EBay question

Cookiemonster · September 2023

Had a request to buy a guitar, but they wanted me to change the listing and pay on collection only, they don’t have feedback and won’t pay before they collect. I may be over cautious but this makes me nervous, also they can’t collect until the end of the month. They don’t want to pay before they see the guitar. Which I do understand. But I think I will get charged fees anyway once some click buy ?

I have never had anyone ask to do this before, am I being overly cautious here ?

prlgmnr · September 2023

Cookiemonster said:

Had a request to buy a guitar, but they wanted me to change the listing and pay on collection only, they don’t have feedback and won’t pay before they collect. I may be over cautious but this makes me nervous, also they can’t collect until the end of the month. They don’t want to pay before they see the guitar. Which I do understand. But I think I will get charged fees anyway once some click buy ?

I have never had anyone ask to do this before, am I being overly cautious here ?

Ignore and move on, not worth it

Cookiemonster · September 2023

Thanks for your input.

Svartmetall · September 2023

Sounds like they're trying to mess you about tbh - move on.

Sassafras · September 2023

They don't seem to grasp the concept of an online auction.
Wait for a buyer who isn't a dickhead.

Fishboy7 · September 2023

In my experience, this type of buyer, even if genuine isn't worth the hassle.

Cookiemonster · September 2023

I’ve offered to let them come and see it. But will leave it live until then. I’m not in a rush to sell. I have had offers to trade but I could do with the cash at some point really as I’ve bought a couple of other things recently.

joeW · September 2023

Too many red flags for my liking. If they are on the level and it’s not sold by the end of the month, they can get it then? The lack of feedback the main concern I’d have

LionAquaLooper · September 2023

Not worth it, unless you're desperate and don't believe your guitar will sell quickly then that's a risk you'll have to take.

p.s. FYI - you won't get charged eBay fees until eBay get notification that the item has been collected - and you do that by entering the 6 digit code that the buyer receives into your eBay account (on the item listing). Marking it as collected is not enough. If you don't enter this code, then you will get scammed because the buyer can easily claim they never collected and eBay will give them their money back.

thebreeze · September 2023

Tell them there are well established processes for buying something on eBay. They're simple, straightforward and if he wants it he can buy it by using them. TBH, and what you should be more wary of I think, is that even if he does buy it that way Ebay will fully support him if he changes his mind afterwards and comes up with the flimsiest reason to rescind the purchase.

Vintage-T · September 2023

one of the many reasons I cba with selling on ebay. I found myself more and more suspicious every sale that I was being scammed. I stick to here, reverb or FB marketplace on collection only nowadays.

bluecat · September 2023

I had a Harley Asian copy big low rider for sale on eBay a few years ago. This guy called me up and said I will buy it if I like it. Just take it off eBay first and we can do the deal, I will come up tomorrow on the train from London.
I live in North Lincolnshire, sure enough he turned up at lunchtime with his laptop so he could tax and insure if he needed to. He offered me £50 less than asking price and I snapped his hand off. He paid me in readies, all genuine so no probs.
Saved me a bit in charges.
And that's it. You just have to be careful and get it right.

LionAquaLooper · September 2023

Vintage-T said:

one of the many reasons I cba with selling on ebay. I found myself more and more suspicious every sale that I was being scammed. I stick to here, reverb or FB marketplace on collection only nowadays.

I think there are more scammers on FB tbh but the good thing about FB is a deal is just between the seller and the buyer. No big brother like eBay who will always side with buyers.

Now eBay have introduced "buying as a guest user" which will undoubtedly open the floodgates for more scammers. Imagine someone buying from you as a guest, you send the item, they claim you sent them a brick, and eBay sides with them because they're the buyer and give them a refund. Before this new feature, eBay would at least be able to track multple offenders and maybe see a trend. No chance with anonymous guests.

Cookiemonster · September 2023

LionAquaLooper said:

Not worth it, unless you're desperate and don't believe your guitar will sell quickly then that's a risk you'll have to take.

p.s. FYI - you won't get charged eBay fees until eBay get notification that the item has been collected - and you do that by entering the 6 digit code that the buyer receives into your eBay account (on the item listing). Marking it as collected is not enough. If you don't enter this code, then you will get scammed because the buyer can easily claim they never collected and eBay will give them their money back.

Thanks that’s interesting, I didn’t know that. Never had anyone ask before

the buyer mentioned a QR code but that seemed odd as he had no feedback but seemed to know how it worked

LionAquaLooper · September 2023

Cookiemonster said:

LionAquaLooper said:

Not worth it, unless you're desperate and don't believe your guitar will sell quickly then that's a risk you'll have to take.

p.s. FYI - you won't get charged eBay fees until eBay get notification that the item has been collected - and you do that by entering the 6 digit code that the buyer receives into your eBay account (on the item listing). Marking it as collected is not enough. If you don't enter this code, then you will get scammed because the buyer can easily claim they never collected and eBay will give them their money back.

Thanks that’s interesting, I didn’t know that. Never had anyone ask before

the buyer mentioned a QR code but that seemed odd as he had no feedback but seemed to know how it worked

Yes they also get a QR code as well as a 6 digit code but I've had problems scanning that QR code so I prefer asking for the 6 digits.

The skeptic in me says this person is an old hand at eBay, but either has had their old account banned...or he/she has multiple eBay accounts. Just cos someone has 0 feedback doesn't mean they've never used eBay before, right?

But his/her request to have you change it to "pay on collection" isn't unreasonable.....but it is unnecessary. Even if they paid now before seeing the guitar, then go to yours to inspect and then are unhappy and want to back out, you can just cancel the sale with a reason "by mutual agreement". eBay would automatically give their money back, absolutely guaranteed. Your seller rating won't be affected. Good chance they're being just as cautious as you. But the zero feedback is still what would bother me.

jdgm · September 2023

IMO -

Don't change your ad. Buyer might be genuine or not. You still pay fees either way. Play safe.

fendermadlewis · September 2023

Absolute flat out NO imo. He's essentially asking you to hold off selling the item for a month so he can come and try it before deciding if he wants to actually buy it. You'd be setting yourself up for potential lost sales and probably quite a bit of time wasting. I always encourage buyers to play before buying something off me, but the item always stays up for sale until payment or a non refundable deposit is made.

I wouldn't be completely put off by zero feedback in future though. You can easily get the jist of someone's intentions by asking a few questions via message. I've sold a few guitars to people on ebay and Reverb that have just never used it before.

Cookiemonster · September 2023

Thanks all. I will wait for another buyer. No rush.

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