I had an eBay account for many years before I started selling and I still don't buy much! Too much to get rid of, LOL!! I'd say, if the offer is what you want to accept, do so. I assume you've clicked on their user name AND feedback score to check that they've never bought anything before? Remember, FB score sometimes only shows the past year; it may be been awhile since they purchased. That in mind, after the sale beware of fraud...here is my experience if you care to read:
Several years ago I had to deal with a series of fraudulent transactions. Both eBay and PayPal claimed to have investigated and instructed me to ship, as they found the buyers "legit." The incidents shared identical M.O.'s:
- Buyer joined eBay same day and mine was their first (one time second) purchase
- Shipping address was a PO box in various large cities with a 5-digit PO box number. Upon checking address with USPS, I found it to be a fake address (USPS site couldn't find it).
- I require buyer's phone #. Once I called the number provided as I was suspicious...it was a commercial company who never heard of the individual.
- This was back when we were given buyers' real email addresses; in every instance of fraudulent buyers it was the same ISP: j***d**@gmx.com
- In every instance the amount "paid" was under $5, including shipping.
So, once I followed eBay's advice and shipped a book purchased under these circumstances. After about a month, I got it back (pretty beat up by the postal service). They couldn't deliver because of the fraudulent address.
My advice? Check out the buyer's address on the USPS site. If you're really suspicious, hopefully you require their phone number. Call them to confirm the address. If it checks out...ship it 🙂
