Ebay advice needed..

[Salvador]

Hi,

I just sold a computer via Ebay and have a few questions and need advice.

First of all, I sold a computer to a newbie without any user rating. Immediately after the auction closed, the buyer paid via Billpoint with a credit card. That doesn't bug me really, but after reading the fraud protection disclaimer on Billpoint, it does bother me a little. It says that the shipping address must match the billing address in order to receive protection. The buyers address does not match.

Now.. He made the payment Friday and I'm planning on shipping tomorrow (Monday). The deposit date is Wednesday. How much time is enough time to elapse before I have to be concerned about a chargeback?

There are a few more things that bug me with this transaction. The guy lives in an appt, which he says he's moving to tomorrow. He's already told me that he's a recent graduate and that he's out of work right now. I did a search on his past bidding and found that he had bid and won a computer early this month, yet he told me that it would be nice to be a computer owner again. I asked him about that computer in question and he told me that it wasn't the correct computer because it would cost too much to upgrade because the parts were small (Dell optiplex GX150), but never did tell me what ended up happening to the computer. He's also happy with this computer that he bought from me and says that he has no plans to upgrade.

I think the thing that really bugs me is that his billing address looked like it was off on purpose. I wrote him this evening to ask if the shipping address was correct and the only things that were off were the zip code, by 1 number and there was an extra letter in the street address. It just seems fishy that his address would be off by so little.

Now.. I've exchanged a few emails with him bs'ing about stuff just to get a feel from where this guy is coming from. He seems very friendly, but there are some inconsistencies that bug me. He doesn't seem like someone that would defraud me because he didn't pick an overly expensive computer ($300) and it doesn't look like he went on a bidding spree with Ebay or anything.

Basically.. What should I do? Should I trust this guy? I don't think that there is any way to protect myself against fraud at this point. I either follow through with the transaction and hope for the best or back out of it and risk getting a negative from this guy.

What do you think?

TIA,

Sal

 

[T2T III]

The deposit date is Wednesday.

Personally, I'd wait until Wednesday to ship the computer to this person. Simply tell him that because he didn't have any positive feedback, you were taking the transaction a bit cautiously. In exchange for a successful transaction and shipment (on Wednesday), you'll offer to provide some positive feedback for him so people don't need to approach deals with caution - as you had to do.

 

[ddwbi0]

you could ask him to fax you a copy of his lease with his name and the address of the apt.

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: Salvador
Hi,

I just sold a computer via Ebay and have a few questions and need advice.

First of all, I sold a computer to a newbie without any user rating. Immediately after the auction closed, the buyer paid via Billpoint with a credit card. That doesn't bug me really, but after reading the fraud protection disclaimer on Billpoint, it does bother me a little. It says that the shipping address must match the billing address in order to receive protection. The buyers address does not match.

Now.. He made the payment Friday and I'm planning on shipping tomorrow (Monday). The deposit date is Wednesday. How much time is enough time to elapse before I have to be concerned about a chargeback?

There are a few more things that bug me with this transaction. The guy lives in an appt, which he says he's moving to tomorrow. He's already told me that he's a recent graduate and that he's out of work right now. I did a search on his past bidding and found that he had bid and won a computer early this month, yet he told me that it would be nice to be a computer owner again. I asked him about that computer in question and he told me that it wasn't the correct computer because it would cost too much to upgrade because the parts were small (Dell optiplex GX150), but never did tell me what ended up happening to the computer. He's also happy with this computer that he bought from me and says that he has no plans to upgrade.

I think the thing that really bugs me is that his billing address looked like it was off on purpose. I wrote him this evening to ask if the shipping address was correct and the only things that were off were the zip code, by 1 number and there was an extra letter in the street address. It just seems fishy that his address would be off by so little.

Now.. I've exchanged a few emails with him bs'ing about stuff just to get a feel from where this guy is coming from. He seems very friendly, but there are some inconsistencies that bug me. He doesn't seem like someone that would defraud me because he didn't pick an overly expensive computer ($300) and it doesn't look like he went on a bidding spree with Ebay or anything.

