Good evening everyone. I had a strange case recently when a buyer used eBay like gumtree and eBay are not happy about it.
I "sold" a camera for $700 (listed as $749.95 + postage). A buyer insisted on paying by cash and pick up for $700. I agreed and sent him an offer of $700, so he can accept the offer, then when he pays up on pick up, I can then mark the item as "payment received" and "sent". So the item can be counted as "sold". But what actually happened next was kind of strange.
Buyer did not accept the offer. But he sent a separate email saying in the email that he would accept the offer. I asked him to click on accapt offer button, he said he can't (eBay glitch). Then he said he was going to come over after work.
I didn't want the item to be bought by someone else, so I unlisted the item.
Buyer came, with only $450 cash. He tried to bargain, and get the camera for $450, I said no. Then he tried to get further discounts, I said no and said we agreed on $700. He then pulled out his phone and tried to send over the remaining $250 via mobile phone bank transfer. A friend of mine got her camera stolen right in front of her by a scammer using a fake "bank app", I thought I was going to lose this $250 but still let buyer go with my camera (I kept his $450 cash). 10 minytes later after he left, the transfer actually reached my bank account so transaction was successful.
Today I got an email from eBay, titled as "Warning - Offers to sell outside of eBay". So basically eBay caught this transaction outside eBay, and warning me not to do it again.
My Question: How would you handle situations like this and how would I avoid it (transaction outside eBay) next time. Are mobile phone based bank transfer during pick up safe (I know my friend said it's not safe but I would like to hear how other people think) ? Thank you.
