Ebay selling question

sadkipper

I have posted my MacBook for sale on Ebay together with some accessories. I have been contacted via an eBay message by someone who asked me to contact him using whatsap or mail to confirm my best price. He said he would pay via Paypal. I am a little wary about this as I don't want to "break the rules" for such an expensive item. I am guessing the sensible thing is to only communicate via Ebay?

theonlywayisup

Unfortunately MacBook sales are prone to attracting scammers.

Personally I wouldn't sell one on Ebay and I'm a business seller.

Is there somewhere else you can sell it.

Have a read of the postage sticky if you are determined to sell it. But don't deal with any outside of Ebay sales, particularly those that will tell you they'll pay by Paypal as it will most likely be a false payment email.

bargainbetty

Tell him the sale can only be done via Ebay, and that you will not accept payment via any other route. If he comes back and bids, he was real. If not, you've saved yourself a scamming.

soolin

sadkipper wrote: »

I have posted my MacBook for sale on Ebay together with some accessories. I have been contacted via an eBay message by someone who asked me to contact him using whatsap or mail to confirm my best price. He said he would pay via Paypal. I am a little wary about this as I don't want to "break the rules" for such an expensive item. I am guessing the sensible thing is to only communicate via Ebay?

I echo what theonlywayisup says.

To answer your initial query, selling this outside ebay having had that message via ebay will get you a warning and people are being restricted and suspended on as few as 2 warnings!

Secondly, the reason they want it off ebay is likely to be so you don't spot a fake paypal email. The likelihood is that you will get a fake paypal email saying you have funds and they will be released as soon as you provide a tracking number to prove item was sent. This only works if the buyer buys off ebay as on ebay you would spot that item didn't show as paid for.

I'm paranoid about ebay so personally I would NOT remove it from sale as ebay will just assume you have followed through with the request, instead if you decide not to sell it on ebay just put the price up to an unrealistic amount and hope it doesn't sell. I would also respond via ebay to the buyer saying that you are sorry but this can only be sold via ebay, and you will not/ cannot sell it any other way and they are free to bid if they wish.

theonlywayisup

soolin wrote: »

I'm paranoid about ebay so personally I would NOT remove it from sale as ebay will just assume you have followed through with the request, instead if you decide not to sell it on ebay just put the price up to an unrealistic amount and hope it doesn't sell. I would also respond via ebay to the buyer saying that you are sorry but this can only be sold via ebay, and you will not/ cannot sell it any other way and they are free to bid if they wish.

This is a very good point. Ebay may restrict your account even though you have done nothing against policy. You absolutely MUST reply via Ebay messages stating the item is only for sale on Ebay.

pinkshoes

Tread carefully here.

There was someone on here recently that got a warning for NOT replying and saying they would only deal with them through eBay!!

So I would reply to the message saying you only intend to sell through eBay, so no thank you. I would then also report the buyer to eBay so it makes you look proactive against potential scammers.

sadkipper

Thanks for all the advice, I will reply via eBay and also report them. I think I have found a private seller (a friend) so will hopefully remove it from sale later!

soolin

sadkipper wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice, I will reply via eBay and also report them. I think I have found a private seller (a friend) so will hopefully remove it from sale later!

No don't, that will get you a warning- see my response above. If you remove it from sale now ebay will think you have sold it to the buyer who asked , they really are enforcing the ' no outside trading' rule. loads of established sellers have been caught on this through no fault of their own. Like many, I have a warning already and am having to tread very very carefully to avoid issues in the future.

sadkipper

OK, thanks for the advice, maybe I will just increase the price and remove it in a week or so. I am struggling to work out how to report the potential buyer, will go and have another look!

theonlywayisup

Try this link http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/rfe-spam-non-ebay-sale.html

Half way down is a "report it" link in the text.

I haven't gone any further myself so not sure what you get after than. You usually go around in circles with ebay help until you see the 'contact us' button.

Inflate the price of the item if you can (or the postage). Do it quickly before you have any bids.

soolin

sadkipper wrote: »

OK, thanks for the advice, maybe I will just increase the price and remove it in a week or so. I am struggling to work out how to report the potential buyer, will go and have another look!

Don't remove it at all, let the listing finish and then just don't re list it. Just make the price unreasonable enough to put everybody off.