Selling high-value item to buyer with 0 feedback..is it safe?

andymcr

I've just sold my Nintendo Wii on e-bay for £165, and the buyer has paid via PayPal.

Before I send the Wii though, I checked their status, and discovered that she only joined on 10th March (after my auction started) and has 0 feedback.

She uses a hotmail address.

The address is confirmed with PayPal, and the payment shows a status of Completed, and that "Seller Protection Policy Eligible".

However it says "The sender of this payment is non-US - Unverified"

Perhaps I'm being paranoid, and she's a genuine first-time user of eBay, but I'm a little suspicious, and just wondered if it could be a scam.. could she somehow retract her payment once she receives the Wii?? Am I fully protected or is there anything else I should do/check?

Thanks very much for your advice/help/thoughts!

hummy

i only ever send huigh vcalue items to verified Paypal addresses.
Ask her to get verified it takes only a few days to do so and explain to her that it is best for her if she intends on using ebay frequently as many ebayers only deal with verified buyers. That's usually how i get people to become verified and they are more than happy to do so if they are genuine. The WII is a pretty hot selling item at the minute and it could be she has found this good deal on ebay and registered just to purchase this. Bascially educate them on the reasons they need to be verified. You may have to wait a few days gfor them but it is better than losing out on £165 and a Wii.

If they don't get verified then you'll find it easy enough to sell the item again.

nomoneytoday

I would ask them to deposit the cash in your bank account before sending... 0 feedback and unverified leaves you stuffed if it goes wrong...

StaffsSW

I agree with the above about verification/confirmed addresses etc - but do not get too hung up on feedback and registration dates. You never know if it is an established eBay user who has just set up a new eBay account, but is using an existing paypal account.

I tend to open a new account most times I make a large purchase, but only because I have a (perfectly legal) way to take a hefty commission on the sale for myself. I also like the idea of appearing a bit new - many sellers are being particularly helpful to newbies, whereas others are treating them like dirt.

First impressions count, and I know which type of seller I prefer to deal with!

If the paypal transaction shows "Eligible for Seller Protection" then as long as you send by a tracked and signed for method it "should" be OK - although I never feel comfortable with "scammer magnet" items and Paypal.

frivolous_fay

IMO, verification takes a far second place behind confirmed address in the protection stakes. As long as you've logged in to paypal and checked that it says you qualify for seller protection (don't trust emails!) I'd say you're pretty safe.

If I was worried about it... I'd pull their details, ring them and have a chat.

soolin

Verified is a bit of a red herring..it is confirmed that matters. See the check list on the sticky thread 'helpful hints' post 8 and 16 I think.

doush

Hi

Why not also check what the buyer has been bidding on, if anything using the advanced search.

As the others have said, once the paypal address is confirmed, and you use a tracking delivery method, like Special Delivery then you should be okay.

Also i would keep your special Delivery receipt for 6 months, after the sale, as i heard that buyers can do charge backs for up to 6 months after a sale, even if they have left positive feedback. This may not be 100% true, but im sure the other guys may know more about it.

Good Luck :beer:

Doush