mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999
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@modquaint wrote:Hi thank you. I am asking about doing a transaction with local pickup with someone who has never purchased anything on eBay. Cash would be one thing but the question about a cashier's check set off alarm bells. Dealing with someone face to face who has no record of transactions at all just makes me nervous.
You are making assumptions about the buyer when you have no way of knowing much of anything about them. Why are you assuming this is a problem? Local pick up or not, it makes no difference. You are assuming a new Ebay account equals a problem when in fact it does not. The ONLY thing it means is they have set up a new account.
This could be a seasoned Ebay member as a buyer and/or a seller that decided they wanted to set up a new account for whatever reason they may have. Sometimes it is a seller that has decided they don't want to purchase stuff using their selling account, so they set up a new account just to use as a buying account.
When you were a seller with zero FB as a seller, did you feel that buyer's shouldn't purchase from you because you had zero FB? Were they at risk to purchase from you because you had zero FB?
I often use this story, so for those that have seen it before, just ignore it. What if you went to go shopping at a Target or Walmart or some other store. They had a greeter at the door to welcome you to the store. They ask you "have you ever shopped here before". You answer no, this is your first time. The greeter then informs you that you are not welcome in the store as you are new and have never been there before. That makes absolutely no sense, does it. Of course not. A silly story that would never happen, but it highlights what you are talking about.
As with any pick up type listing, you want to protect yourself the best you can with any buyer no matter how many FB they have. A postal money order [as others are often forged] or actual cash. Type up a receipt [2 copies], you sign both copies and you have your buyer sign both copies. Each of you takes a copy.
We all should welcome new members to the site and never make them feel unwanted or as if they have or are doing something wrong. We want and need more traffic on the site. To get that, there will be new members. I welcome them as do most sellers. While they may need a little extra help in getting through a transaction because they are new, that is part of our jobs as sellers. These are business transaction and we should always offer up the best customer service possible. There is great value in repeat customers, never forget that. You treat them well and they may just come back again and again.
I did some research during the course of the day and found other sellers who have had issues with new accounts/local pickup arrangements.
Of course you would find issues with new members in your research. Just as you would find issues with seasoned Ebayers in your research.
Of course anyone is welcome to shop on eBay but that does not mean every transaction is one that should take place. This board is littered with tales of the most generic basic transactions that have gone wrong.
Yes they are. But that doesn't mean that just because someone has a new account that they are somehow bad or not trustworthy. If you are looking for guarantees, internet sales is not the place to find them.
I only made the "assumption" that formed the basis of my question because of the two inquiries from new accounts that suggested completing the transaction by text and paying with a cashier's check via a mover.
That is a known scam that has been out there for years and years and years. If they want their "agent" to pay you, run don't walk away from the transaction. Or if they are saying they will give you a cashier's check for more than the purchase price for any reason they may come up with. They may even ask for change back. All of which are scams. And they don't have to be a new account to try this kind of thing.
I would not stick my head in the sand and pretend that all potential buyers or sellers are the same. Banks run your credit. Schools make you fill out applications. Even eBay limits new seller accounts to protect the marketplace. You can't walk into just any bank and cash a check.
There aren't too many sellers out there that have the time or energy to run background checks on potential buyers. If you are of the opinion this is how Ebay works, you will be disappointed.
And finally, the feedback system is there for all to see for a reason. Nothing should be wrong with using it when the situation warrants it.
As a seller you are not allowed to leave negative FB on any buyer's account. You can't leave neutral either. You also are not suppose to leave a negative comment on a buyer's FB either. Ebay frowns on that and you could get in trouble with Ebay if you do this.
I have never cancelled or blocked a sale. Just wanted advice on protecting myself in a specific transaction.
I respect that. You have to do what you can to protect yourself. But on a pick up item you have a bit more control as a seller. Just require cash. You can state that in your listing. That is their option, cash only. And then do a receipt as I stated in my first posting for your records and theirs.
