Buyer with zero feedback

[steph-kalk]

Hi I'm trying to sell an expensive painting for $7,500 on ebay. I have an inquiry  from someone with 0 feedback.  Also, their profile just says he's from United States Many people include the town or city they live in. Should I be leary? 

[soh.maryl]

A seller with not too much experience listing a painting for over 7K?

Not a good idea.

If that's the value of this item, shouldn't you be selling it through an art dealer?

You are deliberately setting yourself up to get taken big time.  

[mtgraves7984]

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@steph-kalk wrote:

Hi I'm trying to sell an expensive painting for $7,500 on ebay. I have an inquiry  from someone with 0 feedback.  Also, their profile just says he's from United States Many people include the town or city they live in. Should I be leary? 

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@steph-kalk 

I think that you'll only see the town/city if the prospective buyer sends an offer. Yes... I'd be very leery selling that here.

[luxgoods]

I have said this so many times. Ebay is not the place to sell items that cost 7K.  You are asking for trouble and with the details such as zero feedback, it is obvious that someone opened this fake account just to make the purchase. 

[lakefor94]

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@soh.maryl wrote:

A seller with not too much experience listing a painting for over 7K?

Not a good idea.

If that's the value of 5this item, shouldn't you be selling it through an art dealer?

You are deliberately setting yourself up to get taken big time.  

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I agree with @soh.maryl . You are venturing into high risk territory.  Find an art dealer to take it on consignment or buy it outright. 

Stick with your items in the $20-$200 range until you gain more experience. 

[maxine*j]

May I echo the sentiments of others and strongly advise you to a painting that valuable into the hands of a gallery or an auction house. 

Packing, shipping, and insuring it will all be quite challenging, to begin with.

Plus,  you are a newish seller (if you're selling it under this ID), who "does not accept returns," and otherwise sell mostly used clothing.  All that puts a target for scammers on your back. 

Remember that "no returns" does not mean "no refunds" and if your buyer files an INAD, you will be refunding.  If you fight the INAD, eBay will tell the buyer to keep the painting along with the refund because of your "no returns" policy.

To answer your question:  Zero-feedback buyers are no more likely to give you a hard time than thousand-feedback buyers.

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[evelyb30]

New seller + high dollar item (any) = scammer bait.   I'd block the scammer so they can't try again later, and take the painting down.  Sell in a reputable auction house or on line locally, cash and carry.  

As others have said, zero feedback buyers can just be new users or not-so-new users who bought from lazy sellers.   When I sold my TOS said "We all have to start somewhere, but please understand what you're doing before you bid." ...which scammers do, the better to scam sellers. 

[toysaver]

You should be leery of your own actions.

[ckimodog]

@steph-kalk 

As a new seller, selling something of that value is very risky.  This is what you need to look for where scammers are concerned. Please read and heed:

1. Buyer asks for your email address, Paypal address -they don't need it, they can pay thru the payment options Ebay offers
2. Buyer sends you a phone number to text/call him/her-Communicate ONLY thru the Ebay Platform
3. Buyer asks you to buy gift cards to go with the order - Forget about it
4. Buyer asks you to send the item to a different address after paying-Ship only to the address on the invoice
5. Buyer wants you to send the item overnight/express and will pay you a lot extra to do this - Sure they will...🙄

6. Buyers says that they cannot pay through the eBay website and sends you a link to click on so that the payment will go through - Sorry
7. Buyer offers more for your item than the price you have it listed for - Buyer is looking to steal your item and money

Even many veteran sellers wouldn't sell something that pricey on line, including myself.  It's a beautiful piece and I'd sure hate to see you lose it to the millions of scammers and virtual thieves that are eyeballing it right now.  Please re-think your decision.  Not trying to rain on your parade, just trying to help and advise a fellow seller... and you asked.

Good luck. 

[m60driver]

Given Ebay fees and the risks involved then why on earth on you selling the piece on Ebay?  Not to mention that being a rather inexperienced seller with a low rating you are likely to attract scammers like flies to the dung heap.  Better to just take it to a gallery up in Chicago for consignment.  A gallery can probably command a higher price than what you are listing on Ebay.

[1tuna]

only sellers have the town location listed in the profile

buyers will just have USA listed ,you cant really see where any buyers are from until they purchase

@steph-kalk 

[ms.rodriguez*]

No. No. No. I have over 10,200+ feedbacks and have been here since 1998 and I will NEVER sell such a pricey item here since the payment is electronically.  The buyer can say you sent a pizza box  or say you sent a print or a counterfeit and they will immediately get a refund.  You can NOT prove to ebay what you sent. Remember that. Here the buyer is king.   End the listing now and find an art gallery to sell your painting.  Goodluck.