Ebay, unlucky or normal?

Advertised items on ebay ( My first venture on ebay via a registered friend) last week and the auction ended on Sunday with my reserve met. Winning bid was a scammer who bid through someone elses US account. Ebay offered a free re-run so I put it on for 24 hours which ended tonight. Sold again with my reserve met, but this time a scammer bought through a French account, so auction null and void, again.
Items have gone back in the attic and ebay shall be used no more. [n]

[Nottingham Nick]

Interesting topic. I have bought lots of things off EBay and (IMHO) have got some great deals. I have thought many times about venturing into selling, to get rid of some of the crap collectables, I have lying about.

The thing that puts me off is Paul's experience - I have lost count of the times I have seen items, especially laptops and telephones, being 'bought' for value well over retail by someone with a nil rating; only for them to be re-listed with a new caveat that they won't be shipped to Nigeria. [n]

There are obviously some very genuine people trading online, but spotting them and avoiding the scammers is the trick.

Nick

[Nottingham Nick]

Interesting topic. I have bought lots of things off EBay and (IMHO) have got some great deals. I have thought many times about venturing into selling, to get rid of some of the crap collectables, I have lying about.

The thing that puts me off is Paul's experience - I have lost count of the times I have seen items, especially laptops and telephones, being 'bought' for value well over retail by someone with a nil rating; only for them to be re-listed with a new caveat that they won't be shipped to Nigeria. [n]

There are obviously some very genuine people trading online, but spotting them and avoiding the scammers is the trick.

Nick

[RichardMannion]

eBay could always do a Geo-lock on IP addresses for certain regions, err Nigeria/Ivory Coast. The amount of auctions now with no Nigeria bidders etc is just stupid.

[RichardMannion]

eBay could always do a Geo-lock on IP addresses for certain regions, err Nigeria/Ivory Coast. The amount of auctions now with no Nigeria bidders etc is just stupid.

Bought and sold lots of stuff on eBay. Been scammed three times, twice as buyer and once when I was (apparently) engaged in selling tickets for a football match.

The first two I put down to experience (caveat emptor); the third was the more worrying, as I'd seen an example from the 'other side' and it wasn't a happy outcome for the individual whose identity had been hijacked, who had to move house for a while (luckily in my case eBay were quick off the mark, killed the listing and notified me).

I still venture there to buy or sell. Watch for people who don't take Paypal and in particular those who want payment at specific Western Union outlets (they will be the ones with no, or faulty, CCTV).

Also remember if buying CDs / DVDs / books they may be cheaper through Amazon's 'Buy New and Used'.

Paul

Bought and sold lots of stuff on eBay. Been scammed three times, twice as buyer and once when I was (apparently) engaged in selling tickets for a football match.

The first two I put down to experience (caveat emptor); the third was the more worrying, as I'd seen an example from the 'other side' and it wasn't a happy outcome for the individual whose identity had been hijacked, who had to move house for a while (luckily in my case eBay were quick off the mark, killed the listing and notified me).

I still venture there to buy or sell. Watch for people who don't take Paypal and in particular those who want payment at specific Western Union outlets (they will be the ones with no, or faulty, CCTV).

Also remember if buying CDs / DVDs / books they may be cheaper through Amazon's 'Buy New and Used'.

Paul

[HighFlyer]

I've been selling on eBay for about nine years now, and in all that time i think I have only had about three or four negative encounters, most revolving around bidders not paying for items they had won. While this is a real pain, I have found eBay to be very good at crediting back your fees, so you havent lost any money as such, just time.

Its more an issue when you are the buyer and you do not recieve the goods, although if you pay through Paypal you can make a claim for the full item amount through Paypal. I was on the recieving end of this once, where i shipped an item to France (non recorded post as the buyer didnt elect to pay the additional fee) and it didnt arrive. The buyer issued a claim against me through Paypal and as i couldnt provide a tracking number (despite my original T&C's of sale being for standard delivery) Paypal took the full amount from my account to refund the buyer. While i was annoyed at being on the recieving end, it does provide some security when I'm the one buying to think that there are rules in place to protect the buyer.

