How do I avoid getting scammed when selling?

[lombardo66]

Hi, I'm new to this and selling 2 high end smartphones. I'm seeing online all these scams buyers pull to buy something then report they never received it or they received it broken and Ebay makes the seller give the money back and the scammer/buyer keeps the item. I'm an honest guy with quality items and don't want to get ripped off. Any advice on this?

[alcoforever]

First, set your Buyer Requirements to as strict as possible, i.e. no paypal account, 2 non-pay strikes in the last year, live in countries I don't sell to.

Second, sell your phones fixed price with immediate payment required.  

Those two things will stop the scammers without paypal accounts and buyers outside the US.

As for a buyer claiming phone is defective, always reply to the case with return for refund.   Never give a refund until you have the item back.  

You may get a return that is not the phone you sent.   There is not much defense against that although you can report the scammer to ic3.gov, to the USPS for mail fraud and file a police report with both your and the buyers police.   All the reports will do is get the buyer on the radar.

[inceptions]

As a new seller, you will be a scammer magnet. If you decide to list the phones, you will reduce the risk somewhat if you list as fixed price (not an auction) and be sure and check the Immediate Payment Required box in the listing form. That way, the phone is not sold until paid for.

There is still risk. Unless you can accept that you might lose both the phone and the money, then better not to sell it here.