How would you handle this sale?

[bill.purvis2012]

Just sold an item, a collectible typewriter. Buyer was a watcher who received an offer. Total $436.65.  He sent me a message saying he would accept the offer if it was still good. He had received it a few days ago, but was in the process of moving and now had settled. I said okay. Accepted his offer. He paid.

Now, upon looking at his profile: New Ebay buyer. This is 1st transaction. Just joined Ebay a few days ago. My feedback is the only one he has.

But,more troubling: his address is a motel. Extended Stay motel.

Could I be headed for trouble with this? I mean he paid.But, who would pull a scam on an item like this? It's heavy, going to be costly to ship. 

It's just odd all way around. I could ship asking for signature. But, what could he be up to?

Your opinions??

[inhawaii]

How would I handle this?

Ship it and hope for the best.

[katzrul15]

@bill.purvis2012 

Maybe your Buyer works at the Motel you are shipping to??

Not quite certain why Sellers feel the need to "google" the addresses of their Buyers.

I have items shipped to my office, my warehouse address, my mailing station address and sometimes, I have stuff(s) mailed to my house, but use my cat's name - just because I can.

None of the scenarios above mean there is anything nefarious going on as regards my orders.

Good luck.  No idea what anyone needs with a typewriter these days - with programs like adobe pro and nitro......... and the ability to scan any form into a PDF and "type" on it...........but maybe this is an old school journalist, who wants to "type" the next great novel on your collectible typewriter.

p.s.  You did not ask, but I likely would not have sold a typewriter online.  Too many things can go wrong with something that heavy, that will be difficult to pack/ship and freight to someone.  Local pick-up maybe, but not sold online to ship anywhere.  For you - that ship has already sailed.  

[rosachs]

Could be a scam, or it could be a collector who's currently working a short-term contract out-of-town and needs any purchases delivered to where he is vs his empty home/apartment that is his permanent address.

Signature required would only ensure he could not claim non-delivery, but Delivery Confirmation can also be used for the same effect.  Signatures are required for seller protection on sales over $600.  But none of that would prevent the customer from filing a Not As Described claim - in which case you either give him the typewriter for free (a full refund with no return required), or you pay to have it sent back to you AND you give him that full refund.

I've sent orders to hotels before - two that stand out are a pair of dress shoes (returned by USPS after their belts rubbed the label clean off), the other was suncare lotion delivered to a Florida hotel.

Please stop by again after delivery and let us know how things went - curious minds want to know!  🙂

-Bob.

[slippinjimmy]

I would ship it.

I always wanted to own a Selectric, there is a nice yellow one listed for $600 I would have snapped up if it was 1975 again!

If I really want to type something all I have is my mothers 1920's vintage Underwood.

[slippinjimmy]

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@katzrul15 wrote:

Good luck.  No idea what anyone needs with a typewriter these days - with programs like adobe pro and nitro......... and the ability to scan any form into a PDF and "type" on it...........but maybe this is an old school journalist, who wants to "type" the next great novel on your collectible typewriter.

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Tom Hanks for one, he appears in the documentary film California Typewriter......

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5966990/

You can watch it here:

https://tubitv.com/movies/494923/california-typewriter?start=true

[femmefan1946]

Use Signature Confirmation.

It's cheap insurance.

Crooks are cautious about actions that might identify them. And because we all think everyone thinks like us, crooks think everyone is crooked.

Faced with signing to admit he got the typewriter is, in addition to more proof than necessary of identification, also useful if the motel management won't sign for tenants and he has to pick it up at the post office. No Not Received.

And that means when it is handed over by the counter clerk , on presentation of picture ID, the condition of the packaging might be noticed. Harder to start a Damaged in Transit complaint.

You can present it as a Buyer Protection- because he can be confident that only he can claim the purchase.

Although it is actually a Seller Protection.

[candd205]

Of course the only reason to buy an old typewriter is to type out a ransom letter. So a hotel room makes perfect sense, maintaining his anonymity. That's why I kept mine from the 70's. Oh darn, now everyone knows. UUUummmmm it's my side gig - the typing part, not the kidnapping part.  🙂   Ship it and hope for the best.

[momdadsstash]

Remember, if shipping with signature required and you want to be really sure the buyer is the one receiving it, to prohibit Electronic Signatures.

In a place like a hotel or motel, that might be advisable depending on the item and the value but maybe anyplace.

[bill.purvis2012]

Wow. I loved the films. 

[stephenmorgan]

They did state they had been in the process of moving.  Maybe spouse kicked them out of home and the move was to the motel. Or maybe they work at the motel so it is a good place to be delivered to.

[fairdeal*lb]

Indeed.. It seems a little sketchy, or maybe a writers retreat, who knows. I would be mostly focused on secured packaging, 'if it shakes it breaks'. Good luck   

[johnrj1226]

1.Once upon a time you  were both a buyer and a seller with zero feedback, right.  People trusted you..

2.  Personal had  zero problems with  0  FB, had issues with 4  digit FB.

3 .If  he was in the process of moving, he/she/they may had to stay in a temp place until they could close on home/apartment read etc or receive his  household stuff -  have done that a few times (like 5 times) in my life..

4.  From what  info  you provided personally don't have  a "Suspicious Mind".  By and large the greater majority of folks are on the up & up.  You  very seldom hear/read about the good happening but  of  few people like to bang the drums on the bad issues, like the 5 o'clock news and most often you  are hearing/ reading one side of the story/issue (there is always 2 sides).

5.  Yes people  like to  get stuff for free, aka steal.  Guess it is just part of business - Walmart has about 8 billion in theft loss/year - 40% attributed to their own employees..

6.  Your  decision - personally would ship it - have ship stuff to hotels and to freight forwarders - no problem.  Even  shipped stuff to a US address to a Canadian buyer (the buyer & address were very close to the border)

Pur Vida

[justafemster]

I get a lot of hotel address on the competing site.  Haven't had an issue, but if it was more than I'm comfortable losing, I will pay for signature, even if that's below $750. 

There's crew members waiting for their ship, there's people who've sold their house, there's people who travel A LOT for work (I was one of them) and a multitude of reasons.  Doesn't really matter as long as the address is kosher with ebay. 

Ship it.  The deal is done and if you don't go through with it, it's on you.  

[hawkwind5454]

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@katzrul15 wrote:

@bill.purvis2012 

Maybe your Buyer works at the Motel you are shipping to??

Not quite certain why Sellers feel the need to "google" the addresses of their Buyers.

I have items shipped to my office, my warehouse address, my mailing station address and sometimes, I have stuff(s) mailed to my house, but use my cat's name - just because I can.

None of the scenarios above mean there is anything nefarious going on as regards my orders.

Good luck.  No idea what anyone needs with a typewriter these days - with programs like adobe pro and nitro......... and the ability to scan any form into a PDF and "type" on it...........but maybe this is an old school journalist, who wants to "type" the next great novel on your collectible typewriter.

p.s.  You did not ask, but I likely would not have sold a typewriter online.  Too many things can go wrong with something that heavy, that will be difficult to pack/ship and freight to someone.  Local pick-up maybe, but not sold online to ship anywhere.  For you - that ship has already sailed.  

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You seem to be looking at it through more of buyer eyes, than seller eyes. I Google Earth shipping addresses all the time, if something seems a tad off key. I totally get where the O/P is coming from.  I, too, would never consider selling something that heavy on eBay. An item's weight, can be its own worst enemy.