eBay

dennyroxsox · ‎02-21-2018

Hi everyone! I'm sort of new to eBay selling.

My last sale was for an item worth over $200. I believe this buyer might be a scammer. The user that bought it is a new account. The account uses a person's name, and on the eBay sale details page, the person's name is listed. Then, on the Paypal transaction, a totally different name is used on the Paypal transaction. I suppose it is possible that the buyer is buying this item for a friend, but because this is a new account, I am worried it might end up as a chargeback scam.

Am I simply too paranoid? Is there anything I can do, as a seller, to guarantee I won't lose money in this? Would it be correct to cancel the sale? I've contacted the buyer via their Paypal email and on eBay to confirm the sale.

fashunu4eeuh · ‎02-21-2018

@dennyroxsoxwrote:
“...Am I simply too paranoid? Is there anything I can do, as a seller, to guarantee I won't lose money in this? Would it be correct to cancel the sale? I've contacted the buyer via their Paypal email and on eBay to confirm the sale.

Hi. No, there are no guarantees to assure you won’t lose money over this transaction, or any transaction on ebay. There is an inherent risk to selling online. The time to assess your risk tolerance is prior to listing the item. As it stands now, you must take your chances and ship the item once you have been paid.

If you choose not to ship, and cancel the sale instead, you will receive a defect from Ebay for not completing the transaction, and that can threaten your ability to sell here in the future.

Taken at face value, a low feedback buyer is no more likely to scam than the next person. And having different names and addresses on the transaction is not necessarily cause for alarm. It is good to be cautious, but the best way to protect one’s interests on eBay is to learn the rules, read up on best practices, and prowl the boards for insight and support. Keep us posted on the progress here, and wish you much success moving forward.

View Best Answer in original post

rschissler · ‎02-21-2018

Have you actually been paid through Paypal? Not from an email you might have received, but logging in to your Paypal account and verifing the payment from there.

dennyroxsox · ‎02-21-2018

Yes, I was paid via paypal. I checked my Paypal account, and the money is there.

emerald40 · ‎02-21-2018

Do you have an OK to ship?

If so, then send it out.

fashunu4eeuh · ‎02-21-2018

@dennyroxsoxwrote:
“...Am I simply too paranoid? Is there anything I can do, as a seller, to guarantee I won't lose money in this? Would it be correct to cancel the sale? I've contacted the buyer via their Paypal email and on eBay to confirm the sale.

Hi. No, there are no guarantees to assure you won’t lose money over this transaction, or any transaction on ebay. There is an inherent risk to selling online. The time to assess your risk tolerance is prior to listing the item. As it stands now, you must take your chances and ship the item once you have been paid.

If you choose not to ship, and cancel the sale instead, you will receive a defect from Ebay for not completing the transaction, and that can threaten your ability to sell here in the future.

Taken at face value, a low feedback buyer is no more likely to scam than the next person. And having different names and addresses on the transaction is not necessarily cause for alarm. It is good to be cautious, but the best way to protect one’s interests on eBay is to learn the rules, read up on best practices, and prowl the boards for insight and support. Keep us posted on the progress here, and wish you much success moving forward.

cargo11 · ‎02-21-2018

For your safety you could require a signature confirmation on the item - it costs a bit more - BUT the buyer MUST sign for it and it prevents a second party or a theft from a mailbox. Better be safe then sorry. I also insure anything over $100 for MY safety.

a_c_green · ‎02-21-2018

@cargo11wrote:
For your safety you could require a signature confirmation on the item - it costs a bit more - BUT the buyer MUST sign for it and it prevents a second party or a theft from a mailbox.

It might prevent theft from a mailbox, but in fact Signature Confirmation can be signed for by any adult at that address; it doesn't have to be the buyer and ID is not checked.

littleguineapiggy · ‎02-21-2018

I have many 0 fb buyers make large purchases from me. It's also not uncommon for names to be different on ebay and paypal because the account could belong to their spouse, sibling, cousin, roommate, partner, or anyone else. You're covered.

POsTiNg Id

thallidguy · ‎02-21-2018

@dennyroxsoxwrote:
Then, on the Paypal transaction, a totally different name is used on the Paypal transaction.

Given what you sell, you should expect that the person who wants the item will sometimes be too young to have their own eBay account. Hence, the account belongs to a parent, step-parent, guardian, etc. Happens to me all the time.

classic_luxe · ‎02-21-2018

As long as you send it to the buyer's PayPal address only and provide tracking that will show when delivered that it was delivered to the zip code listed in the PP address you will be protected, a signature confirmation will not change anything and is only required for purchases of $750 and above to retain your seller protection.

ratanapuspita · ‎10-06-2018

Actually no.
According to Paypal, when the buyer file a chargeback through the credit card company, Paypal will fight for our behalf, but the credit card company still make the decision.

It happen to me before. I shipped it to Paypal address, have tracking number, but I lose the case, and Paypal charge me the $20 chargeback processing fee.