Notice of an offer

[suha_4635]

I received an email, supposedly from eBay indicating I have a buyer for an item I listed at $38.  The offer is good for one day at $60.  I am new to this and have ever sold anything and am not sure if this is a scam, so I have not clicked 'respond now', as I am not sure if it is legitimate.  Please advise.

[pikabo-icu]

@suha_4635   Go to the item in your seller hub, the transaction.

If it's a legit offer it will show up there.

If they are offering MORE than your listed price, I'm certain it is not legit and is a scam.

Sorry. 

[itscalledapostingid · Accepted solution]

Usually an offer for more than the asking price will be a scam.

If you accept that offer they will most likely contact you asking to text them or email them directly outside of Ebay. Then they may send a fake email to trick you into thinking you have been paid when you haven't. They may also ask to pay directly with Paypal or ask you to include gift cards. Avoid all these tricks!

[donsdetour]

simple why would some one make an offer of an amount they can get by just a click for less:

Its a scam man: to try and get you to contact them and send fake payment notice and or: or say its a gift and would you enclose gift cards etc:

Never send photos of a gift card with the back scratched off: a fast way to lose your money

[titipeo]

 Do you go to a store and offer to pay more than ticketed price? No. 

Don't fall for these scams. If it is a valid offer it will appear on your sellers dashboard and all will be processed through them.  Stay within the platform to avoid any scams and have the minimal sellers protection that eBay offers. 

[fern*wood]

Since you have listed all your items as auctions with best offers enabled, rather than as fixed price listings, then it may be a legitimate offer.   Some will offer more in order to get you to sell to them instead of waiting for a week to see how high the item may go.  Never take any communication or payments off the site.

[eunster1313]

@suha_4635 

You are running an auction with a starting bid of $38.00 with the make an offer option.

There is no buy in now button for some one to buy it for $38.00 on your auction so

someone can make you an offer lower than $38.00, equal to $38.00, or higher than $38.00 with out it being an indication that they are a scammer.

It simply means that they are willing to pay you $60.00 now if you accepted their offer.

It's your choice as to accepting the offer or letting the auction run.

[mtgraves7984]

@suha_4635 

It's true that scammers will flock to your '0' Feedback listings like crazy... I'd have to side with previous posters.

With that being said, a $60 offer on a St. Augustine silver spoon listed at $38 starting bid isn't totally  ridiculous. If someone wants that very  spoon, I could see them offering that to obtain it without waiting out the auction.

One way to prevent this is to remove your 'Make Offer' feature and let the auction run its course. Stay vigilant and good luck.

[gracieallen01]

You are a new seller so you are therefore a scam magnet/target.  You have been given very good advice - heed it.

Don't take a sale off site - which means don't answer texts asking for 'help' because the buyer is 'having problems' clicking Pay Now.  There is NO reason to avoid ebay checkout.

Don't buy gift cards for any buyer - they can do it themselves and it is a BIG scam.

Don't change shipping address, especially after the sale.  Use ebay shipping address.

Lots of reading for a new seller to do if they want to succeed on ebay - best get started.

[pikabo-icu]

Oh my...

I wasn't aware this was an auction with offer enabled..

It said listed at $38 so I made the mistake of assuming this was a BIN.

It is possible the person wants the spoon, is willing to pay $60 outright rather than wait for the auction..

My bad for not digging deeper..

I agree with the others- if it's  an acceptable price and is offered in the transaction, you can accept. 

[Anonymous]

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@pikabo-icu wrote:

I wasn't aware this was an auction with offer enabled..

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Which should not be allowed on eBay in my opinion.

[pikabo-icu]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@pikabo-icu wrote:

I wasn't aware this was an auction with offer enabled..

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Which should not be allowed on eBay in my opinion.

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It surely does confuse things and seems unfair to other bidders..

[Anonymous]

Yes

I also think that on auctions with BIN, BIN should be allowed to stay for the duration of the auction so people know what the target price is. It is unfair to bidders who come late who may have been able to get the item for a lesser price.

[suha_4635]

I really appreciate all your responses.  As a 'newbie' to this whole thing I had thought maybe putting them up for sale as an auction item was the way to go, but I'm thinking I will go back in and change the listings to just be straight for sale items.  Is that less likely to draw scammers?

By the way, when I check my account it does not show that there are any offers, which would go along with your comments that it is a scam.  

Thank you all for your responses.

[gracieallen01]

At least with fixed price you can enable 'Immediate Payment Required'.  That will often discourage some scammers.