Another ebay situation - please help!!

[DisneyFan09]

I should just stay away from Ebay, I keep getting myself into bad situations. I recently won an auction for a Nintendo Game Cube w/3 games but I did not realize until I won it that this person did not take paypal. That was fine but when I called the number listed to pay with credit card I got a Nextel voice mail, no business name or anything. I have tried repeatedly to reach this person via email and finally after 4 tries I got a response today. They want my phone number so they can call and answer any question I have. I also have the option of sending a personal check but I don't want someone having my checking account number or my credit card number. I'm very uncomfortable with this whole thing and want to know if I can get out of it. We are talking about $165 dollars, so it's definitely not peanuts. I like paypal because there is some protection. Please tell me what to do!!

 

[disneymom3]

If you don't want them to have your personal info, open a checking account with free checks, write this one check and then after it clears, close the account. Kind of a hassle but if the auction said they didn't take Paypal, then not many other options as I can see. What is their feedback like?

 

[ceecee]

Get a money order.

 

[DisneyFan09]

Get a money order.

But do I have any protection with a money order. What if i don't get my merchandise? This whole thing just seems shady to me.

 

[disneynutt1225]

I think a money order might be your best bet if the seller will accept them. You can put a stop payment on a money order if you need to and no one will have to have your account number. Most money orders are under $2 and little or no hassle.

 

[waspnest]

Check with your credit card issuer. I think that some cards will allow you to get a "phony" number that is good for only one purchase. Then you can give him that number, he can process it for this purchase, but it's no good to him after that.

 

[LegoMom3]

What's his feedback like??

 

[sweetpeakaris]

Ask the seller to accept a money order or credit card using Bidpay, it's free for them to accept it, you just have to pay a few dollars. This way your info is confidental.

 

[DisneyFan09]

Regarding his feedback he does have some negatives especially recently. I'm almost willing to take bad feedback just to get out of this. Oh, and he will take a money order but there will be a 7 day hold on it so that probably prevents me from stopping it. I will check into the bidpay or temporary credit card. Thanks for the responses!!

 

[kilee]

You can also get a non-paying bidder strike if you don't pay. You could also look into getting a cashier's check from your bank. I most certainly wouldn't give this gentleman a credit card number.

 

[KeepSwimming]

If you're getting a bad feeling then I would email him and see if he'll let you out of it.

Don't send any money if you'r getting a bad vibe.

 

[VSL]

And remember to check for PayPal from now on - I know, it's easy to forget.

I don't have any other advice - I would probably try to get out of it.

 

[LegoMom3]

Regarding his feedback he does have some negatives especially recently. I'm almost willing to take bad feedback just to get out of this. Oh, and he will take a money order but there will be a 7 day hold on it so that probably prevents me from stopping it. I will check into the bidpay or temporary credit card. Thanks for the responses!!

I have to agree with your thought that the hold is to prevent you stopping the m.o. - a money order or cashier's check should be treated like cash, not "held" like a personal check! Smells fishy...

 

[waspnest]

I have to agree with your thought that the hold is to prevent you stopping the m.o. - a money order or cashier's check should be treated like cash, not "held" like a personal check! Smells fishy...

But a seller has to protect him/herself, too. MO and Cashier's checks are so easily forged nowadays, if I were a seller I'd definately wait for it to clear (although with a Cashier's check I know that can take weeks, so I'd probably just not accept them at all).

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

Can't you get VISA gift cards now that work like a credit card? You put money on the card and for all intents and purposes IT IS like a credit card but there is cash behind it. I would check into this. Call Visa or your bank or even go online to Visa's Website and see what they say.

HTH

 

[DisneyFan09]

Alright here's a new twist. I have been in contact with the seller and finally got questions answered that I have been asking since way before the auction ended but had never gotten a reply to. His description adverstised this as a bundle pack that had been sold in limited quantities to first come first served but I asked him specifically if the game system and games were "brand new" or "like new" (because it wasn't clear in the description) and now he tells me that the game system is brand new but the games are (in his words) "pre-used". How could this be a bundle set sold for a limited time if the games are used. I think this could be my out. I'm going to try. Thanks guys!

 

[Chicago526]

Can't you get VISA gift cards now that work like a credit card? You put money on the card and for all intents and purposes IT IS like a credit card but there is cash behind it. I would check into this. Call Visa or your bank or even go online to Visa's Website and see what they say.

HTH

I was just thinking the same thing!

 

[C.Ann]

I wonder if a Postal money order would be acceptable and/or offer you more protection than a MO purchased elsewhere?

 

[cseca]

I have to agree with your thought that the hold is to prevent you stopping the m.o. - a money order or cashier's check should be treated like cash, not "held" like a personal check! Smells fishy...

I just googled fake M.O and here's what came up:

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Savinganddebt/consumeractionguide/P122096.asp

 

[kilee]

I hold all money orders (postal or not) for 10 business days. There are so many stolen and counterfeit orders floating around out there.
I'm not sure where a bundle pack means brand new- I think I'm confused on this part.