Offer double starting bid - scam?
I had some rare shoes and the bid was over double my starting price. It’s my very first item I listed. I accepted thinking that was great, it’s got the original box and bag for collectors, and it’s a pretty rare find so maybe they didn’t want to lose it. They buyer has 8 good reviews too.
But then I started to think if this was too high and possibly a scam? Are there any protections for me now that I’ve accepted?
20 comments
southern*sweet*tea
·3 years agoIf your item has been purchased but NOT paid for yet, it will be in awaiting payment: https://www.ebay.com/sh/ord/?filter=status:AWAITING_PAYMENT Do not ship.
If your item has been purchased AND PAID FOR, it will be in awaiting shipment: https://www.ebay.com/sh/ord/?filter=status:AWAITING_SHIPMENT You can see the buyer's payment here: https://www.ebay.com/sh/fin If this is the case you can ship the item within your specified handling time.
If the item is not in any of these places, no sale has taken place.
Did you give the buyer your email address or phone number? If so, any "payment" email you receive is FAKE.
Here are some red flags to watch out for.
1. Buyer asks for your email address, Paypal address
2. Buyer sends you a phone number to text/call him/her
3. Buyer asks you to buy gift cards to go with the order
4. Buyer asks you to send the item to a different address after paying
5. Buyer wants you to send the item overnight/express and will pay you a lot extra to do this
6. Buyers says that they cannot pay through the eBay website and sends you a link to click on so that the payment will go through
7. Buyer offers more for your item than the price you have it listed for
If ANY of the above happen, do not contact the buyer or respond to any messages from them. Block them here: https://www.ebay.com/bmgt/BuyerBlock This will prevent them from buying from you.
If they actually purchased, won an auction, or you accepted an offer from them, after four full days do an unpaid item cancellation. You can do that here: https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/cancelling-transaction?id=4136 Once you do that you can relist. The non-payment cancel option will appear after 96 hours + one minute after the sale exactly.
Also, if they purchased by buy it now, if you accepted an offer or if they won an auction, report the buyer: https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/resolving-buyer-issues/reporting-issue-buyer?id=4084 Use the reason "asking to complete a sale off eBay".
soh.maryl
·3 years agoThe boots just sold today, July 5th. Keep an eye on the situation. Your buyer has 4 days to pay you. If that does not happen, you can cancel on the 5th day, stating buyer did not pay as your reason.
While you are waiting, why not take the time to read a little more about selling here and about seller protection. You might want to add the MBG to your reading also.
deali-8138
OP3 years agoI got a message from the buyer who wanted me to text them for a personal question. The phrasing and syntax also screamed scam, unfortunately. I responded immediately and said they could ask via eBay. I haven’t heard anything yet. If I don’t hear anything, what are my next steps? Does my item automatically get relisted, is there a fee if I cancel?
ms.rodriguez*
·3 years agoDo NOT respond to any questions directing you off ebay. To me, this is a scammer if he already is asking about texting. I have been here since 1998 and I have never had the need to phone or text a seller. Do NOT send an invoice. Wait exactly 96 hours and 1 minute and cancel with BUYER DID NOT PAY. Once, you cancel, you get the option to relist free. No fees are taken since you did not get paid. DO NOT SEND AN INVOICE.
Next time, if it's an auction, let it ride. Start it with the lowest price that you are willing to accept.
Add the following text to ALL of your descriptions until you become a knowledgeable seller. Right now, you are like a baby in the woods surrounded by hungry wolves. Scammers are salivating right now on how to get you (or any newbie on ebay.)
COPY AND PASTE:
"ALL payments MUST be paid thru the ebay PAY NOW button. ALL payments will be verified in MY EBAY. ALL items will be shipped ONLY to the address in the payment. ALL communication must be done through the Ebay system."
This should keep away many scammers.
Remember, you are paid through MANAGED PAYMENTS ONLY. You will NEVER know how your buyer paid.
If you do NOT know what MY EBAY is, come back here before you list anything else.
pjcdn2005
·3 years agoThere will be no fees. You can cancel the sale on the fifth day after the purchase. When you cancel use the reason buyer didn't pay.
If you relist, you might want to list if for a fixed price and check off that you require immediate payment. However, if you take an offer, the immediate payment may kick in.
femmefan1946
·3 years agoSCAM!!
Any message texted, asking for Paypal contact, or your phone number should be treated as a scam.
Communication is through eBay Messages.
