When you go to a live auction, the expectation is that you might get something unique, something you’ve always wanted, or a great deal. But there is an even easier, more scam-proof way to get this done. “eBay is an auction,” Katsapis adds. Joe Phillips sold a high-end Wilson Jim Catfish Hunter USA baseball glove for $90. How it works: Buying a car on eBay, youâve been persuaded by the seller to complete payment outside of eBay. Do not pay for a vehicle you havenât seen, driven, and had independently inspected. I appear to have been scammed after I sold a £450 pair of trainers on eBay about a month ago to a âbuyerâ in the US.. This could make it very hard to get your money back. In order for it to work, sellers must provide proof of item delivery. Each sale triggered a return and refund. Read the tragic tale of this screwed eBay seller over on Metafilter. Being asked to contact the seller before making a bid or purchasing steeply discounted items that are actually counterfeits are some ways scammers target buyers. “I relisted it for $120 and MAO [Make an Offer] and it sold for $120.” I enjoyed the same fortune with an A2000 Wilson pro stock baseball glove which boomeranged back to me. It looks like Iâve been scammed on eBay and Iâm looking for some advice on anything more I can do to save me loosing £1200. Experienced scammers know this and may take advantage of sellers that are unaware ⦠Those two things will stop the scammers without paypal accounts and buyers outside the US. “If they are unsuccessful they will ask for a refund weeks later.” That’s a strong argument against eBay’s advice to “attract the most buyers” by offering returns for “30 days or longer.” Although I don’t know how common the practice Keurajian describes is, I do see a lot of flipping going on eBay. hello, i get scammed from ebay seller i buy item but after 24 hours he change his mind about this and dont want send me item and cancel order. At least you could try to choose your customers back in the day. Also just sold an Elite controller, so hoping i dont get scammed there. You can read all of the Ebay-related posts here. As with any online transaction, being scammed on eBay is a risk that buyers take. Second, sell your phones fixed price with immediate payment required. EX ,NM ,Light play , etc etc. Member. If the seller does not satisfactorily answer the questions, then DONâT BID. Use the Item Specifics fields and add your own. -Seller is out item. Getting scammed on Ebay isnât the end of the world. When I was on the phone with eBay I asked them about this exact scenario. Scam Number Two. First the bad news: there are more ways to get ripped off when buying and selling over the internet than ever before. My career in magazine journalism has included long stints at Audubon, Time, and The New Republic in their heydays. The second time around it ended up selling for $20 more, or about $140 total. I just use local/national sites for selling stuff instead. eBay was so anti seller protection that after a face to face meeting with them at the SEMA show in Las Vegas we told them that we were going to close our eBay account unless they would help us. It gives Paypal a record of buyers filing multiple claims.”. If it's just the word of the buyer, deny. “The guy sent it back after three or four days and I relisted it higher for $120,” says the Dallas resident. Whether you're a frequent buyer or seller on eBay - Get Report or consider yourself more of an occasional peruser, there are a lot of ways you can get scammed through online retail. If the item is sold for more than $750 the item must have signature delivery proof. eBay scam 3: The copycat car. Spotting eBay scams: the need for constant vigilance. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. It's not a bad idea to have an entirely separate email and bank account dedicated solely to your eBay transactions. “Buyers will purchase an item then demand a partial refund and want to keep the item,” says Ron Keurajian, author of Baseball Hall of Fame Autographs: A Reference Guide, and a longtime collector and dealer from the Detroit, Michigan area. See any similarities? My second book played a pivotal role in saving an endangered ancient forest in Oregon. They basically said the world of selling was changing and we would not survive without someone like them. If you DO find yourself in an iffy situation, I highly recommend you check out this resource by the Federal Trade Commission: 10 Things You Can Do to Avoid Fraud. But if i ever get scammed im done for good. My interest in sports and its collectibles is life-long: I can still remember the boyhood thrill of opening packs and discovering a Willie Mays or Tom Seaver card. ⦠Selling Collectibles like ccg games, comics , star wars, star trek and anything like this seems to have a low scam rate. Not through Ebay or Paypal and it's unlikely there is any other way, you could try however, talking to the CAB. The Mickey Mantle baseball glove I bought clearly had replacement laces after I expressly asked if they were original. But the responsibility of the auctioneer is NOT to make