The buyer already paid with Paypal, but I noticed that they've only created their Ebay account today.
It's supposed to be shipped via Economy Air so there's no tracking number.
How likely am I gonna get scammed?
Edit: Thanks for all the replies. Decided to just refund them and sell locally.
Edit 2: So I relisted it and they bought it again, but this time they provided an Australian address…
If you're worried, pay the extra for registered.
What did you sell? More details please. We all learn from this.
It's just some rare figurines
That's the kind of thing collectors will routinely order online. Packages containing figurines and mangas and stuff from overseas seem to arrive at my home every day. could also be scamming you, PayPal usually sides with the scammer, and it's just a cost of doing business for eBay stores.
You're better off paying for Standard postage if you're worried about getting scammed off a $400 item. If the buyer reports that they don't have the item, then you have no evidence that you've actually shipped it hence can essentially steal the product from you!
Agree. Pay the extra to have tracking.
If it is to a country with high fraud - think Spain, France, Mexico, Italy, parts of Asia like Indonesia, Phillipines then add signature on delivery so they must sign for it before it is handed over. Signature on delivery is only $5.50 more and better than losing $400 because it was stolen from their mail box.
It's to South Korea
Send with tracking and signature. Also pack very well in case customs open it. Damages by customs are not covered.
You could buy insurance if need be.
Verify the address via google maps
If you can’t, say to the buyer that unless you can verify the address you can’t send it. You actually have the right to cancel the sale if you can’t verify the address.
Also video the item going into the packaging to confirm the item you are sending - see comment further below.
Cancel the transaction by issuing a refund. Then re-list the item until you find a buyer you're happy sell to.
Are you selling something that's not too common or is it at a very cheap price?
It could just be someone that's created an account just to buy whatever you're selling.
Don't do it, son
listen to this Dad.
I flat refuse to send things internationally. All the stories that I’ve read have made it seem like PayPal are even less helpful when it comes to protecting you against international scammers, relative to local ones.
but they are on an oil rig with intermittent telephone reception so that is why they use internet. and they'll pay extra.
it screams "No!"
cancel the order - "problem with buyers address".
shipped via Economy Air
Yep cancel sale, relist.
"If you have to ask…"
"If its too good to be true…"
I am sure there is more.
"If they've only created their Ebay account today"
Had a similar situation last week - was told via eBay live chat that it was a guest account (that's why it showed as just created). I sent the item with tracking and it was delivered yesterday - all the tracking info is in PayPal and eBay so I hope the funds are cleared shortly.
film yourself packaging, weighing and sending the item in case they claim nothing was in the box.
And all in one continuous video in case they say you switched out the package at some point.
Yes. Definitely do that. Photos of the item are not accepted by eBay as absolute proof
I use the mail people at my post office to pack whilst I video.
I use the mail people at my post office to pack whilst I video.
Did this lead to causing or feeling uneasy embarrassment or inconvenience the first time or 100% normal for all involved?
@Zazer: I explained to the people at the post office what happened - I had a buyer who claimed to have received an brand of clothing I never sold.
EBay advised that if I had a video showing the item being packed into the box or satchel then they accept this as proof of the item being packed and no switching.
The staff at my local post office had no problem.
I don’t video them. I show their hands taking the item and placing it in the box or the satchel.
I still take photos and if it is an expensive item I will also send the photos of the item before being packed and a snapshot of the video of the items going into the package and the postal label with the address. It just stops fraudulent people trying to get something for nothing by saying wrong item received.
@ibuy: Neat. Thanks for the info, and I'll keep it in mind if I send an expensive item in the future :)
Ebay and PayPal won't look at such evidence so there's no need to go to all that trouble
I have confirmation from eBay that a video is accepted.
It has saved me and a few other sellers I know from fraudulent buyers. Especially when you send the buyer a link to the item being packed in the local post office.
Send him lamb sauce
I have seen quite a few sellers post something like "buyers with feedback less than 5, please contact me before buying" or even "no sellers with feedback under x" .
Not sure if you are allowed to do this under ebay rules. If you are allowed to refuse sale to sellers with low feedback, maybe there is an option when you list item, to only sell to sellers with certain amount of feedbacks etc.
Im pretty sure you can select to not ship internationally also. Check into all the options before you list next time. There are many things which are selected by default, but when you click and look into it, you have the option to change.
You can change your preferences in eBay to sort of block these kind of people
Go to Account Settings (top left) > Site Preferences
Under 'buyer requirements' choose your preferences on to block
Buyers in locations to which I don't post
Block buyers whose primary postage address is in a location I don't post to.
This requirement can help you avoid buyers who agree to purchase your items without realising you don't post to their location.
is that it?
There used to be a minimum feedback requirement for buyers which you could set. Not sure if still there
yeah and 'block buyers with negative feedback' and 'block who bid on several items and not pay' and 'block with unpaid strikes'
Ever since I've did this my experience has been much better. Like the OP i had people with 0 feedback win auctions and don't end up paying etc.
Lol. Same buyer now different address.
Getting more obvious.
relist this time use filter to avoid people with certain criterias. ie new account, neg feedback, location, etc etc
Everybody has to start somewhere, we aren't born with ebay accounts! Really silly to expect otherwise. That being said, the new development of the same buyer with new address does make it suspicious, just trust your gut.
If you are happy to post to an Australian address that’s not a problem. You’ve complied with eBay rules. If you did not want to sell to them you should have blocked them.
If your item is such a risk to ship then you should price it accordingly and require insurance, signature on delivery and package it well. By pricing it higher you put off certain types of buyers. Same with when you require insurance etc.
Regardless of who buys it, if it ends up damaged somewhere along the way or goes missing you are liable as you select the postage option for the buyer and you do the packing. A scammer doesn’t have to be an overseas person. There are plenty of local scammers as well.
I once sold for a friend collectible porcelain figurines. I did not do the packing and shipping. It took it to a shipping agent like Pack and send and made the buyers pay the insurance. I am fully covered that way in the event that it was damaged or something goes wrong during shipping.
International buyer? Sounds very risky for a new account and no tracking.