eBay

maobserver · ‎12-08-2018

So I have a situation with a buyer who purchased several copies of an item I have available.

Each one of his purchases are to different names and different addresses and he's requesting no invoice inside the box that shows the price (hint).

I asked him via message why the request for no invoice and why do all 3 of his purchases have different addresses?

His reply is that they're gifts so I asked him again to confirm that infact that is not his address which he acknowledged. Isn't this against the rules? Ebay specifically states to not ship to a verified address, paypal says the addresses are verified but how can they be if they're 3 different names and 3 different addresses Aside from his persona own info? This seems like he's buying my copies and selling them to people elsewhere which is why he's asking me to not prove price via invoice.

Seems like a huge risk for me to even consider shipping any of these items specially since they're costly ($150) What can I do?

nobody*s_perfect · ‎12-09-2018

The shipping address is part of the Details of the PayPal payment transaction.

As noted, there's no need to call Paypal about this; it's right in the payment details:

nobody*s_perfect · ‎12-09-2018

@maobserver wrote:
... This seems like he's buying my copies and selling them to people elsewhere which is why he's asking me to not prove price via invoice. ...

That might be true, but it doesn't matter. If Paypal says you are covered by seller protection, then there's no reason to worry about this transction any more than about any other transaction.

As noted above, the eBay checkout proess makes it easy for a buyer to change the name and/or address of the recipient, and this option is especially popular just before Christmas.

penguins_dont_fly · ‎12-09-2018

@vintagecraze50 wrote:
So you are saying that a person can change an address for delivery using their credit card ? guest checkout and then there is a record of where this package was delivered so that protects the seller?

Yes, that is exactly what I am saying.
An address changed at checkout becomes the ship-to address attached to the order on eBay and PayPal.

The address that is connected to the order is the address that is covered for INR.

A guest buyer using a credit card is not using PayPal, so there is no PayPal Buyer Protection. The CC is processed by PayPal and into your PayPal account.

The "proof of shipment" and "proof of delivery" is the tracking attached to the order.

I keep a copy of all of my labels as pdf. I save them before printing.
This way, the label can be uploaded into any PayPal chargeback dispute, along with a copy of the eBay order details that shows the label matched the order.

Also, they can be reprinted easily in case of a printer malfunction.

penguins_dont_fly is a Volunteer Community Mentor
Buying and Selling since 2013

jennieaa · ‎12-09-2018

When I first starting reading the first posting, I said "gifts". I have shipped a number of gifts. I even got back postivie feedback for co-operating with the buyer.

Ship them. If it goes sour (which I doubt) come back and tell us all "I told you so". If it goes well (which I expect), come back and celebrate success.

fern*wood · ‎12-09-2018

I buy items and and have them shipped to my dad all the time. His address isn't connected to paypal, ebay, or even a computer. I always ask for no invoice since he fusses if I pay too much. I would not be pleased to have my purchases cancelled.

maobserver · ‎12-09-2018

I honestly don't need an "I told you so" Story at the cost of nearly $500...

I will be calling pp and ebay regarding this and see what they say. It seems to be the best bet so far.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎12-09-2018

@vintagecraze50 wrote:
If you are really worried about this just call PP and have them tell you if all the addresses are covered for INR claims. I always double check on situations like this ....

When you call PayPal about this, have you EVER been told not to ship, when the online PayPal transaction says it's OK to ship?

dirk12955 · ‎12-09-2018

Ship em.

penguins_dont_fly · ‎12-09-2018

@maobserver wrote:
I honestly don't need an "I told you so" Story at the cost of nearly $500...

I will be calling pp and ebay regarding this and see what they say. It seems to be the best bet so far.

They are going to tell you to ship.

There is nothing wrong with these transactions.

There is nothing wrong with the addresses.

You have ZERO reason to cancel these orders.

Ship them.

Buyers are allowed to send gifts.

Buyers are allowed to use you as a dropshipper.

Buyers are allowed to buy multiple items and have them shipped to every one of their multiple residences.

Alternate ship-to addresses are not a scam in any way, shape or form when the address is provided at time of payment.

One, last time....you are covered for INR on any ship-to address attached to the order. eBay and PayPal are not going to tell you anything different.

penguins_dont_fly is a Volunteer Community Mentor
Buying and Selling since 2013

craftysandy1961 · ‎12-09-2018

I've had a lady use me as a drop shipper (I suspect) over the past year or two and I'm happy to do it. I get my price. I sent her items as a "gift" with no invoice inside, and we are all happy. I'm low on the kind of thing she buys now, but last Christmas she bought dozens of them, each of them going to different addresses. I have no problem with that -- if I knew where she was selling them, sure, I might like to get some of that action, but I'm getting my price, so I'm happy! Ship the items.

What I really hate is when people after the fact say -- wait, I forgot to change my address, so can you just send it somewhere else? But I deal with very low scam items and some are quite low cost (under $20), so I usually do it if she asks nicely. and generally they do ask nicely and have a reasonable explanation of why they forgot/didn't know change their address.

a_c_green · ‎12-09-2018

Okay, first of all, that piece of paper that the buyer is requesting you to leave out of the box is a packing slip, not an invoice. A packing slip shows what should be in the box; an invoice is a request for payment. (Notice that if you do print the eBay packing slip, it has a subtitle of "This is not an invoice" at the upper right.)

If you got your purchases for different addresses all at the same time, I'd be inclined to think that this might be one guy doing his Christmas gift shopping all at once. If they're coming in dribs and drabs over separate days, then yeah, he's probably using you as a dropshipper and making a little bit extra as a middleman. But in either case, each of your sales has a valid payment accompanied by a Ship To: address, so just ship as directed.

I wouldn't go overboard worrying about ulterior motives, but if you're charging less than your competition, you might want to try charging a little more and see if your sales will keep up. Good luck.

castlemagicmemories · ‎12-09-2018

Buyer could be dropshipping, but this is the time of year for gift giving, and it is only natural you wouldn't want anything with price on it inside the package.

maobserver · ‎12-09-2018

Just to be clear, I'm not worried if he's using me as a dropshipper what I wanted to know how legitimate is that. If i'm making a few bucks less and he's making some money I don't care about that either.

My worries come from whoever it is I'm sending these packages to claiming they didn't get them as described then wanting to return them. I wouldn't know of this until my buyer contacts me, not his buyer and who knows in what condition I'd be getting the items in (if even complete) as they are brand new sealed. I take pictures of everything I ship and thruout the packing process. I will be shipping them with Signature confirmation and insurance.

As I often do with expensive items. On My end I'm doing everything possible to protect myself but I've also been burned by ebays incompetence and one sideness when it comes to agreeing with buyers all the time.

Hence why I asked some clarification on this here.