Customer using multiple new accounts to order to same address - suspicious or normal?

[squishyglam]

Hello, I discovered that a customer used 3 different accounts to place 3 separate orders, all shipping to the same address with the same recipient name. Since all 3 accounts are brand new, I'm a bit confused. I've encountered similar situations before with international customers shipping to forwarding companies, but they usually add sequence numbers to the address. However, this customer is unusual - the name and address are exactly the same across all orders. After checking, the address is just a regular residential home. Have you encountered this situation before? The items they ordered are all inexpensive, not valuable products. This makes me even more confused - why would someone go through this trouble for such small items...

[weibeautywell]

Thank you for your help!

[fashunu4eeuh]

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@weibeautywell wrote:

Another question: Sinces the buyer use the same address for 3 orders, but 3 transaction, 3 accounts. Do you think i can ship together? OR it is better to ship out with 3 packages?

Thanks!

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Hi @weibeautywell 

If it were me, i would not ship three distinct orders together because i want each order to have its own tracking number. If the buyer had requested combined shipping, then yes, by all means, ship together. But if they wanted the orders shipped together, they could have placed them all in the cart and used/requested combined shipping at checkout.

(What is the price point of these three orders?)

[weibeautywell]

That is what I thought: why you need to place 3 orders by buying the same products, also all 3 accounts created on 5/16/25, I contact the buyer, no reply. I felt it was not normal.

But per ebay policy I can not cancel the order by my side, it will affect my account. I am still wondering whether I would like to take risk.

[weibeautywell]

I searched google maps, it is residential address, much better?

[pikabo-icu]

It certainly sounds like what @rosszonebricks posted, guest account purchases.

Are they all new id's? Created recently?

Perhaps the person doesn't know they can create an ID and add to the cart & purchase all at once.

[toysaver]

Check your selling preferences under managing your buyers.   Make sure the third option is not selected.  

[weibeautywell]

Thanks and I will ship seperatly. 

[sextons-sweet-deals]

Now you have to decide on how that residential site looks like with the old street view and the more current satellite view. Are we talking run down possibly vacant home or a high dollar value home?

I would reach out to buyer and ask questions on their purchase. That way you and eBay have their comments recorded on eBay communication thread. 

 If the buyer does not respond in a timely manner, I would cancel based on issue with buyer's address.

[steady2304]

@squishyglam 

I have a regular customer that does this all the time. He doesn't want an eBay account so he just places his orders using a guest account.

Each order will have to be shipped separately since they are all different ID's even though they are going to the same address.

I was finally able to get my buyer to add items to the shopping cart and then purchase so he could take advantage of my combined shipping discounts but it took a couple of orders before he finally did.

[rosszonebricks]

It's kind of how I know this even existed.   I had 3 orders all the same day, (in amongst about 20 other orders) and I always check for ones I can merge shipping on before hand.  But... as I'm packing up, I notice the names, addresses, etc. all 100% match, so I go back to look.  Sure enough, they are all different usernames (and you can kind of tell it's a guest based on the random garbage method they use to create unique names).

Normally I always combine shipping and refund a portion of the shipping, but you can't do that on multiple items on guest accounts.   You have no choice but to ship separately.   And no, I don't think you have any way to contact a buyer that checks out as guest.   So... packed up and shipped all of the separately.   If they HAD messaged and asked why I charged them for shipping 3 times... well, you checked out on three different accounts.  I could have cancelled and told them to create a proper account, and then educated them on the fact that it's 2025 and there is this fancy feature of online shopping called a 'Shopping Cart'... but I digress on that. 🙂

[sin-n-dex]

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@weibeautywell wrote:

If buyer checked out as guest, can they receive message?

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No they cannot. I had a buyer check out as a guest a few weeks ago and I sent him a message. I didn't hear back (problem with the coin), so I shipped it and hand wrote him a note with my business card.

When he got the coin, I got an email from him telling me he purchases as a guest and cannot receive messages or leave feedback (then confirmed the coin in the photo was what he wanted, I had made a typo in the title, since I hadn't gotten an answer I shipped with a note intending to refund if I guessed wrong).

C.

[simply-the-best-for-you]

I have a buyer who occasionally does this, not even a guest acct & she specifically wants them shipped separately.  Why?  I have no idea, but she's a good buyer & I've never once had a problem with it.  

So unless they are high scam or very expensive items, I wouldn't give it a second thought. 

ETA:  SHould have clarified, not quite the same, she's not creating new accts, but she'll often by 2 or 3 days in a row & specifically ask me to be sure to send each one separately.   It's so odd b/c most buyers want combined shipping.