Buyer asking to pay outside eBay through PayPal

[gaming_s_enigma]

Hey guys. Got a problem. A buyer of my most recent listing wants to pay for the item he won through PayPal, but not through eBay. Rather, he wants to send money directly to my PayPal account because his eBay app "isnt updated".

He's got 100% feedback but yeah obviously eBay policy states you shouldn't complete transactions outside of eBay. What do I do?

[the3coopers]

Whilst the excuse is absolutely bogus , this is no particular risk to you.

If it is transferred as a "gift" then you may be able to avoid Paypal Fees.

The main thing is - send it by Registered Post if over about $50 worth. If the buyer is using a stolen credit card or hijacked Paypal acct, you need to be able to prove where you posted to.

[the3coopers]

obviously eBay policy states you shouldn't complete transactions outside of eBay.

You said they already bought it through eBay, so therefore this is NOT a transaction being done "outside eBay".

[gaming_s_enigma]

Let me elaborate. He won the auction of the item but wants to pay for the item not through eBay because his "app" on his mobile needs "updating" and won't let him finish the transaction on here.

[koalablue12]

Coops - if it is still a paypal payment, won't the seller still be protected in the case of a fraudulent card or hijacked account?

The buyer sends funds - to the paypal email the seller has registered, then the seller marks eBay item paid, would that be sufficient ? ?:|

[***super_nova***]

Let me elaborate. He won the auction of the item but wants to pay for the item not through eBay because his "app" on his mobile needs "updating" and won't let him finish the transaction on here.

As long as he won it through eBay that is what matters = you are paying your FVF.  How he pays is totally irrelevant to eBay; people can pay cash on pick up, by DD or  by PP.

[digital*ghost]

Let me elaborate. He won the auction of the item but wants to pay for the item not through eBay because his "app" on his mobile needs "updating" and won't let him finish the transaction on here.

A transaction conducted outside of eBay is where the item is listed here but is not sold here - for example a buyer contacts a seller and offers $X to a seller to end an auction and sell privately to them.

I wouldn't necessarily say their excuse is bogus, either, as there are quite a number of glitches with eBay mobile apps, particularly checkout ones, but in saying that if it was me I'd just go use a computer somewhere...

if it is still a paypal payment, won't the seller still be protected in the case of a fraudulent card or hijacked account?

As long as the item was sold on eBay and the OP receives a single payment via PayPal, they'll be eligible for seller protection if they have proof of shipping to the address.

[the3coopers]

Let me elaborate. He won the auction of the item but wants to pay for the item not through eBay because his "app" on his mobile needs "updating" and won't let him finish the transaction on here.

If he can connect to the internet to USE the app in the first place, then he can definitely update the app. Thus the excuse is bogus.

If he wants to pay via Paypal, he can use the Paypal App and then select "For Ebay Purchase". This will link the payment to to eBay purchase, just the same as if he'd gone through eBay Checkout.

If this is something of low value, then I wouldn't worry too much. But if it's a $2,500 computer or something, then I think you need to be extremely cautious. I am not saying it's 100% suspicious, but I just have an odd feeling about it.

[i-once-was-bump]

No coops, you cannot always update the app via the phone or ipad, you need to do it via a connection to a computer.

[the3coopers]

I run 2 iPhones with the Ebay and Paypal apps on them. The apps are small, can do updates via 3G Network (no WiFi needed). I know because I updated my eBay app at my kid's footy training last Wednesday.

16.9MB - see http://mobile.ebay.com/iphone/ebay

Maybe the person has an Android phone? But nevertheless, they don't need to use an app - they can use the web browser in the phone and use the mobile version of the standard ebay website.

I honestly think there is more to this than meets the eye.