Odd Ebay dilemma!

[Disneyrsh]

I've been selling and buying on ebay for about 5 years now and this is the first time I've come across a situation where I'm not sure about what to do!

I sold a pair of Ugg boots last night, and the winner has a feedback of 1, and on paypal he's unverified and unconfirmed. I thought I was protecting myself by makign it a paypal-only auction, but I guess not.

Sooo, I sent him an email saying, hey there, you need to be confirmed and verified so I know who you are and where you are. So far I haven't heard back from him, but it's been less than 24 hours, so how long should I give him to respond before I refund him?

My question is, if I just go ahead and refund his money to him, can he leave me negative feedback?

It just looks and feels wrong to me, but I'm not sure what my rights are as a seller (you think I would, after all this time).

I did figure out in Paypal how to block unconfirmed address bids, but only after hours of researching last night.

Any help and opinions would be very appreciated!

 

[Nancy]

Well, I know way back when I first started e-baying, I was an unconfirmed, unverified user for a bit. I also had no feedback, so maybe this person is just new to the whole e bay experience and just set up the account. I would wait another 24 hours and see what happens. When you first sign up for Paypal and are using your bank account for auto withdrawels they first do a small transaction to and from your account. It does not verify and confirm for a few days, at least this is how it was years ago...is that still correct?

 

[Toby'sFriend]

well, unless your auction stated that you will only ship to confirmed Paypal addresses, I think that you should send the boots to the address given. It is a good thing to have in future auctions, but it sounds like you are kind of changing your rules after the fact.

I'd give him 2 or 3 days to answer back - and then I'd ship to the address given using delivery confirmation and hope for the best.

 

[KeepSwimming]

I agree...you kind of have to honor the sale because your original description did not state confirmed/verified sellers only.

I would pay to insure it (out of my own pocket), in case you have any other problems.

 

[Disneyrsh]

Yeah, that's a good idea to insure it on my own...

He's not new; he bought one thing last year, and my boots are the second thing. It was just feeling very wrong, who buys one thing a year?

The problem is, even with Paypal, I don't know if a buyer is unverified until after he/she wins the auction. I can now block unconfirmed addresses (and I have), but the unverified part, well, you don't know until they win.

Although maybe it's impossible to be unverified if you're confirmed. EUgh! Why does this have to be so tough!

I have shipped to unconfirmed addresses for newer buyers, but they were all small ticket items. Ugg boots are NOT cheap, and I really don't want them stolen, if the buyer is fraudulent...

I sent him a friendly email saying, let me help you out here, it's not hard to get verified.

The bummer thing is, I thought when I did a 'paypal required' auction that it would solve a lot of these problems with wiggy buyers. nope. *sigh*.

I'm kinda thinking I'm over being a seller...

Thanks, everyone, for your input, I think if the seller blats at me I'll just ship it insured...

 

[jcsbama]

who buys one thing a year?

I do. I'm sure it's more common than you think. I have been a member of ebay and paypal for several years, but have probably only bought about 5 items. I don't usually go looking for stuff I don't need. I only buy when I'm looking for a specific item that can't necessarily be found at a store. I also had an incident a few months ago (phishing email I didn't catch) and had to close my paypal account and open a new one. I realized a few weeks ago that I haven't taken all the necessary steps to have my address verified. I have also bought items since using my new paypal account without a verified address and had no problems from the sellers even asking about my address or asking me to get verified. I've also paid immediately via paypal after winning the bid. Maybe because I was such a quick payer, the seller didn't question my unverified address. I've also never had any compliants with items I've won and received.

 

[PooohBear]

well, unless your auction stated that you will only ship to confirmed Paypal addresses, I think that you should send the boots to the address given. It is a good thing to have in future auctions, but it sounds like you are kind of changing your rules after the fact.

I'd give him 2 or 3 days to answer back - and then I'd ship to the address given using delivery confirmation and hope for the best.

I totally agree with this..... and, there are buyers out there who only buy things once in a great while, so once in a year is not unheard of !

 

[jekajekalynn]

Yeah, that's a good idea to insure it on my own...

It was just feeling very wrong, who buys one thing a year?

.

My husband. We both have accounts, but he only used his this Christmas to buy me stuff. He only has a (1) feedback because he never usually buys anything from Ebay.


Luckily sellers let him bid, or else I wouldn't have any Christmas presents. lol

 

[cats7494]

who buys one thing a year?

I do!
I have only bought 2 things on ebay...It is just not the first place I go to buy stuff. I prefer stores - better chance of getting what you want, when you want it. I do not like the auction aspect of ebay at all...if I want something -I do not like having a "bidding war" with someone else.
I paid right away through paypal and the sellers had no problem with that.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

You can also ask the bidder to give you his name and then send the boots via restricted delivery to him. Then he will have to show ID and give a signature to receive them.

You need to give this guy the benefit of the doubt--especially if he's already paid you and is not in violation of the terms of the auction.