Perfume--offer from buyer with no feedback

[beakychew]

Two days ago I listed a  bottle of unopened vintage perfume for $299 (with Best Offer) including registered postage. (On one of my selling accounts, not this one.)

Today I've had a message from a buyer in the USA, no feedback, account started 2 days ago. They ask whether the item is still available and offering $350 including postage.

Note that the system calculates registered postage to the USA as $28.70.

I'm reluctant to accept due to the lack of feedback and the new account. I've never sold perfume (and I only have 3 to sell from my own stash) before but have seen various issues on the boards about perfume--with buyers complaining of fakes (this isn't) or taking some out and saying it wasn't full etc.

How can I protect myself from scammers? Would you accept the offer?

[collect247]

It looks like a scammer,put them on your BBL.

[*tippy*toes* · Accepted solution]

They are offering you MORE than your asking price. That is classic scam behaviour. Do not accept it and do not reply to any messages. Block them before they can buy it. Block them before you decline the offer.

As an aside, are you posting these perfumes through the post? Were you aware that you have to have a valid dangerous good licence to do so? Perfumes are on the postal prohibited list unless you have a licence to post.

[lyndal1838]

For a start you cannot send perfume through Australia Post without a Dangerous Goods Licence and an account with Australia Post. The perfume must be packed according to their guidelines and labelled for Road Transport only.

Just tell the overseas customer the item is no longer available and alter the listing to pick up only.

[*tippy*toes*]

I would also set up buyer requirement blocks to stop these people being able to buy from you.

[beakychew]

Thank you all.

I had no idea that perfumes are a dangerous item. I guess that makes sense. I'll see if I can find a courier who'll deliver. Pick up only won't work as I live in a small country town 🙂

I will block the buyer now.

But how can I set up a block to avoid new accounts? I have set up to block anyone with feedback <= -1, but can't see a way to block those with no feedback.

[clarry100]

You can't block for someone who might open a new account to get around blocks.

But if they do so that is in itself a breach of policy.

Then if they buy to retaliate against you on the newly created ID you should be able to get any bad feedback left removed by ebay.

You can block buyers who have not been thru phone verification.

With that you can choose a feedback score of 0 or lower, or even 5 or lower.

[redders_60]

Block the scam buyer; They are only after your contact details for nefarious reasons. Put your seller blocks in place as described above & go from there.

In order to sell perfume within Aust put in your listings local pickup only. Other things that can work are "Road Transport Only" or No FIFO (Fly In Fly Out) rural customers please.

Do please ensure all is packed well & goes by road transport.  FiFO customers living far rurally will know they can't buy. (Or at least they should!) I've no perfume license; but when I've sold the occasional unwanted gift I make it quite clear as to who can buy & under what terms. No problems.

[lyndal1838]

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@beakychew wrote:

Thank you all.

I had no idea that perfumes are a dangerous item. I guess that makes sense. I'll see if I can find a courier who'll deliver. Pick up only won't work as I live in a small country town 🙂

If you contact a courier company you must let them know that the package contains dangerous goods.

If it it going interstate a lot of couriers use air freight so will not take the parcel.

[thecatspjs]

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@redders_60 wrote:

Block the scam buyer; They are only after your contact details for nefarious reasons. Put your seller blocks in place as described above & go from there.

In order to sell perfume within Aust put in your listings local pickup only. Other things that can work are "Road Transport Only" or No FIFO (Fly In Fly Out) rural customers please.

Do please ensure all is packed well & goes by road transport.  FiFO customers living far rurally will know they can't buy. (Or at least they should!) I've no perfume license; but when I've sold the occasional unwanted gift I make it quite clear as to who can buy & under what terms. No problems.

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It is not enough to put road transport only - perfumes are prohibited unless accepted under explicit dangerous goods contract with AP.

How dangerous and foolish, not only to send yoursefl, but to encourage others to do so.