Buyer has no last name listed in their address. Why would eBay allow this?

[freebirdtim]

Sold a $180 turntable yesterday to a buyer with zero feedback. If that wasn't bad enough, his address doesn't list a last name (just the letter "S"). Why on earth would eBay allow this? I hate to lose a $180 sale, but I don't want to lose the turntable and the $40 shipping cost. Any opinions on this would be appreciated. 

[mam98031 · Accepted solution]

@freebirdtim 

You can look up what you are required to do when you ship an item so that you are covered by Seller Protection in the Money Back Guarantee policy.

You need to ship within your stated handling time.

Ship to the address given on the buyer's Payment notification.

And if the purchase was $750 or more, you need to have signature confirmation on delivery.

So you should be just fine.  I have buyers do this many times over the years and it hasn't created any additional issues.  Just make sure you follow the rules that guide us for Seller Protection.

[christworks]

I've had buyers use, only first name, only last name, etc. It is allowed because eBay has protections in place for both buyers and sellers. When delivering carriers go by the address, not by the name. The address is what is important. 

If you are worried about someone scamming you, they can do that just as easily by providing a fake first and last name. You'd never know the difference. Scammers don't play tricks like that, at least the smart ones don't. 

Fulfill the order. Make sure it is fully insured above the standard $100, and don't cancel. The hit on your account isn't worth it. You may legit be out of stock one day on something or you may break something when packing it and need to cancel. Don't cancel out of fear. Businesses that prevail and see another day don't back down to fear. 

[johnrj1226]

Sellers  are obligated to ship to the name & address provided by eBay after payment  is made.  Carriers only ship to a physical address and if required will accept an signature of anyone over 18 y.o. or older.......... or the pet dog but not declawed cats. 

 Have had regular mail & "junk" mail  sent to the same physical address  for the last 29 years and  mail/packages have been delivered to to 3  different people with various spelling of each person - have had at least 5 different name spellings.   Only sign my name one way since I was 14 y. o. many moons ago  am a '44 model. On rare occassions  We  receive miss delivered mail/packages.  I usually simply take them mail to the correct address - if is miss guided junk mail just  make a note of it on  the piece and put the  flag up.

'

[freebirdtim]

Thanks for all the helpful replies. I will ship the turntable and be sure to insure for the full amount and get tracking. 

[kensgiftshop]

That could be their last name, now days, you never know.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

I would not ship. Cancel with issue with buyer's address. 

Maybe this person is a guest buyer and got past eBay's firewall to only have to use a one work name. NOT COOL!

Have you looked at your buyer's profile, all feedback, and Google map / satellite the address?

Your description just leaves you open for a scam: Up for sale is a vintage Technics SL 3200 turntable. Turns on and seems to work correctly. Can't test it with a record, since the needle is trashed. Control arm may need to be adjusted. Very quiet with no motor or drive noise. Cover has many light scratches, but no cracks or chips. Missing one nut that holds the cartridge in place. I have cleaned it up, but some dust may remain. Please check out the photos for the exact condition of this turntable. 

I would only list this as pick-up only / pay then.

[fern*wood]

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@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:

I would not ship. Cancel with issue with buyer's address. 

Maybe this person is a guest buyer and got past eBay's firewall to only have to use a one work name. NOT COOL!

Have you looked at your buyer's profile, all feedback, and Google map / satellite the address?

I would only list this as pick-up only / pay then.

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I agree with you about the pick-up only part.  We just sold one locally through another venue. 

I must say based on the rest of your posts, I'm always shocked that you have such a large feedback number.  I'm surprised any buyer gets through your nets.

[a_c_green]

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@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:

I would not ship. Cancel with issue with buyer's address. 

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There is no issue with the buyer's address. Unless you are shipping the package with Restricted Delivery Signature Confirmation (a more-expensive form of SC that eBay does not require, in which the package can only be signed for by the person named on the Addressee line), and you are not, so the USPS does not care what if anything is on the recipient line.

