Hi all, I normally use marketplace but due to all the incentives, I’m using eBay to sell a phone.
For sellers out there, is there any risk of frauds/scammers? And any way to avoid these situations? I’m talking about me sending off the phone, then buyer disputing the charge, saying it’s fake etc to get their money back. I’ve heard of these horror stories before but not sure if they are still happening.
Nah too many chance of scammers imo
You'd have to be pretty unlucky to get a scam buyer on eBay.
It's always a non-zero chance but I have sold a fair share of phones and electronics to say eBay is pretty safe
Agreed. People think it's full of scammers, because they literally only read the ebay horror stories, not the millions of success stories. I've had very few bad buyers in my many years of selling. I'd say out of my 3,500+ transactions, maybe 20 buyers were bad / scammy.
Most buyers are good people.
Ebay doesn't get the credit it deserves.
The last time I sold an iPhone on eBay I got sent a fake plastic version of a phone back and eBay still refunded the buyer in full due to “insufficient evidence”
@Brick50: The way I see it scamming is easy for the buyer on eBay but luckily most buyers are honest
My first and only time selling on eBay was for an iPhone 4S. The buyer tried to pull a rediculous scam.
Agreed. I have sold a number of phones on eBay and the only issues i had were highest bidder not paying so i had to re-list the item
I've been scammed by a buyer before resulting in a break up with ebay (she said it wasn't BN - cause she didn't read the description).
I think you can limit purchasers to only those with a certain number of successful transactions. iirc eBay don't let sellers leave feedback for buyers anymore so I'm not sure how it works. I haven't sold on eBay in years.
not sure how that makes sense .. as a frequent buyer, i very often receive feedback from sellers
Oh well maybe I'm mistaken. But in any case I remember there being a setting for minimum feedback for someone to bid or buy, to prevent people from making a new account to scam a high value item, or make an account that has just five low value orders before scamming a high value item.
Sellers can leave positive feedback but they can no longer leave negative feedback for buyers
Sellers do have an option to reply to negative or neutral comments, I guess in the event to share their side of the story.
wow that’s a bit stupid ..can buyers leave bad review for sellers
Sellers cant leave any NEGATIVE feedback any more.
I sold a bucket load of mobile phones, on Ebay, over 2014 to 2018 (my ebay fees were $5000 - $6000 each year) and I only had one issue with a buyer who bought an iPhone from me and then two days before the cut off for lodging a Paypal dispute (was up to 180 days at the time), lodged a dispute saying the screen was broken (significantly not as described). They had never left feedback but luckily I had messaged him, shortly after the item had arrived, to check that he was happy with the phone (I used to do this to ask for feedback as buyers often don't leave feedback) and he had replied saying "all good" in terms of indicating he was happy with the phone. That was the only evidence I had to rely on/submit for the dispute and luckily, Ebay/Paypal denied his claim.
I didn't deal much in iPads and tablets but I nearly had an issue with a buyer in 2017 of a Samsung TabPro S - first red flag was that he purchased the item and then immediately messaged me asking to send it to a different address. I refused and said I'd cancel his order and he'd have to repurchase it with the correct address, with him replying that it was all OK and to send to the first address. Sent the item - few weeks later, receive an email from Paypal advising that a chargeback had been lodged and to provide evidence to them within a matter of days, supporting that the transaction was valid. I obtained the buyer's mobile number from Ebay and called him and asked him what the deal was - he sounded surprised and relayed a story about how his mate let him use his credit card because he owed him money and that he'd have a chat to his mate and sort it out. The dispute was withdrawn shortly after.
It's good that eBay denies his claim but their needs to be a justice system where the buyer gets punished for their scamming attempt. Otherwise they have nothing to lose and can just shrug their shoulders if their scam doesn't succeed.
I completely agree - it seemed like a fraudulent cash grab, by the buyer and if nothing's done to discourage this behaviour, then it's likely to happen again.
Scammers gonna be coming to ya soon dude, Save your phone and money.
Sell locally with Cash,
Generally safe selling phones on eBay. Best buyers are ones with lots of feedback. You can eliminate buyers with bad history, but my heart always sinks when I see an item sold to zero feedback buyer. You know you’re going to start getting stories like “my baby got hold of my phone & accidentally placed a bid”. Or “just been made redundant “.
Use PayPal , you're protected aren't you?
For sellers out there, is there any risk of frauds/scammers?
Yes.
And any way to avoid these situations?
Cash.
I guess it has been 2 days since it was asked.
Just do cash pick up eBay they’ll do a item not describe to hard
I wouldn't sell anything of value on ebay anymore. The buyer can simply log an item-not-received complaint and you, the seller, will lose your money. ebay will always side with the seller.
Agree closed my eBay it’s a sess pool of scammers
ebay will always side with the seller.
Don’t you mean the buyer?
