First time seller with their first offer

[ten-8793]

Hi,

I'm concerned that my first offer/buyer might be trying to scam me. I listed a coat for a set price (no bargain). The buyer has put in their bio to text them additional photos of product, send a handwritten note of my username and how much I was offered.

Could this be a scam or is the buyer taking extra precautions to not be scammed by sellers?

Thanks in advance for the help!

[ten-8793]

I should also note, the buyer has an 100% positive feedback rating.

[nobody*s_perfect]

It's a setup for a scam. Ignore the request.

It's not possible for sellers to leave negative or neutral ratings for buyers, so all buyers have lovely 100% feedback, even the terrible ones.

[perfectlyknotty]

If the additional photos requested are reasonable additions to your listing, you can add them to the listing itself, instead of sending directly. Reply thanking them for the opportunity to provide additional information about your item, and hope it clarifies their question. 

I wouldn't be comfortable sending the hand written part, but having a conversation with the buyer addressing trust is a good communication ☺️ Something like:

Can you please tell me why you are requesting a handwriting sample from me? I'm happy to tell you that I'm a real person, selling real things if that is your concern, but I'm not comfortable sending a photo of my handwriting.

[brightlightbookseller]

Never take communication off eBay, if that's what you mean by text them (if they just want an eBay message, sure, but still the handwritten note of your username is weird and I wouldn't do that).  I'd report the message first then block them, if I'm interpreting that first part correctly.

[jerseyboymusic]

The only coat I see on this account sold yesterday.

I would just take additional photos and add them to the listing, or tell the "buyer" something like "I have nine photos up on the listing. If there are specific additional photos you want to see, please let me know what they are and I will add them to the listing"

@perfectlyknotty I agree with your first paragraph. The rest of your reply I wouldn't even get into that.  I would remind the "buyer" all communication needs to be done through Ebay messages, anyway

[fern*wood]

Just a tip to add on to the scam information you have received, since you are just starting out, I recommend listing low dollar items to learn how things work.  Scams are always out there,  but listing high dollar items with no experience isn't a good idea.

[az93]

I ignore all strange requests and block the buyer. And all buyers have 100% positive feedback, it means nothing. If this is a pricey item, i suggest you end it. Relist it later when get some feedback and are comfortable selling. Start with small inexpensive items.

[soh.maryl]

Looks like the coat actually SOLD on January 2nd.  

[ittybitnot]

Could this be a scam....

@ten-8793 

Did your buyer pay? 

Generally speaking, this is indicative of a typical "text me" scammer, cousin to the "change of address" scammer.  Glad you asked, many people don't until it is too late.  Though these are the easiest to avoid as far as scams go on eBay, they typically target newbie/low feedback sellers with expensive items. 

Educate yourself, read here often, and do not post anything for sale here that you cannot afford to lose. 

[fab_finds4u]

I would run from that listing.

  The brand name on the coat label is Hanifa. The label says Hanifa.  Hanifa makes it.

The material is wool, not "fay wool." 

Fay is also a clothing company and to call it a Fay wool coat I believe it should be made by Fay with a Fay label. 

Just saying you might have a problem in the making.

[ebeysince1998]

I've seen similar requests over the past 26 years.  Ignore the request and block the buyer

https://www.ebay.com/bmgt/BuyerBlock?

[a_c_green]

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@ten-8793 wrote:

Hi,

I'm concerned that my first offer/buyer might be trying to scam me. I listed a coat for a set price (no bargain). The buyer has put in their bio to text them additional photos of product, send a handwritten note of my username and how much I was offered.

---

First of all, buyers do not get to dictate how many hoops the seller must jump through. All that rigmarole you are describing seems intended to get a text number or email address from you, after which you will get fake payment notifications, directions to ship in order to see funds deposited in your account, and who knows what else. Hopefully that has not occurred; please click the Reply button below to give us an update of what has happened since your original post.

I'm a little baffled as to why you're listing the brand as Fay when all your own photos (not the stock photos) are listing it as Hanifa. The stock Fay photos do seem to show an identical item, which suggests that one is a knockoff of the other. Don't use stock photos unless your item is absolutely brand new and matches the stock photos in every way.

[albertabrightalberta]

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@fab_finds4u wrote:

I would run from that listing.

  The brand name on the coat label is Hanifa. The label says Hanifa.  Hanifa makes it.

The material is wool, not "fay wool." 

Fay is also a clothing company and to call it a Fay wool coat I believe it should be made by Fay with a Fay label. 

Just saying you might have a problem in the making.

---

In addition to the problems with the listing that @fab_finds4u mentioned, I'll mention another, the use of a stock photo as the first picture. That picture (as all stock images do) shows a coat that looks nothing like your own pictures of the actual item.

I realize that most sellers are only amateur photographers and it's difficult to make an item look as good as stock images but you're opening yourself up to a NAD (not as described) claim. 

Another problem is with the description. The marked size is "small" but your description only says it is "true to size." Every company sizes their items differently and size small from one company's line may be medium or large from another company. 

Clothing is difficult to sell and measurements need to be taken and shown in listings and even then, it might not fit as the buyer had hoped. 

As for the message from the buyer, I'm 100% positive that message is from someone who is going to scam you with a fake "receipt" and instructions from Paypal telling you to ship the item. 

length ne

As to the message

[monroe67]

"I should also note, the buyer has an 100% positive feedback rating."

eBay buyers can have either 100% positive feedback or 0%, if they haven't received any feedback at all.  

eBay buyers cannot receive negative or neutral feedback.