Is this a scammer?

lifebegins

I've been a member of ebay for ages but haven't sold anything for a couple of years.
I'm having a clear out and have listed a couple of new thnigs not used in a building project- they are new but dusty packaging etc. Bought for a few hundred originally.

I've listed them as collection only as don't want the hassle of posting fairly large but potentially fragile items.

I received this private message from someone who joined ebay yesterday (!) - which is my first alarm bell.

"Hi there I would really like to bid on your item but I cannot drive to collect. Would you accept my bid if I sent a courier to collect or if I paid you some extra that you could drop it at a local shop who would let the courier pick it up from them. I hope you can allow me to do so as I have back problems which makes driving long distances unbearable. I look forward to your kind response"

Is this likely to be a scam, and how should I reply? I can't work out how it can be a scam but it feels a bit odd. . I've asked for cash on collection in the ad but had to tick paypal as well as the system wouldn't let me do otherwise and I guess this guy would have to pay via paypal.

How widespread is scamming on ebay now? I started selling bits 15 years ago and had no problems then.
What would you seasoned ebayers do? Am I being paranoid?

warehouse

So they arrange the courier and you have no proof of delivery. Paypal refunds them when they say not delivered and you cannot prove otherwise.

Just tell them sorry but cash on pickup only.

theonlywayisup

Not just the above.

Consider what would happen if the item arrives damaged. You don't have a contract with the carrier, the buyer is covered by eBay/Paypal for a full refund.

If you are going to carrier it, then do it yourself and maintain control.

lifebegins

Thanks both, message sent. I have emphasised cash on collection, hopefully this is the safest option for sellers?

pinkshoes

If they were genuine they would be happy to pay via bank transfer...

Ting-Tang

Not necessarily a scammer but cash is certainly king for this kind of thing.
Definitely say no to the Paypal / Courier scenario.

soolin

Why this is a really bad idea is alle xplained here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?p=65282064#post65282064

knightstyle

I recently purchased a large item from Ebay collection only.
After a few messages with the seller I arranged a collection price from a courier and paid for the item, the seller then sent me a Paypal invoice for the courier bill, plus a bit more for his trouble.
The seller them paid for the delivery, this is important as it gives the seller and the buyer protection.
The item arrived a couple of days later, well wrapped and we left each other good feed back.

martindow

pinkshoes wrote: »

If they were genuine they would be happy to pay via bank transfer...

I'm genuine but I wouldn't be happy sending a bank transfer to someone who I don't know.

ailey

Could be a scammer.

Last year I advertised a table and chairs on Gumtree on behalf of my brother and he received a text message, of similar vein, asking if a courier could pick them up as they were for his cousin who was in a wheelchair and couldn't get out to see the items etc. He would pay by bank transfer. Alarm bells rang as I had read something about this before.

I quickly did a search and found that this was a big scam which was happening and that the bank transfer could be reversed which is crazy. Needless to say, he didn't go ahead with the sale.

Apparently this was happening with cars and they were being quickly shipped abroad and the money was transferred back to the scammer. I don't understand how bank transfers can be reversed. It doesn't seem to make any sense in the name of security of funds.

I've just found a thread on MSE about this from a couple of years ago. Some people are saying that bank transfer is brilliant but, apparently, this can be reversed by the buyer although I don't know the ins and outs of this. Also good and bad can comment on here so we need to be aware that not everything is good advice.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5287559

forgotmyname

I thought the same, a dodgy bank transfer could be reclaimed quite easily.

Others disgree though.