topic Suspicous buyer from US in Selling

Suspicous buyer from US

tcrazer — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 00:51:33 GMT

I've just had a buyer from the US which I think is suspicious. They have bought several high priced collector cards from me which were exclusive to Australia, they have zero feedback and the paypal payment is from an unregistered account.

I've sold for over 12 years and this is the first time my spider senses are tingling. Some things just don't sit right with me. I am reluctant to send it as I don't think this is a genuine buyer. Is a mutual cancellation the best way to recoup ebay fees?

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

horizon1907 — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 01:11:30 GMT

I'm wondering, what happens if the "Buyer" doesn't agree to a mutual cancelation ? I would call ebay about it to see whare you stand. It does sound risky.

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

tcrazer — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 01:25:35 GMT

Thanks for the reply. Yeh, I'm not sure what happens should they decline.

I should also mention I had my buyer criteria set to the strictest standards which has helped me well in the past.

The other thing which I thought was unusual is that they bought the items at 4am US time. On the paypal payment, the account is 'unregistered.' I have encountered unverified but not 'unregistered' before. The address exists but I could not find anything on the buyer, who has a unique name.

If a mutual cancellation is declined, what is the best option as I am not confident in sending these items which cost over $200

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

tcrazer — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 01:35:18 GMT

Another thing is that they were three separate listings with three shipping costs and he did not request a combined shipping amount. it's these little things that make me question the validity of the transaction

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

whiznumber6 — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 02:06:28 GMT

With regard to the combined postage, that one's not so unusual - I very often have buyers who win multiple items, and pay before I've sent a combined shipping invoice.

Mind you, I've also had a couple then complain that I didn't combine shipping...

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

mbselections00 — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 02:38:58 GMT

@tchi6 wrote:
I've just had a buyer from the US which I think is suspicious. They have bought several high priced collector cards from me which were exclusive to Australia, they have zero feedback and the paypal payment is from an unregistered account.

I've sold for over 12 years and this is the first time my spider senses are tingling. Some things just don't sit right with me. I am reluctant to send it as I don't think this is a genuine buyer. Is a mutual cancellation the best way to recoup ebay fees?

I do feel for you - I have great faith in my 'spider senses' as they usually turn out to be correct !

As has been suggested, with all the little things that don't sit quite right, I would ring eBay also. It could well be as the Buyer has somehow slipped through your blocks etc, eBay would be favourable to a cancellation.

On the other hand, if their advice is to send, I have often posted to US. My items are small, so I send in Large Letter size padded envelopes inside an A5 (?) craft envelope (bigger than my padded envelopes and allows documentation to be neatly attached). I send Registered International, which costs around $25 and I think you can add insurance for minimal price. The biggest issue I would foresee with this method is technically, Tracking stops once the article leaves Australia, however, if you ring the Australia Post 1300 number, they can trace it. To date I have really never had any problems - but, in your circumstances I would be checking if there is a service available that has Signature on Delivery as well as Registered - I'm sure there is, I just don't use it.

Out of curiosity - how much postage have they paid ? And how was the postage calculated ?

I have my settings on Calculated : Cost varies by Buyer Location and only offer Registered International

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

lyndal1838 — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 04:20:47 GMT

If the buyer actually declines a Mutual Cancellation then you will not get your fees refunded. If they ignore it the dispute will eventually close in your favour.

The fact that the buye ris unregistered just means that they do not have a paypal account and have used the Guest Checkout facility.

As long as you follow the paypal instructions to send/not send you will have paypal protection for the transaction.

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

tcrazer — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 05:12:22 GMT

Thanks for the replies. Just got off the phone with eBay. They checked the account and said its legitimate. I told them my concerns and says mutual cancellation is the only option without taking a hit on dsr. I guess that's what I will do.

I forgot to ask the rep, if I just cancel the order without requesting a mutual cancellation do I get my fees back?

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

lyndal1838 — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 06:57:21 GMT

You cannot just cancel the transaction without asking for a Mutual Cancellation but be aware that you can still received negative feedback from the buyer.

The only way to avoid a neg it to open a non paying bidder dispute and issue the buyer with a strike. In all other scenarios you can get a neg.

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

i-love-my-sheep — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 07:09:42 GMT

@lyndal1838 wrote:
You cannot just cancel the transaction without asking for a Mutual Cancellation but be aware that you can still received negative feedback from the buyer.
The only way to avoid a neg it to open a non paying bidder dispute and issue the buyer with a strike. In all other scenarios you can get a neg.

I think the buyer has already paid.