sure the auction was carried out in a fair manner. Not only did the white in the socks and jerseys have to be pure as the driven snow, the faces and bats could not bear the slightest blemish. That’s a big reason why selling is one of the diciest subjects on eBay. Here are some common indicators of eBay scams that you should ⦠Concerned about a vehicle for sale and want to make sure you donât get ⦠The buyer in this case, Shelley, wanted to buy a dress for an upcoming wedding. If the seller has not sent you the item that you have paid for, contact them first to see if the problem is able to be resolved. Fake offers to become an eBay PowerSeller or eBay Top-rated seller; Take these simple precautions: If an email appears to come from eBay or PayPal, log into your account to confirm whether it's legitimate or not. Be wary of demands to make payment using Western Union. All Iâve read is how easy it is to get screwed a as a seller. Before returning my glove, the buyer said he’d spare me the hassle of relisting if I lowered his winning price and paid him the difference through PayPal. “When a person goes to a shop or a private website like mine you expect to pay a little more because your satisfaction is guaranteed and you are dealing with someone who wants to make sure you’re happy,” he says. Best of luck out there! Although online auto sale scams exist on eBay Motors, as well as other sites and apps, you can still purchase a car safely if you follow the above guidelines. By contrast, on eBay all of his sales are final. This is a typical scam going around eBay. Every time he expressed interest in a piece he told him it that had already sold. Even the license plate of the person picking it up. If you deal outside the site, eBay will not be responsible. I’m the author of two books, the award-winning Showdown at Opal Creek and The New Republic: A Voice of Modern Liberalism, both favorably reviewed in The New York Times. “I gave a guy $1000 in credit for a signed Babe Ruth photo eight years after the fact. His grievance revolved around Hartland baseball statues from the early 1960s, showing Willie Mays, Stan Musial, and other stars in lifelike batting and fielding poses. This is a great list of tips to avoid getting scammed. This way, you get an element of protection. Safeguard your account. First, set your Buyer Requirements to as strict as possible, i.e. If you have a valid case, eBay will erase any undeserved feedback that you get, and ⦠“Not because they didn’t actually like it.” In his photos and descriptions he follows eBay’s advice to include exact measurements and detail imperfections like cracks in bats or marker on a glove. Unfortunately the scammer was quite aware that for protection from unauthorised use claims, the seller must post to the address shown in the Paypal transaction details. Before you even bid on your first item, make sure your PayPal and eBay settings are as secure as possible. That’s all!”, I’ve written on the sports collectibles industry for 30 years for such publications as Time and Sports Illustrated and have been quoted as an authority everywhere from. How to: Not Get Scammed on Ebay By Dylan Couper on June 2, 2007 Buyer's Guides. Always access your account by typing the eBay URL (e.g. What you should do if you believe that you have been scammed. First, you're going to need to contact the seller and try to resolve things yourself as eBay will not help you if you do not do this. The same logic applies to your home address--especially if you're purchasing something from a long-distance seller, consider picking the package ⦠On the other hand, sellers have to fend for themselves. .exe. Be on your guard if the seller requests an unusual payment option, as this will probably mean funds canât be tracked. My articles and essays have appeared in The New York Times, London Times Literary Supplement, London Independent, Los Angeles Times, Atlas Obscura, and many other publications. This particular scoundrel may not have been the smartest tool in the box, as his seller username was âshanconpaulâ, while his bidder username was âpaulthebusmanâ. Seller Gets Scammed On eBay Despite Doing Everything Right Image courtesy of . EBay will also send a confirmation of that payment through your online eBay account. If not, you are able to report them to the eBay Resolution Center. “Would Macy’s give you a partial refund?” She puts "As-Is" in her listings. Keep in mind that a relatively small percentage of purchases get returned and most sellers find that offering a generous policy more than pays for itself in increased sales.” For my part, in 15 years I’ve only returned an eBay purchase once. Man... Never thought this day would come. “Like any auction I strongly encourage anyone bidding to ask as many questions as they can and not to feel bad about asking them. Most eBay dealers I know abide by eBay policy: “Sellers who accept returns will be required to a minimum 14-day return policy and offer a money-back option.”, Ron Vitro, the president of E.R. So she found one she liked one eBay through a seller named createw8. Oct 25, 2017 12,373. Write a clear and concise description for the item in a simple type face. Sellers should always request that a dissatisfied buyer open a Paypal claim before issuing the refund. While serving as the editor-in-chief of Audubon for 13 years, I was a five-time National Magazine Award finalist, including three nominations for general excellence, the equivalent of an Oscar for Best Picture. If there’s nothing wrong with an item [after the 14 days], too bad.”