Question Re: is this a scam in Selling on eBay DND

is this a scam

dorgr8410 — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 17:12:54 GMT

Hi there, I'm a member of ebay UK only. Someone has made me an offer, but she is based in Ireland and has only joined ebay since September 2o. There is no feeed back on her page, and no items to sell. Is this a scam?

Thank you

Re: is this a scam

**peaseblossom** — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 18:17:35 GMT

No reason to think that would be a scam but if you don't want to sell outside the UK you can tell them so and put a general block on buyers in countries where you don't post to on here:

http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?BuyerBlockPreferences

Or if you're happy to sell to them put their ID on your exemption list to allow them to buy:

http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?BidderPermitLogin

And increase postage to correct amount on invoice before you send it to them. Or you could add postage to Europe to your listing before they buy using the Revise Your Item link, top left of listing.

Re: is this a scam

rusticrye — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 18:33:22 GMT

We all started with zero feedback, you included.

People don't have to be sellers to use Ebay. Most folk come here purely to buy.

Unless you have your Buyer Requirements set to block international bidders and buyers, anyone will be able to bid, buy, and make offers.

So unlikely to be a scam. More likely to be you not fully understanding how Ebay works. But if you're not comfortable to sell internationally, decline the offer, and add the offerer's Ebay ID to your Blocked Bidders List. Then set your Buyer Requirements to block international bidders (Account... Site Preferences... Buyer Requirements).

(Loving that vintage leather coat, btw. :))

@dorgr8410

Re: is this a scam

m25jet — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 18:37:04 GMT

Just because the buyer only opened her account on Sunday 20th September 2020 doesn't necessarily mean that she's a scammer. Everybody started off with zero feedback when they first opened an account on eBay, so if she seems genuinely interested in buying something from you and hasn't said or done anything that would make any reasonable person say "That sounds dodgy - steer well clear of her!" then I'd be inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt.

If you look at this matter from a slightly different perspective then you may be able to see the other side of the argument a bit more clearly. You only registered your own eBay account on Friday 3rd January 2020, so when you made your first ever eBay purchase the seller of that item may well have wondered whether you were a scammer given that you had no previous feedback. Whether that was indeed the case or not, the seller still sent you the item you'd paid for and you subsequently left the seller some positive feedback. Therefore, treat this potential buyer as you would wish others to treat you. If you give her the benefit of the doubt and she ends up buying the item from you then do your best to ensure that the transaction goes as smoothly as possible, and if she feels as though the transaction was a positive one then she may well leave you some positive feedback in relation to the transaction. First impressions last, so if the first impression that you give this potential buyer of buying on eBay is a good one and she sees further items that you've listed for sale that she would be interested in then you may end up with a repeat customer.

Re: is this a scam

fargvs — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 20:20:38 GMT

''........... but she is based in Ireland ''

Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland ? ... it does make a difference as NI (BT Postcodes) are classed as UK sales and RM Postage is charged at standard UK postal rates. Couriers will usually charge extra for delivery.

ROI sales are International Europe rate sales and charged as such by Royal Mail/Couriers and the GSP Centre.