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

lyndal1838 — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 07:37:03 GMT

@i-love-my-sheep wrote:
@lyndal1838 wrote:
You cannot just cancel the transaction without asking for a Mutual Cancellation but be aware that you can still received negative feedback from the buyer.
The only way to avoid a neg it to open a non paying bidder dispute and issue the buyer with a strike. In all other scenarios you can get a neg.
I think the buyer has already paid.

Yes, the buyer has paid. The OP is only worried about his DSR and defects unless he does a mutual cancellation. I was just pointing out that a Mutual Cancellation can lead to negative feedback but that can be avoided by a NPB dispute.

It is all a bit too late to worry now....just by refunding the OP is going to get a defect, trashed DSRs and probably a negative.

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

tcrazer — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 10:34:16 GMT

Well, after messaging the buyer, he appears genuine and as ebay has told me his account is legitimate, I will be sending him the items he bought.

Now, what would be the most secure method to send to the US that would satisfy seller protection. The items can be sent in a large envelope so it won't require a parcel. Is registered post international the way to go? I want to ensure I have all bases covered

I just hope that should a dispute arise that ebay/paypal will side with someone who has done business with them for 15 years over someone who signed up last year and has zero feedback.

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

cherry*135 — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 11:44:43 GMT

You need to choose a mail service that has tracking/ proof of delivery. Insure the parcel for its value also.

These options are in addition to the postage costs. I think the intl insurance starts at $9 and goes up depending on value. Did you allow for these in the cost of postage in your listing?

Any dispute will be under eBay US policies, where the buyer lives.

I just hope that should a dispute arise that ebay/paypal will side with someone who has done business with them for 15 years over someone who signed up last year and has zero feedback.

No, that isn't how it works.

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

harley_babes_hoard — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:14:05 GMT

"I just hope that should a dispute arise that ebay/paypal will side with someone who has done business with them for 15 years over someone who signed up last year and has zero feedback."

No that's not how it works at all. The buyer is king on ebay.

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

lyndal1838 — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 15:14:01 GMT

I am glad to hear that....I could not see where the buyer had done anything wrong, except to be a new ebayer.

Just remember that any dispute involving the USA will mean you have to provide Proof of DELIVERY to the buyer's address, not just proof of postage.

I am not sure what the current International postage options are...perhaps ask at your post office but make sure that it involves signature on delivery.

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

foundationstation — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 18:13:31 GMT

For the US, I use pack and track (trackable online).
I photograph the actual customs form before lodging it as Australia post don't give you a copy and it has the address on it.
I have won a couple of non received claims with this method (when they showed delivered online, but the buyer said not received).
Make sure you keep the receipt with the tracking number on, and enter it separately into ebay AND paypal.

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

tcrazer — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 11:14:49 GMT

So, with pack and track, you are not given a carbon copy of the lodgement form? the Auspost website says there is proof of posting Proof of posting^ (ensures that if you sell an item via the PayPal online payment gateway, you qualify for PayPal seller protection)

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

digital*ghost — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 11:41:00 GMT

You can process pack and track online through the Click & Send website - that way, you can print off two copies of the address label, and/or save a copy of the pdf (of the postage labels), and make sure to get / keep a lodgement receipt at the post office.

Pack and track and registered post costs the same to the US for under 500gm ($21.10 - both can be processed via Click and send, but you still have to go to the post office to pay for the postage, show ID etc), the only difference is that P&T is guaranteed trackable online and doesn't get a sig on delivery, while registered isn't trackable but does get a SOD.

PayPal / eBay require sig on delivery for items above $750 dollars (including postage), but for under that, an online status of delivered is accepted (providing you can show that the online status relates to a package sent to the buyer's address, which you get with P&T if you print a copy of the mailing label for yourself),

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

tcrazer — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 11:47:14 GMT

Thanks for the info. Never actually used click and send before as I've only had to send in envelopes. Is it something that you have to sign up for and do you pre-pay?

Re: Suspicous buyer from US

digital*ghost — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 11:53:18 GMT

You do have to create an account, but it's a relatively simple system to use (well, most of the time. It might not seem so at first, and if you run into any problems processing a label, there's likely a bunch of posters here that will be able to help).

With international mail, you only process the label online, print it out, fix a copy to the package (it'll print two on an A4 sheet - one for the package and one for the PO to keep, so print two copies - for 4 labels all up - if you want to retain one for your own records), then you have to take it into the PO to lodge and pay (this is because they ask for ID and so forth for international mail - you can actually pay online for them, but only if you select courier pick-up as the lodgement option, which costs extra).

You can pay for domestic packages online if you want to, though, either with a credit card or PayPal.