If I'm in doubt about buying an item, I tend to send a message to the seller. The response rate and clarity of the response to questions i have answered often provide a good gut feeling, and I keep in mind the old adage of 'if it looks like a bargain, it probably isnt'. Particularly with regards to named brands. The amount of fake goods on eBay is quite astonishing.

Thanks,
Sarah

[HighFlyer]

I've been selling on eBay for about nine years now, and in all that time i think I have only had about three or four negative encounters, most revolving around bidders not paying for items they had won. While this is a real pain, I have found eBay to be very good at crediting back your fees, so you havent lost any money as such, just time.

Its more an issue when you are the buyer and you do not recieve the goods, although if you pay through Paypal you can make a claim for the full item amount through Paypal. I was on the recieving end of this once, where i shipped an item to France (non recorded post as the buyer didnt elect to pay the additional fee) and it didnt arrive. The buyer issued a claim against me through Paypal and as i couldnt provide a tracking number (despite my original T&C's of sale being for standard delivery) Paypal took the full amount from my account to refund the buyer. While i was annoyed at being on the recieving end, it does provide some security when I'm the one buying to think that there are rules in place to protect the buyer.

If I'm in doubt about buying an item, I tend to send a message to the seller. The response rate and clarity of the response to questions i have answered often provide a good gut feeling, and I keep in mind the old adage of 'if it looks like a bargain, it probably isnt'. Particularly with regards to named brands. The amount of fake goods on eBay is quite astonishing.

Thanks,
Sarah

You can reduce the amount of fraudulent purchases if you customise your seller preferences. There is a tab which you can set for buyer requirements so you can block certain people who do not meet certain requirements, such as in your case, you can block buyers who are registered in countries to which you do not wish to ship to or block buyers who have received two or more unpaid item strikes in the last 30 days etc. There are many other restictions you can also set.

If you are selling stuff which are a red-hot scammer's target such as mobile phones, PS3s, laptops, digital cameras etc then I would advise you to set a requirement for the buyer to pay immediately with paypal because if you don't the chances of getting a fake buyer increases dramatically.

These options are available to offer some protection for sellers and are intended to reduce the many fraudulent purchases that are made. They can be very useful but remember with ebay you cannot fully stop a buyer who intends on ripping you off.

You can reduce the amount of fraudulent purchases if you customise your seller preferences. There is a tab which you can set for buyer requirements so you can block certain people who do not meet certain requirements, such as in your case, you can block buyers who are registered in countries to which you do not wish to ship to or block buyers who have received two or more unpaid item strikes in the last 30 days etc. There are many other restictions you can also set.

If you are selling stuff which are a red-hot scammer's target such as mobile phones, PS3s, laptops, digital cameras etc then I would advise you to set a requirement for the buyer to pay immediately with paypal because if you don't the chances of getting a fake buyer increases dramatically.

These options are available to offer some protection for sellers and are intended to reduce the many fraudulent purchases that are made. They can be very useful but remember with ebay you cannot fully stop a buyer who intends on ripping you off.

[Darren Wheeler]

I haven't use ebay since I was stung for a £2000 Nikon camera after my account was hacked. Luckily the seller smelt a rat when they wanted it shipped to Lithuania. Ebay weren't exactly interested either and tried to blame me for giving out account details.

My bank were much more helpful. Money was re-credited immediately and new cards sent same day. Still had the aggro of no card in the mean time.

Still have my paypal account though as it makes payment for v-flyer socials much easier.[:D]

[Darren Wheeler]

I haven't use ebay since I was stung for a 2000 Nikon camera after my account was hacked. Luckily the seller smelt a rat when they wanted it shipped to Lithuania. Ebay weren't exactly interested either and tried to blame me for giving out account details.

My bank were much more helpful. Money was re-credited immediately and new cards sent same day. Still had the aggro of no card in the mean time.

Still have my paypal account though as it makes payment for v-flyer socials much easier.[:D]

If you are selling stuff which are a red-hot scammer's target such as mobile phones, PS3s, laptops, digital cameras etc

It was set of alloy wheels and tyres.

If you are selling stuff which are a red-hot scammer's target such as mobile phones, PS3s, laptops, digital cameras etc

It was set of alloy wheels and tyres.