Selling to a buyer with negative feedback??? (and that's the only feedback they have!)

[thevintageparadise]

So I just got an offer on item and when I looked at the buyers feedback it says -1 next to their name. I've seen 0 before, but I don't think I have ever seen a negative number lol

I wrote to them saying I was declining the offer because selling to them is a risk and while I appreciate their interest i wasn't willing to take the risk.

They have NOT answered the message, instead they sent me another, higher offer. I am taking all of these things as red flags. They have 5 items listed, 2 sales and zero positive feedback and 1 negative feedback. The buyer that left the negative said the person never sent the package and never responded to their multiple messages.

Am I wrong here? I mean don't get me wrong, I'd love the sale but I'm also not trying to eat $75 plus shipping because this person is potentially a scammer

[titipeo]

Did you check to see if feedback was based on purchase and not selling? A buyer can not have negative feedback. There is no way for a seller to leave negative feedback, that is how eBay is set up. Sellers, on the other hand, can have neutral and negative, as well as positive. Most likely, this eBayer is both seller/buyer, and received a negative as a seller. 

Me, I will check everything about this seller, before making a decision on accepting offer. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

IMHO you should not only decline their offers, you should also put their ID on your blocked-bidders list to ensure that they don't purchase anything at full price. They'e off to a very rough start with eBay, and you don't want to be part of their learning curve. Don't overlook the possibility that this is not their first eBay account.

 https://www.ebay.com/bmgt/BuyerBlock

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@titipeo wrote:

Did you check to see if feedback was based on purchase and not selling? .... 

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You must have overlooked this line in the OP:  "The buyer that left the negative said the person never sent the package and never responded to their multiple messages."

[fbusoni]

Block ASAP before they buy and you are compelled to deal with them.

eBay is not a playground.  

I block buyers at the slightest sign that something is off.

You can block up to 5,000 buyers.

Use the opportunity to protect yourself.

[thevintageparadise]

Follow up:

They messaged me and said "I can't believe that's why you're not accepting my offer!" they claim they sent the persons package (the one that left them negative feedback) but just not through eBay (despite the buyer saying they got the notification that they printed a shipping label, they just never brought it to the post office)

But here is the kicker....

They just logged into A DIFFERENT eBay account (with 32 positive feedback) and sent me an offer $5 cheaper! I know it's them because it's the same exact city and zip code.

[fbusoni]

Block immediately.

[12345jamesstamps]

'Best offer'...no or little feedback...that's a no sale in my book unless it was a 'guest account'.

But yours wasn't a guest account.

I like to see feedback of a buyer buying some items before selling to them.

I would actually block the person as well ASAP.

[12345jamesstamps]

5,000 buyers we can block.

Good to know.

I have a lot of blocked buyers on my list...not just a few hundred...LOL

[ckimodog]

@thevintageparadise 

Buyers cannot receive negative feedback since 2008.  This person may also be a seller.  

[legalbeagle52]

@thevintageparadise 

I block frequently too at the first sign of a red flag.  There are enough problems to deal with here on ebay.   Save yourself from this headache while you can.   This person is showing red flags all over, offering you more, offering you less and going from account to account.   

While there's still time, block!

[thevintageparadise]

Follow Up:

So when i called them out on sending me an offer from another account first they apologized for it and then 2 messages later claimed they only had 1 account. So i was like listen - I appreciate the fact that you want this item, but thinking that you can just send an offer from another account and I'd be stupid enough to believe you're another person is the wrong way to go. 

They said "Ok, i understand" - i blocked both of the accounts. 2 hours later i get a message from ANOTHER account they set up asking how much i would take for the item. I honestly don't know if they are stupid or what. They didn't even try and create a totally different user name....it's the same first 3 letters 😂😂😂

You can't make this stuff up!

[legalbeagle52]

@thevintageparadise 

Wow, sounds like someone has too much time on their hands and probably not playing with a full deck as well. Probably both.   Too much chaos before any purchase even took place.   Good for you that you blocked everything.  In the future, just trust your tuition and if things feel off, just go ahead & block.  We all do it to protect our accounts and preserve our sanity.   Thanks for reporting back & letting us know how it ended up.  I'm glad you saved yourself from what was sure to be a headache.

[fbusoni]

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@thevintageparadise wrote:

Follow Up:

They didn't even try and create a totally different user name....it's the same first 3 letters 😂😂😂

You can't make this stuff up!

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@thevintageparadise 

For the record, you are having far too much conversation with this person.  

 It's always preferable to find the amusement in this sort of situation because the reality -- that we are dealing with someone who might be insane -- is a possibility that's difficult to contemplate.

In fact this is, to my mind, no laughing matter.  The behavior you describe is not rational, to put it mildly.

Sellers to do not enjoy anonymity; if this person manages to buy something from you, they will have your return address.   

My humble advice for you going forward is to not engage someone like this.  You do not know what buttons you might be pressing.   

If someone messages you and the prose is the least bit inappropriate, by any standard or measurement, block them instantly.  

I've blocked buyers for their tone.  Including buyers who have bought from me in the past.   

As I've noted elsewhere, eBay has done something right by allowing us to add 5,000 names to our "best friend list."

[gurlcat]

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@thevintageparadise wrote:

I wrote to them saying I was declining the offer because selling to them is a risk and while I appreciate their interest i wasn't willing to take the risk.

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From the minute I saw this in your original post, it was clear this was going to get ugly and stalk-y.  🤣
Honesty is the best policy .... except when it's an insult, and people with anger management issues take insults like a bull takes red.  

In the future, not only do you not have to give the true reason for not taking an offer ... you don't have to give ANY reason for not taking it, in fact you don't have to respond at all.  I don't necessarily recommend blocking every buyer who makes a lousy offer, but if they look problematic (like someone with -1) then yeah I would just silently hit that button immediately.