Some Ebay advice please

yozzer2006

Hi all

I was hoping some of you knowledgable (sp?) folk could give me some advice.

I have won an auction today for a laptop costing £420. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8804227764&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1

The seller has no feedback (I'm a silly boy I know) so I offered to collect the item from him and pay by cash. He declined and told me he would only use Royal Mail and Paypal. When I checked, he was going to post the item by Royal Mail standard parcels so I got back in touch and told him I wanted it sent by Special Delivery because of the value involved. He said OK.

I have sent him my address details and a telephone number and have asked him to provide me with the same. I have also asked him for the exact model No: of the laptop but he hasn't responded yet.

Am I being fair asking for his address and telephone number? I don't know why but I am just a bit wary over this. Could be nothing but I would appreciate any comments or advice anyone could give me.

soolin

If I was to be frank I would suggest that you have been foolish in bidding. The seller is newly registered and selling three high end goods.

Any questions you may have had should really have been asked before you bid, it is a bit late now as you have won the item.

If you are going to go through with this pay by credit card on paypal.

Incidentally is that a good price for a second hand laptop without a warranty, could you not have got one of the Dells for a similar price? (I am a pc novice so the answer may be obvious to others)

Soo

mikecmr

its only got a 170 mhz processor my phone is faster haha think he had a typo

shellsuit

If he won't give you his phone number, don't deal with him.

Any genuine seller would gladly give their number to verify they are legit.

Go here and fill in the boxes to obtain the sellers phone number, if the number is a false one, keep your money and report the seller for false contact details.

http://search.ebay.co.uk/ws/search/AdvSearch?sofocus=bs&sacat=-1&catref=C5&sspagename=h:h:advsearch:Uk&from=R7&nojspr=y&fsop=1&fsoo=1&fcl=3&frpp=50&sofindtype=9&pfid=

Also have you noticed this in the description?

THIS LAPTOP HAS NO KNOWN FAULTS


So, there could be faults that the seller doesn't know about which means if you end up with a knackered lap-top, all the seller has to say is that they didn't know about the fault/s and they are covered.

I wouldn't have touched this with a bargepole so I can only suggest you keep your money incase this is a scam.

dounome

Hi
Did he explain why he wouldnt allow you to collect and pay cash, iwould be a bit wary if i were you. If i was offered cashaand collect for an item i think i would accept it as it saves me time and effort.

yozzer2006

The guy has just contacted me with his name and address details but not his phone. I did get his mobile from the link above (thanks). I really am in 2 minds what to do next???

soolin

You have two choices, either back out of the deal and risk a neg and a NPB strike, or complete the deal and possibly end up with a faulty laptop with no warranty.

The first option is a gamble as if the seller is an out and out scammer he may well lose his account before he can do you any harm, but if he is just a newbie trying it on then a neg will hurt and an NPB strike will stay on your account forever.

The latter option is also a gamble, you can protect your money to some extent by using a credit card through paypal, but really that will just cover you for non receipt. If it does arrive and is faulty you are unlikely to win a paypal chargeback (it could go either way) as the laptop is sold as second hand with no guarantee. You could fall back onto your CC at that point but they may also refuse to refund unless you can prove beyond doubt that you have a faulty item.

Soo

Penny-Pincher!!

I wouldnt risk it!

PP
xx

yozzer2006

Thanks a lot everyone. He has just messaged me telling me that the laptop has a 2 year warranty. He has said he doesn't want to give me a contact number. If he is genuine I wouldn't like to risk the negative feedback so I will pay for it on a credit card to give me some protection if I go ahead. The guy does describe it as new. If it is second hand, would I have any recall?

Thanks a lot for all your advice. It is much appreciated.

frivolous_fay

Why not request contact details through ebay? You are entitled to do this with anyone you have a transaction with. It doesn't bode particularly well that he doesn't want to give you his number... he does sound like a newbie.

He will know that you have done it, so there is a chance it will sour the deal... but then you are allowed to do this.

If the phone number ebay supplies you with doesn't work or is obviously false, you could report him for false contact details if you wanted a quick get-out of this sale. (He'd probably be suspended)

sugarspunsister

I noticed this at the bottom: "THE FIRST PERSON TO OFFER ME £500 CASH CAN HAVE THE LAPTOP ANY OFFERS"

How did he expect to get cash without allowing a collection? a little bit bizarre. Hope it goes ok for you.