Keep in mind also that the Ship-To: address can go to a third-party recipient, so the name on that address line might not be the buyer anyway.

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@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:

Maybe this person is a guest buyer and got past eBay's firewall to only have to use a one work name. NOT COOL!

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It doesn't matter. Your only obligation is to ship to the address received with the payment. If $750 or more, Signature Confirmation will be required in order to ensure eBay Seller Protection against an Item Not Received dispute.

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@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:

Your description just leaves you open for a scam:

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Actually the description is fairly detailed, and as you know, buyers can claim any real or imagined defect in order to return the item (or try to haggle a partial or full refund without returning it).

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@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:

I would only list this as pick-up only / pay then.

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On that perhaps we agree; I don't think I'd want to risk shipping a delicate vintage electronic item anywhere.

[toysaver]

Why on earth would eBay allow this?

You could likely have all your eBay purchases shipped to freebirdtim without issue.   The only problem I ever had was a lady in the military who used a pseudonym business name instead of her name and the army had no idea who the package belonged too.  

[a_c_green]

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@toysaver wrote:

Why on earth would eBay allow this?

You could likely have all your eBay purchases shipped to freebirdtim without issue.

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Right, the address validation in the USPS database (where it's looked up when you purchase your Shipping label) is dealing with the street address, City and ZIP, but the addressee line can have anything on it as far as routine domestic mail is concerned.

@freebirdtim : Has the buyer actually paid for this yet, so there is a Ship-To: address showing? Prior to payment, you will see some kind of buyer name, but it is not necessarily the name that will appear in the Ship-To: address. As long as that address (which you will not receive until payment) is valid, it should be good to go regardless of what name is showing.

For something like a turntable, I would definitely make sure that the turntable platter is locked down for shipping, the tone arm is secured, and that the whole thing is double-boxed for extra cushioning. Good luck.

[freebirdtim]

Yes, the buyer paid right away, since I require immediate payment for my buy it now listings. I did check the address and it's a residential property valued at $571,000. I don't see any issues with my description. I always give an honest assessment of any item I sell on eBay.

[simply-the-best-for-you]

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@freebirdtim wrote:

Yes, the buyer paid right away, since I require immediate payment for my buy it now listings. I did check the address and it's a residential property valued at $571,000. I don't see any issues with my description. I always give an honest assessment of any item I sell on eBay.

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That all sounds promising, just ship it.   I've had many buyers with only 1 name, never had a problem!

[johnrj1226]

"I would only list this as pick-up only / pay then."

Kinda' late for that to  happen in this case  as one (the seller) does not  see the the ship to address until the item is paid for.  Their kinda locked into  shipping to  the confirmed  address unless they wish to  have a  red or scarlet hickie on their account.  What  name and address would someone  need to be responsible for verifying if  a buyer that we will call "Jack"  who lives in location " A"  (Dog Patch USA) buys an item  on eBay (USA) for someone named "Jill", that resides  some where off the grid in Alaska or in a very far away place like Timbuktu?  Just a fleeting thought I had - me thinks the best  answer is to the  address the buyer provided at time of payment.  Forget the "possible scenario's" - that is what Los Vegas is about.    When we  sold on eBay  shipped 1665 items to  the  50 US states, US Protectorates  and APO/FPOs.  Only  had two packages that was  last scene oat the same USPS sort facility in  Jamacia, NYC (kinda did a  Poor Old Charley/MTA** routine - of well  What's The Fuss.  and life goes on.

**https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7Jw_v3F_Q0

PS: FYI one example of folks scamming (stealing) a seller - the last 2 years Walmart lost over 6 billion  $  of people getting "free stuff" and they spend   lot of money on loss  prevention - cameras are every where. Approx 40% is attributed to their own  employees.  People been stealing stuff since the days of Adam and Eve - there is a book about it.

[iamalwaysright]

Q: Buyer has no last name listed in their address. Why would eBay allow this?

A: So Cher can shop on eBay without getting hassled.

Sorry I just had to. 😀