First time seller (PS5)

[Anonymous]

I am a first time seller, I am selling my PlayStation 5, only used twice, basically in mint condition. Someone messaged me asking for a price I would settle on, I said 820, they messaged back saying they will do 850 and 200 for shipping, they are in New Zealand, and to cancel auction and send PayPal request. I’m quite certain it’s a scam so I won’t even entertain it, but as a first time seller I’m expecting a lot of scammers as I have a big target on me, what is the best way to go about proceeding with this auction on eBay and how should I detect scams. Can positive reviews be fake for buyers? Ive got kids at home, which is the main reason I’m selling, not enough time to play, and getting scammed and losing out 800 plus dollars would be detrimental, and I just want to do this the right way. Any advice would be appreciated.

[downunder-61]

As a new seller you are a scam magnet. Please do not list this on eBay - use Facebook, Craigslist any where else so that the buyer can see the PS5 and pay you cash for it.

If they are in as short supply there in the US as they are over here, you will have no problem getting a seller locally. Selling anything like this on eBay is fools game these days.

[toysaver]

never text, stay within ebay's messaging system

[terrycece62]

As a first time seller your first item should not be a high demand - prime target scam item 

Agree with my fellow community responders that sell elsewhere

[a_c_green]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

what is the best way to go about proceeding with this auction on eBay and how should I detect scams. Can positive reviews be fake for buyers? Ive got kids at home, which is the main reason I’m selling, not enough time to play, and getting scammed and losing out 800 plus dollars would be detrimental, and I just want to do this the right way. Any advice would be appreciated.

---

If you feel you must sell it here, sell it as Local Pickup Only for cash. Realistically, no one halfway across the country or halfway around the world has a pressing need for your specific example. You will also be helpless against any real or fake claims of shipping damage, and while you are entitled to send the buyer a return shipping label to get it back before refunding, there is no way to tell what if anything will be in the box that comes back. The odds of finding an honest buyer who's willing to spend that much money on a new seller with a highly-scammed item are slim to none.

Starting a selling account on eBay with a big-ticket item such as a laptop, smartphone or game console is a way to lose it quickly. Never list anything here that you are not willing to lose completely.

[m60driver]

Under no circumstances should a new seller attempt to sell a relatively expensive electronic gadget like a  PlayStation 5 on Ebay.   You are highly likely to get scammed and Ebay, even though they know this, will not have your back.  Better you just gift it to me rather than gifting it to a scammer.  But, say hey, if you do wish to gift it to me I will pay for shipping.

[luckythewinner]

@Anonymous wrote:

 I’m quite certain it’s a scam so I won’t even entertain it, but as a first time seller I’m expecting a lot of scammers as I have a big target on me, what is the best way to go about proceeding with this auction on eBay and how should I detect scams. Can positive reviews be fake for buyers?

---

Positive feedback for a buyer means nothing because buyers can only received positive feedback. And of course positive feedback can be faked. Not only that, a scammer could also have positive feedback that is real, too. Occasional scammers are just as dangerous as full-time scammers.

How do you detect scams? By using common sense.

The PlayStation 5 is available in New Zealand for a list price of $819. So why would someone pay you 25% over list price to ship a used console halfway around the world? Whenever a 'buyer' wants to pay you more than you are asking, common sense should tell you they are up to something.

Here's how eBay works: a buyer finds a listing on eBay, the buyer pays for it on eBay, the seller receives payment through eBay, and the seller ships the item to the buyer. If a 'buyer' wants arrange payment outside eBay, common sense should tell you that he is up[ to something.

Now to the biggie: Every transaction on eBay carries a risk of fraud. Every time you list an item, you are risking the item and the cost of shipping it to the buyer. Any buyer can steal and item from any seller at any time by filing a fraudulent dispute.

[seeran87]

I really appreciate your feedback. If you work honestly you can easily get rid of cheaters

[dbfolks166mt]

     Not only is in highly probable that it is a scam the buyer offering to conduct this deal outside of eBay through a PayPal transaction violated eBay policy and you should report the buyer. As others have advised sell this locally and avoid the fees, shipping concerns and scammers. As a side note you cannot use USPS to directly ship to New Zealand at the moment.

https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/international/?utm_source=residential&utm_medium=link... 