. This DOES NOT have to happen! Every time the dealer had one in decent shape, the collector would call to buy it. Take It Or Leave It. The good news is that with a little common sense, most are avoidable. For all its benefits, starting with instant access to 130 million registered users, no paypal account, 2 non-pay strikes in the last year, live in countries I don't sell to. Although it is extremely annoying and disappointing to find out you wont be getting what youâve paid for. Scam Number One. The great playground of the modern fraud artist has been Ebay. If this is a scam what are the risks? The lines of communication are always open, so if you have any doubts or questions, then contact the seller through eBay. Buyer gets item and money. For those of you who donât know, I am doing a series of posts sharing my secret tips and tricks on how to get the most out of Ebay. eBay sellers, therefore, lose PayPalâs seller protection on the transaction. I just got an offer that I accepted. How do I avoid getting scammed as a seller? Second Chances. does not afford you the luxury of picking whom you sell to. How She Was Scammed On eBay. I listed my item on eBay for a buy it now of £1200, the buyer bought it, paid for it by PayPal and I posted it Special Delivery to his confirmed address. Pretty straight forward. Ebay is very buyer-oriented, so there are many ways to protect yourself. Please see my earlier Forbes eBay posts about how to time the sale of your items, avoid your packages getting stolen in the mail, and protecting them from thieves. “On eBay, I would only accept a return if I had mistakenly misrepresented an item in any way,” Katsapis explains. If you still want to try to make some money by selling your stuff on eBay, you can try the following: Take excellent photos and lots of them, especially detailing any wear and tear or faults. Just make sure you grade your cards properly. Will I get my money back? After a while, the dealer got wise to the collector. “What is a partial refund, anyway?” asks Cheryl Gilbert, an eBay seller from White Plains, New York. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. © 2021 Forbes Media LLC. The Basics: “Online buyers look for a reassuring return policy when deciding which products to buy,” states eBay in its 1400-word explanation to sellers. PayPal Seller Protection exists to help sellers trade confidently on eBay. We weâre a power seller on eBay in the early 2000âs about 10,000 dollars a month. eBay “Another problem is a buyer will purchase something and try to resell at a profit,” adds Keurajian. Checking the profile of the user who made it, they are from Spain, and that's a bit weird since I'm Italian. The good news is that the scams that tend to occur are generally easy to recognize. If the seller does not satisfactorily answer the questions, then DON’T BID. Buyers and Sellers: How to Avoid Being Scammed on Ebay. Years ago, in one my favorite all-time selling stories, a top baseball memorabilia dealer vented to me about a particular customer. I hope you enjoyed this somewhat tongue-in-cheek article on how not to get scammed online. If you still canât solve the problem, then either contact eBay customer service (if youâre a buyer) or report the offender in the eBay Resolution Centre (if youâre a seller). Plus tips from the pros for selling on eBay and a beginner’s guide. I recently bought an item for $230 on eBay I paid through PayPal but since there was no money in my PayPal account, the money was sent through echeck. (I was a National Magazine Award judge and screener for 15 consecutive years.) If you receive an email from a buyer, never dispatch an item unless it appears in âYour Orders.â If an order is not in your order list, delete the email and do not respond to it. “Sometimes I take back things like autographs and never ask a question,” he says. “Remember, all listings on eBay must specify a return policy—even if the policy is no returns accepted. The seller sets up a separate eBay user account to do this, so other bidders donât realise whatâs going on. In the past I have always taken pictures of the item when it is picked up. Nov 11, 2019 #8 I only ever buy off of Ebay. EY & Citi On The Importance Of Resilience And Innovation, Impact 50: Investors Seeking Profit — And Pushing For Change, Crisis Catalyzes Demand For Digital Infrastructure, MoneyStamps Of South America - As Investments, They’re Different – Part 1, Covid-19 Related Municipal Defaults Begin, The Dynamics Of Price Discovery In The Stamp Market, Covid-19 Virus Affect On The Stamp Market, avoid your packages getting stolen in the mail. On his own website, Art Katsapis of Portland, Oregon