YAET (Yet another ebay thread):

[Ionizer86]

So I put up my Thinkpad R50e on ebay again, and I specify that I want US and Canadian bidders only. Hours after posting, someone purchases it via Buy It Now. The person is offering more than the buy it now price (always fishy) and he says he's a US citizen but he wants it sent to his son in Africa.

See, the funny thing is that he has 170 feedbacks and they are all positive. What should I do? Specify that I will only ship contingent on payment?

 

[krotchy]

Yes, inform you will only ship upon recieved valid payment! As in just putting the check in the bank isnt enough, the money has to physically make it in your account. I know alot of bad check scams coming from other countries via ebay.

 

[SupaDupaCheez]

No....probably stolen account

 

[Ionizer86]

What happens when a legit seller receives payment that clears from an account stolen by, say a Nigerian? In the past, I've only seen tossed together paypal emails from Nigeria (that look half decent) but mention that fund release is contingent on inputting a tracking number. Crazy scammers.

 

[JS80]

hacked account

 

[SupaDupaCheez]

Originally posted by: Ionizer86
What happens when a legit seller receives payment that clears from an account stolen by, say a Nigerian? In the past, I've only seen tossed together paypal emails from Nigeria (that look half decent) but mention that fund release is contingent on inputting a tracking number. Crazy scammers.

Unless you have some kind of insurance (I think PayPal offers this in some instances), they will chargeback every cent.

 

[SupaDupaCheez]

I do some selling on ebay and from time to time have people asking me the same thing (except with items mostly under $20.00). I ALWAYS say no. If they want it bad enough, they'll have it sent to them and THEY can send it wherever they like.

 

[oogabooga]

Originally posted by: SupaDupaCheez
No....probably stolen account

Originally posted by: JS80
hacked account

This would be my guess as well.

Say you'll only ship US and he can ship to his son if he wants. But i would demand some damned secure form of payment (cold hard us cash from him at this point, gold coins, etc) and would have the report button on hold.

 

[Ionizer86]

Looks like the masses are right. Ebay leaves the sellers in the dust. This really sucks: it's the third time I've listed the laptop and the third time some Nigerian or something messes the auction up. I get refunded the final value fee each time, but I have to pay for the listing fee again for the relist... I wonder how many people actually manage to get their laptop sold on ebay without having the auction messed up, and why mine is attracting a scammer every single time.

And I've tried ATFS. Lack of interest
/rant

 

[Powermoloch]

Originally posted by: Ionizer86
he's a US citizen but he wants it sent to his son in Africa.

Now that's fishy

 

[SupaDupaCheez]

I'm pretty sure you can setup your ebay account to only allow people who have a PayPal account AND reside in the USA to bid on your items. Just make is absolutely plain in you auction (IE: very LARGE letters) that you will ONLY ship to a paypal confirmed/verified address. While this is not foolproof, it may deter some of the riff raff.

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: SupaDupaCheez
I do some selling on ebay and from time to time have people asking me the same thing (except with items mostly under $20.00). I ALWAYS say no. If they want it bad enough, they'll have it sent to them and THEY can send it wherever they like.

That's what I ended up doing half the time when I was living abroad. I think my sister was starting to get pissed after a while, but who cares, I got out of paying customs fees

 

[jagec]

Too bad it's not an Apple laptop, or an older Thinkpad, or I'd buy it from you...

 

[ArJuN]

PM me some specs.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: Ionizer86


See, the funny thing is that he has 170 feedbacks and they are all positive. What should I do? Specify that I will only ship contingent on payment?

A 170 positive feedbacks can be had for $1.70. Check out penny auctions.

 

[Golgatha]

Hell no! Send it to the buyer directly (after you receive payment of course) and then they can export the laptop.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: rudder

Originally posted by: Ionizer86


See, the funny thing is that he has 170 feedbacks and they are all positive. What should I do? Specify that I will only ship contingent on payment?

A 170 positive feedbacks can be had for $1.70. Check out penny auctions.

This is exactly why you look through their feedback history.

 

[Blazin Trav]

Originally posted by: jagec
Too bad it's not an Apple laptop, or an older Thinkpad, or I'd buy it from you...

Why, are you collecting crappy laptops?

 

[49erinnc]

Scam

Anyone who's happily willing to offer you more than the BIN price should be a instant ringer for being shady.

I can't even friggin' get into my Ebay account these days. My password no longer works and when I request it, it never shows up. I've been in contact with Ebay and they keep telling me that my email may be blocking it but it's not. The rep won't send me a temporary password to an alternate email address either. I have no idea what to do but I'm sure someone hacked my account. Nothing showing up missing from my bank yet at least.

 

[pontifex]

hacekd account
the fact that he wants to pay more than your price is a dead give-away. also sending it to a family member in another country is a classic scam move.

how do people still fall for this crap? you'd have to be a total moron to fall for it.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Ionizer86
Looks like the masses are right. Ebay leaves the sellers in the dust. This really sucks: it's the third time I've listed the laptop and the third time some Nigerian or something messes the auction up. I get refunded the final value fee each time, but I have to pay for the listing fee again for the relist... I wonder how many people actually manage to get their laptop sold on ebay without having the auction messed up, and why mine is attracting a scammer every single time.

And I've tried ATFS. Lack of interest
/rant

don't fvcking put buy it now then. jesus christ you people are stupid.

 

[Spineshank]

Ive had this scam before as well. Cept my guy didnt have the amount of feedback yours does. It was for my laptop as well.

 

[Ionizer86]

Originally posted by: pontifex
don't fvcking put buy it now then. jesus christ you people are stupid.

I figured I'd try something different after twice, scammers sniped the auction in the last seconds without leaving me time to cancel the bids.

This is pretty disgusting, I agreed. The scammer wants to "pay" via a postal money order. I guess I'll just play along then report the counterfeit money order or something.

Maybe I should also tell eBay about the stolen account?

 

[supastar1568]

dont do it. The same thing happened when I put my laptop up for sale.

They went me to ship it to Nigeria and that I wouldn't get the money thru payapl until i sent the trackig number.

 

[Ramma2]

You can sell it to the next highest bidder. Then you don't have to relist.