I’m highly suspicious this is a scam!

[juliemceldery2012]

I had a fairly expensive ($1650.00) leather stuffed doll for sale & I was contacted by an interested buyer. I don’t have the listing open for international buyers. He asked about shipping to Australia. It was July 4th weekend so it took me 2 days to get back to him. After I got the shipping cost (which was high, over $60, including insurance) I decided I would still honor free shipping to Australia, which to me was doing a HUGE favor to this buyer.  I didn’t hear back from him for 3 weeks & then he sent me another message similar to the first (not acknowledging I even replied to him) but also asking about size & condition. I sent him the original message offering free ship & I answered his questions. He then replied asking me to take an offer which I wasn’t taking per the listing. Then he came up with a bunch of crazy ideas that are against eBay & PayPal policy, such as allowing him to make payments over a 4 month time period. His other great idea (lol) was that I change my BIN price to $500 & then let him pay the rest in installments because then eBay would “allow” it! I wrote him back telling him that wouldn’t work, that I had paid more than I’d recoup at the price listed & then he tried convincing me I had made him an offer of the amount I said I’d recoup after fees & shipping. I kindly told him I’m sorry you misunderstood & he said “ok, I understand” but please, please will you let me make payments?”.  I was starting to get irritated at this point so I blocked him even though he couldn’t buy the item anyway because I didn’t have the sale open to international buyers. I then receive a message from another person from the US asking me to take an offer of $900 so she can help her “friend” get the item I had for sale. I discover through feedback that she has purchased from him before so he’s not her friend, just a seller she bought from.  He sends me more messages going on & on about please sell me this & let me make payments. I had already told him to apply for PayPal interest free credit option in the beginning but he rejected that too saying he couldn’t get it. I realized I hadn’t blocked him from sending me messages. He started getting more angry as the messages went on so I finally told him “I’ve blocked you for proposing things that are not allowed here & for harassing me”. I blocked the other person as well but I have since unblocked her after having a long convo about this with her. This man was lying to her saying he needed her help because I wouldn’t ship to Australia & he also attempted to intimidate & manipulate her. She got dragged into a situation she didn’t ask to be a part of. I have taken the listing down for the time being because I’m concerned he will try to purchase this item through someone else & I don’t want them getting scammed, but I really want to sell this item. Anyone have any ideas?

[mr_lincoln]

@juliemceldery2012   Scams abound on nice high value items on eBay ... you may want to rethink where you sell it ... the last thing members here want to read is a thread titled, "I got scammed out of my $1650.00 leather stuffed doll and eBay won't help!!!"

[gwzcomps]

Time for the blocked bidder list I think.

https://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?bidderblocklogin

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

You did the right thing by removing listing and blocking..same thing happened to me and I just removed it, I have no problem keeping it. Why don't you take it to a consignment shop in your area? At least you wouldn't have to ship and risk being scammed on your precious treasure. ( sure would love to see what it looks like!)

[nkmipgolf]

Last time I shipped to Australia the buyer complained it went past the estimated date, I had to refund him and he got my item ($75 plus $40 shipping) for free, 2 weeks later. Never again.  Your guy sounds like a future headache not worth any sale.

[wesk_36]

"Anyone have any ideas?"

You were considerate and accommodating to offer them free shipping.

Then they hit you with a barrage of conditions or demands. You said no.

They don't accept no as an answer so they bully you.

At that point, in my opinion, silence is golden. Done.

It's bizarre that another person got involved in something that was none of their business, for someone they don't know.

"She got dragged into a situation she didn’t ask to be a part of."

She did not get dragged in, she willingly got involved in a situation that had nothing to do with her. Why? That would indicate a possible scam to me.

I would have ignored both of them at that point.

[toysaver]

I'm glad you took it down, that's what I do when there are just too many questions about a listing from iffy buyers, I consider it in time out.  I would still block the other buyer.  I write down the city where the potential buyer lives - it's listed in their question so I know if they circumvent the block.  I've had it happen and immediately report the buyer with all the email info and have never had any retaliation.   

If a major credit card or institution like PayPal have not entrusted them with a line of credit they are shopping above their means.   I won't stereotype and say all poor people are scammers but I'd be comfortable in saying most scammers are not successful members of society with enough money to purchase things they want and need.

[evelyb30]

...and if you haven't done it already, report this cretin to Ebay for his shenanigans.   I've always shipped internationally and never run into this particular scam, maybe because most items do offer international shipping already. This does sound like something to sell at a local auction with a fixed reserve, if for no other reason than to preserve your sanity. 

[juliemceldery2012]

I appreciate all the comments & suggestions. And thank you all for being so respectful. I have rethought where I’m going to sell it & it might not be here. There are reasons eBay has it’s policies & even though they try, I know all scams can’t be avoided. And that is the reason I may have to list it elsewhere.  It is a pretty rare, valuable item, only 5 similar items on eBay and they’re all of different size & colors than mine. I tried uploading a pic but I can’t get it to work. I’m hoping that maybe one of the other 6 watchers will contact me now that it’s not listed and unsold. I will investigate any buyer before I decide to list it again if this does happen. Is there anything eBay will actually do if I report him or do they just keep the complaint on file in case more complaints come in the future? Maybe people have already complained about him & something will actually be done. I think the only reason that other buyer tried to help him Is because she asked him for help buying an item from another country so maybe she felt like she owed him a favor. IDK. I had a pretty lengthy convo with her & my b/f is a detective so I’m pretty sure she was lured in by his intimidation. Unfortunately for him we are well versed in scams in this household & I should’ve blocked him earlier but I’m generally not quick to do that. Is there a form to report him or do I have to call eBay (ugh) like for everything else?

[juliemceldery2012]

I did block him already but I didn’t realize I had to block him from sending me messages too. I’ve never had to do this before as I’ve only been selling here a couple years. The majority of buyers I’ve dealt with are friendly & honest & I’ve rarely had a problem. Until this fiasco!

[toysaver]

I could be wrong but I've only known you can report a buyer, not potential buyers or other eBay users.  There's lots of people I'd like to report and I suspect that's why it's limited to completed transactions, they don't have the manpower. 

[inhawaii]

Any time a buyer makes a request that is "out of the oridinary" ... i block and run for the hills. 

[juliemceldery2012]

evelyb30 suggested that if I hadn’t already reported him that I should do so. I’m not that experienced in these situations. Only been selling a couple years & never have run into anything like this before. I feel like I know quite a bit about eBay but I’m still learning things all the time. I guess that’s why the community is here! It has definitely helped me learn some ins and outs. Thanks.

[juliemceldery2012]

I agree! I now understand why someone would block for someone just asking a question. Someone told me they got blocked for asking a seller a question and I was like “what”!!!???? Thinking I would never do something so ridiculous. Then this situation happened and lo

& behold, I block someone for asking a question. There was much more involved of course like the potential that she was involved in a scam with this crazy nutty guy. So I will never again say NEVER!!

[fern*wood]

I hope ending the listing after receiving all those messages doesn't trigger ebay to accuse you of an off site sale.