Scammers

[briginte-5]

I have just recently started selling on eBay and I am have terrible trouble with scammers any tips on how to avoid this? I have had 2 scammers in 2 days sending me an offer then trying to get me to get gift cards! Any advice on this situation?

[momdadsstash]

Ignore, do NOT respond...same as with scam emails.

Just a hint, though, since you're new.

You do realize that if someone bids 99 cents on the kid's bowl and no other bidders show up...that's what it will sell for?

[a_c_green]

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@briginte-5 wrote:

Any advice on this situation?

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Dump the Make Offer option and set your opening price at whatever you would truly accept to sell for if you only ever get one bid. For Fixed Price listings, do the same, and also set the Immediate Payment Required option so that no one can snatch your item off the market without actually paying you for it first. 

Aside from that, your listings really, really need measurements and dimensions. You have items listed with no indication as to what size, shape or dimensions they are. Those are important to your prospective buyers.

[ms.rodriguez*]

When you write your ad, put the following disclaimer... " ALL payments must be made through the Ebay system within 4 days."   We do NOT accept any other type of payments.  ALL items MUST be shipped to the address that Ebay provides us."

ALways make sure that the payment has arrived by looking in MY EBAY.   If you do NOT know where that is located, learn.    When you print, print through the ebay system and make sure that it says PAYMENT MADE, SHIP YOUR ORDER .   

Do not just rely on an email especially if you see PAYPAL in the email.  There is NO freaking way that a seller in Managed payments can get a payment that says Paypal.  The buyers do NOT have access to a sellers' email address.  By now, everyone is in Managed Payments.  When you get the email that the buyer has paid, you have no clue how they paid.

[ms.rodriguez*]

Also I just checked 1 item of yours, the drawer organizer. Your shipping is wrong.  The item says 21 inches long. There is a new surcharge on any box 22 inches long. That charge is an EXTRA 4 dollars.  IF the box is more than 30 inches, the surchage will be $15.00.  This just started in April.  These 2 fees will apply to all USPS shipping methods.

So learn to use calculated shipping. Get a scale and a measuring tape.  Get your boxes.  Kinda pack your item BEFORE you list it.  Measure it , weigh it and hopefully you will not lose on shipping.

I have been selling since 1998 on 2 other Ebay IDS  and I have lost plenty of money when the fees were low. back in 1998.  

Goodluck.

[evelyb30]

Whatever you do, stay out of modern electronics.  That's begging for scammers if you're new, and even if you're established.  As the others said, only start an item at the minimum you're willing to accept, and never EVER accept any payment not coming through the eBay system.  

[soh.maryl]

Why bother with that disclaimer?  Legitimate, honest buyers know when payments need to be made and are aware of the rest of the rules.  

[iart]

Your 'no returns' policy is asking for trouble. Often it is a BUYER benefit and you risk losing both the item AND your money.

Besides, why wouldn't you want to stand behind your product?

[reallynicestamps]

Don't use Auctions at all.

Switch to Fixed Price/ Immediate Payment Required.

Those last 30 days rather than seven, and remain visible until someone pays.

[kensgiftshop]

@briginte-5 

Do away with auctions and best offers.

List as a fixed price with immediate payment required.

[reallynicestamps]

No Returns does NOT mean No Refunds.

It can be taken by eBay or by the scammer's credit card company to mean you never want to see the thing again and they may take you at your word.  And refund without return.

It also means that honest buyers may think you will not be helpful if they have a real problem. Sometimes the buyer is right- like a broken clock.

There are a few instances in which a Seller can use No Returns, but they are very limited and generally it is a Bad Policy.

[refdef]

I can tell you firsthand that new sellers with zero or low feedback are targeted immediately.  I started selling about 6 months ago and was pleased that my stuff was selling quickly.  Of course, I never got paid for those "sold" items and never shipped them.  As others have said, until you get your feedback count up, turn off "Best offer" and don't do auctions.  I didn't get scammed after I did that and my feedback is slowly increasing.