QR Code Related Question

[fractal369]

If a buyer forwards their QR code to another person's phone so that third party can collect on buyers behalf; Will seller be able to scan QR code like expected and will ebay still authenticate and authorise delivery?

Am first time seller as private seller and have had a horrid time trying jump through the hoops and be a good ebay seller.   Though my listing has sold quicker than expected am finding the time and effort involved has basically nullified my sale, just because seller ui is simply not dynamic enough and the postage options simply don't fit my listing's needs, not one of them came with compensation for any damages caused during transit time.  All were marked "no compensation"   this falls short of what i expected things worked for sellers on ebay.  Well short.   

Regardless buyer wants to collect after discussing through ebay messages so I had to change delivery type and this led to new listing being created.  Buyer wants to use third party to collect on his behalf but am concerned QR code will only scan like expected if it is scanned from buyers phone only.

Am I overthinking or are my gut feelings helping protect me?

Another point of concern i have after discussing new collection time with buyer (they never showed up on wednesday) last night is 90%  of our discussion in ebay messages got deleted.

How or who could do such a thing? And how without emailing or notifying me as seller sharing reason as to why?

[papso22 · Accepted solution]

Forwarded QR codes will still scan but the buyer also gets a 6 digit number they can give the courier that you manually input into your device.

Presumably the buyer knows that he loses ebay buyer protection by sending a courier?  Make sure you keep the messages arranging this in a safe place.

I don't know why the messages are being deleted, but save the important ones somewhere else as screenshots.

Edited to add, don't use Ebay's postage, go to the courier websites for compensation levels and prices.  Going through eBay tends to give you very little by way of compensation and lots more exclusions. 

[61stephenuk]

As papso22 says the code can still be entered or scanned,I would send the buyer a message once the courier has collected along the lines'Thanks for your collection code I can confirm your courier has safely collected the item and it is now on it's way to you' this will confirm buyer didn't collect in person and may help should any claim be attempted for damage etc

[fractal369]

Buyer just wanted to collect initially without qr code.  It was only after i got told in another thread here i need QR code as proof of delivery i would get paid that I tried to edit order listing which caused a new listing to be created.  Buyer said he doesn't get refunded from ebay till 27th for initial order but ebay says he has paid for the item in new collection listing.

I don't understand the six digit code thing,  

Sadly I have no screenshots of the parts of  discussion that were vaporised in ebay messages,  they were vaporised within ten minutes of discussion ending with buyer last night

I also went out of my to get video of  thrustmaster devices working in thrustmaster control panel. Which was a hassle coz I only selling my stuff after my PC died a while back.   I did not have "tested and working" in listing description like what other sellers do on ebay for similar items.   Again buyer told me to not worry about it.

So he doesn't care much about buyer protection or seller protection.  I do.   

Will make sure to make buyer aware sending third party nullifies ebay buyer protection.

Not sure if buyer is just extremely enthusiastic to get his new PC gaming hardware or something far darker going on.

[fractal369]

If ebay detected things like buyer sharing personal info like phone number, which i pointed out to him he shouldn't do that and just use ebay messages and then ebay admin or bot deleted them, wouldn't I get some kind of notification?

Again I just not sure if buyer waa just trying help make doing things easier or if he was phishing or something else.

[tressygirl]

If the buyer is using a courier,  therefore a third party they need to give them the collection code so that you can either scan it or enter those number manually on the order details to the left of ....  Confirm Collection. Seems all above board there.

As others have said the buyer sending a courier voids themselves from any eBay MBG Money Back Guarantee protection.

Do not hand the item over without receiving that code.

eBay messages disappearing is odd, they shouldn't do that.  Which device are you using to view them?  If the app or mobile browser switch if you can to a PC / laptop and use Chrome,  try to see the messages from there.

@fractal369 

[fractal369]

Am using ebay app on android device.

Will try your suggestions and see if those messages are visible like expected.

Will try restarting android device

Just sold another item and the knowledge I have gained through this first item will serve me well, I hope.

Looking forward to becoming a trusted seller on ebay.

Thanks for helping me work out what is required of selling items on ebay as a private seller. Not quite as straight forward as I had thought.

[tressygirl]

It can be a bit of a minefield when you start.  Remember where we all are, always someone here to help you if you come across any issue big or small.

Ask here first  before proceeding with anything you're unsure of,  as it can be costly too,  to make a mistake.

Wishing you Happy Selling ! 🤗

@fractal369 

[martmarg41]

I don't want to sound too negative or frighten you but a £300 sale for your 1st sale may attract scammers.

What is the buyer's feedback like?

Be aware that even with collection via the correct code the buyer can still try an 'Item not as Described' (INAD) claim once they have the goods. You are then responsible for the return postage, even on collected items.