I do. Thank you.
If they claim INR when tracking shows delivered, ebay will refund the buyer out of their own pocket, as long as the buyer doesn't make a habit of it. Had this happen twice last year. They let me keep my money and they refunded the buyer out of their pocket, even though Australia post confirmed one of them was lying.
If they claim INR on an untracked item, you have no leg to stand on and should just refund without getting ebay involved, as they will side with the buyer in this case.
Anything of value. Add signature on delivery. eBay will then side with you.
Along with scammers and high fees I try to not use Ebay now to sell which is a shame… It's always nice when a FB marketplace deal happens quick and easy too, if that doesn't ill eventually move to ebay.
If I sell on ebay however, I really take precautions to protect myself. I turn on the settings to block buyers who have unpaid item strikes etc. Once an item sells I really make sure I document the journey, fresh photos before its packed up, photos inside the shipping box, photos at the post office and the shipping label so its on record.
If someone buys an item and has 0 or minimal feedback too i take extra steps and will not post the item until they reply to a message/s etc.
I have done it before. The money had cleared, and they claimed it was faulty and posted it back. I never received it, and they couldn't provide tracking information, so Paypal ruled in my favour.
just look for buyers with good feedback
Sold my phones on ebay whenever i changed them (3 times). No issues.
Same shit with marketplace, make sure payment clears first before sending or allow cash on pickup. Send with registered post plus signature.
Depending on the phone https://mobilemonster.com.au/ can be a good way to sell. I find they give you a decent amount for the phone.
I have sold thousands of items on ebay from phones, to consoles and even high end watches, and never had a problem.
I think all the phones I’ve sold have been damaged or not working so I had not much to lose anyway
Can you use an offset account that once you receive the money from, transfer it to your everyday account then send the item.
Worst that happens is ebay/PayPal ban your account
Not how this works, in addition to getting your accounts perma banned, if eBay or paypal rule against you and are unable to recover the funds they will send debt collectors and it will go on your credit file etc.
The debt collectors wont do much if it’s a low value. Doesn’t affect credit file either.
I sell my high value items on ebay (in the main)
I wait until there are free FVF offers
In the past 2 years i have sold 8 high end samsungs, one high end tablet and three e-scooters.
In my listing i make it clear if the buyer has low feedback or is a new member i will cancel the bid or sale if they do not contact me first
So far.. touch wood, I have not had one problem. Low feedback buyers avoid my listings nd all my sales are to established members.
I also have the funds go into a citibank acct i never use and transfer straight out of there to my actual acct.
This seems to work for me
I stop selling in ebay. Is just not worth the trouble. Buyer have too much power like claiming not as advertised or worst, not received and empty box.
Ultra high risk of scammers - eBay has managed to become even more lax in their “management” so there are a ton of them now.
You can send the item, then the buyer will file a not received dispute which they win 90% of the time.
They can ask for your details through eBay to scam you
Sellers cannot leave negative feedback to buyers, this is done so buyers can continue to perpetuate scams
The variable fees are horrendous akin to a scam
The buyer will also waste your time by pretending their children bid on their behalf and ask you to cancel, a total farce aside from the moronic excuse
ScamBay or ScumBay isn’t worth the hassle
limit people with feedback below a certain threshold in you listing, send with tracking to protect you from a not received claim, film you packaging the phone in the postoffice show the imei and then take to the counter to send do not cut or stop filming this process keep it all 1 video you dont have to but depending on how much you sell for it might be worth that insurance
Don't sell anything on eBay you aren't willing to lose.
Yes, you can protect yourself from INR claims (item not received) by posting an item with tracking BUT
INAD (item not as described) claims you lose no matter what. People suggesting recording packing and posting etc have no idea how the dispute/claims process works, none of that will be accepted, it's pointless.
All a dodgy buyer has to do is open an INAD case, you will be forced to pay for the return postage label and they send you back an empty box or a rock inside the box, as soon as the return tracking shows delivered, ebay automatically refunds the buyer and you have no recourse.
Ebay is fine for buying stuff but most smaller sellers have moved off the platform due to the above.
Sell your phone to mobilemonster/mazuma, you might get a bit less but it's safe and easy.
I've sold two phones on eBay during the fvf promotions. No problems so far, but I'm always worried about what would happen if they were to claim that I sent them a brick. I take photos when packing it up, but obviously there is no way to definitely prove what I sent.
Anyway, so far so good.
I wouldn't waste your time taking photos, eBay wouldn't even look at them so it's pointless. Nothing you can do will be good enough evidence if the buyer claims what you sent them is not as described
On the 17th of April, 2023 ebay announced they'll cover the refund for "items not received".
https://community.ebay.com.au/t5/eBay-Announcements/We-ve-im…
Note the imei of the phone before sending it, can also film yourself packaging the phone. Send via registered post