Selling a valuable item. Any way to prevent newbies from bidding at the last second?

[theofficefan4life]

If I want to sell an item that I am fairly confident could fetch over $1,000 is there a way to somehow keep people with less than 50 or so fb -OR- noobs from bidding at the last second? From what I understand you can block bidders with -1 or less and block bidders with return histories, but what if I want to limit bidders with more discretion as listed above. Is there a loophole? Sigh. Even then, there's scam artists with good fb history. No guarantees that's for sure. I'm reading so many horror stories of buyers scamming the system so that it almost seems like too big of a gamble to sell something worth of considerable value. Does anyone else hesitate selling high valued items, now more than ever, due to eBay's lack of seller protections? 

[missjen831]

You can’t block them. Why aren’t you afraid of experienced members who know all the scams and loopholes?

[nowthatsjustducky]

What was your feedback at when you first started using eBay?

[gracieallen01]

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@theofficefan4life wrote:

If I want to sell an item that I am fairly confident could fetch over $1,000 is there a way to somehow keep people with less than 50 or so fb -OR- noobs from bidding at the last second? From what I understand you can block bidders with -1 or less and block bidders with return histories, but what if I want to limit bidders with more discretion as listed above. Is there a loophole? Sigh. Even then, there's scam artists with good fb history. No guarantees that's for sure. I'm reading so many horror stories of buyers scamming the system so that it almost seems like too big of a gamble to sell something worth of considerable value. Does anyone else hesitate selling high valued items, now more than ever, due to eBay's lack of seller protections? 

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No.

Many, nowadays are of the school that believes: If you can't afford to loose the item, the cost of refunding the item AND shipping both ways, don't list it on ebay.

[18704d]

"Why aren’t you afraid of experienced members who know all the scams and loopholes?"

-------

Because the OP knows (or fears?)

that the new, recent, 0 FB accounts which they fear will scam them

Are actually created by experienced members who won't use their 'normal' IDs.

Right?

Thanks,

Lynn

[theofficefan4life]

Good point, my friend.

[calntom · Accepted solution]

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@theofficefan4life wrote:

If I want to sell an item that I am fairly confident could fetch over $1,000 is there a way to somehow keep people with less than 50 or so fb -OR- noobs from bidding at the last second? From what I understand you can block bidders with -1 or less and block bidders with return histories, but what if I want to limit bidders with more discretion as listed above. Is there a loophole? Sigh. Even then, there's scam artists with good fb history. No guarantees that's for sure. I'm reading so many horror stories of buyers scamming the system so that it almost seems like too big of a gamble to sell something worth of considerable value. Does anyone else hesitate selling high valued items, now more than ever, due to eBay's lack of seller protections? 

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Depends on what type of item and the type of buyers the item could draw.

Buy It Now with Immeadiate Payment rules out some of the scams. 

You have been around the block here on eBay. Selling just about anything can and does involve risk. 

[theofficefan4life]

Maybe I'm asking the wrong question. Perhaps the question I should be asking is, are there any ways to leverage against getting scammed by selling a high valued item? Anyway to up the odds that you WON'T get a scam artist bidding? Or has eBay completely neutered the sellers and I just don't want to face the reality of that fact? Lol.

[theofficefan4life]

You are correct.

[pargran3]

You have enough selling experience to have the relevant blocks in place and should know by now how to protect yourself. LOL

Radine

[futuretomorrow]

@theofficefan4life

I've seen many suggest local pickup only and that seems correct as per the policies and process of doing so. I'd research that and hopefully an eBay member with more experience than myself in that area can chime in to confirm or deny or suggest another solution.

Before removing all my items yesterday high value items were already a no no for me personally. 

[pingpong517]

really the only way is to NOT SELL IT ON EBAYor any other online site...there can't be an absolute prevent....there are simple ways watch for the signs , the country/address/the odd requests...using insurance when shipping( in cases of dameaged or lost), signiture required is needed for expensive items..so YOU need to know shipping requirements for expensive items...oterwise you could lose out of protection etc.... so read up on it...site map.

but 100% way..nope...there is always a changce a smarter person scamming out there and you get targeted... 

last depending on the actaule item...ebay or on line selling may just not be the best way --- there are items that are best sold in a different place-- a place that deals in certain stuff....hands on/looked at--pay at the time...deal done.

[futuretomorrow]

@18704d

Interesting theory but it would mean if they're that experienced they also have taken the steps to mask or hide their IP address since eBay can easily use that to see that no matter how many accounts you have they're all originating from the same IP/home.

[ten_o_nine]

I always think of how many bidders I can attract, never worried about scammers, in my 20 years on ebay, I'd say the scam rate is less than 0.001%, so why concentrate efforts on the 0.001% and forget about the 99.999% honest buyers.

There are returns, INR, NAD but those are not all scams.

[muttlymob]

Anyway to up the odds that you WON'T get a scam artist bidding?

Other than the very limited blocks eBay gives you (which don't include blocking bidders with a high return rate), not really.  You can't rely on manually blocking bidders because if it is a desirable item that gets lots of bids, there will be snipers.  You won't have time to review those bidders to block if so desired.

Or has eBay completely neutered the sellers and I just don't want to face the reality of that fact?

Pretty much, yup.  The best defense you have is to evaluate the risk of listing, based on some of the factors already mentioned.  The only guaranteed way of preventing a scam on an eBay sale is to not sell it on eBay.  And that goes for most any online venue.