Buyer Fraud Scam

[jacorliss]

Seems like there may be a new buyer fraud scam on high value items on eBay.  In a nutshell, a buyer that wants to secure a lower price will use other straw accounts to bid up the price, only to have each account cancel their bid within seconds of a new straw account continuing to drive up the price.  At the very end of the auction, the final straw account cancels, and the bid goes to the last remaining account at a huge discount.  Anyone else seeing this pattern?  This seems like an obvious gambit, and it makes eBay completely unusable for selling high value items.

[jacorliss]

I appreciate everyone's feedback, best wishes to all of you!

[dariudaudery_0]

As far as Brazil goes - Every transaction was smooth and had no issues sending items there. 

As far as shill bidding goes - it is happening all the time on eBay in many different forms. 

[ittybitnot]

 and it makes eBay completely unusable for selling high value items.

@jacorliss 

Just about ANY ITEM ON EBAY CAN BE HAD FOR FREE AT THE SELLER'S expense with a fraudulent claim. It doesn't have to be an international user with a freight forwarder at all. but these buyers are typically immune to the usual reports to the authorities since they live in another country.  The present eBay policies here make it all possible, and the removal of all transparency on the site prevents a seller from obtaining any information upon which to make a decision.  You get to play "seller roulette" instead. 

Even if you get paid, and cancel the sale due to problems with the buyer's address, there is NO way to prevent the same or similar scenario should you relist it here at a later time.  There is no way to block international payments on eBay anymore.  Even as a 'fixed price' listing you may be able to bypass all the phony offers from the "text me" scammers, but the real crooks have the front money to play.  They are well aware that a chargeback for 'item not described' is a sure win now, and a return of anything is not required to get reimbursed from your proceeds. 
 
This isn't your "grandma's" eBay anymore.  Your tolerance for risk will be your own, and why we say not to post anything for sale here you are not willing to lose. 

Good luck to you.  

[releasethekraken_1]

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@dariudaudery_0 wrote:

As far as Brazil goes - Every transaction was smooth and had no issues sending items there. 

As far as shill bidding goes - it is happening all the time on eBay in many different forms. 

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This isn’t shill bidding.

[dentalrprtek2012]

Unwilling is the word. They will do nothing when it comes to their buyers scamming

[buyselljack2016]

Likely a good catch on the Brazil.

Seems there is some strict rules on incoming "used" items. Not sure what all it applies to. Not sure how it works with a freight forwarder.

Some years ago I sent an item to Brazil.  Not knowing any better I went with the buyer request not to include the original packaging.

It was a vintage "new old stock" auto part. Not sure why the buyer wanted it out of the package. Perhaps I was told, but years ago, I don't remember. Maybe they thought lower customs.

Anyway, it did not work out. It was rejected at customs, and came back.

[jacorliss]

😉 That's it, I'm going back to yard sales!

[reallynicestamps]

If the ultimate buyer is in Brazil, he has a US address- either his auntie in Sheboygan or a freight forwarder.

With either, your responsibility for delivery ends when the item reaches the forwarder's address.

• Most, though not all, forwarders also pay import fee (duty and sales taxes) for the customer as part of their service. This usually means there is not hold up when the shipment arrives.

The biggest problem is that with a foreign buyer who has a non-US credit card/Paypal account, you  will pay 4.4% in fees instead of the domestic 2.9% rate.

Most of us who sell internationally are happy to accept the higher fees which are offset by more sales at higher prices.

[ittybitnot]

With either, your responsibility for delivery ends when the item reaches the forwarder's address.

@reallynicestamps 

FOR DELIVERY is the key phrase here.  These sales are still subject to phony snad claims, empty box, claims and chargebacks for item not as described.  The latter requires no return on the part of the buyer before the seller foots the bill. 

Indeed, it is the case with ANY eBay sale, freight forwarder or not.  The only redeeming feature is a seller does not have to refund the return shipping from the foreign destination like they do with the GSP. 

[stuff4divas]

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@jacorliss wrote:

I appreciate everyone's feedback, best wishes to all of you!

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thank u for warning us

i stopped auctions years ago due to a pattern of them attracting too many wanna b's who end up retracting with lame excuses

[reallynicestamps]

@ittybitnot 

No return, no refund.

The seller can still demand a return before refunding, but is only required to pay return shipping to the point of delivery. Which is the US-based forwarder.

Too many sellers have given up and refunded at this point. One result is this incorrect information.

tyler@ebay 

Does a seller in a NAD who delivered to a US address, have to pay for return shipping from that address or from the forwarded overseas address?

[ittybitnot]

The seller can still demand a return before refunding, but is only required to pay return shipping to the point of delivery. Which is the US-based forwarder.

@reallynicestamps 

Yes, when a freight forwarder is used, the seller only needs to provide a return shipping label from the forwarder back to the seller. 

eBay does not consider the GSP to be a "forwarder" situation. When the GSP is used the seller must provide pre-paid return shipping (either by label or cash sent to the buyer) from the international destination back to the US.  

In the cases of a Payment Dispute (aka chargeback) made for SNAD be it international or 'in country', there is no place for a seller to request a return nor provide a return label.  A return is not required in order for the buyer to receive a full refund. 

[this*old*attic]

No, snipers come in during the lat 5 seconds or so.

 
Not hours - those are nibble bidders who can’t figure out what they’re willing to pay.

[reallynicestamps]

@ittybitnot  Thanks for clarifying.

As a Canadian I see the GSP from the side of the buyer.

One of the things we actually like about it is that if things go badly wrong, GSP steps up and refunds. Damage or loss  in transit is particularly easy to win a refund.

This also applies to late deliveries, and they don't want the item back when it is eventually delivered.

There are many bad points, from the buyer's side (slow delivery is a constant complaint and terrible sub-contractors ) but they are good about settling Disputes without involving the (basically innocent) seller.

[this*old*attic]

That’s helpful to know, thanks!