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What is a chargeback? And when you say good documentation, what do you mean? If you just do everything through eBay and PayPal (including shipping), is that good enough documentation?

Also, are people attempting these scams typically low feedback, new eBay accounts? Anybody ever experienced a chargeback attempt from a high feedback buyer whose been an eBay member from a long time?

And if you are going to set a pass code lock on the phone that you sell, should you mention that in your eBay listing? And I guess the only way that would even work is if you also have the requirement that the pass code be used even after a restore.
 
Well if people tried to scam you then you did have an issue.

No because I always win. No issue for me.
What is a chargeback? And when you say good documentation, what do you mean? If you just do everything through eBay and PayPal (including shipping), is that good enough documentation?
Also, are people attempting these scams typically low feedback, new eBay accounts? Anybody ever experienced a chargeback attempt from a high feedback buyer whose been an eBay member from a long time?
And if you are going to set a pass code lock on the phone that you sell, should you mention that in your eBay listing? And I guess the only way that would even work is if you also have the requirement that the pass code be used even after a restore.
Charge back is when they get the item they submit to pay pal to try and get their money back.
Good documentation means follow every thing that ensures you're covered by paypal and ebay. Track your shipment, get insurance and use signature on delivery. I find it best to actually use paypal shipping option that way you're surely covered. The guy that bought my last phone had 160 positive (I have 1400 and have sold 34k dollars worth of stuff on ebay) and seemed legit. The thing I HATE above all is he had tried the same with another but left them positive feedback so I didn't see it as he had 100% pos feedback. If they leave you pos you can't leave negative even if they try and scam you, it's total bs.

You could set a passcode that the person can change once the phone was received and all was ok with the transaction.
 
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You got it reversed. It's quite safe to buy on ebay. Not so much when it comes to selling.

There's more to the ebay buyer horror story than the guy is telling us as ebay doesn't always let scamming buyers off the hook.

I wouldn't trust eBay either buying or selling. There are simply too many scammers and unethical buyers and sellers. Buying/selling there is just too much of a hassle. It's hard enough dealing with normal sellers like Amazon.
 
I wouldn't trust eBay either buying or selling. There are simply too many scammers and unethical buyers and sellers. Buying/selling there is just too much of a hassle. It's hard enough dealing with normal sellers like Amazon.
Now that is just being paranoid. I buy/sell large lots of smartphones, and other misc electronics. I've had over 120 transactions and NONE of them have been scams. If you scared of being scammed, put a helmet on. :cool:
 
Now that is just being paranoid. I buy/sell large lots of smartphones, and other misc electronics. I've had over 120 transactions and NONE of them have been scams. If you scared of being scammed, put a helmet on. :cool:

I am not scared of being scammed. I simply do not trust the eBay model. There is such a thing as not wanting to spend money on something I don't trust. Certainly many people have successful and satisfying experiences buying or selling on eBay, but that doesn't require me to use their service or believe that their service is trouble free and everything is exactly as described and there are never any problems.
 
I am not scared of being scammed. I simply do not trust the eBay model. There is such a thing as not wanting to spend money on something I don't trust. Certainly many people have successful and satisfying experiences buying or selling on eBay, but that doesn't require me to use their service or believe that their service is trouble free and everything is exactly as described and there are never any problems.

That's quite different from picking an isolated (and questionable) case and say it's full of scamming sellers and you're likely to lose money. I don't personally buy big ticket items on ebay either, but I don't go around telling people how they should buy their iPhones.
 
I find Kijiji is much better. I meet up with the person in person at a public spot and complete the transaction. That way I know what he looks like.
 
No because I always win. No issue for me.

.

I don't get how you see it but when someone tries to scam me, eBay freezes my funds and I have to go back and forth with a scammer and have to prove my case to PayPal and eBay then that is having an issue. And a big pain in the rear that many rather not deal with. Having no issues is when you sell/buy and every transaction went fine with no issues. Having to fight a scammer is an issue in my book.
What would fit more is to say you never lost a dispute case or lost any money.
 
What is a chargeback?

That's when you file the complaint with your card company. They will always side with you because you're their costumer.

A guy got $1300 off of me with a chargeback, even after filing a false "unauthorized transaction" claim with Paypal. Paypal sided with me and told him, "no, you made this transaction." So he went to his card company, and they pulled the $1300 from Paypal, who then came after me..

Paypal told me they would fight it with their proof but there was nothing they could do really.
 
That's quite different from picking an isolated (and questionable) case and say it's full of scamming sellers and you're likely to lose money. I don't personally buy big ticket items on ebay either, but I don't go around telling people how they should buy their iPhones.

I think the OP's issue is quite questionable too. It's really hard to tell from these threads who is being honest and revealing all the details. This especially shows up when people claim "I forgot my password, how do I reset it?", which all too often means a stolen device.
 
A guy got $1300 off of me with a chargeback, even after filing a false "unauthorized transaction" claim with Paypal. Paypal sided with me and told him, "no, you made this transaction." So he went to his card company, and they pulled the $1300 from Paypal, who then came after me..

Paypal told me they would fight it with their proof but there was nothing they could do really.

True, the CC company would have to find you in favor for you to get the money back and the process can take a few months. Paypal doesn't like to be left holding the bag and makes you eat it as a cost of doing business. That's why I don't keep money in PayPal and have no bank account linked to it. If it's fraud, I'd just leave the account in the red and they'd have to have pretty big balls to sic a collector on me.
 
