Received an offer higher than my list price - no bids yet - is this a scam?

[klop56]

I relisted an item today after the first listing that had no bids.  I lowered the price. I received an offer higher - almost $10 higher than my list price (and also higher than the first listing with no bids).  Do I accept the offer?  It is not "Buy it Now" and it is not "pay immediately".  No bids on my item yet.  I'm concerned if I accept, this is a scam, and the buyer will not pay.  They do have positive feedback but nothing recent.   Thank you

[titipeo · Accepted solution]

Why will someone offer more than listing price. They could've save money and outright buy it at the lower price, and yet they didn't. Potential on scam is high. You could accept and see how it plays out, maybe ask them why the offer is for more. If they pay through eBay, great, but if they ask to text you, or your email address or if you accept Venmo or some sort of way to bypass eBay, its a scam.  

You can always edit the listing price. 

[fashunu4eeuh]

Under these circumstances, where a seller is accepting Best Offer for an auction item, an offer $10 over the opening bid is not an indication of a scam. If this were a fixed price listing, then it makes no sense. But auctions will likely go higher than the opening bid. I think his offer is based on that possibility. I believe the buyer really wants it, doesn't want to wait thru an auction. So, if this were my listing, I would accept.

I think, sadly, that it is easy to begin to think there is a scammer around every corner when one frequents the boards. When the reality is that most transactions go off without a hitch.

[klop56]

Thank you for answers so far.  I just looked at what the person who made the offer is selling.  Similar product (a ring with a gemstone) and they are asking 3 times what I am asking.  So I think maybe they buy things to double or triple the price to sell it.   I have a day or two to decline or accept the offer...so I'll think about it tomorrow. 

[7606dennis]

In the case of a fixed price listing I would be suspicious of someone offering more than the asking price.  However, in the case of an item being sold at auction with a BO option available things are reversed.  I would be extremely suspicious of someone offering less than the starting price which isn't actually an asking price at all.  It is the starting point for the bidding and acts similar to a reserve in that it is the lowest amount the item can sell for at auction.

One thing to remember about the BO option on auction style listings.  That is that once a bid is placed on the item all offers become void.  In that case the auction continues and the selling price is determined by the high bid showing at the precise end of the bidding period.  Offers are not automatically converted into bids so the person making the voided offer would have to enter a bid through the normal bidding process. 

[klop56]

I think from now on I won't list with the "best offer" option.   

[soh.maryl]

Your choices are: decline, accept, counter or ignore.

[jsaparo6]

I have had two offers for same item, one $15 more and another $30 more. I accepted the first one and they never paid. I removed the sale and relisted. Second offered I declined. Both are from profiles in TX that have no activity listed and only show joined since 2022. What's the purpose of these type of offers? I'd be leery of all future offers such as these.

[southern*sweet*tea]

Signs of a scam:

Here are some red flags to watch out for.

1. Buyer asks for your email address, Paypal address
2. Buyer sends you a phone number to text/call him/her
3. Buyer asks you to buy gift cards to go with the order
4. Buyer asks you to send the item to a different address after paying
5. Buyer wants you to send the item overnight/express and will pay you a lot extra to do this
6. Buyers says that they cannot pay through the eBay website and sends you a link to click on so that the payment will go through
7. Buyer offers more for your item than the price you have it listed for

If any of the above ever happen, don't go through with it.   Report them, cancel any sale, cancel any bid, block them,  and ignore them.

[kh-taylarie]

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