First-Time Seller — Selling a Laptop with 'Buy It Now' or 'Best Offer', What to Expect Next?

[girtiw-9]

I'm a first-time eBay seller and could use a bit of guidance on the process moving forward.

I listed a used laptop for $300 with a Buy It Now or Best Offer setting. I received two offers:

• One from a buyer with 100% positive feedback (367)

• Another from a buyer with 100% positive feedback (15)

The second buyer offered a better price, which I accepted. I also sent a counteroffer to the first buyer with the same price as the accepted offer, just in case.

At this point, I’d like to know:

1. What happens next now that I’ve accepted the offer?

2. Will the buyer pay through eBay first, and then I ship the laptop?

3. How do I confirm that the payment has been made before shipping?

I want to make sure I handle this properly and avoid any issues. Appreciate any advice from experienced sellers here!

Thanks in advance!

[girtiw-9]

Got it. Thanks a lot for your insights. I really appreciate it.

I will make sure everything is perfect from my part while shipping the item.
But what advice would you give me  to make sure I don't fall victim to buyers falsely reporting missing/damaged item or any other false claims (as I read there are a lot of SCAMs on eBay)

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@soh.maryl wrote:

OP states he accepted an offer from one buyer.  Let's assume that buyer will pay.

Sometime in the meantime, the seller made a counter offer to buyer #2.  Buyer #2, assuming that the item will still be available, accepts that offer.

Then what? What message does he get? That the item was sold? Won't he ask "Then why did the seller make an offer to me?" 

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There are currently two active (counter)offers on this item.  As soon as one of them is paid for, the other offer will expire and that potential buyer will not be able to pay for the item.  There is zero risk of this seller having two paying buyers for one item.  

When a seller sends an offer, eBay includes a comment: "A few other interested buyers also received this offer – it won’t last long. Hurry and take advantage right away!" which is a warning that the offer is not exclusive.

[pikabo-icu]

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@girtiw-9 wrote:

Got it. Thanks a lot for your insights. I really appreciate it.

I will make sure everything is perfect from my part while shipping the item.
But what advice would you give me  to make sure I don't fall victim to buyers falsely reporting missing/damaged item or any other false claims (as I read there are a lot of SCAMs on eBay)

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Prayer.. I'm kidding sort of..

Sadly, if you get a scammy buyer there are things they can claim that you can't fight.

If they initiate a return, for not as described, accept it, even if it is exactly as described.

If you don't, if you fight it, eBay will refund them and let them keep your laptop, erroneously believing you don't want the item returned. 

I don't know if it was already answered but new sellers are subject to hold of up to 30 days. You will be able to pay for shipping out of the money from the sale, if you buy your label through eBay.

If you run into any trouble PLEASE come back and ask for help. Do NOT rely on the eBay reps to give you accurate info, sadly many times they are wrong.

Good Luck!! 

[albertabrightalberta]

@girtiw-9 

I'm so impressed that you found these boards and came here to ask questions BEFORE something came up!

So many newbies don't find the community until after they've done something wrong or after they were scammed. 

If you have further questions, feel free to ask. 

[kensgiftshop]

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@girtiw-9 wrote:

Got it. Thanks a lot for your insights. I really appreciate it.

I will make sure everything is perfect from my part while shipping the item.
But what advice would you give me  to make sure I don't fall victim to buyers falsely reporting missing/damaged item or any other false claims (as I read there are a lot of SCAMs on eBay)

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Hope you get an honest buyer.

Being a new seller and a laptop is high scam magnet, they'll hold your funds for 30 days.

Have you read and understand the MBG for buyers?

Buyer can receive the item take what they need from the inside and file an INAD and return for a refund.

They can also ship back an empty box and you'll have to refund.

[aeparts1]

I've been selling for 25+ years, there is nothing that would  ever happen that would make me sell a $300 gaming laptop on eBay. Simply too may crooks out there on eBay, skilled in stealing items like this from unsuspecting sellers.

Are you prepared to lose the $300, and the laptop? If not, don't try & sell it on eBay, especially as the first item you have ever sold on eBay.

