Bogus Accounts

[cgervasi]

I have sold on E-Bay very occasionally since 1999.  In the 00s I never had a problem with bogus bidders.  Over the past few years, every thing I try to sell gets loads of (0) bidders, some of whom created their account and placed a bid on my auction the same day.  The accounts usually say they're from India or Nigeria.  They win the auction and then ghost me, never even trying any scam.  

I discovered this when I was trying to sell a computer 3 years ago.  

Check out the auction I have going now: Lenovo IdeaPad

Most of the bids are from people in India or Nigeria with no history.  

Maybe just selling domestically is the key.  I wonder if these people target computers in particular.  I don't get it.  It makes E-Bay nearly unusable.

[ckimodog]

@cgervasi 

Hi-

Unfortunately some sellers are at the mercy of the sport bidders who frequent this platform.  Over the years, it's increased.  Especially with sellers who run auctions.  

My only suggestion is to avoid auction style listings with best offers and list all your items at a fixed buy it now price with immediate payment required checked off.  Sport bidders and non - paying bidders steer clear of these listings as they must pay instantly.

You're a long time seller, but you only sell occasionally, so you are a target even though you have been here for years.

Sorry this is your experience and Good luck with your sales.  

[luckythewinner]

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@cgervasi wrote:

Maybe just selling domestically is the key.  I wonder if these people target computers in particular.  I don't get it.  It makes E-Bay nearly unusable.

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IMHO computers have very well established market value, and you could easily set a fixed price that requires buyers to make an immediate payment.

[american-photography]

You can exclude those countries when creating your listings and buyers with little to no feedback.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/resolving-buyer-issues/blocking-buyer-ebay

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@cgervasi 

I was going to say just like @ckimodog said sport bidders.

Who really knows what goes on with folks nowadays but you have you be on top of your game and think smarter than those who may try to scam you.

      Auctions + electronics are a bad idea especially when your opening bid was $9.00. List that item fixed BIN at the price you want for it, auctions can be fun and certain collectibles do nicely on them. 

     When your auction for this item closes, be on guard for any texting requests or gifts for cousins in Oregon, be SMART always! Best to you.

[12345jamesstamps]

I look at my bidders in my auctions a day or two before they end.

If they have 0 feedback... bidders on my auctions I usually block them a day early.

Those with one or two bids I usually block also before auction ends.

[cgervasi]

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@silverstatetreasureboxes wrote:

I was going to say just like @ckimodog said sport bidders.

Who really knows what goes on with folks nowadays but you have you be on top of your game and think smarter than those who may try to scam you.

Auctions + electronics are a bad idea especially when your opening bid was $9.00.

On my auction 3 years ago, they just bid the price up and never paid or responded in any way. They didn't send fake reports that it had been paid or a scam like sending a bad check to more than the amount owed and asking for money back.  They just ghosted. 

Do you know why they are  dawn to electronics and low opening bids?  If they're not going to pay anyway, what do they care what the opening bid or final bid is?  

[cgervasi]

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@ckimodog wrote:

Hi-

Unfortunately some sellers are at the mercy of the sport bidders who frequent this platform.  Over the years, it's increased. 

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Thanks for this info.  Do you know what motivates sport bidders?  That name got my attention because that's what it feels like: as though they have an informal game among friends where they create bogus accounts and see who can get the best price for a list products of certain parameters, with no intention of buying anything.  

I understand if they try to scam the seller, but what could be their motivation for bidding and just not responding?

[iart]

Simple solution, I think. Sign up for eBay's Global Shipping Program (GSP). You ship to eBay in the US and they handle it from there. They take care of international delivery and any problem buyers.

This will discourage 'sports bidders' and help to protect you against fraud.

[kensgiftshop]

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@american-photography wrote:

You can exclude those countries when creating your listings and buyers with little to no feedback.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/resolving-buyer-issues/blocking-buyer-ebay

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You can block those countries, but you can't block buyers with little or no feedback.

[ckimodog · Accepted solution]

@cgervasi 

To annoy you...that's what a sport bidder is. It was pretty bad during the pandemic. I had best offers on a lot o my items and most didn't pay.  I immediately kicked best offers to the curb.  People had to stay home and had nothing better to do, mostly kids.  They think it's funny to distract a sellers hard work. Many will try to scam you out  of the item, asking you to text them, send you a paypal invoice that's fake, send it to a relative, it goes on.  Its so juvenile.  Hopefully one day Ebay will come up with some type of remedy to lessen these types of on line behavior.  Hang in there.  

[chapeau-noir]

@iartI'm not sure how GSP would offer any protection at all for sport bidders, though, which are what are pestering the OP.

[soh.maryl]

Not possible to block buyers with little or no feedback.  

[soh.maryl]

You appear to have determined that so-called "sport bidders" are mostly international.  Don't believe that's the case.  And how does using the GSP protect any seller against fraud? 

[chapeau-noir]

Bidders from India and Kenya perhaps causing the confusion, but they're not buying anything, just borking up @cgervasi listings.

I sell laptops and desktops when I can get them, but I would not offer them on auction, and I wouldn't be shipping internationally.  I think that's a difficult market and it's best to keep it simple.  Also, I would not want GSP to be handling the items if they use their authority to unpack and repack.