Would this possibly be a scammer buyer?
Hi,
Posting it here to find out anybody is facing the same issue.
We've just received an order. The buyer sent a note asking us to inform the Aus Post to keep the items in a safe place as they might not be home. That alerts us as nobody has asked us before and we know that Aus Post won't take into account such a request.
Another detail that alerts us us too is this buyer only has his ebay account opened today! (July 30, 2023) with no buying history and feedback.
Any other seller has had a similar issue? We don't want to miss out on a sale, but we prefer not to be scammed either.
thank you everyone
20 comments
countessalmirena
·3 years agoI don’t think of a 0-feedback buyer being a red flag signifying scammer. I do think it warrants caution; for instance, seller might not usually send item tracked, but does do in this case. Seller might sometimes (somewhat foolishly but it’s a very human response) send to different address if distraught buyer contacts seller about mistake in address, but would not dream of doing so with new buyer; and so on.
I also don’t think of a buyer asking about item being safe-dropped as a red flag for scammer… but again, for some items a seller may want to be cautious. Largely the type of item and the value may come into it, and the requirement for signature on delivery for items over $750 for seller protection.
I DO regard some things as red flags for either problem buyer (way too much work, inclined to find fault) or possible scammer:
• buyer insisting on item being sent to address in different country;
• buyer asking question after question, esp. if demanding instant answers or if questions are answered clearly in the listing;
• buyer’s feedback left for sellers shows a pattern of difficult behaviour, unrealistic expectations, etc;
• buyer’s feedback received might, just might, show a few signs with green dotted negative comments, indicating buyer fraudulently taking advantage of MBG protections, etc — but this is not reliable as I think a majority of buyers know how to get those comments removed… and as such feedback is against eBay policy, there are few sellers risking such feedback; however, follow-up feedback, replies etc may give more of a clue;
• buyer has been dormant for a while (feedback is not recent) but suddenly goes onto a spending spree of high-value or easily sold items (harder to spot);
• buyer tries to move transaction off eBay; or
• the old fake PayPal or fake bank deposit document trick.
Have I forgotten anything?
domino-710
·3 years agoYep - the OP.
I think when having a tracking number - you can go to your tracking number and actually ask for it not to be left in ' a safe place ' - you are able to choose - if not home - collect at PO.
arctoph_49
·3 years agoAs the title of this thread says, there is the "possibility" that the buyer is a scammer. Maybe not, but be very cautious if you accept the return and do as papermoon.lady said and if you can, open the parcel at the post office or in front of the postie or any other witness.
Hopefully the buyer is honest, but you never know, in particular with new buyers, even if everybody starts from 0.
domino-710
·3 years agoThat in itself is problematic - and not accepted evidence.
Same as packing an item - photographing the lot - then trying to use it as ' evidence ' - when it can be disputed - was that the actual package sent.
arctoph_49
·3 years agoSo basically a buyer can send back a rotten apple with tracking and get away with it (at least as far as eBay is concerned)?
There are threads about this problem where sellers had to go to the police (or were advised to go to the police). A bit complicated and stressful (same as when a buyer receives an item after a refund and then ignores the seller's emails).
domino-710
·3 years agoarctoph_49
·3 years agoIt is complicated to have to do what others here had to do when a buyer did that, like taking legal action, hiring a debt collector etc. It has been said many times that if a buyer keeps an item that arrives after a refund it is basically theft (I think your friend said that, and she is right), and not everybody wants buyers to get away with it.
I do not sell because I have a full-time job and am tired when I go home, but I do help my family (they sell) when they need a hand.
papermoon.lady
·3 years agoI agree with Stawks. You don't have to accept the return, and if you are afraid of a neg, eBay can remove it, as they will see that it was clearly a change of mind, and that you don't accept returns for change of mind.
Also, if you really want to accept the return, open the parcel at the post office or in front of a witness. Who knows what this buyer is going to send back. Maybe he really doesn't like the item and just wants to send it back, but... be cautious, as this buyer seemed to be problematic from the very beginning.
sugar249
·3 years agoWhat was problematic.
The fact that they were first time buyers, which I am sure you were once, I know I was, and I am guessing every other person on this forum was.
Or that they asked to put a note on for Australia Post, I get them often, because people don't trust Australia Post or want something special done
Absolutely nothing problematic,
sanctuaryheart
OP3 years agoHi All,
Thank you for taking your time to reply to my "concern". Really appreciate it. I have read and considered all of your comments.
As an update, I did send the item out to the buyer today, putting an extra insurance on it. That won't cover all incidents, I know, but at least some scenarios. Hopefully, my concern will turn out to be only a false alarm.
Thanks everyone. I wish you well and sell well on eBay 🙂
springyzone
·3 years agoLet us know how it goes! Hopefully all will be well.
picknmixsoftfurnishing
·3 years agoHi,
as an update, the item did arrive with the buyer, but now we are facing another "issue": the buyer doesn't like the item and is wanting to return and be refunded (as a matter of fact, we have never had any customer that has found so many things wrong with our products before, but people are entitled to having their own opinion, right?).
We have accepted the return. They have till 25 Aug (I think around then) to return the item to us for full refund. So, we will have to wait and see.
cheers team
imastawka
·3 years agoYou have No Returns on your listings - the buyer wanting to return it because they don't like it, is a change of mind.
You didn't have to accept the return. Only if there was something wrong with it.
As it is a change of mind, I hope the buyer is paying for the return.
Decline your return request – Sellers can decline your return request if you changed your mind about an item and they stated in the listing that they don't accept returns, or if you missed the seller's deadline to start a return.
Return an item for a refund | eBay
*sons_n_daughters*
·3 years agoIf the buyer "doesn't like the item", then you should only refund the amount of the item on return and inspection, not the postage. Not liking an item is a change of mind return, so they pay the original postage and the return postage. Unless the item is damaged or defective, the buyer pays postage both ways. Don't let them convince you otherwise.
DO NOT send them a return postage label, because it's a change of mind return. You only send a label if the item is damaged or defective. Don't forget to add this pest to your blocked buyer list so they can't buy from you again.
springyzone
·3 years agoThat doesn't necessarily sound like a scam to me.
It is someone new to ebay who is worried about their parcel delivery & trying to sort out any potential problems ahead of time, that is all.
Just make sure you send with tracking.
eol-products
·3 years agoVery common as most people are at work and dont get home before 5. Also most posties will safe drop anyway so you could leave blank and leave it them to decide. When safe dropped a photo is taken as proof of delivery which is handy when its delivered to the wrong house.
sugar249
·3 years agoWe have all started with zero buys, I often get people who signed up today and ordered their first thing from us.
We also have sellers put requests in for Australia Post, sometimes I will add them to the postage label, other times I don't, just depends what the request is.
We often get parcels with notes like that on them, sometimes our postie follows the request, other times he totally ignores it.
papermoon.lady
·3 years agoIf you send the item tracked with signature required, they won't safe drop it.
twyngwyn
·3 years agoI would be tempted to mark as "DO NOT SAFE DROP" - take to P.O. if not home....
I hope you're sending the item (belt?) tracked......otherwise say goodbye to it....
another option.....cancel transaction, and say there is a problem with buyer's address....
have you Googled the address??
sanctuaryheart
OP3 years agohi, yes, address is fine, legit.