Buyer wants bank transfer. Advice needed.

ryanwain

Just sold this on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230267615181&ssPageName=STRK:MESO:IT&ih=013

Buyer contacted me saying he was unable to use Paypal (he entered the wrong numbers or something when trying to verify his account). He then asked if he could send the money via bank transfer, and gave me a phone number and mobile number to contact him. I'd rather sort it all out online though.

Any advice? Should I give him the benefit of the doubt? Is a bank transfer reversible etc.

Thanks,
Ryan

ArmchairTycoon

Bank transfers are as good as cash, once it is in your account it cannot be reversed by the buyer, and of course no PayPal fees to pay.

Just ensure that you communicate with the buyer via 'My Messages' in your eBay account that way you have a complete record of anything said, always handy to have should any dispute arise.

digerati

ryanwain wrote: »

Buyer contacted me saying he was unable to use Paypal... He then asked if he could send the money via bank transfer, and gave me a phone number and mobile number to contact him. I'd rather sort it all out online though.

Ryan,

Bank transfer is much safer than PayPal - especially for a £350 sale involving electronics.

Make sure you send the item fully insured by special delivery so you can prove delivery. With all electronics items like laptops, it's an excellent idea to keep a copy of your original invoice with ALL the serial numbers, including those of any added components. Take a few digital photos of serial numbers and the general condition of components before you ship it as an extra precaution. This prevents a common scam involving the sale then eventual return of a "switched" (often faulty) electronic item or parts thereof, or any of the numerous PayPal-supported scams reported on this forum.

Best of luck!

soolin

Why does everyone else get th ebuyers that want to use bank transfers....despite me listing it on every auction no one ever uses it. I shall go off in a sulk!

OP..grab it with both hands and spend the savings you get by not using paypal with glee! Just follow the other excellent advice above about still sending everything secure and tracked and one final point, wait until the day after receiving the payment into your bank account before sending as once it clears overnight it cannot be recalled.

mrsk

I recently found random fraudulent Direct debits on my account which can only have been set up by someone who wanted to pay by bank transfer (people who have cheques of mine seldom have my address and there are several sellers in this position).

I would advise that you only accept bank transfer into an account that cannot have direct debits set up.

Please don't come back and tell me why this can't have happened, because it has happened.. to me and at least 9 others to my knowledge.

Premier_2

Wow! This new ebayer only registered on 26 Jun 2008 and already has purchased over £1300 worth of goods, including 4 laptops, some xbox games, various watches and an LCD HDTV!!!
Presumably all paid for via bank transfer if he has no paypal account. :eek:

A kiddie let loose in a sweet shop or someone that has hacked into someone else's bank account?

What happens if the payment is received from a hijacked bank account?

frivolous_fay

mrsk wrote: »

I recently found random fraudulent Direct debits on my account which can only have been set up by someone who wanted to pay by bank transfer (people who have cheques of mine seldom have my address and there are several sellers in this position).

I would advise that you only accept bank transfer into an account that cannot have direct debits set up.

Please don't come back and tell me why this can't have happened, because it has happened.. to me and at least 9 others to my knowledge.

This is a theoretical risk - but remember the magical Direct Debit Guarantee - you are always protected in these cases.

frivolous_fay

Premier wrote: »

Wow! This new ebayer only registered on 26 Jun 2008 and already has purchased over £1300 worth of goods, including 4 laptops, some xbox games, various watches and an LCD HDTV!!!
Presumably all paid for via bank transfer if he has no paypal account. :eek:

A kiddie let loose in a sweet shop or someone that has hacked into someone else's bank account?

What happens if the payment is received from a hijacked bank account?

Very fishy! Has anyone heard of this happening before on ebay?
This kind of buying pattern has hallmarks of Nigeria on it.. but the 'no paypal' thing doesn't seem to match.

Premier_2

ryanwain wrote: »

Just sold this on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230267615181&ssPageName=STRK:MESO:IT&ih=013

Buyer contacted me saying he was unable to use Paypal (he entered the wrong numbers or something when trying to verify his account). He then asked if he could send the money via bank transfer, and gave me a phone number and mobile number to contact him. I'd rather sort it all out online though.

Any advice? Should I give him the benefit of the doubt? Is a bank transfer reversible etc.

Thanks,
Ryan

Bearing in mind my post above, and the fact you are under no obligation to accept a bank transfer as it was not included by you as an acceptable payment option in the listing, I would strongly suggest you do not accept a bank transfer from this buyer.

Ask him to make payment by one of the payment methods you have listed and if payment is not received, file an unpaid item claim with ebay at your earliest opportunity.

steviebabes

Mmm, 4 laptops within a week! I would be careful here but bank transfers are usually the safest form of payment for a seller. You could try contacting the other 3 people who he has bought laptops off to see if they have encountered any problems. None have posted feedback as yet.

mrsk

frivolous_fay wrote: »

This is a theoretical risk - but remember the magical Direct Debit Guarantee - you are always protected in these cases.

Yes, but no-one will pay me back the two days on the phone that it has taken to sort it out! Or the loss of sleep.. or the stress for the other person I know whose bank refused to take any interest until he got really heavy with them!