Basically.. What should I do? Should I trust this guy? I don't think that there is any way to protect myself against fraud at this point. I either follow through with the transaction and hope for the best or back out of it and risk getting a negative from this guy.

What do you think?

TIA,

Sal

If it dosent match.....my advice: Sit on it for a week. Let the payment "cool off" so to speak. Chargebacks can happen withinn 90 days of the charge IIRC.

My gut says dont trust the guy. Dont get me wrong, I'm a nice guy. Its just that everytime there is a chance someone can rip me off, I perk up. Spoken with much experience.

I looked at the billpoint TOS and I didnt like it. I looked at the paypal TOS and found a hole the size of brazil in it.

I do not reccomend electronic transactions under any circumstance anymore, besides fed wire transfer.

-PAB

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: ddwbi0
you could ask him to fax you a copy of his lease with his name and the address of the apt.

Nope. He's not going to provide that. If he does, it will probably be a form copy from a pad at staples or a template from legal form software.

-PAB

 

[Salvador]

Hmm.. What to do. He seems nice enough chatting with him on emails and he knows that I grew up in the area where he lives now (Ann Arbor, MI-- U of M), so he's gotta think that I might go track him down if he screws me. Damn.. I don't want to risk a negative feedback and ruin my perfect Ebay record of 172-0-0, but I don't want to get ripped off either.

I just wonder how I would approach telling him that I'm not comfortable with the transaction and that I need to do something different or wait for the transaction to clear? I do have his phone number. Should I give him a call?

I tell you.. I don't like that he says that he just moved into this place. For all I know, he could just be moving out. I don't like his answers when I asked him about that other computer he bid on and won. Why would he be so concerned about upgrading this other computer and then turn around and tell me that he's perfectly happy with this (my) computer the way it is (pretty stripped out) and that he has no plans on upgrades? Just seems weird. I also don't like the idea that he said that he's out of work and that he doesn't have a computer right now. How is he communicating with me via email?

I just don't like it..

Anybody here living in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area right now? I need someone to be my heavy if this guy screws me.

Basically.. I'm treading the line between pissing the guy off and having him neg me on Ebay and trying not to get ripped off. How would you handle it?

Thanks again.

Sal

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: Salvador
Hmm.. What to do. He seems nice enough chatting with him on emails and he knows that I grew up in the area where he lives now (Ann Arbor, MI-- U of M), so he's gotta think that I might go track him down if he screws me. Damn.. I don't want to risk a negative feedback and ruin my perfect Ebay record of 172-0-0, but I don't want to get ripped off either.

I just wonder how I would approach telling him that I'm not comfortable with the transaction and that I need to do something different or wait for the transaction to clear? I do have his phone number. Should I give him a call?

I tell you.. I don't like that he says that he just moved into this place. For all I know, he could just be moving out. I don't like his answers when I asked him about that other computer he bid on and won. Why would he be so concerned about upgrading this other computer and then turn around and tell me that he's perfectly happy with this (my) computer the way it is (pretty stripped out) and that he has no plans on upgrades? Just seems weird. I also don't like the idea that he said that he's out of work and that he doesn't have a computer right now. How is he communicating with me via email?

I just don't like it..

Anybody here living in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area right now? I need someone to be my heavy if this guy screws me.

Basically.. I'm treading the line between pissing the guy off and having him neg me on Ebay and trying not to get ripped off. How would you handle it?

Thanks again.

Sal

Sal, I'm going to ask you one question and one question only. That will solve your entire dillemma.

What do you value more...your hard earned money or your feedback rating?

The answer should be obvious.

-PAB

 

[Johnnie]

What do you value more...your hard earned money or your feedback rating?

good advice!!

 

[Salvador]

Thanks. I'll take that advice.

