Potential ebay buyer gives phone number! - Cause for seller concern?

ANNA

I'm an ebay private seller. I've listed some surplus used furniture as BIN or Best Offer. I got interest from someone who wants to view when next passing through my area. He states this could be at short notice, so gave his mobile no. to communicate by sms. If I do, he will then have my phone number.

Is this possibly a scam? Why not message on the ebay platform? What should I be mindful of? I'm home alone during the daytime.

My listings are good, with multiple photos and measurements on them. I normally have buyers based on my listings alone, without prior viewing in person. I recommended he look at the store websites for all information, as this is still available new.

tacpot12

I think you are right to be concerned, but I'm not sure that this is a scam. It's not a very well thought through one if it is, as you have to call him before he has your number! But I would always say to trust your instincts about anyone you are dealing with in eBay. 

As it is furniture you are selling, I assume that he is going to have to come to your home anyway to collect the items, but this would not be at short notice, so you could arrange for someone to be there with you.

Is it possible you could arrange for someone to be with you if you do decide to let him call you when he's in the area? I would say that if he did call, and you can't get someone to be with you, it is perfectly fine for your to just tell him that it's not convenient for him to call that day, and to try again when he is in the area.

tightauldgit

I don't think its necessarily any kind of scam, a lot of people just treat Ebay like classified ads and do things like this. 

Having said that you should take whatever precautions you feel necessary and if you don't feel comfortable with someone calling at your house or having your number then don't engage with them. 

rollingmoon

tacpot12 said:

But I would always say to trust your instincts about anyone you are dealing with in eBay.

Sage advice indeed... if I was the OP I'd just block this character and wait for someone else to show an interest. I probably lose the odd honest/sane bidder by being a bit trigger happy with the ban hammer, but it works in that I never end up dealing with any of the odd bods and incompetents that seem to be rife on eBay.

MalMonroe

ANNA said:

I'm an ebay private seller. I've listed some surplus used furniture as BIN or Best Offer. I got interest from someone who wants to view when next passing through my area. He states this could be at short notice, so gave his mobile no. to communicate by sms. If I do, he will then have my phone number.

Is this possibly a scam? Why not message on the ebay platform? What should I be mindful of? I'm home alone during the daytime.

My listings are good, with multiple photos and measurements on them. I normally have buyers based on my listings alone, without prior viewing in person. I recommended he look at the store websites for all information, as this is still available new.

Hi, I wouldn't necessarily block him but if I were you, I would refuse to give him any more details and ask him to communicate with me via the eBay messaging (email from your account) system. That way eBay has a clear and concise record of all communications in case there are any problems later on. (And there might be with this person.) If a prospective buyer asks to go 'off line' so to speak then I'd be very suspicious of their motives, especially as he wants to 'come and look before he buys'. That way disaster lies and you, quite rightly, obviously don't feel happy about it.

Don't let this person bully you into doing anything you are not happy about. If you lose that particular sale (if he's even genuine) someone else will buy.

Please don't give him any personal or private details and just tell him you need to communicate via eBay. If you don't, you will lose the 100% money back guarantee. And you don't want strangers turning up on your doorstep when you're in by yourself. It really isn't worth it and you don't have to do it. For anyone. 

HampshireH

Stick to online. For all they know you don't have a mobile phone to send a. SMS to 

FFHillbilly

not necessarily a scam. put yourself in the buyers shoes, you'll be passing at short notice and you might want to get in touch to call in, do you 
A- send an ebay message, which goes to a phone or computer and the notification may be ignored or not looked at for 1-2hours
B- use the phone, this is generally something thats answered straight away

I have also come unstuck when trying to view something for sale in an unfamiliar area, turn up and try to contact them only to find there's no mobile internet coverage. always get a phone number beforehand now for this reason.

also another thing to be aware of, if the seller turns up and makes an offer in cash, and then you subsequently remove the item from sale, eBay will probably charge you final value fees and you will be warned about breaking eBays rules. I think that every item prematurely removed from eBay without selling is investigated, i.e they read the messages sent through eBay leading up to removal of the item and it's probably not hard for them to deduce what occurred.
a way to get round this is just increase the price (to reduce interest) and leave it on there for a few months

soolin

quote -
also another thing to be aware of, if the seller turns up and makes an offer in cash, and then you subsequently remove the item from sale, eBay will probably charge you final value fees and you will be warned about breaking eBays rules. I think that every item prematurely removed from eBay without selling is investigated, i.e they read the messages sent through eBay leading up to removal of the item and it's probably not hard for them to deduce what occurred.
a way to get round this is just increase the price (to reduce interest) and leave it on there for a few months

Ebay will consider any item pulled from sale after any attempt to exchange phone numbers etc as a breach of rules as they consider it as selling outside of ebay. Even if the potential buyer themselves, as is the case here, sends their details if OP now pulls the item for any reason they risk a serious warning on their account.

Just pulling an item without any contact from a potential buyer is not problematic at all. I regularly pull all my items and either re list or sell similar, or even charity shop them, but only where no one has made any attempt to swap info with me.

Spoonie_Turtle

FFHillbilly said:

also another thing to be aware of, if the buyer turns up and makes an offer in cash, and then you subsequently remove the item from sale, eBay will probably charge you final value fees and you will be warned about breaking eBays rules.

You would need to ask the buyer to buy it through eBay (presumably on their phone)

ANNA

Outcome:

I informed my proposed buyer on the ebay platform that he could view at short notice as (fiction) my husband is home at all times for viewings and that my ebay price is fixed and I only sell on ebay.

He has changed his mind about viewing...... Suits me fine!