Sold to new buyer and 0 feedback, nervous.
So I am a long time eBay seller, 25 years to be exact and I’ve sold thousands of things without incident (most of which was in the first 15 years of my account) but this one has me just a bit on edge. A buyer that just created his account today just did a “buy it now†on a $1000 item I have and instantly paid, the system does show the payment processing. I know everyone has to start somewhere, it’s just a bit unusual that he finds $1000 item on the same day he joins eBay. Just soliciting opinions, what course of action would you take on this transaction?
31 comments
jbbowers12012
·3 years agoHi, I have sold to many 1st. time buyers in the past without any issues. But, I have never sold any $1000.00 items either so, I can understand your nervousness. The move to make now is to ship with insurance & with signature confirmation. Should any future issues pop-up - come back to this board. There are plenty of very knowledgeable folks here who are always willing to help. Someone will walk you thorough it....Good Luck!
luckythewinner
·3 years agoI disagree entirely.
People do not create an account and then search eBay for something.
I think they search eBay for something and then create an account if they find it.
sin-n-dex
·3 years agoThe time to be concerned was when you listed it. I would never list a $1000 item. For one, it has to go with signature confirmation and I don't trust the post office to not mess that up when they are leaving signed for mail in my mailbox without anyone being home.
If I'm shopping for something, I might have $1000 and a brand new account to purchase on if the thing I want is found somewhere that I don't already have an account.
You really can't do anything except just ship this with signature and hope for the best.
C.
sunking1
·3 years agoWith all due respect, your description id a recipe for disaster. You say the rims are near perfect with no road rash or scratches. Then you go on to say there are small nicks. Then finish by saying they are good again. I'm betting this may end badly.
vintage-camerastuff
·3 years agoYou said he joined and then found the item. I believe he first found the item that he really wanted and then joined. I would ship it.
12345jamesstamps
·3 years agoYou have been on eBay a long time. However, because it is a big ticket item and you haven't sold a lot at this price and you might get a hold on this money for 30+ days as well. So be prepared just in case.
I would have only done Domestic Shipping on this and google what the house or whatever it looks like.
My own opinion...I wouldn't do freight forwarding to another country. And why would someone from another country not be able to find something similar in their own country for that price?
buyselljack2016
·3 years ago@35cents
I am in agreement with the post about the photos with tires. Trouble in the making.
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1st photo should be of the item to be received. (4 rims)
There are too many photos with tires mounted.
Shouldn't be any tires seen.
Next thing is, I sure hope you have your own "FedEx" account for shipping. Don't know what eBay is showing you for the estimated cost, but there are often huge "surcharges" applied that show up later when using eBay labels for FedEx shipping.
dbfolks166mt
·3 years agoThe buyer may possibly have been using a guest account. I use them all the time to purchase items on the internet. I have very few actual ecommerce vendor accounts. While this is probably not a high scam target item it is an expensive one. Curious about your posting pictures show rims with and without tires. Are you selling them with tires or without? If it is with tires depending on where they are shipping there are some states that have laws about selling used tires and there are liability issues that go with those.
You could also be positioning yourself for a NAD if the buyer is expecting tires on the rims and gets nothing but rims and I suspect you would not want to pay return shipping on these.
sextons-sweet-deals
·3 years ago1. google map address and check it out. If it looks like a freight forwarder address, I would think twice before shipping.
2. send with signature required
3. maybe even buy insurance
4. if the item is a laptop, phone, sports cards, jewelry, or another high scam item, you may want to entertain canceling.
It's all up to you
ms.rodriguez*
·3 years agoSignature confirmation is definitely required. I am getting to tell you to follow your gut. If you feel nervous, cancel it. The worse that can happen is a negative. Take a day or so to decide.
reallynicestamps
·3 years ago@sextons-sweet-deals
I'm a lot less worried than you about freight forwarders because they are the second safest address you can ship to, certainly safer than a street address, and second only to a PO box.
The Money Back Guarantee is effectively not in play when the buyer uses a freight forwarder.
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?id=4210#specialcoverage-inr
This is the part I'm referring to
Exclusions and special coverage when the buyer doesn't receive an item 
Items collected by a third party on behalf of the buyer

