Chicken bald back

[redfrock]

Hello you brainy bunch

 

I need some Ebay advice. I listed a LCD TV on Ebay on a buy it now format (£500). Collection only. It sold today ... to a new user (registered today) .... in the Czech republic, with a Czech email address that starts 'noubody'. Their ID is just long series of numbers. Everything rings alarm bells.

 

My husband has a dedicated phone number for contacting Ebay (something to do with being privileged user!). I phoned it and they weren't happy as I shouldn't be using it and said they would only talk to me as a one-off courtesy and in future I have to email. I have expressed my concerns over the transaction (and the obviously foreign based call centre) operative told me that I had to contact the buyer & get it agreed that the transaction wouldn;t go ahead. I explained that I am convinced it is a scam given the above and so I don't want them to have my details. He said I have no option. They are refusing to cancel the transaction or refund my fees and I have been told I cannot take any further action until after 7 days. He also said they may have bought it by mistake!!!! They have made no attempt to pay me of course

 

All I wanted to do was sell my TV - I had several interested parties. Now I am stuck and worried I am involved in some kind of scam to boot.

 

Do you think I am being paranoid? Ebay's attitude has really annoyed me. I don't know what to do

Edited September 17, 2009 by Guest

[Geoid]

If the buyer doesnt pay within a week, make a claim, you will get your fees back, and relist. There is also an option to block overseas buyers.

[Redwing]

Can you not just send a message via ebay rather than their email? I dont think (although not sure) that they would get any more info on you than they have already that way

 

In your message ask who in the UK is collecting the TV and ask for a UK landline number to contact that person on and ask them when they plan to collect - guage by their response how serious they are before disclosing any further info

[Ygerna]

When you listed it, did you specify where you were prepared to send it, or was it collection only? If you stated collection or UK post only then its up to them to arrange collection, once they have paid of course. I personally would just wait it out, the onus is on them to pay, if they dont pay simply relist it due to non paying bidder.

[Guest]

You can't be scammed if you stick to your guns. You listed as COLLECTION so do not post. Tell them you want cash on collection too - I know you have to list as paypal but I've done this plenty of times.

[Chucky Mama]

If you list as collection only the buyer has to collect! These people are either new to eBay and stupid or they are scammers. I had a foreign bidder buy something despite a listing for UK postage only, on that occasion I charged extra and posted it to them but obviously this is not possible for a TV. I would email them and say that you are not able to arrange collection for a non UK transaction and to reply within 24 hours. In future it is wise to decline bids from those with less that 10 or so positive feedbacks for higher risk/value goods.

 

Have just tried to think of how this situation would work if someone was trying to scam you. The only thing I can think of is if they can get your address via eBay but I think whilst you can get your buyer's address, you can't get the address of the seller unless they give it to you. SOmeone else may be able to confirm this. If they can get your address of course you may need to be wary as they know that you have at least 1 TV worth £500.

[Geoid]

You can get both the buyers and sellers address, you will get told by ebay if this happens.

[redfrock]

Well, I used the contact buyer button yesterday and asked them how they intended to pay and collect the TV as they are in the Czech Republic. Needless to say, no response.

 

My concern is that they can claim non-receipt of goods and apparently Ebay can then deduct money from your account . I'm probably simply being paranoid but it is all a bit strange and smells somewhat.

 

Ebay came up with an even better solution .... if I get no response from the seller, I should telephone them to resolve the matter

 

The trouble is that I cannot relist it for 8 days so I am losing potential buyers, and we wanted shot quick as Andy has his eye on something even more flash

 

Ah well, I has learnt! I guess I shall just have to advertise it somewhere else next time. I simply wanted the protection of PayPal and not having a stranger coming round my house before they had paid for it

[milli]

I don't think you should worry, if they don't send you any money then they can't complain about non-receipt of goods.

[redfrock]

Ok - this gets more peculiar. I have also listed an exercise machine on there. Again collection only. This time it is somebody from Spain and they want me to courier it. Time to close my account and share my husband's I think.

[Patricia W]

My son sold a motorbike on ebay - to someone from Poland. They did actually come and collect it. Apparently, this guy comes over, buys a few machines to do up and sell over there. So not all foreign buyers are scams.

 

Tricia

[Chucky Mama]

I think that you can set your listing to block not UK bids can't you?

[redfrock]

I have! Am very confused. I think it is maybe because they are collection only that causes the glitch as you can block to countries that you won't post to but of course I am not posting anything. Still, not to worry. The items aren't going anywhere until somebody pays and turns up to collect!

 

I'm sure it will all come good.

[Chucky Mama]

In that case I am hopping mad on your behalf!! What a waste of your time. I will watch out when I next list something for a collecion only.

[Redwing]

In future you can always add 'UK bidders only please' to your listing, they might not take any notice but it gives you more leverage