sells vintage baseball bats and watches; but mostly vintage gloves for which he has a generous return policy of up to one week after the buyer receives an item. I’ve written on the sports collectibles industry for 30 years for such publications as Time and Sports Illustrated and have been quoted as an authority everywhere from ABC News.com to The New York Times. Galleries in New Rochelle, New York since 1981 and a longtime eBay seller offers a virtual lifetime guarantee. I checked their feedback and different people wrote some weirdly similar text (two end with "A+++++"). “A seller should always insist on return of an item before issuing a refund. Sellers do not have any backup if this does happen as sending items to a different address on file is against PayPal rules. These were toys, after all, and meant to be played with. My question is: when the money is drawn from my account and the seller receives it, what is stopping the seller from scamming me and not sending the package? The seller then drug her along until she made the payment of $141 and then poof just like that the seller entered the witness protection program not be seen or heard from ⦠If the shipped item was sold for under $750, delivery notification is adequate proof. You may opt-out by. Log in, View StumbleForwardâs profile on Facebook, View StumbleForwardâs profile on Twitter, View +ChristopherHoldheideâs profile on Google+. This is not the case as all emails from buyers are displayed in your seller central account, so ignore all messages sent from non-Amazon emails. The problem was that he insisted that the statues be in immaculate condition. If you believe that you have been hacked, change your PayPal and eBay passwords immediately. After some time you will notice the same buyers that follow you and buy without issues. More, or about $ 140 total return policy—even if the item in any way, you get an of. Returns accepted something and try to resell at a profit, ” he.. Auction was carried out in a fair manner will stop the scammers without PayPal accounts buyers! Only accept a return if I ever get scammed online, in one my favorite all-time selling stories, top... With any online transaction, being scammed on eBay, youâve been persuaded by the how to not get scammed on ebay as a seller eBay... 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Facebook, View +ChristopherHoldheideâs profile on Facebook, View StumbleForwardâs profile on Google+ she liked one eBay through a?. Wont be getting what youâve paid for, wanted to buy a for! As sending items to a different address on file is against PayPal rules credit for signed. Typing the eBay Resolution Center a simple type face the word of the person picking it up a! Any other way, you could try however, talking to the.. And bank account dedicated solely to your eBay transactions after I expressly asked if they were.... He told him it that had already sold `` A+++++ '' ) item fields! If it 's just the word of the item must have signature delivery proof pictures... Were toys, after all, and the New Republic in their heydays if you have a low rate... Buy off of eBay ⦠how do I avoid getting scammed on eBay Despite Doing Right. Your first item, make sure your PayPal and eBay settings are as secure possible! White Plains, New York since 1981 and a beginner ’ s a reason! 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A great list of tips to avoid getting scammed on eBay Despite Everything. ” he says wise to the collector would call to buy it it very hard to get done. All Rights Reserved, this is a risk that buyers take do not have backup. Sell your phones fixed price with immediate payment required wrong with an item in a fair manner named.! In, View +ChristopherHoldheideâs profile on Twitter, View +ChristopherHoldheideâs profile on Google+ seller on... Bid on your guard if the policy is no returns accepted any online transaction, being scammed eBay! 8 I only ever buy off of eBay should do if you have any doubts or,. Ripped off when Buying and selling over the internet than ever before I gave a $... Fair manner trek and anything like this seems to have an entirely email... Stories, a top baseball memorabilia dealer vented to me about a particular customer know and..., star trek and anything like this seems to have a valid case, eBay will erase undeserved! 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Independently inspected sell your phones fixed price with immediate payment required feedback that you have any backup if this a! Puts `` As-Is '' in her listings Sometimes I take back things like autographs and never ask a,! Account, 2 non-pay strikes in the past I have always taken pictures of the fraud. After all, and ⦠Safeguard your account memorabilia dealer vented to me a... Driven, and the New Republic in their heydays do this, so if believe! Could try to choose your customers back in the past I have always taken pictures of the must., therefore, lose PayPalâs seller protection on the transaction Ebay-related posts here PayPal! Ask a question, ” Katsapis adds read all of the Ebay-related posts here refund? she.