Odd buyer request

[jgrizzle33]

I just had a buyer send me a message right after a purchase asking me to do the following.

He purchased a item as a gift, and wants to share the joy with a friend. It’s shipping to another address not listed on his account.

he asked me to not send ANY eBay logos, invoice or  receipt with the package. He then asked me to clean/wipe the exterior down and make sure I use lots of packaging materials with it. He purchase one of these recently from another seller and had to return it because he didn’t use LOTS of bubble wrap. 

He then goes on to say he will be purchasing more of these from me if everything goes well.

the item is a tv tuner card which I only have one for sale.  Everything about it seemed fishy so I refunded His money. The next email was “enjoy your one star review”

anyone else receive odd requests? Am I being to cautious?

[buyselljack2016]

---

@lbro_46 wrote:
I don't find the request out at all and I certainly would not have cancelled as long as they had that address added as their PayPal ship to address.

---

But it appears that is not the case. It was an after the fact request on the address.

I have no problem with the other buyer requests, but the address change does not float when I sell something.

[lindyslucky]

Posted before I could edit.

With extra time and materials, we probably lost money.

What could we have done? Canceled the sale? We felt we should have been able to at least added a charge for specific packaging.

We sell collectibles. This was an odd item and may have been underpriced. That's ok, we priced it, a sale is a sale. But, losing money on time and material was not ok. The boxes had to be cut to his instructions.

The he buyer Knew precisely how he wanted the package. We got no feedback and no acknowledgement he was satisfied with the packaging. 

We we even thought of adding something to our listing about extra charges for special request packaging or shipping. But, we try to keep our listings to the point, short. We don't want to be those sellers with a long list of conditions on their page.

What could we have done?

[lewisburggold]

Getting a little personal there my friend. Is it any of your business who we are. Does that have anything to do with there question?

[time4david5d28]

I've found that a buyer requesting extra bubble wrap or saying something to the effect of "use a very very very very sturdy box" Could be signs of a transaction asking to go bad in terms of item ending up damaged and the buyer filing a return request.  

Good sellers that have been sending packages out already know how to package without the item arriving damaged.  However, a buyer requesting additional packing material or a really sturdy box might indicate that the buyer has received items damaged in the past and hopes yours/mine doesn't end up the same way.   This did happen to me with a package sent to China.    It arrived at the location beat up, like it went through a football game or boxing match and the item was damaged - regardless of the 'extra buble wrap' used.   Therefore, it's Seller beware.    There is nothing you can do once it leaves your hands at the post office.  And with International Orders to China . . . theres nothing one can do because some local Chinese post offices do not have proper USPS forms for a buyer to fill out and claim damage on "insured" items.  Therefore, there is no chance of filing a claim in which a buyer has to claim damage!    

You have to protect your own interests first.   This means listening to your instincts about potential problems with a transaction.   If the address sounds fishy or there's a request to package something a certain way . . . those are signs of something.

[lindyslucky]

Thanks for your reply. This is my selling Id and I try to be careful.

The packaging request was VERY specific.

It was a non breakable item...no China, crystal, an item difficult to bend or nick.

the request was to wrap first in a plastic bag...ok, we get that.

them, a box with X amount if clearance, then another box, bubble wrap.

And a few more requests.

We get that things get damaged , we have had it happen but this was unlikely to...very.

We planned on using a mailer. We have had requests before to please be careful, and we are, but this was very exact. Ok, a request for a box and plastic ...but..

Yes, set off alarms, haven't heard, so must assume the best.

The thing is , We guess answer is no, but, could we ask for an additional charge for such a special request? Could we have just canceled the sake? For what reason?

really, this was an odd item, glad it sold. Apparently was more valuable to someone, but given the low price???

[ymeagainlord]

---

@dhbookds wrote:

Sounds like he's using you for a drop shipper, but then he wouldn't know how much bubble wrap you used if so.

You will get a ding if you just canceled without using buyer's request or address as a reason.

I probably would have stated that I always packed with a packing slip in case the label was destroyed and then given him the choice of canceling.......

---

He would if that was HIS buyer's complaint lol