Should this be a "red flag" on an Ebay purchase?

[Belle5]

I agreed to purchase something from a seller with only one feedback (positive) and they did not take Paypal--only personal checks or money orders. I was willing to take the gamble on a new seller until I received the request for payment and it has me sending payment to a P.O. Box instead of a home address. Should I be concerned? I actually sent them an email telling them that I would like to send my check to a home address. (I sent a message from the "ask seller a question" link on the "Congratulation! You won the item" page. In my email I got something saying the email wouldn't go through. (It took me to some Spam site) I'm not even sure the seller is going to receive the question I sent him. Anyway, what should I do? Thanks!

 

[Ilovestitch]

I don't think I would really worry- a lot of people use a po box for ebay b/c they don't want to be giving out their home address to strangers.

 

[CinderellasMama]

The town I live in doesn't offer home delivery. We only get it at the Post Office. They may live in a rural area that doesn't offer home delivery. Also, some people just use PO Boxes b/c it's easier for a business.

Brenda

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have used Post Office boxes as my primary address for about 36 years. They are much more secure than a box that cannot be locked out at the street in front of your house, especially if you travel.

 

[4fordisney]

I would wait until I got an answer from the seller just to make sure the e-mail address is legit. That could give you some peace of mind.

It is true that some small towns don't have home delivery....my MIL lives in such a town.

 

[Belle5]

I guess there is the chance that they live out in the country. All of my relatives that do have something in their address like "R.R. 55 P.O. Box 22" telling me they are on a "rural route". My other thought was that I could understand getting a P.O. Box after you've been in business (ebay) for a while--but how many people even know to do that after selling only one item? I guess I am suspicious by nature... I have no idea if the seller even received my email stating that I wanted to send it to a home address since my email told me that the message was bounced back to me (triggering some sort of spam message...)

 

[maggiew]

For me, it would depend on how much the item was. If it was, say, $20 or under, I would send the check. If much more than that I would maybe be concerned.

A couple thoughts...
1. When I sold my first item on ebay, I decided whether or not to use a PO box or home address. I decided against the PO box because I am lazy. Maybe this person isn't as lazy as I am.
2. Maybe the seller's email address is set up with a spam blocker and "reads" your message through ebay as spam??? Can you send it to their email address directly?

Maggie

 

[Imzadi]

PayPal is under a class action lawsuit. Being one of the members whose account was ridiculously frozen by them, I can no longer use PayPal to accept eBay payments, and I have a high, excellent feedback rating. This Seller, being a newbie, may still be deciding if PayPal is worth the fees & registering a bank acct., etc.

As for having a P.O. box, they may be leary of having nutcases want to show up at the house to pick up local packages. There was a thread here, a little while back, of a female poster who didn't want someone doing that, as she'd have to handle the transaction alone, & asking for advice on how to handle it. The Buyer already had her home address as it was listed for payment.

Just some other reasons why this may/ or not be a red flag problem. But as someone else suggested, it depends on how much money is on the line.

 

[rflorek]

For me, it would depend on how much the item was. If it was, say, $20 or under, I would send the check. If much more than that I would maybe be concerned.

I don't know about anyone else, but I would NEVER send a personal check as payment on eBay. It's too easy for someone to get your account & routing numbers from your checking account and use them for illegal purposes. I would only send a money order, given the choice between a check and a money order.

Robyn