Is this buyer legit? Located in Nigeria but shipping address in Delaware

I am selling a used iPhone.

A potential buyer gave me a somewhat reasonable offer. He 100% positive feedback (20). BUT, his profile lists him as "Nigeria", but his ship to address is a Zip+4 address (e.g. 19905-1111) in Delaware.

This feels weird, but I've read that as long as the shipping address is in the US, I am protected. Any advice?

frailb

44 View listings

Posted 1 year ago·Last reply 1 year ago

11 comments

pls-consignments

·1 year ago

10950 View listings

Not worth the potential risks.

12345jamesstamps

·1 year ago

8694 View listings

A 'freight forward' to Nigeria from Delaware from California.

And you are a somewhat new seller and have only one item for sale.

With all the phony phone calls and emails and texts that we USA citizens get from there...tell me this buyer can't find a used cell phone to buy anywhere in Nigeria?

I would be afraid of a credit card charge back.

I would block the seller.

ittybitnot

·1 year ago

18 View listings

I would block the seller.

@12345jamesstamps

I presume you mean "buyer", since the OP is the seller. eBay + newbie seller + Iphone has never been a good combination and is usually a recipe for disaster.

@frailb

Your settings are such that the "buyer" would have to put up a payment source in order to make an offer to you at all. If you "accept" a normal offer, the buyer will be auto-billed immediately and the item paid for. That doesn't mean you get to keep that money, nor get it before the item is delivered. How was this offer made, through the normal offer system, or did the buyer simply message you?

You are walking on a very slippery slope. As outlined upthread, so long as you are aware of the F.Forwarder situation and KNOW what to do should this go south you should be OK for eBay claims. Credit card chargebacks, not at all.

Do not contact this "buyer" person off ebay by text, email, or phone EVER.

kensgiftshop

·1 year ago

389 View listings

@frailb

Buyer might be legit, but no way I would ship an iPhone to Nigeria.

Ebay says that buyers using s freight forwarder to ship to another country voids their MBG, but they don't stand behind it very well.

If the buyer files and INAD, they could ship you a paper clip from Amazon and you would have to refund.

ittybitnot

·1 year ago

18 View listings

If the buyer files and INAD, they could ship you a paper clip from Amazon and you would have to refund.

@kensgiftshop

Actually, that is possible IF THE SELLER IS CLUELESS on what must be done if the F.Forwarder using buyer does file the "Not as Described Claim". eBay is not going to tell the seller, of course, and will treat it like any other sale. The faulty return saga you mention can be avoided by contacting eBay via one of their social media customer service portals, and letting them know that a buyer who is using a F.Forwarder has made a INAD claim, for which the buyer has no Money Back Guarantee protection. Any of these should work:

https://www.facebook.com/eBay/ (use the blue message button)

OR direct message through one of these:

https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/

https://x.com/askebay

Hopefully, the seller can do this right away before the bot process takes over and requires them to send a return label. The buyer's claim will be closed forthwith. They no longer proffer the nonsense of "maybe the guy from Nigeria actually lives/works at that address" or any sort of proof the item was actually sent out of the country is not needed.

The faulty return scenario you describe still works if the seller is clueless, sends that label where the addresses are tweaked and used to send back the "paper clip" to the seller's local gas station or CVS. Then the seller has to contend with the crook as well as eBay who should not have allowed the claim in the first place.

kensgiftshop

·1 year ago

389 View listings

@ittybitnot wrote:
If the buyer files and INAD, they could ship you a paper clip from Amazon and you would have to refund.

@kensgiftshop

Actually, that is possible IF THE SELLER IS CLUELESS on what must be done if the F.Forwarder using buyer does file the "Not as Described Claim". eBay is not going to tell the seller, of course, and will treat it like any other sale. The faulty return saga you mention can be avoided by contacting eBay via one of their social media customer service portals, and letting them know that a buyer who is using a F.Forwarder has made a INAD claim, for which the buyer has no Money Back Guarantee protection. Any of these should work:

https://www.facebook.com/eBay/ (use the blue message button)
OR direct message through one of these:
https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/
https://x.com/askebay

Hopefully, the seller can do this right away before the bot process takes over and requires them to send a return label. The buyer's claim will be closed forthwith. They no longer proffer the nonsense of "maybe the guy from Nigeria actually lives/works at that address" or any sort of proof the item was actually sent out of the country is not needed.

The faulty return scenario you describe still works if the seller is clueless, sends that label where the addresses are tweaked and used to send back the "paper clip" to the seller's local gas station or CVS. Then the seller has to contend with the crook as well as eBay who should not have allowed the claim in the first place.

As we've been told here before, just using a freight forwarder address doesn't void the MBG as the policy states.

Gotta have proof, it was reshipped from there.

frailb

OP1 year ago

44 View listings

Yes, I googled the Zip+4 address. Digging deeper - it is listed as a company that is a freight forwarder.

That said, you've all convinced me that there's a decent sized risk of the buyer making a claim against me -- and even if I can prove them to be in the wrong, it could be quite the hassle.

So thank you all also for helping me see why I'd be such a "mark"!

kensgiftshop

·1 year ago

389 View listings

@frailb wrote:
Yes, I googled the Zip+4 address. Digging deeper - it is listed as a company that is a freight forwarder.
That said, you've all convinced me that there's a decent sized risk of the buyer making a claim against me -- and even if I can prove them to be in the wrong, it could be quite the hassle.
So thank you all also for helping me see why I'd be such a "mark"!

I've shipped to many freight forwarders and never had a problem, but it's been items under $20.

You could ship it and have an honest buyer and not have any problems, but I don't think it's worth taking a chance with an iPhone.

Yes, a new seller selling iPhones or any electronics like that will attract a lot of scammers.

ittybitnot

·1 year ago

18 View listings

So thank you all also for helping me see why I'd be such a "mark"!

@frailb

Nobody is criticizing you per se. Actually, just the opposite. The responders here simply want to HELP you avoid additional drama. A newbie seller selling an IPhone straight out of the gate is not such a good idea. All sellers started out the same, but we know you are going to be a "scam magnet" for quite some time. It would be better if you started out will items less attractive to possible bad actors in a sense. Now that you have found this place, come back often and read. Learn the patterns/scams etc. so you know what to look out for and be prepared.

Know what a "text me/email me" scammer is, and how that plays out. Know what their cousins the "change of address scammers" use to get to you. Some of these problems can be avoided simply because you have the "knowledge". Also understand that just about any item for sale on eBay can be had for free (at the seller's expense), so know that going in and adjust accordingly to your own risk tolerance. Never list anything for sale here that you cannot afford to lose, and pay extra to just 'maybe' get it returned.

Ask if you don't know or are uncertain.

titipeo

·1 year ago

714 View listings

Maybe using a forwarder, did you google the address? Donâ€™t believe the 100% feedback as eBay does not allow negative feedback to buyers, it is very skewed. Keep in mind that electronics are some of the most scam items on eBay. If using a forwarder, buyer voids his money back guarantee protection under eBay.

bonjourami

·1 year ago

2513 View listings

Nothing weird about it, hes using a freight forwarder, you are only responsible for shipping the phone to that address.