Buying from a new seller with zer feedback

[raz_ma_taz]

    I want to bid on a guitar, but the seller is new (joined December 2023), and has zero feedback. Thinking I could get a feel for this person I messaged him/her,  but no reply was forthcoming after three attempts.

   I also noticed one of the pictures had some writing in Russian, although the sellers address is North Carolina, USA.  I have several Russian friends and I’m certainly not trying to disparage anyone but I’ve been scammed by a Russian guy once before.
   Should I bid on this item? What if the seller sends mails me an item that is not as advertised? Or worse yet, an empty box/package?
   

 

Doesn’t EBay release the money to the seller once the package arrives? How much grief and how long do I have to deal with and wait to get my money back from EBay? Will I get my money back from Ebay? This is $1000  a substantial amount of money (for  common folk like me anyway). 
   I’ve included the picture with the Russian writing.

  Any help from the experienced EBay community would be greatly appreciated.

[gosimus]

@raz_ma_taz 

< Should I bid on this item? >     

The replies you get can have more informed advice if you will provide the eBay item number of the listing. 

[tobaccocardyahoo]

Looks like it is a Russian cellphone.

It could be anywhere in the world.

I would never buy a $1k item on Ebay from any seller I did not know.   Too many people know how to game the system,

[maxine*j]

Here is my advice:  Never enter into any transaction if it involves a substantial amount of money and you have doubts about it.  Trust your gut.

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[raz_ma_taz]

The EBay item # of the instrument I’m referring to is: item number 126270845679

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@raz_ma_taz wrote: ... zero feedback.... I messaged him/her,  but no reply was forthcoming after three attempts.

   I also noticed one of the pictures had some writing in Russian... 

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New seller, no replies to three messages from you, and Russian words plus Russian electric outlets in the background of the images.  This listing has more red flags than the Moscow May Day parade. Do not bid.

[buybuy42]

Scam in progress.

[raz_ma_taz]

Thanks for your reply!

    There are several of these top of the line Fender Guitars(four up for bid right now) all from new EBay accounts with no feedback and all with a similar format listing. That doesn’t seem suspicious does it?!

   Unfortunately they’re quite a few people bidding who are apparently not very suspicious and don’t find these listings unusual enough to prevent them from bidding. I have a feeling someone is going to get ripped off.

[tinsoldierunderground]

To answer one of your questions, no, new sellers do not get their money as soon as item is delivered,

New seller funds can be held up for as long as 30 days.  But as others have stated, there are enough seller anomalies here that you should run the other way. 

[gagnon234]

If he's not responding to messages in the "honeymoon period" before the sale, what's it going to be like if you have a problem after the sale?

[raz_ma_taz]

I know, right!

 Lots &  lots of red flags! Big ones to, like the kind they fly over car dealerships.

 Humorous & poignant reply. It’s amazing how naive one can be when you want something to be true., but the skeptic in your mind really knows better!

 Thanks so much for your response.

[raz_ma_taz]

 To: nobody’s _ perfect

 
PS.   I’m an Electrician and I didn’t even notice the European style electrical receptacles! I believe Russia uses similar devices.

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 These pictures were taken in Russia.

YIKESlll

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 Thanks for pointing that out and making me  feel really stupid!

[raz_ma_taz]

Thanks for your reply. I’ve sold & bought lots of stuff on EBay, but want exactly sure about the payment schedule.

[ittybitnot]

@raz_ma_taz 

The seller registered and started that auction close to the same day.   Most new accounts have selling limits, and I think they are usually lower than the starting price for this auction.  The serial number got a hit as being sold on a Yahoo Japan auction but with different pictures, and since it google won't translate the page I can't tell when.  No direct hits on Google Lens. 

They probably should have cropped the Russian out of their "phone pics".  LOL. Looks like perfect fodder for the fake tracking scam.  

Of course, it may be legit even though too good to be true. 

[simba6]

I would not risk it.  The fake tracking number scam is very popular these days.