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ebay sale problem

artofdesign said:
I always sell mine with BIN, every time, and never had the issue. The options you set in the add and the details you write are important. The seller needs to set-up the auction correctly and this isnt an problem.
Even if the situation you mentioned happened, then you'd just inform ebay that the buyer didn't agree to the terms of the auction and re-list it for free. You have the message they sent you as proof for ebay.
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That is what ended up happening, three times for the same item. It is just annoying to have to go through those steps when "someone" chooses BIN but it is obviously trying to scam you. I tried to be as clear as possible, stating that I only accepted PayPal and only shipped to CONUS. But without fail, a few hours into the auction "someone" chooses BIN and the auction ends. I then receive the "I am willing to pay more to have it shipped to my sister's cousin's roomate in Botswana as a graduation present" email. It was no problem having the fees refunded and relisting the item, it was just frustrating.
 
Please provide the correct information in the highlighted fields.

* You must have a Premier or Business PayPal account to require immediate payment. If you want to require immediate payment, upgrade your PayPal account.



gggrrrrrr 😕😡
 
jrlepage said:
Not true. I thought the same thing until I learned my lesson the hard way.

Sold my iPhone 2G to a buyer in Vietnam. Paid immediately via Paypal with a credit card and e-mailed asking me to ship to a different address as a birthday gift for their sister. Said their birthday was soon, and to please rush delivery.

I didn't know any better, figured like you said that I was protected. Plus the money had already come through on Paypal (or so I thought). So I shipped the item to the address they specified in the e-mail. I immediately submitted a request to transfer the funds to my bank account.

About a week later, AFTER the funds were already in my bank account, I got a notice from Paypal saying the buyer had committed credit card fraud, and that *I* was responsible for paying Paypal back. I was dumbfounded.

I spent hours on the phone with both E-Bay and Paypal, I submitted a formal complaint to the IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center), all to no avail. The fact that the buyer was in Vietnam and that I had shipped to an unconfirmed address gave me absolutely no recourse whatsoever.

So, you *can* get screwed as a seller. It's been my personal experience that buyers are far better protected. I still don't think you should necessarily cancel an auction just due to zero feedback, but you should be aware of when you are protected and when you are not.

I just sold my 3GS for $450 to someone in the UK. In my auction this time, I excluded Southeast Asia, Africa, Russia, and South America, because their postal systems sometimes have issues with loss of packages, theft, etc. I also made my only international shipping option USPS International Express, because for your money it's the most reliable and trackable option. And obviously, this time I didn't mail to a non-verified address.
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Sorry to hear that! I know for a long time now shipping to a confirmed address is a must if you get into a fraud issue. eBay and PayPal have continually refined their processes to help eliminate fraud...but there are a lot of scammers out there that are always trying to find ways.

All I can say about the rule of PayPal holding the payment until "positive feedback or 3-days?" if that's what it is....it's a rule for the better. PayPal is not trying to delay funds to anyone for the sake of doing so...it's all in the interest of making sure the transaction is not fraudulent.

I choose eBay and PayPal because of the security involved in the transactions (as apposed to CraigList). If you know and follow the rules and terms then it's a safe environment and your transactions are insured. Sure some buyers or sellers still may try to commit fraud...and that really sucks...but by following the rules you have the "fraud protection" as basically insurance for your transaction. But you have to follow the rules..such as shipping to a confirmed address...etc.

As another poster mentioned...it's always a good thing to see that "buyer's protection" associated with the item.
 
satirev said:
It's too bad you weren't smart enough to realize a scam when it's blatant. Anyone who wants you to deliver to an address other than the one their paypal account is linked to should be a red flag to you...
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ROFL, thanks, no *****. It was an expensive lesson (that happened when the 3G was released). That's why I'm sharing my experience so others don't have to learn the hard way. Yes, I was naive. Now I'm not. 🙂
 
I HATE EBAY

There, I said it. It's not even their fault that I hate them, it's all the scammers and just plain dumb people that use it. No offense to the legit and smart people that use it.

I have only sold on eBay twice. First, and old Smartphone before all the strict rules were in place, and second, the iPhone 2G when all the rules were there, 21 day holds, etc etc.

Both transactions went well with a few hiccups along the way. But i didn't get ANY feedback on either sale. I emailed the buyers several times to leave feedback, but got no response. So much for building a positive history as a seller.
 
Slip Jigs said:
I HATE EBAY

There, I said it. It's not even their fault that I hate them, it's all the scammers and just plain dumb people that use it. No offense to the legit and smart people that use it.