[girtiw-9]

It might be a very basic thing to ask but,

Is there anything I can do from my side to confirm that I shipped the item perfectly (like keeping a video recording of me packing & shipping the item) to provide eBay if something like this happens?

[girtiw-9]

It might be a very basic thing to ask but,

Is there anything I can do from my side to confirm that I shipped the item perfectly (like keeping a video recording of me packing & shipping the item) to provide eBay if something like this happens?

[pikabo-icu]

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@girtiw-9 wrote:

It might be a very basic thing to ask but,

Is there anything I can do from my side to confirm that I shipped the item perfectly (like keeping a video recording of me packing & shipping the item) to provide eBay if something like this happens?

---

Sadly, no.

eBay figures a video can be turned off or a substitute package could be mailed.

There just isn't anything you can do.. I'm sorry.. 

[soh.maryl]

Aren't you using tracking when shipping? Don't waste your time with that video recording.  There is no way to prove anything that way.  Example: I post a video of myself putting your very expensive purchase in a box.  I show you that the box has your name and address.  I video me driving to the PO and handing over that package to the postal clerk.  How do we know there's anything in the package? And how do we know I didn't take back the package after the filming session?

Yes, if you plan to sell on eBay, TRACKING IS THE KEY.  

[soh.maryl]

There is no way to break this to you gently:  You can follow every suggestion, every rule, every remark to the absolute letter and you can still get scammed.

One of the main rules is:  Never list an item for sale unless you can afford to lose the item or the money or both.  

[pickapaper]

@girtiw-9 

I agree with what @aeparts1 said.  I've been selling on here for 27 years and I rarely sell expensive items on here anymore and I would never sell a computer or phone on here. 

Scamming is most prevalent with electronic items and those scammers just love to prey on new sellers.   It is fortunate that you came here to ask questions but even that doesn't guarantee that everything will go well.    I certainly am hoping that your transaction goes off without any problems.

Oh, and another thing you might want to keep in mind is that if an "Item Not as Described" claim happens to enter into the picture, you need to accept it and issue a label for him to return it.  Do not refund until you get the item back.  The buyer has 30 days from his receipt of the item to return it (and hopefully will return the correct item instead of something else; even if he returns something else, you still have to refund).  A buyer can also go to their source of payment (credit card, etc.) and file a chargeback for up to 180 days which can sometimes be a surprise if you get hit with a chargeback a few months after a transaction.

[luckythewinner]

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@girtiw-9 wrote:

I will make sure everything is perfect from my part while shipping the item.
But what advice would you give me  to make sure I don't fall victim to buyers falsely reporting missing/damaged item or any other false claims (as I read there are a lot of SCAMs on eBay)

---

Every transaction on eBay carries the risk of fraud. 

There is no way to completely prevent fraud if a buyer is intent on defrauding you. 

If you cannot afford to lose it, do not sell it here.

[kensgiftshop]

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@girtiw-9 wrote:

It might be a very basic thing to ask but,

Is there anything I can do from my side to confirm that I shipped the item perfectly (like keeping a video recording of me packing & shipping the item) to provide eBay if something like this happens?

---

No, there's nothing you can do to prove what you shipped.

They won't even look at videos, because all it proves is you can make a video

[ittybitnot]

The second buyer offered a better price, which I accepted. 

@girtiw-9 

If you accepted an offer (that was NOT a counter offer)  from the second person as you stated, it should have already been paid for instantly. 

You retain the buyer rules in the default settings that require a buyer to put up a payment source in order to make an offer to you in the first place.  You can see these here: 

https://www.ebay.com/bmgt/buyerrequirements

Buyer Rules:

*Require buyers to provide a payment method before they place a bid.

*Require buyers to provide a payment method before they make an offer.

This limits how a buyer can pay, removes combined shipping options, and results in what is termed an auto-pay situation.  The buyer is charged instantly, and the listing should be paid for and awaiting shipment at this point.  

Counter offers work differently.  Even if you accept one, there is no auto-billing and they will remain for sale until someone buys them.  If BOTH of yours were counter offers   (and not buyer  generated offers), and you accepted both then the person that pays first will get the product.  Neither of them have to pay, and you cannot send a reminder or invoice for COUNTER offers that you send or accept.