Ebay advice

EMA747

EMA747

Suspended / Banned
Messages
2,070
Name
Andy
Edit My Images
Yes
I have just sold a camera on ebay for a good price. The seller said he would buy it now if I could post today. I said I would provided the money went through ok. He then said he has had to pay my paypal echeque. This shows up in my pp acount but will not clear until the 18th. He said he can send me a screenshot of his bank to show he has the money there. Obviously I will not post it until the money has come through. We are talking nearly a grand so I am being extra careful.
The guy seem pleasant enough but I am beginning to wonder if I have got mixed up with something a little on the dodgy side. What do you think? Should I be right to be a bit worried? :shrug:
 
I would be very careful in your place. Although I have not been on the receiving end of one, echeques are supposed to be an area of ebay/paypal where scams are possible.

Here's what ebay say about echeques:

"The other method is what PayPal have termed an ‘echeque’. Echeque’s are where you have an insufficient balance within PayPal to pay for your goods outright and do not have a credit card on file with them. As PayPal will not allow your account to go into debt they take the necessary funds required to complete your transaction from your bank account.

"This request for funds from your bank account is where the delay stems from as it can take 10 to 14 days for PayPal to clear the funds from your bank and pass them on to the seller. Lord only knows why they take so long but unfortunately they do. The cynical might conclude that PayPal sit on the funds for a week to earn interest.

"Whatever the reason, during this period the seller is instructed NOT to send any goods until PayPal confirm payment has been met. This is because, like a paper cheque, there is no guarantee that the payment will go through. After all You can’t really expect the seller to send the goods out before they have received a payment which might never clear."

(Aaaargh, that errant apostrophe in the second sentence is so annoying. :bang:)
 
EMA747 said:
I have just sold a camera on ebay for a good price. The seller said he would buy it now
Click to expand...


"The buyer", surely? :shrug:

As redmonkee says, don't be pressurised into sending the item before the echeque clears....
 
How come you didnt sell here? Far lower risk of any naughtyness and no fees?
 
I'd send a message to the buyer advising them that as you won't be receiving the money until the 19th then you won't be posting the camera until at least the 19th. There is no point you taking unnessesary risk just to keep a total stranger happy.

If they really wanted it posted today then they should make sure you have the money today.
 
Do not send until E cheque clears have been caught on that one before because payment can be reversed :bang: :bang: :bang:

I don't let anyone pay by e cheque any more becasue it takes ages to clear.
 
There is no way I am sending the camera before the money clears. I guess once it has cleared then it's all fine? Or are there other scams that can be doen after that stage?
Is there any way he can back out now or does he have to honour the sale? I got a good price for the camera and would hope the sale goes through ok.

I am actually away when the check should clear so can't post it to him until the 23rd but I did state I was not around as a reason why I only had the auction on a 3 day one.

I don't really think I can post the guys name up here but I did a search using his name on paypal and he does have a photography website so I guess thats a good sign that he is legit. He also has good feedback and looks like he bought a grip and battery off ebay not too long ago so I think he is a photographer.

Flash In The Pan said:
"The buyer", surely? :shrug:

As redmonkee says, don't be pressurised into sending the item before the echeque clears....
Click to expand...
Haha yea I mean buyer. Three hours of sleep does wonders for the brain! :lol:
 
cambsno said:
How come you didnt sell here? Far lower risk of any naughtyness and no fees?
Click to expand...
I listed it but got no interest. :( As you say it's much lower risk and I would rather have sold on here if I could.
 
There are all manner of dodgy tactics employed by the criminal class. Just tell him that if he withdraws the echeque and pays now you will send now. If he says that is the only option then tell him to go into a branch of YOUR bank and pay the money in over the counter in cash and then you will send it that same day. He is expecting the same level of trust off you as that would be!!
 
As all the others really, no cash no goods

Just think of it like would Tesco accept a written promise to pay in a weeks time and let you wander off with a trolley load of stuff
 
redmonkee said:
Andy Just wait for the money to clear first then you have nothing to worry about.

If I were paying by paypal cheque there is no way I would request the seller to post the item before it had cleared. :nono:
Click to expand...

cowasaki said:
... Go into a branch of YOUR bank and pay the money in over the counter in cash and then you will send it that same day. He is expecting the same level of trust off you as that would be!!
Click to expand...

Have to totally agree.....
 