I have only sold on eBay twice. First, and old Smartphone before all the strict rules were in place, and second, the iPhone 2G when all the rules were there, 21 day holds, etc etc.

Both transactions went well with a few hiccups along the way. But i didn't get ANY feedback on either sale. I emailed the buyers several times to leave feedback, but got no response. So much for building a positive history as a seller.
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Yea...it pissses me off when I sell or buy items on eBay...all the time provide fast payment as a buyer...or true and good service as a seller...and then I don't receive feedback.

That's maybe happened 10-15 time with over 540 transactions. Lazy people. People should realize that the feedback is very key to establishing who the trusted sellers and buyers are. The system works. You're not going to find too many untrustworthy eBayers with hundreds of transactions and good (95%+) feedback.

I always provide feedback and I've got to say that I've had issues with maybe 3-4 transaction. So a pretty good track record.
 
I think we should do away with PayPal altogether. ebay should set up storefronts or allow post offices to hold the package instead of sending directly to the buyer. Have the buyer pay a deposit on the item through ebay at the end of the auction then have them physically show up somewhere to inspect the item. If they are pleased then they can pay the remaining balance and take the item home. Then ebay can release the funds to you the same day the buyer receives the item. If they are not happy, then the item gets returned and the buyer is refunded the deposit minus shipping. That's probably a lot to ask, though.
 
Alonzo84 said:
I think we should do away with PayPal altogether. ebay should set up storefronts or allow post offices to hold the package instead of sending directly to the buyer. Have the buyer pay a deposit on the item through ebay at the end of the auction then have them physically show up somewhere to inspect the item. If they are pleased then they can pay the remaining balance and take the item home. Then ebay can release the funds to you the same day the buyer receives the item. If they are not happy, then the item gets returned and the buyer is refunded the deposit minus shipping. That's probably a lot to ask, though.
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Doesn't make the process very convenient....and convenience is what it's about. Maybe Craigslist is more to your liking? I've never used Craigslist but with what I understand about it I'll stick with eBay and PayPal. Way more secure, way more convenient and reaches way...way...way...more potential buyers and sellers.
 
pasipple said:
Doesn't make the process very convenient....and convenience is what it's about. Maybe Craigslist is more to your liking? I've never used Craigslist but with what I understand about it I'll stick with eBay and PayPal. Way more secure, way more convenient and reaches way...way...way...more potential buyers and sellers.
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that's my problem. I've posted stuff on craigslist {including this phone} but all i get is scammers and/or people trying to low-ball the **** out of me {offering me $220 for my 32gb 3gs}. That's whty it's on ebay right now, bigger audience. Also, most people on this forum who sell their iphones {that i have read recently} do it through ebay and get a lot more money for them....
 
pasipple said:
Doesn't make the process very convenient....and convenience is what it's about. Maybe Craigslist is more to your liking? I've never used Craigslist but with what I understand about it I'll stick with eBay and PayPal. Way more secure, way more convenient and reaches way...way...way...more potential buyers and sellers.
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It's really only inconvenient for the buyer, the seller has to go to the post office regardless. But then the buyer knows exactly what he is getting before he pays for anything and the seller knows that they are not getting scammed. I was really just thinking through my keyboard, though. I have had very few problems with ebay and use craigslist for local pick up of larger items that I would never attempt to ship.
 
pasipple said:
This is BS. Feedback on eBay has nothing to do with PayPal payments or any payments period. I have over 540 transactions and I can tell you that. I have dozens of transactions that I never received any feedback from. Some are more conscientious than others in providing feedback. Doesn't mean I didn't get the money! That's just a stupid statement to make.
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Not true. I sold my 3GS to a lady in Canada last week and the funds are still pending. This is a snippet of the email I got from Paypal:

I've had great communication with her and she's been a member for a long time and has a ton of positive feedback so I'm not worried; it's still a PITA to have to wait for the funds to be released, though. Hopefully she'll leave me feedback right away. The phone cleared customs tonight so it shouldn't be too much longer before it gets to her.
 

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pasipple said:
Yep...I already admitted and apologized for not being well informed of this policy.
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Sorry. That must've happened while I was messing around with attaching my image. 🙂 The policy was a shock to me, too...I'd always had immediate access to payments to be able to transfer them into my accounts, regardless of what the size of the payment was. I thought at first that this time was just due to it being an international sale, but who knows?
 
Both craigslist and ebay suck. Craigslist as said above is haven to general idiots and lowballers, pros are instant cash/payment and no fuss if you meet in a public place.

