View Full Version : Is this an Ebay scam?
wyrdness
10-12-12, 07:52 AM
I think that someone might be trying to scam me on Ebay. If so, it's a clever scam that I haven't encountered before.
I was selling a a Mac Mini computer, and put it up for a 10 day listing. It's a few years old so I wasn't expecting much for it. The winning bid was for £155, which I was happy with.
The winning buyer then contacted me immediately after the auction finished, to say that he'd made a mistake and didn't actually want it. He suggested that I made a second chance offer to the second highest bidder (who'd bid £150). So we withdrew his bid and I made a second chance offer to the second highest bidder, and didn't hear anything from them. That's not unusual, as people often don't take up these offers.
He then contacted me again to say that he'd be prepared to buy it from me, but would offer me £110 (which he later increased to £120).
So is this a scam to win the item and then try to obtain it for a lower price, given that people often don't take up second chance offers, and that I'm unlikely to want to go though the hassle of listing it again and waiting another 10 days?
DaveRushton
10-12-12, 08:08 AM
Just re list it, doesn't cost anything and saves any hassle, tell him to bid up to £120 and see what happens!
So he is now happy to pay £120 for something he said he did not want???
Neg feedback and tell him to do one...
Depends if you think that re listing it would be worth £35 of hassle. Get him to meet in the middle and send him a paypal invoice. It would've have cost you £15.50 in final value fee and then it will only be £2 difference. Otherwise maybe try avforums classified
Nah, report him to ebay and relist it.
Nah, report him to ebay and relist it.
Is the best way to go.
Fallout
10-12-12, 09:03 AM
Sounds like a scam to me. I personally wouldn't sell it to him for any less than he bid for it on principle. I don't care about saving a few quid here and there on ebay fees or time. Even if he's not trying to scam you, he's an utter tool for saying he doesn't want the item after he's bid on it. Definitely neg feedback.
scam.why say you don't want it then come back with a lower price?report and relist.
This is currently going on in the housing market here in Dagenham and surrounding areas. People are giving a price for the property say £225,000 then either pull out and there just so happens to be a second person who will buy it for £205,000 so loosing £20k or when it comes to signing the paper work they suddenly want to drop £20k off the asking price. You are screwed if you are in a chain.
Owenski
10-12-12, 09:08 AM
Sounds like a scam to me. I personally wouldn't sell it to him for any less than he bid for it on principle. I don't care about saving a few quid here and there on ebay fees or time. Even if he's not trying to scam you, he's an utter tool for saying he doesn't want the item after he's bid on it. Definitely neg feedback.
+1
yorkie_chris
10-12-12, 09:21 AM
You can't neg feedback a buyer.
This is ebays way of stopping big sellers from intimidating little buyers... in practice it c*cks it up for little sellers.
Mr Farley
10-12-12, 09:51 AM
If it was me I'd just re-list it. If he bids on it again I'd just cancel the bid and state the reason as being that he refused to pay the first time it was listed.
the scam if anything is that by second chance offering you take the pressure off the original buyer. While still associated with the original buyer you can legitimately complain to ebay about them not paying for an item they have purchased.
yorkie_chris
10-12-12, 10:16 AM
If it was me I'd just re-list it. If he bids on it again I'd just cancel the bid and state the reason as being that he refused to pay the first time it was listed.
You can block buyers on ebay.
Fallout
10-12-12, 10:32 AM
You can't neg feedback a buyer.
This is ebays way of stopping big sellers from intimidating little buyers... in practice it c*cks it up for little sellers.
I've heard this. Never had to neg feedback anyone so don't know for sure, but surely you can neg feedback somebody who doesn't pay? It's ridiculous if you can't as I can't see how that could be used against anyone in an abusive way.
yorkie_chris
10-12-12, 10:46 AM
No you can report a non paying bidder but this does not show in feedback profile.
If they get 3 strikes I think they get banned though.
Jayneflakes
10-12-12, 12:17 PM
If it sounds crooked, it is probably crooked.
Report it to E-Bay and let them investigate. You could well stop them scamming a little old lady out of pension her that way!
The other option is to scam bait them, however be prepared to have a load of Nigerian Mafioso kicking your back door in to get you!
yorkie_chris
10-12-12, 12:30 PM
I don't think this is a scammer just some cheeky c*** messing him about
It sound well dodge to me. Tell the bloke to eff off and report him as a non paying bidder. Ebay will refund all of your fees and you can relist it.
tell them to get stuffed and report them. it's an auction site and just like any other auction if you win you pay. in fact i think ebay should start charging non paying bidders.
If they get 3 strikes I think they get banned though.
Then they'll just open a new eBay account and carry on doing the same anyway! :(
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Specialone
11-12-12, 12:29 PM
tell them to get stuffed and report them. it's an auction site and just like any other auction if you win you pay. in fact i think ebay should start charging non paying bidders.
Fully agree, this is why I hate selling on eBay, can't be bothered with all the crap.
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