Someone just contacted me to sell my eBay item directly to them

[TexasErin]

As some of you may remember, I have been trying to sell my iPhone 5 on eBay. I had listed it for $400, which was too low after researching. The person who bought it within like 3 minutes never paid....ugh!

So I have now relisted it on eBay as an auction. I started the bid at $385, but put buy it now for $500.99. My auction ends Sunday night. Well, someone contacted me today to ask if I would sell it for lower. I told him I'd go ahead and send it for $450 thinking we could somehow still do it through eBay. (Note: I am a complete eBay novice!!!!!) So he then sent me a message on eBay telling me to email him my email account, so he can pay me through PayPal.

I don't want to do anything morally wrong or against eBay! (Of course, I am ticked that eBay allows people not to pay, but have perfect positive feedback. I changed my preferences tonight so that people who haven't paid three times can't buy my stuff). I really am just ready to stop jacking with this crud. I also don't want to be the victim of a scam- DUH!

Do I report it to eBay, ignore it, or give him my email info so he can pay me through PayPal???

Again, not trying to do anything wrong...or be naive and be a victim.

HELP!

 

[arihillfarm]

If there aren't bids, you should be able to change the Buy It Now price to what the buyer offered.

-Astrid

 

[TexasErin]

It won't let me change the buy it now price without changing my starting bid because of the 30% difference requirement. I hate to change the starting bid to $315, in case the buyer Backs out. And then if somebody else bids on it, I could get stuck selling it for less than 385.

Such a hassle!

 

[3boymthr]

If there aren't bids, you should be able to change the Buy It Now price to what the buyer offered.

-Astrid

Don't give out your paypal email to anyone you don't know. You are opening yourself up to scammers and hackers. Instead do as PP suggested or change your buy it now only at the price you already have and then check the box to accept a best offer price. Set an auto reject at or just below your current minimum bid and auto accept at what the buyer offered you. Tell buyer to place a best offer at the price he offered you.

 

[kiramay]

Don't give out your paypal email to anyone you don't know. You are opening yourself up to scammers and hackers. Instead do as PP suggested or change your buy it now only at the price you already have and then check the box to accept a best offer price. Set an auto reject at or just below your current minimum bid and auto accept at what the buyer offered you. Tell buyer to place a best offer at the price he offered you.

This! You can change it to buy it now and accept best offers, no auction. He/she can make his offer, accept it, and it'll all be safe. Good luck!

 

[TexasErin]

Great advice, but I don't have enough sales on eBay to allow me to change it. It requires a rating of +10 and I only have a rating of 3. I couldn't figure out why, so I looked at the FAQs. And that's where I found you have to have a rating of 10.

 

[kiramay]

Great advice, but I don't have enough sales on eBay to allow me to change it. It requires a rating of +10 and I only have a rating of 3. I couldn't figure out why, so I looked at the FAQs. And that's where I found you have to have a rating of 10.

That stinks. I'd be honest with the seller. You can cancel and relist it and send him/her the new listing.

 

[su_A_ve]

Report it to eBay... Also, you should report the original non-paying-bidder as well, else you would be paying final value fees.

 

[kiramay]

Report it to eBay... Also, you should report the original non-paying-bidder as well, else you would be paying final value fees.

That too. You're paying fees and not getting paid. You can get the money back.

 

[robinb]

This! You can change it to buy it now and accept best offers, no auction. He/she can make his offer, accept it, and it'll all be safe. Good luck!

If you accept a "best offer" you cannot require immediate payment. I made that mistake this summer and negotiated a price on a pair of Cubs tickets and the buyer (who was also a seller!) changed his mind and refused to pay me. I'm out $75 and he's still selling on eBay.

ETA: It is NEVER in your best interest to end your auction early and if you go outside of eBay to make a deal you are setting yourself up for being scammed. Tell the buyer that you are uncomfortable doing so and that he should bid his maximum and wish him luck. If it doesn't sell now, relist it. I know that you don't want to "deal" with the whole eBay drama but if you cave to the pressure you will not get as much as you deserve.

FWIW it is against the rules to start an auction and set up a payment outside of eBay. On both sides. If the buyer doesn't come to scratch I would report him for auction violations.

 

[Darcy03231]

You can cancel your listing and then relist it as a private auction for just that buyer. My sister does fairly often as she buy larger dinner sets and breaks them up. Sometimes people contact her to see if she has a specific piece. They agree to a price and she lists it on ebay for them at that price as a private auction.

 

[ellone]

Truthfully with that low an eBay feedback I think you just attracted yourself a scammer. He wants your paypal address so he can send you a fake paypal 'you got $' e-mail.

 

[richmond282]

I would just cancel the current listing and relist it as Buy It now for the $450. Make sure you mark the box for Requires Immediate Payment. Send the buyer the link.

 

[wiigirl]

Don't give out your paypal email to anyone you don't know. You are opening yourself up to scammers and hackers. Instead do as PP suggested or change your buy it now only at the price you already have and then check the box to accept a best offer price. Set an auto reject at or just below your current minimum bid and auto accept at what the buyer offered you. Tell buyer to place a best offer at the price he offered you.

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

As others have said, be very careful with this. You are a new seller selling one of the most commonly scammed items. Don't end the listing early, and don't send this person any information.


When you do sell your phone, the most important thing you will need to do is to be sure to send it with signature confirmation. Any item over I believe $200 requires this to be covered by what little seller protection paypal offers. My brother-in-law found this out the hard way, also with a phone.

Good luck.

 

[robinb]

OP, I would also write down the identifying numbers for your phone before you send it or you may end up like this seller: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3205285.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

OP, I would also write down the identifying numbers for your phone before you send it or you may end up like this seller: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3205285.

exactly - we always photograph (and keep) identifying numbers/ serial numbers for any electronic items we sell (via Craigslist not ebay but still a great idea). We've never had anyone come back to us but still we're ready if someone tries to pull something (ie it doesn't work and give back a different one).

 

[Robinrs]

Sorry, I've had too many issues to sell something for a high price on eBay for any reason.

I am an long time seller with 100% feedback and over 1000 listings. Ebay has been my second income since my son was 10 and he turns 21 next month.

Lately I've been seen too many "buyer" scams. Paypal and eBay ALWAYS gives the buyer the upperhand. They will take your money out of your account in a second without even letting you know! All the buyer has to say is that the item wasn't exactly what they expected, no matter WHAT that is and POOF your money is GONE.

I had a guy buy an outfit for a child and complained that it was the wrong size, and admitted it was HIS fault. He asked for another one like I was Macy*s... When I told him I didn't have any more, just that one he reported me. POOF, money gone. Ebay says to refund him and I insisted he send it back. I never got the item back and I STILL had to refund him.

Lately they do check the tracking on the return but who knows what they'll do before returning it? The whole system has become a nightmare for the sellers now more than the buyers, the total opposite of what it used to be.

 

[timmac]

It won't let me change the buy it now price without changing my starting bid because of the 30% difference requirement. I hate to change the starting bid to $315, in case the buyer Backs out. And then if somebody else bids on it, I could get stuck selling it for less than 385.

Just to offer another perspective, one possible alternative is that you leave your pricing where it is and get stuck not selling it at all.

 

[robinb]

Just to offer another perspective, one possible alternative is that you leave your pricing where it is and get stuck not selling it at all.

Meh. The OP can always relist for free.