Buyer placing lots of orders using different account and name for each one

[gear-house]

I'm encountering some very strange buyer behavior. A buyer has ordered 15-20 watches in a row, each other going to the same name and shipping address, but each using a different eBay account and name. Is there any legitimate reason for this type of ordering? They aren't even bothering to take advantage of the discount offered for multiple items.

The accounts are all newly created, or a little older but just used for the first time. One of them already says "not a registered user" less than an hour after making the purchase. They are obviously putting a lot of work and effort into whatever this game is.

All the orders are going to an address in Oregon, which is probably a reshipper. 

I have encountered this before but it was much smaller orders (2 or 3) and thought maybe they wanted it shipped separately for customs reasons or something like that.

Anyway, because it's a new account for each order there's really no way to make it stop. 

It's hard for me to play order police because I don't really know what the reasons are, but it doesn't seem right.

Thoughts?

[donsdetour]

Yep Oregon is most likly a reshipper: look at their feedback to see where they are registered:

Also did you get a international fee charged??

What make you think they all the same buyer??

[klhmdg]

Not a registered user usually means eBay has removed them.

I cannot think why they would create a new account for every order but they may have logged in as a guest and maybe separate orders would have a different account name??

[gear-house]

Because they all have the same shipping name and address, and newly created account, and ordering the same things.  In the last hour they've already ordered 4 of the same item in a row. 

[itsjustasprain]

1st of all do not ship to the not a registered user account. EBay has nuked them for some reason. I would suggest you drag your feet on the other orders in case they all go the same way. You have a handling time so for this round of sales I think you should stretch it as far as you can before shipping.

[gear-house]

They aren't guest accounts. Some we're made 5 days ago, some a month ago, some a year and a half ago, but all just being used for the first time. They all have a formula, a name like "Allisten Maiden" and then the user id is "allmai22" the first 3 letters of each name plus a 2 digit number.

[donsdetour]

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@gear-house wrote:

Because they all have the same shipping name and address, and newly created account, and ordering the same things.  In the last hour they've already ordered 4 of the same item in a row. 

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China buyer most likly: does not mean they are all the same buyer due to the Oregon addy>check feedback even if zero to see were they are registered.

A lot of out of country buyers want watch.

Note have yet to have any problems with freight forward systems; and I have sold lenses and watches that way...Not to say it does not happen..

are you canceling orders???

[gear-house]

It's not just the same address it's the same name, a very specific name, and address. I'm really not confused that it's the same buyer doing this, I just don't understand why. 

[donsdetour]

Hmm with that I would be wondering my self.

That code is the individual involved.

Option are to ask on of the user what is going on:

The other is if such as one that got NARU is the same: report them all to eBay as that user:  and stall shipping and see if they also end up such...such as advice already given...

[gear-house]

Just ordered the same item 5 times in a row in the last hour. All the same shipping name and address. It's getting ridiculous and not sure if I should accept these or not. 

[desertmodels_uae]

It is a re-shipper address in the US, multiple user names is potentially: 

1. Tax evasion: by buying from different accounts (with different payment methods/card masked behind a PayPal accounts) they wouldn't show on one card a volume of business that should be reported. Remember there is the new $ 500 (or more / less) IRS reporting requirement

2. The second possibility is the actual buyer since he is using different user names but ship to the same re-ship address within US maybe someone running a card fraud operations. They come in and they do several transactions with legitimate cards and then when they feel the seller developed a trust/indifference to the strange behavior they launch an attack with a buying frenzy on his/her store using stolen cards. 

If your promised and actual lead-time to ship is 24 hours within receiving payment and you use expedite shipping as you advertise on your store, then you maybe perfect target. 

In both types, just be careful and ask questions. 

[creativecrisis]

You said the buyer has "ordered" ... does that mean they're paid for as well? I've never seen anything remotely like this, but if I were in your shoes, I'd wait to ship and keep an eye on payment. I'd also reach out to eBay on Facebook or Twitter and ask them to check on the legitimacy of these orders.

[soh.maryl]

Can you explain why you mention "tax evasion"? This is a buyer, not a seller.  That IRS reporting requirement of sales over $600 applies to sellers, not to buyers.  Frankly, that part of your explanation makes no sense, to me, at least.  

[donsdetour]

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@gear-house wrote:

Just ordered the same item 5 times in a row in the last hour. All the same shipping name and address. It's getting ridiculous and not sure if I should accept these or not. 

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One reason for such is trying to by pass custom rules and regs. Some country's do not allow the import of the items you sell.

Just saying: that meaning hoping the few get through......

[gear-house]

Yes paid for, buy it now. They are putting in lots of effort buying each thing individually with a different, never before used, eBay account. Not guest accounts. Like they build up a cache of accounts waiting to use for this purpose.