Andy,

As above, but also make sure his address is confirmed. Recorded delivery only & obviously well insured.

If you are at all worried, contact paypal before you send, I would also photograph the camera in great detail to ensure he can't claim damages later.

Good luck :thumbs:

Mick
 
Good advice Mike. I will do all of that. :thumbs:
 
& the serial number - also do that on/with a headed letter as well ie bank statement, gas bill etc showing your name & address... Just in case...
 
Just had this back off the buyer:

"Hi,

Thanks for the suggestion. I have decided to let the transaction go through eCheque and wait for the camera to be delivered after you get back.

This is the first time I have used eCheque. If the money fails to appear, please let me know and I'll chase it up with Paypal.

Thanks"


Trig's said:
& the serial number - also do that on/with a headed letter as well ie bank statement, gas bill etc showing your name & address... Just in case...
Click to expand...
Do you mean write the serial number down on an old bank statement?
 
EMA747 said:
There is no way I am sending the camera before the money clears. I guess once it has cleared then it's all fine? Or are there other scams that can be doen after that stage?
Is there any way he can back out now or does he have to honour the sale? I got a good price for the camera and would hope the sale goes through ok.

I am actually away when the check should clear so can't post it to him until the 23rd but I did state I was not around as a reason why I only had the auction on a 3 day one.

I don't really think I can post the guys name up here but I did a search using his name on paypal and he does have a photography website so I guess thats a good sign that he is legit. He also has good feedback and looks like he bought a grip and battery off ebay not too long ago so I think he is a photographer.


Haha yea I mean buyer. Three hours of sleep does wonders for the brain! :lol:
Click to expand...

I sold a lens worth £600 there (like you, no interest here or very low offers), a bit nervous but a quick search showed he had 2 businesses of which one was togging so felt a lot better about it.
 
EMA747 said:
Just had this back off the buyer:

"Hi,

Thanks for the suggestion. I have decided to let the transaction go through eCheque and wait for the camera to be delivered after you get back.

This is the first time I have used eCheque. If the money fails to appear, please let me know and I'll chase it up with Paypal.

Thanks"



Do you mean write the serial number down on an old bank statement?
Click to expand...

:nono: Take a photo of the camera/serial number showing on a statement/bill so it shows that the camera was originally yours & that you have proof with the bill address if you get my meaning...

But it seems that it doesn't matter now as he's willing to wait for the echeque to clear before you post it off...
 
Trig's said:
:nono: Take a photo of the camera/serial number showing on a statement/bill so it shows that the camera was originally yours & that you have proof with the bill address if you get my meaning...

But it seems that it doesn't matter now as he's willing to wait for the echeque to clear before you post it off...
Click to expand...
I thought that's what you meant. I'll still do all that just to be on the safe side. ;)
 
EMA747 said:
I thought that's what you meant. I'll still do all that just to be on the safe side. ;)
Click to expand...

:thumbs:

I do it with gear I sell on the bay... Just for peace of mind for me really (as have been stung in the past on there & have lost a lens as well as the monies for it)
 
Definately don't send before it cleared.

I've had an eCheque take 11 working days to clear.

Also had one "bounce" - all the buyer has to do it cancel the Direct Debit it's drawn on.

On the upside... eCheques have flat rate fees of £3.50..
 
tijuana taxi said:
Just think of it like would Tesco accept a written promise to pay in a weeks time and let you wander off with a trolley load of stuff
Click to expand...

I did that about 2 weeks ago at Asda, debit card broke at the till, and the manager let me take the stuff there and then and I went back in the next day to pay for it! :thumbs: Haven't been to Tesco since!! ;)

To the OP, echeques are a pain in the a-hole....don't send till it's fully cleared, and to hell with the buyer for being such a tool! If he had the money to pay instantly, why didn't he??! :thinking:
 
I have just been reading about chargebacks. Sounds like the buyer can get his credit card to reverse the payment even though the money has cleared into paypal! Anyone know any more about this?

If his echeque clears on the 18th (while I am on holiday) I wil try and get to an internet cafe and start the process of transfering the funds to my bank account. I will then take the money out of the account and into my other one when I am back in the UK just to be 100% sure the money cannot be reversed. I will then feel fully safe to post the camera. I hope that doesn't sound like I've gone too paraniod, lol.
Do you think that should just about cover me?

I think the seller is legit, I just can't afford to lose a grand though if I get hoodwinked.
 