Most responders on here would advise you to start with small/low value items to get used to eBay before listing high value items.

Good Luck

[buffster1963]

The buyer is sending their own courior so will not be covered by the MBG. 

[martmarg41]

I think they can try an INAD but not an INR claim. With eBay bots performing like they do anything can happen.

It happened to me once, even after personal collection (and inspection) buyer claimed INAD as soon as he got home and eBay sided with buyer.

[*vyolla*]

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@martmarg41 wrote:

I think they can try an INAD but not an INR claim. With eBay bots performing like they do anything can happen.

It happened to me once, even after personal collection (and inspection) buyer claimed INAD as soon as he got home and eBay sided with buyer.

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A buyer would be able to open and win a not and described claim of they collected the item themselves.

If they send a third party to collect, and there's evidence of this via eBay messages, then they're not covered:

Taken from eBay's Money Back Guarantee guidance page below:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee?id=4...

However, if a buyer issues a not as described chargeback via their card provider, they'll get a refund that route.

[fractal369]

The buyers profile checks out fine.  64 purchases 6 sales 32 positive feedback with zero neutral or negative feedback

What is more concerning is with all those previous messages disappearing from buyer message feed he just messaged me with new ETA for today.  He just says "hi, will be with you ..."

No mention of third party 

Need to check my email notifications for evidence of third party coming to collect as they live in my home town.

He was just gonna pick from theirs when he could, just trying to help me out to get delivery confirmed asap

Idk, he may have just changed plans and drove all the way to collect himself.

[martmarg41]

Unfortunately the scammers are wise to all the rules. Pretend that they were acting as the courier (courier couldn't make it etc) and hey presto.

As many posters on here have learnt, messages do not count for anything with eBay bots.

[martmarg41]

Hopefully not a problem then. Make sure that you enter the Collection/QR code into your 'Sold Item'  for verification before giving the courier the goods.

[fractal369]

Yup, and with all those messages disappearing from my buyer messages feed, I suspect hackers could be a much more serious problem on ebay

Time will tell.    

[*vyolla*]

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@fractal369 wrote:

Yup, and with all those messages disappearing from my buyer messages feed, I suspect hackers could be a much more serious problem on ebay

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There will be no hackers removing your messages. Any eBay messages will still be there somewhere (unless you delete them).

[fractal369]

The third party offered me to scan the code before she even looked at the items.   Just scanning the QR code was enough to verify delivery.  Got on screen notification saying Delivery accepted whilst I was still scanning.

Order details automatically updated with green tick saying delivered.

Am sure buyer is just excited to get his new items and am also sure he knows he is getting fair deal as he never haggled or tried to get lower than buy it now price.

Just seeing all those messages fisappear from buyer message feed got my mind overthinking all the bad things that could happen.

Am sure I very fortunate in attracting an awesome ebay buyer on my first sale.  We both know it was a fair price.

Though buyer still has time to change his mind, I don't think he will.

[*vyolla*]

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@fractal369 wrote:

The third party offered me to scan the code before she even looked at the items.   Just scanning the QR code was enough to verify delivery.  Got on screen notification saying Delivery accepted whilst I was still scanning.

Order details automatically updated with green tick saying delivered.

Am sure buyer is just excited to get his new items and am also sure he knows he is getting fair deal as he never haggled or tried to get lower than buy it now price.

Just seeing all those messages fisappear from buyer message feed got my mind overthinking all the bad things that could happen.

Am sure I very fortunate in attracting an awesome ebay buyer on my first sale.  We both know it was a fair price.

Though buyer still has time to change his mind, I don't think he will.

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What do you mean by 'third party'? Is someone in touch with you claiming to be the courier and has given you  the collection code?

 It makes zero sense to give the seller the collection code confirming that you have collected your item and in possession of it when you haven't. 

[fractal369]

You completely misunderstand.

I am seller.

Buyer sent a third party to collect item he bought from me.  He is two or three hour drive from me but has relatives in my home town.

I know I ain't a scammer and am sure buyer is not either.

We are both happy how this worked out.

He saved £30 on postage which didn't even cover full postage costs and saved me buying packaging materials and the rest of ebay postage.

Plus we both can better ensure delivery without damage.

No paid courier was involved.  That was a presumption or over generalisation by another "expert" in this discussion.

I have another older thread in member to member forum explaining why I had to change order delivery type from postage only to collection only after buyer paid, which led to a new listing for same item being listed as new listing.

I was complaining about the lack of control or asking for more dynamic options for sellers in that other thread.

Thingygirl didn't understand either ....

... all this happened because I was given very inaccurate information by an ebay chat advisor who seemed it appropiate to give me links for ebay.com and not ebay.co.uk.