So I bought a used iPhone 5 off of eBay after asking the seller some pretty specific questions about it. He always replied within minutes and seemed to be on the level. He had 100% positive feedback (over 300 rating) and has been on eBay for 8 years. The price was just OK, not too good to be true. He said it was his phone, that he had used for a year and then had AT&T unlock it so he could sell it.

So the phone arrived today, and it is passcode locked. It has an ugly graphic on the lock screen, and that's as far as I can get. It also came in a box labeled with the serial and IMEI number of some other phone (the IMEI number on the box doesn't match the one printed on the back of the phone).

It has only been about four hours since I contacted the seller, but so far he hasn't replied. I called AT&T, and they said that the phone has not been reported lost or stolen.

So is this a scam, or is the seller just ignorant about needing to wipe the phone? If it is a scam, how does it work? I have of course opened a case with eBay. Shouldn't it be an easy win for me? Why would anyone sell a phone that has been passcode locked?

Oh my effing god 5 hours. No way dude. Get your money back ASAP.

OR HE MIGHT HAVE TO SLEEP LIKE NORMAL PEOPLE.
 
True, the CC company would have to find you in favor for you to get the money back and the process can take a few months. Paypal doesn't like to be left holding the bag and makes you eat it as a cost of doing business. That's why I don't keep money in PayPal and have no bank account linked to it. If it's fraud, I'd just leave the account in the red and they'd have to have pretty big balls to sic a collector on me.

How do you do transactions and such without the bank account linked?
 
And, unfortunately, it seems like even with that there's still something to ponder: http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfranci...igslist-ad-for-gift-cards/Content?oid=2631492

There is always risk, but there are basic precautions you should take. I sold a ps4, met the buyer at walmart. Told him to wit for me in front by the bench. Drove up, scoped it out and pulled up right in front of the entrance. Opened my trunk, showed buyer ps4. He paid, verified notes and told him its yours. A lot of staring customers passing by. The more the merrier.
 
(I'm not going to feed the troll who graced us with his presence a few posts back.)

Anyway, I've now tested the phone as thoroughly as possible and have decided to keep it. I really just do not have the time or energy to deal with trying to do a refund with a seller who just left the United States again today. That sounds like a whole other can of worms. Plus then I'd still be without a phone, and I'm leaving the country myself shortly.

So far I'm really impressed with the battery life of the phone, and I put a nice case on it that hides the dent. I cleaned it up and applied a screen protector, which made it look a lot better. That one deep scratch stands out as much as ever, even through the screen protector, but I can live with it. If I ultimately decide that the scratch is too obnoxious, I'll just give the phone to a relative and move on to a new phone at a later date.

Thanks again to everyone who offered such helpful advice, information, and moral support! This thread has renewed my appreciation of the Mac Rumors community. Cheers!
 
How do you do transactions and such without the bank account linked?

I have a credit card linked, but it's easy to dispute if paypal tries to charge it. They make you link a bank account only if you reach $10,000 in lifetime spending. In fact, I closed an old one and opened a new paypal account for this reason. As for getting paid, I either use up the PayPal balance buying stuff or have them cut me a check for a nominal fee.
 
No because I always win. No issue for me.


Issues: problems or difficulties, esp. with a service or facility: a small number of users are experiencing connectivity issues.


IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU ALWAYS "WIN"!

if the transaction is cancelled you LOSE because you failed to achieve your objective: to sell or to buy a particular product; otherwise you have to deal with someone who is attempting to disrupt and/or modify an otherwise legal and agreed upon transaction!

that alone presents problems and/or difficulties because it results in a transaction that will not be smooth or will end up cancelled.

good for you if you always "win" but it is still an ISSUE.

this has nothing to do about you outsmarting the scammer it has to do with buying or selling a product trouble-free.
 
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Issues: problems or difficulties, esp. with a service or facility: a small number of users are experiencing connectivity issues.


IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU ALWAYS WIN!


you have to deal with someone who is attempting to disrupt and/or modify an otherwise legal and agreed upon transaction!

that alone presents problems and/or difficulties because it results in a transaction that will not be smooth or will end up cancelled.

good for you if you always "win" (do you considered cancelled transaction a "win" too?) but it is still an ISSUE.

No different from "issues" with non-paying bidders or when your CL buyer doesn't show up, but you eventually sell it. The only way not to have "issues" is to buy through Apple and give it away for free instead of selling (yes, even sites that pay for your used iPhone can bite you back in the ass by giving you less if they disagree on condition).
 
No different from "issues" with non-paying bidders or when your CL buyer doesn't show up, but you eventually sell it. The only way not to have "issues" is to buy through Apple and give it away for free instead of selling (yes, even sites that pay for your used iPhone can bite you back in the ass by giving you less if they disagree on condition).

yes and no.


the only way to not have issues if the system works as intended.

you publish, someone bids, you contact, he replies, you meet or ship and you sell.

same goes if you are buying.
 
the only way to not have issues if the system works as intended.

you publish, someone bids, you contact, he replies, you meet or ship and you sell.

same goes if you are buying.

But you can't control that so there's always the potential to have issues if you buy outside of Apple/the carrier (even there can be issues with delivery delays, stolen package, etc.) or if you sell at all.
 
But you can't control that so there's always the potential to have issues if you buy outside of Apple/the carrier (even there can be issues with delivery delays, stolen package, etc.) or if you sell at all.



yes yes but that is besides the point.


AFDoc argued that even if he had issues, he had no issues because according to him, outsmarting the scammer is what ebay is all about.
 
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