Is this a scam?

[dirt84]

Hi all,

I world very much appreciate some advise.  Yesterday i purchased a second hand laptop for £700 and paid via PayPal.

I received the following email from the seller this morning, the day after purchase .

hi buyer thank you so much to buy my item I am so sorry I am outside of country I will be on 10th of may as soon as I get back to country promise I will post your item ASAP and please do not worry about your money PayPal will hold the money until I post your item so your money is safe please allow me some time.

The seller has over 600 positive feedback but I am concerned incase this may be a scam.

Can people please advise what I should do?

Am I protected by PayPal money back guarantee? If i wait till may 10th does this take me out of any protection time period?

Thanks in advance

Dan 

[lja440]

While I feel they should have put their listings on vacation or made arrangements to have someone else ship the item. Thia will not be out of your protection on either eBay or PayPal.  It is up to you though if you want to request a cancellation on grounds that the shipping will be delayed. 

Scam, no

Bad form, yes

[hafoster]

On eBay alone, you have over 60 days --

to wrench back a refund if your item does not arrive:

1. You have up to 30 days after the last estimated delivery date --

to start a refund request due to an item not received.

2. Then you have up to another 30 days from the start of that request --

to receive your item, or to finally ask eBay to just step in it.

[dirt84]

Thank you so much for the replies. My mind is a bit more at ease. I was worried it might be a fake account with fake feedback and the seller was delaying me so he could access the money and then disappear.

It is frustrating to have to wait an extra 11 days but not the end of the world. Would you advise waiting until approx 15th May (allows 5days after his return date) and see if the item arrives and if not raise it with ebay?

thanks

[chrysylys]

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@dirt84 wrote:
Would you advise waiting until approx 15th May (allows 5days after his return date) and see if the item arrives and if not raise it with ebay?

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I would advise you to wait until at least 2 business days after the latest estimated delivery date shown on you Purchase History page before doing anything.

[dirt84]

Thanks for the reply. The latest estimate delivery on the initial advert post is 3rd may. So 2 business days after would be the 5th May. The seller has already stated he won't be back in the country to be able to post it to me until the 10th may. Should I ask him to change the estimated delivery time...if that is even possible? Thank you so much for the help.

[pburn]

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@dirt84 wrote:
Thanks for the reply. The latest estimate delivery on the initial advert post is 3rd may. So 2 business days after would be the 5th May. The seller has already stated he won't be back in the country to be able to post it to me until the 10th may. Should I ask him to change the estimated delivery time...if that is even possible? Thank you so much for the help.

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The seller cannot alter the expected delivery date--nor would you necessarily want them to.

Just be aware, Dan, that there are unscrupulous sellers out there who try to drag out the transaction until you've run out of options for recourse. "I'm out of the country." "The post office burned down." "My dog ate the packaging." They rely on you "falling for" their excuses of why the package can't be shipped, or play on your sympathies to allow them more time.

I'm a really suspicious person about things like this, and I read that email you received in the voice of a Nigerian prince who is just out of the country until he can regain his throne. I would proceed with the utmost caution. That's just me, though.

Good luck! I hope it all works out!

[dougsue123b]

You forgot " Customs got it. Can I resend?"

[dirt84]

Hi pburn,

Yes as soon as I receieved that email I was suspicious too.

You said this:

"there are unscrupulous sellers out there who try to drag out the transaction until you've run out of options for recourse."

Just to be clear I have ran out of recourse after 60days (30days after last delivery  date and then 30days from request) as hafoster mentioned above?

thanks

[cherry*fizz]

I think your plan to give him an extra couple days after he gets back is good. I wouldn't get suspicious yet. Things happen. But if they give you any more excuses after they have said they were going to return, then I'd cancel the transaction, so they aren't able to drag it out past the time when you can do something about it. 

[dirt84]

Thanks for the reply. I will do. Cheers