Not covered

The buyer arranged their own shipping method, such as a courier pickup

Not covered
And also
Now -- if the GSP is not involved, but the buyer uses a freight forwarder, does the seller provide Return Shipping from the forwarding address or from the buyer's address?
Oooh this is a good clarification question @femmefan1946! A seller is only required to provide return shipping from the buyer's input address at time of checkout - that goes for any return where a seller provides shipping ('free' returns, etc).
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/All-Items-Are-Free/m-p/31966203#M1772511
Message #20 from tyler
dbfolks166mt
·3 years ago@sextons-sweet-deals
I'm a lot less worried than you about freight forwarders because they are the second safest address you can ship to, certainly safer than a street address, and second only to a PO box.
The Money Back Guarantee is effectively not in play when the buyer uses a freight forwarder.
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy...
This is the part I'm referring to
Exclusions and special coverage when the buyer doesn't receive an item 
Items collected by a third party on behalf of the buyer

Not covered

The buyer arranged their own shipping method, such as a courier pickup

Not covered
And also
Now -- if the GSP is not involved, but the buyer uses a freight forwarder, does the seller provide Return Shipping from the forwarding address or from the buyer's address?
Oooh this is a good clarification question @femmefan1946! A seller is only required to provide return shipping from the buyer's input address at time of checkout - that goes for any return where a seller provides shipping ('free' returns, etc).
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/All-Items-Are-Free/m-p/31966203#M1772511
Message #20 from tyler
35cents
OP3 years agoSo I have had a couple messages back and forth with the buyer, and I’m still questioning the transaction a bit, but the payment has been deposited in my bank account. A Google of the ship-to address shows a nice residential house. A poster mentioned a freight forwarder - these are going to Colorado, not sure why they thought they were going out of the country, I have no indication that they are.
He said he understood that no tires were included in the sale and those tires would be too expensive to ship (my mistake on not swapping the photos when listing), but after that message he also said he has not had much luck when selling tires on eBay… his account is brand new. I may be just overthinking it I guess, I’ve taken photos of the packed wheels (well packed and banded), and am shipping FedEx Ground with delivery confirmation.
soh.maryl
·3 years agoSeems to me you are over-thinking. As far as the remark about not selling tires here, perhaps he has more than one ID?
huntfishdie45
·3 years agoOther posters have already posted get a signature confirmation to stay withing eBay policy on items over $600.00. Very good advice. Hopefully all goes well with your sale.
albertabrightalberta
·3 years agoMinor correction: SC is required for $750 (total), not $600.
kensgiftshop
·3 years agoMost scammers won't put out any money and I don't think a set of wheels would be very high on a scammers list.
They want items they can turn over pretty quick and a set of wheels for a BMW might take awhile to get rid of.
kenneth686321
·3 years agoTreat it like any other sale but package carefully, get insurance and signature confirmation.
Many people browse ebay without an account. When they see something the like/need they create an account. I have quite a few 0 feedback or <5 feedback buyers buy from me without problems.
People don't come to ebay to buy popular, commonplace things or daily necessities. You get those at your local B &M stores or on Amazon (free faster shipping)
Ebay is a marketplace of last resort to get specialty things (especially used) that are hard to find or more expensive on other sites.
35cents
OP3 years agoThis is great insight - I did most of my selling in the “old daysâ€, late 90s / early 2000s when internet searching wasn’t nearly as robust as it is today.
dqdistribution
·3 years agoBuyers create accounts to buy something high dollar all the time especially if it's a good deal.
If eBay tells you to ship, then ship.
Unavailable member
·3 years agoIf your brand new buyer paid then ship. Don’t forget to use signature confirmation on the order.I have many buyers who buy with guest accounts or just opened an account the day they purchase with no issues. Granted, I don’t sell $1000.00 items but still no issues. The buyers I have problems with at times are long time eBayers.
