As I expected your seller is a new one who probably did not know about ebay's 21-30 day hold on their payments. Because of the hold and Free shipping they cannot access the funds to pay for shipping labels through ebay. They would need to state a shipping cost to use that portion of the sale funds to pay for shipping.
You have two choices. Wait until the last estimated delivery date has passed, then file an item not received dispute. the second one if you want the item would be to message the seller and tell them if they have not shipped because of the Pending status of your payment, to do a Google search for:
" Payments on hold, ebay ". If they do that they may ship the item so the funds get released.
If they do not make a change shortly they will be banned from ebay.
ryry-jj
·4 months agoNot looking up the who, whats and wheres....but whenever you get a message like this always respond within eBay messaging, "thank you, I'm looking forward to receiving the item" . You have time to report the seller later for asking for things after the fact and outside of ebay. You can also block their number on your phone
gator08041971
·4 months agoEverything they list is exactly 100 dollars? I mean.. What?
Oh and this: Member since: Apr-10-26
Yeah, this has scam written all over it. Let alone the fact they have more negatives than positives. lol
jbbowers12012
·4 months agoHi Everyone, We here in New Jersey actually looked this item up because we could hardly believe what we were reading. We think that this sellers' eBay career is just about over.
anteset
OP4 months ago@mudshark61369
Hello, heres the item number- 389884087829
My problem is not with negotiating shipping costs, but with going outside ebay and its messaging system to ask (and asking for payment also outside ebay). That's what seemed scammy to me.
mamacassidy
·4 months agoLOL, after looking at the item number you posted, this seller is complete nonsense. I have a feeling they'll be shut down soon.
And FYI, when you purchase an item, the seller gets your address and phone number you have listed on ebay. In the rare occasion that there's a problem or question about an item ordered, the seller might call/ text to confirm details. But as you mentioned, I'd never give anyone any extra money outside ebay.
albertabrightalberta
·4 months ago@anteset
Several comments:
1. With 45% feedback, this seller is not long on ebay!
2. NEVER request a cancellation when you don't want to cancel. That takes the onus and responsibility off the seller so they don't get a ding for not following through
3. NEVER pay additional money over and above what the listing states
4. If your order still shows as active (and not cancelled), go back to the order on the day after the EDD (expected delivery date) and open a claim for non-receipt.
mamacassidy
·4 months agoIf they refused your cancellation request, then yes, you need to wait until the delivery period has passed and open an Item Not Received Claim.
In my opinion, though, I would not have requested a cancellation. I would have made them take responsibility for this listing by either cancelling it themselves or sending out the item at the price it was listed for.
If you reported them then there's really not much else to do (unless you want to leave feedback). But they are getting dinged every time they get reported or get an INR opened against them, so ebay is aware.
Also, you can post the messages if you cover their name/ identifying information.
mudshark61369
·4 months ago@anteset ,
There may be a reason for the seller asking for shipping costs when they have Free Shipping, and it may not be because they are a scammer. We can tell you more if you post the ebay item number which you can find under the item title in the Order details. It is 12 digits long with no hyphens and is in a light gray colored font.