Payment is through Managed Payments.
coolections
·3 years agoSo you had an auction and decided to end it and sell to the highest bidder ? If true you should never do that. Let an auction stay as it is and wait until it is over. If the buyer pays, don't worry, ship it.
pjcdn2005
·3 years agoThe seller accepted a best offer which they had on their auction. Are you saying that auctions should never have best offers?
coolections
·3 years agoIMO, YES, auctions should not have best offer. Anyone who is bidding or watching expects to come back in 7 days and make a final bid. That is how a "real" auction works.
soh.maryl
·3 years agoOnline auctions work somewhat differently than what you call "real" auctions and I am sure you know that.
On online auctions, there can be impatient buyers who do not want to wait 7 days, they want it now or at least ASAP. BIN with IPR is tailor-made for them.
coolections
·3 years agoYou are correct but I still do not agree. Just because some impatient guy wants the item fast everyone else who is waiting loses out. Also 99% of the time the guy is really not impatient, but knows the auction has a very good chance of going even higher than his offer.
vintage-camerastuff
·3 years agoYou sold your boots for $175. Others on ebay are priced higher. If they send a payment ship it. I see no problems as of yet. Just don't go outside of ebay to communicate with the buyer.
doc-holmes
·3 years agoWait...did they send a "best offer" that was twice the starting price of an auction? If so, I wouldn't worry. But if they sent you an offer that was twice of what your "buy it now" price is, I'd worry.
luckythewinner
·3 years agoBut then I started to think if this was too high and possibly a scam?
Every transaction on eBay carried as risk.
Are there any protections for me now that I’ve accepted?
Any buyer can steal any item form any seller at any time by filing a fraudulent dispute.
albertabrightalberta
·3 years agoHas the buyer paid for the boots?
Did you compare prices for the same item among other sellers?
Is the offer price in the ballpark of reality?
Has the buyer asked you to text them for more information?
What does the order show for payment?
If the buyer pays and ebay tells you it's okay to ship, you can do so through the listing.
But if they ask for your contact information claiming to be having trouble with paying through ebay, that's a red flag. They will ask for your info to send payment through Paypal and will send a fake paypal receipt hoping they can trick you into sending the boots without paying for them.
deali-8138
OP3 years ago-He hasn’t paid yet, but I’ve only just accepted an hour ago.
-I only see one other listing of this same shoe, so it’s hard to compare, but it’s listed lower than mine as it’s used.
-Not sure how realistic it is, but I’ve seen this go for higher on something like Poshmark though! And I’ve seen other shoes of this brand listed pretty high, the rarer they are!
How would I view their form of payment, when they pay?
Thanks for your response!
monroe67
·3 years ago"How would I view their form of payment, when they pay?"
Your buyer should pay through eBay.
(Yes, even if he/she does want to drive to Jacumba and pick up the boots from you directly.)
DO NOT respond if he/she contacts you and asks for any other special arrangements for payment or shipping.
As you state you are a new seller, I suggest you try to relax a little bit.
eBay will send messages to the buyer via eBay telling him/her how much to buy and -- I think -- giving him/her a time frame for making that payment. Crossing my fingers that you have a sincere buyer who is willing and able to pay today.
WHEN the buyer does pay, eBay will contact you, the seller. You'll get a message in your eBay messages and you will get an e-mail at the address you provided when you signed up with eBay. IF your cell phone has this feature -- my new one doesn't, and I miss it -- you might hear your phone chime out the cha-ching! cash register sound.
These messages and alerts tell you the buyer's payment has cleared eBay's processes and you are safe to ship the boots to the buyer. DO NOT ship the boots until eBay has notified you that the buyer has paid.
Hoping for the best and hoping you get good results from your other listings!
pjcdn2005
·3 years agoWhen the buyer pays you should see an eBay email but you won’t get a message in eBay messages. Plus, if the item was paid for it will show as ‘awaiting shipment’. You can print your label through eBay if the buyer has paid.
If the buyer asks for your phone number or email address, it is very likely to be a scam.
femmefan1946
·3 years agoHow would I view their form of payment, when they pay?
You have a Managed Payments account don't you?
If not, set one up NOW.
You need a checking account, your SSN, and often a secondary ID, such as your passport or driving license.
Many sellers use an online , low/no fee bank for all their online selling, separate from their household accounts.
EBay would send you a Notice that you have paid and that the payment is being Held.
Don't worry , that's standard for a new member.
You can buy your Shipping Label through eBay from the Held funds
Not only will you get a discount on the price of the label, but being able to use the Held funds is a rough confirmation that the customer did actually pay.
aeparts1
·3 years agoHas the buyer pay thru eBay, or have they contacted you, asking to pay you off eBay?