I sell ALOT of items on eBay and always wait for the echeque to clear even for the under £10 items ( I get at least 5 a year ) , The transaction can be stopped untill the echeque clears just like a normal bank cheque , once it has cleared it is safe to send the item,
it will take another 5-7 days to go into your bank account.
I sold some hockey gear for £300 last week and ebay charged us £30 final fee and paypal took another £10.50 .... gutted
 
EMA747 said:
I have just been reading about chargebacks. Sounds like the buyer can get his credit card to reverse the payment even though the money has cleared into paypal! Anyone know any more about this?
Click to expand...

Yes - absolutely. You end up footing the bill.

Paypal talk about "protection" but as a seller the only way you end up being liable for credit card chargebacks is if you take Paypal. A cheque definately clears after 6 days, a bank transfer is not reversible, and cash is always good.

Paypal for a seller is the worst way to be be paid, because it exposes you to possible credit card fraud.
 
puddleduck said:
A cheque definately clears after 6 days
Click to expand...


One thing to watch out for is cross-border cheques, eg those drawn on a English bank if you're in Scotland and vice versa for England, as they have to traverse both the English and Scottish clearing systems and can therefore (even in this day and age) take twice as long to clear.
 
Sorry to drag this old thread back up but I am back from holiday and ready to sort this out.

The money seems to have cleared from the echeque but it is on hold ie "pending". I have to send the camera before I get my money released. This isn't really what I wanted because I would have felt happier if I could have transfered the money to my bank to safeguard against any chargebacks that would reverse the money.

It seems I am in a bit of a catch 22. If I send the camera and the seller makes a chargeback I could lose the money and the camera. If I don't send the camera I don't get the money! What should I do? :shrug::suspect:
 
Mickwreay said:
Andy,

As above, but also make sure his address is confirmed. Recorded delivery only & obviously well insured.

If you are at all worried, contact paypal before you send, I would also photograph the camera in great detail to ensure he can't claim damages later.

Good luck :thumbs:

Mick
Click to expand...

recorded delivery wont get him anywhere near his money back, you need to send it Special Delivery!!
 
personally i would refund the echeque as it smells bad. its not worth the risk.

list it on here again.
 
if your a new seller the money is held until the seller leaves feedback or 30 days after sending.
 
GoNz0 said:
personally i would refund the echeque as it smells bad. its not worth the risk.

list it on here again.
Click to expand...
I am beginning to think the same. It seemed a bit dodgy all along but I'm just not sure.

The fact that I got £999 on buy it now is tempting me to go through with the sale though. When I listed in here for £950 I didn't even get an offer. Bear in mind the camera is in totally mint condition. ;)
 
well special delivery is your best bet, if you are a low feedback seller holding the money is now policy. just make sure he understands you don't get the money until he leaves positive feedback.

i brought a lens off a 7 feedback seller and he asked i tried it out and left feedback asap so he could get his ££
 
It is because you are a new seller. I would send it with Special Delivery but it is of course up to you if you would prefer to cancel the deal.

Have in mind that if you do that you will surely get a negative so it is up to you to decide how important this is for you.
 
EMA747 said:
Sorry to drag this old thread back up but I am back from holiday and ready to sort this out.

The money seems to have cleared from the echeque but it is on hold ie "pending". I have to send the camera before I get my money released. This isn't really what I wanted because I would have felt happier if I could have transfered the money to my bank to safeguard against any chargebacks that would reverse the money.

It seems I am in a bit of a catch 22. If I send the camera and the seller makes a chargeback I could lose the money and the camera. If I don't send the camera I don't get the money! What should I do? :shrug::suspect:
Click to expand...


I'd refuse and cancel the transaction.
 
I got stung on this type of sale imho you would be unwise to send anything before the money is cleared
 
so the money shows in your paypal account but says it's not cleared ?
happened to me last time I sold my camera. I advertised it here for weeks and sold it in ebay very, very fast.
After the buyer got the camera, he left feedback and I got the money, but it's risky, I hated it .
 
I'm not a low feedback seller at all. I have about 70 feedbacks and all positive. Nor am I am new seller. So that can't be the reason.
 
EMA747 said:
I'm not a low feedback seller at all. I have about 70 feedbacks and all positive. Nor am I am new seller. So that can't be the reason.
Click to expand...


70 is a low feedback score, the Paypal policy of holing onto payments until feedback is left covers sellers with scores of 100 or below.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top