Ebay is great for reach and ease for the customer but sucks major for small-medium time sellers because:
we can't leave negative feedback for dumb buyers 🙁
PayPay + eBay tag team double dip fees
scammers rampant on high value items
not enough "comfort" settings for sellers (i.e. high feedback only/ CONUS only etc)
Too quick to side with buyer
Not enough protection against chargebacks (though paypal will institute a permaban if one decides to place a CB)

I'm sitting on lots of unused valuable electronics that I could "sell" in a heartbeat on ebay if the price is right, but after 5 years of selling i'm starting to realize it just ain't worth it anymore.

Protip : If you have funds held you can issue a refund and have the entire amount of the funds released. I did this when I sold something but there was a postal issue on my part, and gave the buyer $5 off the purchase price. Paypal sent the refund and placed the rest into my account.
 
Blueline29 said:
Sorry. That must've happened while I was messing around with attaching my image. 🙂 The policy was a shock to me, too...I'd always had immediate access to payments to be able to transfer them into my accounts, regardless of what the size of the payment was. I thought at first that this time was just due to it being an international sale, but who knows?
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Post #38 Two hours ago. No problem....
 
Eddyisgreat said:
Both craigslist and ebay suck. Craigslist as said above is haven to general idiots and lowballers, pros are instant cash/payment and no fuss if you meet in a public place.

Ebay is great for reach and ease for the customer but sucks major for small-medium time sellers because:
we can't leave negative feedback for dumb buyers 🙁
PayPay + eBay tag team double dip fees
scammers rampant on high value items
not enough "comfort" settings for sellers (i.e. high feedback only/ CONUS only etc)
Too quick to side with buyer
Not enough protection against chargebacks (though paypal will institute a permaban if one decides to place a CB)

I'm sitting on lots of unused valuable electronics that I could "sell" in a heartbeat on ebay if the price is right, but after 5 years of selling i'm starting to realize it just ain't worth it anymore.

Protip : If you have funds held you can issue a refund and have the entire amount of the funds released. I did this when I sold something but there was a postal issue on my part, and gave the buyer $5 bucks off the purchase price. Paypal sent the refund and placed the rest into my account.
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I don't necessarily like the fees either. But that's the price of using their services. You or I should have thought of this first...and we'd be billionaires too. As I remember...the guy who invented eBay sold the company in a IPO and was a billionaire 8x over that day.

But even with the fees....I'm getting so much more for my items...then say your run of the mill garage sale. For the most part...I used to bet about 10-20 cents on he dollar for my goods. On eBay I can get 50-75 cents?

The big difference...obviously...when I'm selling...I'm reaching thousands...tens of thousands...and millions of prospective buyers.

That's why eBay is so popular.
 
I've had the same thing happened to me. I sell most of my phones on ebay because I'm always switching. Right now I just sold my Droid on ebay for BIN of 300. The person bid on it within 3 hours. They only have 3 positive feedback. I don't know why I'm worried, but I am.

There are scams out there on ebay where you the seller list an expensive item, the buyer pays, and you ship the item complying with all of paypal rules. The buyer receives it, switches it with an broken/different item, and say you sent them something else/a broken item/something wrong with item that's not listed in your auction. They send you back the "phony" item, and you are out of your item and your funds because paypal always rules on the buyers side.

I had sold a 3gs last fall for starting bid 99 cents. Three times it sold for close to 500.00, and 3 times the buyer was feedback of 3 or less and did not pay, nor responded to any emails. I turned them into ebay, and ebay gave the buyer about 7 days to respond to my dispute. They never responded, so ebay gave me back my listing fees, and I could list again for free.

It was a pain to have to wait 7 days in between trying to sell it 3 different times. Finally, I decided to do Buy It Now auction. A guy bought it, and still did not pay me right away. He took a full week to pay me with no emailed reason why or anything. I emailed him twice asking him to pay. When he finally did, he NEVER left me any feedback, and I had to beg paypal to release my funds after 3 days of him receiving the phone.

If you ship the item with signature confirmation, paypal is supposed to release your funds after the item has been proven delivered. That's why I always upload the tracking info into paypal so they can see the proof, but they still had to be called everytime to release it.
 
profets said:
It can get annoying with these types of scams. I was selling a bunch of phones last year, and out of 8, 5 of them were bought by "scammers". They never paid, and I had to keep relisting. It gets very annoying.

The other brutal thing is, even if the buyer makes the payment, the funds are not released to you until good feedback is left by the buyer. I was shipping phones out, and almost chasing buyers for good feedback. Then I had to fight with ebay and wait a while to get credited for all the listing fees for items that were bought and never paid for...
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the bolded part is not true. once you are paid you get the cash, if the buyer has an issue they will take the money from your account.
 
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