eBay

brud2949-1izkwilo · ‎03-16-2021

I’m going to start by saying that I am brand new to selling on eBay, so I may be misunderstanding something.

Here is the situation:

I have a camera that I put up for sale (I wish to upgrade to a different type). The bidding was going fine, but within the last hour of bidding, a user with private feedback made a high bid and won. I “sent an invoice” and a thank you note, did not hear back for 3 days.

they then stated (quote):

“Am sorry to tell you that i wont be able to process the payment without verifying your paypal email address, and if you know you cant send it, i will like you to let us cancel the transaction by you sending me an ebay cancellation page, so you can take your item back on listing and sell it for someone else.”

That message was actually sent to me verbatim twice within about 10 mins.

I have filed a UID as instructed by eBay CS, but honestly I’m afraid they’ll buy the camera , break it, and return it since the situation does not appear normal to me.

to top it off, the buyer is listed as being out of one state and the shipping address is half way across the country..

any reassurance or information would be very appreciated. Thank you.

-B

soh.maryl · ‎03-16-2021

Any buyer that seems to ask for your Paypal information is on his way to scam you.

You state that you've not heard anything from this buyer for three days. Are you aware that you (the seller) can open an unpaid item case if you've not been paid within 48 hours of the end of the auction/listing? There is no need for further messages or sending an invoice.

How about going back and re-reading the Seller Information Center very carefully?

So you've filed an unpaid item case, that's good news. Be sure to return to that case in 96 hours and ask eBay to step in so your fees can be refunded? And why do you worry that they will buy the camera, the open an item not as described case? They haven't paid and they are not going to pay, so you are not going to ship the camera, so how could they open that case?

eunster1313 · ‎03-16-2021

(“Am sorry to tell you that i wont be able to process the payment without verifying your paypal email address,)

It's a scam. Never give your paypal email address to anyone they don't need it to pay

you. They just want it to send you a fake email telling you have been paid and to trick

you into shipping it to them for free.

lilbama911 · ‎03-16-2021

RE: i will like you to let us cancel the transaction by you sending me an ebay cancellation page, so you can take your item back on listing and sell it for someone else.”

You can manually stop the UID you initiated and send this buyer an item cancellation as requested. Also, its not the buyers responsibility to verify your email address as a requirement for paying for an item. Selling cameras and phones as a newbie on eBay is risky as you can easily be scammed due to lack of knowledge. Seasoned eBay sellers are fully aware as easily it is to be scammed on eBay when one is selling electronics.

Another option is to manually stop the UID and cancel the transaction using "Problem With Buyers Address". As the seller, in both cases, you will not be penalized and your fees will be refunded.

Personally, even though you are new to eBay, I didn't see the relevance of opening a case against the buyer, when the buyer asked for a cancellation request, if you couldn't provide your email address for his/her verification.

ittybitnot · ‎03-16-2021

Am sorry to tell you that i wont be able to process the payment without verifying your paypal email address,

@brud2949-1izkwilo

New variation on the "text me" scammer. They have no intention of paying, but want that email address to send you phony payment notifications.

I’m afraid they’ll buy the camera , break it, and return it since the situation does not appear normal to me.

You don't have to worry about that scenario in this situation, since they aren't going to pay anyway. Buyer fraud related to false claims require some front money which these "low rent" scammers aren't willing to put up.

theirong33k · ‎03-16-2021

I noticed someone mentioned the unpaid item case and more importantly following up with EBay to "step in". This is absolutely the right way to handle this. There is a setting in which you can have EBay automatically open an unpaid item case for you after two days which is what I use. It is a great way to hold the buyers accountable and it helps me keep an eye on this type of activity.

ittybitnot · ‎03-16-2021

You can manually stop the UID you initiated and send this buyer an item cancellation as requested.

@lilbama911

I don't think that is correct. The OP is not dealing with a BUYER. They are dealing with a criminal.

brud2949-1izkwilo · ‎03-16-2021

Thank you all, very much for the input.

I was worried that the guy might actually pay me, then I would be ‘forced’ to ship the item, then it would be returned to me broken or something.

I truly appreciate the information and reassurance that i have apparently done the right thing.

I will make sure to follow up and close the case after the 96 hours.

Thank you!

brud2949-1izkwilo · ‎03-16-2021

I do not mind providing my email address if that is allowed, but I thought it was against eBay rules to conduct a transaction outside of the eBay system as their warning below messages specifically states they scan for attempts to contact the other party or provide contact information (and he was also asking for my phone number).

Additionally, I was under the impression that eBay handled the payment methods, such that there was no need for a buyer to have that information.

brud2949-1izkwilo · ‎03-16-2021

Thank you. I had not even considered that someone might use my email to send phony payment notifications. THAT is a good warning to remember.

-B

brud2949-1izkwilo · ‎03-16-2021

I appreciate that. I found the setting and have activated it. Although I’m unsure if I’ll try to use eBay again for selling anything after my recent experience. I sure do appreciate the help and information offered by all of you more experienced eBay’ era!

soh.maryl · ‎03-16-2021

The OP states that the buyer says he needs to verify the OP's Paypal address.

There is no legitimate need for the buyer to do that; therefore, as most of us have implied, the OP is dealing with a scammer, not a legitimate buyer who requests to cancel.