topic Re: possible scam in Ask a member

possible scam

iwoodysp3 — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 01:40:49 GMT

I have been trying to buy celtic salt, I have used 3 different sellers with the exact result , I purchase the item , they send it , next day they say they could not deliver to my address and then refund me , which they have , but why is this happening ? has anyone else experienced this ?is it a scam to get your details or what ?

Re: possible scam

countessalmirena — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 03:12:28 GMT

Perhaps try ordering from Australian sellers…? The LOTUS brand is available from Big W, GNC, etc etc.

As to what’s happening with the orders you tried making on eBay, can you post the item number of one (or more) here? We may spot the problem if we look at the listing.

Re: possible scam

*casey* — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 03:35:07 GMT

"they send it "

They pretend to send it ....all lies!

"next day they say they could not deliver to my address and then refund me "

They're all shonky sellers who are dropshipping.

They cancel the transaction using the reason that there's a problem with the buyer's address when they're out of stock.

They'll be penalised by eBay if they use the correct reason.

Leave them all negative feedback and report them

Re: possible scam

*casey* — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 03:47:14 GMT

"3 different sellers"

To add, much of the time , it's the same seller with multiple IDs,

They start new IDs when their feedback gets too bad.

But if not, they're very often all linked in some way

Re: possible scam

springyzone — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 05:19:40 GMT

They most obviously do not send it, otherwise you'd receive it & they wouldn't be refunding.

So maybe they are marking as sent or generating a label, but they then find no stock.

As casey said, probably drop shipping.

I'd be doing a few things here.

1. Strictly stick to sellers based in Australia

2. Check delievry dates- should be within a week to 10 days, no more, if Australian stock and if you are in a metro area and not in the back of woop woop.

3. Double check the seller's feedback % and comments.

If comment after comment mentions delays or cancellations, click out, move on. I'd personally be looking at a seller with an excellent % score, above 99.5% for this one if this is a category that has troubles.

Also, I'd be checking the postage details. I did see one smallish seller of this (with 100% feedback) offering free post as untracked letter. As the article is a 1kg packet of salt, that rings some alarm bells for me, despite the 100% score.

I'm not feeling that all these ads are scams, probably more like drop shipping, but just go slowly and carefully & double check who you buy from.