     If you have no bids on the item I would end this now to avoid any further attempts. These continue to be a hot item and I cannot tell you how many postings there were on this forum about sellers getting scammed out of PlayStations. There are a number of help files on eBay regarding protecting yourself. Following is one related to gift cards. Another good source is to read some of the postings on this forum about sellers who have been scammed using a number of tactics. 

https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/paying-items/protecting-gift-card-scams?id=5156 

[bangordiscount]

---

@luckythewinner wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:

 I’m quite certain it’s a scam so I won’t even entertain it, but as a first time seller I’m expecting a lot of scammers as I have a big target on me, what is the best way to go about proceeding with this auction on eBay and how should I detect scams. Can positive reviews be fake for buyers?

---

Positive feedback for a buyer means nothing because buyers can only received positive feedback. And of course positive feedback can be faked. Not only that, a scammer could also have positive feedback that is real, too. Occasional scammers are just as dangerous as full-time scammers.

How do you detect scams? By using common sense.

The PlayStation 5 is available in New Zealand for a list price of $819. So why would someone pay you 25% over list price to ship a used console halfway around the world? Whenever a 'buyer' wants to pay you more than you are asking, common sense should tell you they are up to something.

Here's how eBay works: a buyer finds a listing on eBay, the buyer pays for it on eBay, the seller receives payment through eBay, and the seller ships the item to the buyer. If a 'buyer' wants arrange payment outside eBay, common sense should tell you that he is up[ to something.

Now to the biggie: Every transaction on eBay carries a risk of fraud. Every time you list an item, you are risking the item and the cost of shipping it to the buyer. Any buyer can steal and item from any seller at any time by filing a fraudulent dispute.

---

I am assuming video game consoles aren't your thing, but PlayStation 5 consoles are not available at retail anywhere in the world, so yes, it makes sense that people would be willing to pay over retail, as they have been the entirety of the past year since they launched.

That being said, it was my understanding that their are shutdowns on mail going into New Zealand by at least USPS if not others.

Keep in mind you need signature confirmation as proof of delivery for anything with a payment totaling over $750; it's very unlikely you'll get that with any USPS shipment service (outside of maybe Global Express Guaranteed), even if they were an option to New Zealand.

As others have said, I know it's tempting to try and get top dollar for an item like this on eBay but unless you have a high risk threshold I would try to unload it locally on one of the other marketplaces and save yourself the fees and headaches of dealing with a high scam item. Assuming you yourself paid retail, you'll still come out on top.

[albertabrightalberta]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I am a first time seller, I am selling my PlayStation 5, only used twice, basically in mint condition. Someone messaged me asking for a price I would settle on, I said 820, they messaged back saying they will do 850 and 200 for shipping, they are in New Zealand, and to cancel auction and send PayPal request. I’m quite certain it’s a scam so I won’t even entertain it, but as a first time seller I’m expecting a lot of scammers as I have a big target on me, what is the best way to go about proceeding with this auction on eBay and how should I detect scams. Can positive reviews be fake for buyers? Ive got kids at home, which is the main reason I’m selling, not enough time to play, and getting scammed and losing out 800 plus dollars would be detrimental, and I just want to do this the right way. Any advice would be appreciated.

---

SCAM! 

[vintage-camerastuff]

There is no way around being scammed selling this on ebay.  Sell it locally only.  You will get your money with no hassles or bogus returns.  

[fab_finds4u]

Keep up with announcements.  Mail delivery  to New Zealand has been temporially suspended unless you're using GSP or eBay's International Shipping.

Cancelling and sending them your PayPal address is taking the transaction off of eBay and that's not allowed.

People that want your PayPal address are trying to send you a fake PayPal receipt telling you you've been paid and to give them the tracking number so your payment will be released. They're hoping you won't look in your PayPal account to confirm the payment. They're trying to steal your item.

Cancel and sell it locally where you and the buyer meet in person at the police station and they pay in cash. 

[downunder-61]

---

@seeran87 wrote:

I really appreciate your feedback. If you work honestly you can easily get rid of cheaters

---

You can be as honest as the day is long - you can NOT get rid of scammers or cheaters.

The biggest problem for an honest seller/buyer is the fact that they tend to think others have the same moral compass as them (and it sure ain't so on eBay)

[downunder-61]

---

@bangordiscount wrote:

---

---

I am assuming video game consoles aren't your thing, but PlayStation 5 consoles are not available at retail anywhere in the world, so yes, it makes sense that people would be willing to pay over retail, as they have been the entirety of the past year since they launched.

They are available in Australia, and the retailers have now put a 1 console per person restriction on them to circumvent the bulk buy/resell issue they had in the last 12 months. $719 AUD for the one that takes the old PS4 discs as well. AFAIK they are also available in NZ now

I only know this, because my son got his yesterday and I haven't seen him since LOL