Sal

 

[MSantiago]

I just had a shady experience on eBay today. I sold a Compaq Presario 2800 to a 0 feedback buyer who only wanted to do a local pickup. He promised payment via PayPal and sure enough, he sent it a few hours after the auction ended. It turns out, however, that he sent it with a hijacked account. Luckily, the real account holder received the payment receipt e-mail and saw that it was a fraudulent charge. He contacted PayPal and the funds were deducted from my account and returned to him. This all happened over the span of 3 hours.

This could have ended up a lot worse. Had the fraudulent buyer come over and picked up the item before the real account holder knew that he was being defrauded, I'd be completely out of luck. My advice: only ship to verified addresses. PayPal and Billpoint will only cover you under their seller protection plan if you ship to addresses that they've verified. You buyer can have his address re-verified within one week. Ask him to do that and hold the item until he does.

 

[vegetation]

I'll accept billpoint even if the address don't match for goods under $30. Over that amount, I'm more suspicious and will check out the buyers feedback. If no feedback then I will usually reject the payment, although my payment terms clearly state the billing address must match. Only problem is how billpoint doesn't want you to refund the money; you can do it but you still loose on the billpoint fees. Paypal is much, much easier, since you can just refund the whole amount and not get penalized.

 

[Salvador]

Only problem is how billpoint doesn't want you to refund the money; you can do it but you still loose on the billpoint fees.

How so? Do you mean to tell me that Billpoint won't refund the Billpoint fee if I do refund this guys money? That totally blows if that's true because this was a $11 fee.

I really hate Billpoint and only use it out of convenience to the buyers. I hate that they have to deposit your money and you can't touch it until that deposit date. They also say that they are cheaper than PayPal, but don't take into account the mandatory deposit fee.

Wow.. MSantiago. What a story. I'm really glad that I went ahead and sent this guy an email letting him know of my concerns. Don't you think that if the guy is legit, that he'll understand? I would if I were in his shoes.

Thanks again.

Sal

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: Salvador

Only problem is how billpoint doesn't want you to refund the money; you can do it but you still loose on the billpoint fees.

How so? Do you mean to tell me that Billpoint won't refund the Billpoint fee if I do refund this guys money? That totally blows if that's true because this was a $11 fee.

I really hate Billpoint and only use it out of convenience to the buyers. I hate that they have to deposit your money and you can't touch it until that deposit date. They also say that they are cheaper than PayPal, but don't take into account the mandatory deposit fee.

Wow.. MSantiago. What a story. I'm really glad that I went ahead and sent this guy an email letting him know of my concerns. Don't you think that if the guy is legit, that he'll understand? I would if I were in his shoes.

Thanks again.

Sal

Although I have not used billpoint, I am going to STRONGLY suggest you dont use any electronic payments. Not even paypal.

I discovered a flaw the size of brazil in their system and I'm not entrusting/acceptimg another cent with/from them.

-PAB

 

[Salvador]

Although I have not used billpoint, I am going to STRONGLY suggest you dont use any electronic payments. Not even paypal.

Believe me.. I don't like to use electronic payments, but doing business on Ebay almost requires that you do if you want to sell anything. I just should've been more cautious with this auction. I don't sell a lot of things of value over $100 and didn't worry about it too much. Live and learn. I sent the guy a fairly long email describing my concerns and I hope he understands. I am concerned about my Ebay feedback rating, but I do value my money more than my Ebay rating.

Thanks again.

Sal

 

[vegetation]

Yep, that's how it works on billpoint. You see, they don't care if the transaction is fraudulent because they get their money either way. If that was the case, they would give the seller the option to automatically deny any payment that did not match the billing address. It takes a programmer like what, 5 minutes of code to implement? But they don't. Paypal does, you can deny any nonconfirmed address. You can even refund confirmed payments within 30 days if you desire so, full fees refunded. Enjoy paypal now before ebay turns the paypal.com name into a web redirect for billpoint.

Originally posted by: Salvador

Only problem is how billpoint doesn't want you to refund the money; you can do it but you still loose on the billpoint fees.

How so? Do you mean to tell me that Billpoint won't refund the Billpoint fee if I do refund this guys money? That totally blows if that's true because this was a $11 fee.