eBay

uzumakey · ‎07-31-2018

I know I probably should have blocked them after getting the first message, but it's been a hectic couple of weeks.

This person messaged me a week ago asking for a discount on an item with Best Offer enabled, then requested my address so they could mail me cash. Super shady, so I ignored them. Several days later they sent me an offer (albeit a very fair one), and again offered to pay me in cash via snail mail. I ignored again, they retracted the offer, and I thought all was well.

The next day though, I see the same buyer who's been messaging me has purchased through Paypal. What's the likelihood of getting scammed here? Everything about this person screams "scammer" to me but they literally have tends of thousands of feedback and appear to be a big-time seller themselves. I can't even find feedback left for sellers because they sell such a high volume.

I suppose it's too late at this point to do anything but mail out but wondering what you guys' thoughts were on this.

uzumakey · ‎07-31-2018

They've been selling steadily and recently, so it doesn't seem to be hacked. They also have a bunch of listings up at the moment.

uzumakey · ‎07-31-2018

Hmmmmmm, I think you're onto something here. When the buyer was messaging me with their offers I kept getting asked for my home address so the cash could be mailed out.

So far the payment has gone through in my Paypal account and I'm hoping for the best because this person doesn't look like your usual scammer. It's just really odd to me that someone would offer cash unless they're trying to scam you, since it's such an obvious way for THEM to get scammed. Huh.

uzumakey · ‎07-31-2018

Japanese buyers and sellers are awesome, I believe it.

fhriu3 · ‎07-31-2018

What strikes me as strange is a user with the activity you describe should know policy, and as was just pointed out cash in the mail is against ebay policy... Maybe they were just testing you, still strange... I would stick to short and polite pre-fab answers if any further communication ensues.

ohnojoey · ‎07-31-2018

@sam9876 wrote:
You can't file a SNAD complaint if you pay with cash.

Correct! You cannot file because you cannot send cash through the mail so there would be no sale!

It was a question to provoke thinking.

Cash as per ebay, is only allowed for pickup or delivery sales. Unless you want to break ebay's rules. Then you can?

loveyourimagination49 · ‎07-31-2018

It is not illegal to send cash in the mail.

Everyone has options. Just be sure the best option is right for you.

ohnojoey · ‎07-31-2018

@loveyourimagination49 wrote:
It is not illegal to send cash in the mail.

Who said it was?

jpgranton · ‎07-31-2018

@ohnojoey wrote:
@loveyourimagination49 wrote:
It is not illegal to send cash in the mail.
Who said it was?

ebay's language says, "cash payments can never be sent through the post". This is an implication on their part that there are no cases in which it can be sent that way, regardless whether one is speaking about an ebay transaction or something else. Of course, such a statement is false, though ebay probably hopes many believe it to be true.

loveyourimagination49 · ‎07-31-2018

@ohnojoey wrote:
@loveyourimagination49 wrote:
It is not illegal to send cash in the mail.
Who said it was?

You kinda did by saying you can’t send cash in the mail. You were probably just referring to eBay, but I wanted to let whoever reads this to know. It is not illegal to send cash in the mail.

Everyone has options. Just be sure the best option is right for you.

ohnojoey · ‎07-31-2018

@loveyourimagination49 wrote:
@ohnojoey wrote:
@loveyourimagination49 wrote:
It is not illegal to send cash in the mail.
Who said it was?
You kinda did by saying you can’t send cash in the mail. You were probably just referring to eBay, but I wanted to let whoever reads this to know. It is not illegal to send cash in the mail.

Wrong. I didn't "kinda did"

What I did do was post a link to ebay policy. Ebay said you cannot send cash in the mail. Not me. I could care less what two consenting adults arrange. You cannot send cash, those are ebay's rules. Read the policy.

Ebay never said it was illegal either, they say it's their policy, their rule, not a law. They can set any rule they want. If you take issue with ebay policy, complain to ebay, not the "messenger." Good God!

This was my post to the OP on sending cash-Not allowed!

message 5

Accepted payments policy overview

Not allowed

Sending cash through the mail

"Payment in cash is allowed for payment on pickup, or cash on delivery sales.

However, cash isn't a generally accepted payment method on eBay, and cash payments can never be sent through the post"

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/payment-policies/accepted-payments-policy?id=4269

uzumakey · ‎07-31-2018

Yes, I am aware of eBay's no-cash policy. I would expect a high-volume seller to know it also, hence my confusion. It seems pretty bizarre for someone who's sold so extensively on eBay to offer cash when that removes buyer protection for them. For all they know I could mail them a used napkin and they'd have no recourse, which is why I found the request so strange. It's even weirder that the offers were so reasonable, since it seems like "I'll give you cash if you sell this cheap" is the only situation where this would work for both parties.

acrc3113 · ‎07-31-2018

Fairly easy to fix. Go into your blocked bidder list and block that individual and adjust your settings so that blocked buyers cannot contact you. Next, end the listing on your item. Wait a few minutes, and go to your ended item list and click "sell similar". Relist using "sell similar". "Buyer" will not be able to contact you. There may be a shorter work around, but this should work.

books...forthememories · ‎07-31-2018

@reallynicestamps wrote:
I believe the seller is allowed to accept any payment, not just electronically trackable ones, IF the BUYER offers.
Just as a seller can accept cash (or money order, or PP, or Canadian Tire Money) on pickup.
When it is received , the seller marks the item Paid and ships.

The Buyer leaves himself open to crooked sellers who don't acknowledge receipt of the payment and do not ship.
Which is why eBay demands proveable payment. It's a Buyer Protection.

Not particularly shady, but kinda dumb to send money to a stranger (even a fine upstanding one like the OP).

Several years ago one of my international buyers sent me a couple of hundred dollars in cash. I emailed him to let him know that his payment had arrived and I was shipping his book. He loved the book; we exchanged great feedback; all was well.

acrc3113 · ‎07-31-2018

I'm sorry. I didn't see the part where the buyer paid. Refund the buyer and take the defect. Then report the buyer for trying to get you to do an off eBay transaction.

books...forthememories · ‎07-31-2018

@ohnojoey wrote:
@sam9876 wrote:
You can't file a SNAD complaint if you pay with cash.
Correct! You cannot file because you cannot send cash through the mail so there would be no sale!
It was a question to provoke thinking.

Cash as per ebay, is only allowed for pickup or delivery sales. Unless you want to break ebay's rules. Then you can?

Unless ebay finds a way to open our personal snail mail (which would be illegal under Federal law), not to worry.