huntfishdie45
·3 years agoI have had buyers create an account after seeing my listings while doing a google search. I never had any problems whatsoever with the sales. That said make sure you insure your item so just in case it goes missing in "shipping" your covered. Also pack it well and non-descript as possible to take a damage claim off the table. Take pictures during the packaging and mailing process and get a receipt from the post office when you drop it off. When you sell something of that cost you take the risk of attracting a scammer but unless you see something that seems off enjoy the sale and congrats on a big sale! Good Luck
ten_o_nine
·3 years agoit’s just a bit unusual that he finds $1000 item on the same day he joins eBay
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They joined eBay because they found the item they want to buy on eBay, it is not the other way around.
I had many 0 feedback buyers buy on the same day they join eBay with no issues.
As long as you handle the sale right, you'll be ok
35cents
OP3 years agoI’ve also had several 0 feedback customers purchase, but not $1000 items and not joining the same day as the purchase. I am not very aware / educated of the scams (chargeback, etc) that are perpetrated these days, just doing my due diligence. Guess I’ll prob wait my 2 days and see if the payment gets credited, and request a delivery signature - I don’t really want a $1000 set of wheels just left on a porch…
reallynicestamps
·3 years agoI'm not sure what USPS (or UPS or FedEx) calls it, but Canada Post has a No Safe Drop option for recipients.
Basically the package is never left unattended, but only a Delivery Notice telling the buyer where and when they can pick up the shipment.
Marking the shipment, Signature Confirmation is much the same.
And tell your customer you will be using it "for his security".
sin-n-dex
·3 years agoThat no safe drop doesn't always work. Chit Chats puts no safe drop on anything that goes with Canada Post (through their account), and they safe dropped $142 in coins at some guy's house and he filed a claim that he didn't get it. (He was a regular, and he cooperated with Chit Chats and Canada Post on the claim, so I'm inclined to believe he really didn't get the coins).
C.
reallynicestamps
·3 years agoit’s just a bit unusual that he finds $1000 item on the same day he joins eBay
Not really.
He may have been doing a Google search for months and finally found The Thing at a great price on eBay of all places, which he had only heard of through that Weird Al song.
BMW owners may look down on our little garage sale, until they get a flat tire.
I'd worry about the Free Shipping on such a heavy set of tires.
Have you given him a price including Signature Confirmation of Delivery?
Don't ship until you get paid, and YOU decide the shipping service.
soh.maryl
·3 years agoHave you considered that this new guy might have joined eBay because he found that you are selling exactly what he has been looking for?
slippinjimmy
·3 years agoAt the moment the course of action is to handle it like any sale. You have 2 day handling so you don't need to ship until probably July 5th (Monday is 1 business day from today and Tuesday is a holiday).
You will know by then if there is some sort of issue with the payment. If you have any sort of suspicious contact from the buyer then you might have some valid concerns but if the payment has been cleared just ship.
A person buying a set of BMW wheels could be the very type that has never bought on eBay or hasn't in many years and simply opened a new account.
rugerskick
·3 years agoYou can always contact ebay as a precautionary measure and tell them you are concerned about this order because its high dollar and zero fb buyer who just joined today, and have them at least put it on their radar from your comments.
reallynicestamps
·3 years agoThe phone reps have a terrible reputation for getting you off the phone as soon as possible even if that means giving you the advice you want to hear instead of the advice you need to have.

https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness/ — Message button in upper right on landing page.

https://twitter.com/askebay?lang=en

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/How-do-I-contact-Customer-Support/m-p/32016431#M1783851 -> Automated Assistant, type AGENT -> enter. You will then get more options.


The social media Chat accounts are covered by trained eBay employees with some authority.
And you get a transcript so you can compare what you heard with what you were told.