Can a BUYER be a spammer?

[mkcloset19]

I listed an item and someone messaged me to see more pictures of it. i gladly sent them. they made an offer on the item, which i accepted. i just got an email from ebay saying that payment has been confirmed and that i should ship out the item. i'm just a bit suspicious, as the buyers profile says based in malaysia. but then the shipping label says to send to an address in floridia. at some point during the process, i also saw he had an address in joliet, montana. 

any advice? or because they already submitted payment to ebay, do i have nothing to worry about?

[hartungcards]

I'm also very suspicious of shipping addresses in floridia.

[duncanvr]

Is this the Spectra S2 sale your talking about? Florida will be a forwarding agent. There have been known scams coming from forwarding agents going to places like Malaysia. Best to add insurance on the package. If they have paid you need to ship. Don't cancel to many orders or you may end up with another negative. I would also advise not to list pricey items until you have built your feedback up. Sell cheaper stuff for a while or you'll be a prime target for scammers. Further before you accept any more offers check the buyers feedback also feedback they left for others and where they are located.

[soh.maryl]

There is at least one freight forwarder in Florida, in Doral, I believe, and probably others.

You don't mean you ae suspicious of  EVERY FL shipping address, do you?

Also, we need to bear in mind that, with freight forwarders, the seller is only responsible for the package until it arrives at the FF.  Beyond that, generally speaking, any issues are between the buyer and the FF.  

[pennysdream]

Hi There, 

Could be, however I really do not know.  Recently I have had two of my regular buyers switch their forwarder to FL, from Washinton State, because it is supposed to be less expensive. I do know that the shipping cost from me is about $5.00 less.  

I don't know that, that helps much.. Just my limited experience. 

Have a great day

Penny

[luckythewinner]

---

@mkcloset19 wrote:

i just got an email from ebay saying that payment has been confirmed and that i should ship out the item.

---

Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever rely on "emails from eBay". 

Always log into eBay independently (i.e. not by clicking links in any emails) and then go to your Seller Hub to see if the order is "Awaiting shipment". 

That is the ONLY way to determine if you have actually been paid, or whether a buyer has sent a fake email to try to trick you into shipping an item. 

[harleyamy660]

Here is one they are pulling on me; item arrives damaged, open a case with horrible degrading remarks, I refund, they file a claim with the carrier and double their money.  Now I file a claim with the carrier as soon as they open a case. This prevents them from double dipping. I never get the item back and have lost some valuable items to this scam. It’s hard to determine which ones are legitimate and which ones scams. But considering leaving eBay as it is getting out of control in this economy. 

[soh.maryl]

Unless the rules have changed drastically quite recently, aren't you supposed to get the item back before refunding?

Or maybe there is some information here that I am missing? 

[southern*sweet*tea]

---

@harleyamy660 wrote:

Here is one they are pulling on me; item arrives damaged, open a case with horrible degrading remarks, I refund, they file a claim with the carrier and double their money.  Now I file a claim with the carrier as soon as they open a case. This prevents them from double dipping. I never get the item back and have lost some valuable items to this scam. It’s hard to determine which ones are legitimate and which ones scams. But considering leaving eBay as it is getting out of control in this economy. 

---

Never, NEVER, NEVER refund until you get the item back, unless that item is of so low a value that the return shipping would negate anything you could get by reselling. 

Why did you not require a return for refund?  As a seller you are absolutely entitled to get the item back if you want it back.   You're an experienced seller - you should know this.

Sellers who just hand out refunds are part of the problem.

[janet9988]

---

@mkcloset19 wrote:

I listed an item and someone messaged me to see more pictures of it. i gladly sent them. they made an offer on the item, which i accepted. i just got an email from ebay saying that payment has been confirmed and that i should ship out the item. i'm just a bit suspicious, as the buyers profile says based in malaysia. but then the shipping label says to send to an address in floridia. at some point during the process, i also saw he had an address in joliet, montana. 

any advice? or because they already submitted payment to ebay, do i have nothing to worry about?

---

How did you send them the pictures? IF you sent them through an email then that was not allowed.

[stainlessenginecovers]

A $60 breast pump is NOT an item anyone would be 'scamming'. 

As stated, that FL address is a Freight Forwarder that many international buyers use. Most of the time the buyer is buying other items, let's them pile up and then they get 1 shipment. Costs that buyer much less. 

Has been happening this way for over a decade. Nothing to fear (unless you are selling expensive Fashion, Jewelry or Electronics).