Sold an expensive item - reassurance needed

goldnsyrup

Hi there,

Just wondering if you could provide some reassurance and check that I am doing things correctly to protect myself.

I listed an item (games console) yesterday on BIN and got a sale within an hour (item priced at £240). The bidder has paid immediately, but they have zero feedback and only joined eBay yesterday too. They are UK based and have a username based on their actual name (they have an Eastern European name).

I know people will say that everyone once had zero feedback and therefore need to be given a chance but I really can't afford to be ripped off. Another thing that concerned me was that their address provided was initially incomplete (provide a house number but no street name and then the area and postcode). I sent a message to say that I needed a complete address to be able to send out and they did promptly reply with full details.

Anyway, not wanting to sound like a stalker but I googled this person's name and the internet searches do suggest that someone with that name does live in that geographical area.

I've read the postage sticky on the forum and know that I need to make sure that I used a tracked service with signature. I've looked into Royal Mail special delivery (£26.60 or Collect Plus (£13 ish) but think I'm going to go with Royal Mail as, whilst more expensive, I see them as more trustworthy than Collect+.

I've taken lots of photos of the item and the box that I've packaged it in.

Have I missed anything? Would be grateful for any advice/reassurance before I send it off.

Thanks

theonlywayisup

Unfortunately no one can give you complete reassurance.

You need to make sure you send the item to the address on the Paypal transaction within your Paypal account. If it is incomplete you cannot send it. If they want to give you the full address (in order for you to be covered) you need to refund and they need to pay again, adding the full address on payment.

goldnsyrup

theonlywayisup wrote: »

Unfortunately no one can give you complete reassurance.

You need to make sure you send the item to the address on the Paypal transaction within your Paypal account. If it is incomplete you cannot send it. If they want to give you the full address (in order for you to be covered) you need to refund and they need to pay again, adding the full address on payment.

Thanks for your reply. If I refund them will they then be able to pay again easily? I won't need to list the item again will I?. Will there be any costs incurred on my part? (The only one I can think of is perhaps an extra 20p PayPal transaction fee)

Just to give an example (I have made this address up!) of how they originally gave their address (on PayPal):

21
Stoke
Staffordshire
st3 4pe

When I asked them to provide a full address, through eBay messaging, it as more like this:

21 Edward Street
Burslem
Stoke
Staffordshire
ST3 4PE

peter_the_piper

Check googgle to see if its a house or flats, you'll need the flat number if that's the case.

theonlywayisup

goldnsyrup wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. If I refund them will they then be able to pay again easily? I won't need to list the item again will I?. Will there be any costs incurred on my part? (The only one I can think of is perhaps an extra 20p PayPal transaction fee)

Just to give an example (I have made this address up!) of how they originally gave their address (on PayPal):

21
Stoke
Staffordshire
st3 4pe

When I asked them to provide a full address, through eBay messaging, it as more like this:

21 Edward Street
Burslem
Stoke
Staffordshire
ST3 4PE

Have you checked the postal code does refer to ''Edward Street" (I know it isn't really that street, but you see what I mean?).

If it does, then I wouldn't refund as the rest of the address is correct.

Does the transaction in Paypal say OK TO SEND or have a green tick?

goldnsyrup

Yes the full address checks out; the postcode matches with the street name given in the follow up message. The property appears to be a house not a flat when looking at Street View.

It does say 'OK to send' in PayPal, I guess that's a positive.

Hopefully it is a case that they are totally new to eBay or have created a new profile so their Xmas purchases go undetected!

bxboards

Unfortunately I fear this will be a scam attempt, as your item is the sort of thing scammers target.

I would not send this by Royal Mail Special Delivery as if you get scammed, you'll lose the postage. So if you decide to post (and I'd cancel this) send it by DPD or UPS as as least is will be less to send.

Personally speaking, I would cancel this, I think for scammer friendly items, you need to protect yourself first. My policy is always to cancel items where the buyer seems incapable of providing a complete address, the zero feedback / just registered, is another strike although we all do need to start somewhere. But starting with a scam magnet?..no sorry, I would just cancel.

If you do decide to send it, I would print out a parcel label with the buyer's name and address, and place the parcel label near the item serial number and photograph it.

theonlywayisup

Now, the only thing you need do is send it via a tracked method. You don't need a signature but you do need to ensure you buy an adequate service - one that will cover you for damage/loss - and you MUST keep the certificate of posting for at least 6 months.

Package the parcel carefully and securely to ensure nothing can break.

Keep all serial numbers etc.

If you get into any difficulty with the buyer wanting to return it, it may be easiest to bookmark this thread and resurrect it. Hopefully you won't need to. Good luck.

Edit - to add. This is as much procedure as you can do to ensure (at the moment) that you aren't being scammed. However, that doesn't mean you won't be scammed. If you are in any doubt, cancel the sale and sell it via another method with cash/face to face.

goldnsyrup

Thank you everyone for your replies. It really is hard to judge sometimes if I'm being overcautious or not.

If I did cancel the sale and refund, on what grounds would you advise this be done? Item not available etc ) I'm guessing this will be a strike against me as a seller, I may not get my FVFs back and have the potential to get a negative. But, on the plus side if I cancel I won't be at risk of potentially getting scammed.

theonlywayisup

No, if you are going to cancel do it for the reason his address is wrong.

Then report the buyer http://contact.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ContactUs&wftype=2005&rcode=IV%25P10054&subject=False%20or%20missing%20contact%20information&bcrumb=%20Home%20%3E%20Help%20%3EMembership%20%26%20account%3ERules%20%26%20policies%3EFalse%20or%20missing%20contact%20information&instruction=&expirationDate=

Update your selling preferences to perhaps include those who have a Paypal account http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?BuyerBlockPreferences block your current bidder from buying again.

Have you tried free ads or your local Facebook group?

goldnsyrup

theonlywayisup wrote: »

Have you tried free ads or your local Facebook group?

I've tried on Gumtree but was only attracting chancers who were wanting it for an unrealistic amount, I guess I could persevere. Tried on Preloved but got no interest at all on that, even though I did price it reasonably.

Will have a look at other methods of selling. Worst case scenario I take it to CEX, I wont get the sort of money that it should be worth but at least it will be legitimate.

Am fairly sure that I will cancel the transaction, going to have a contemplative cuppa and then decide as I need to go to the post office anyway before it closes.