Dodgy buyer or eBay glitch?

[heartshapedworld]

I've had a message from a prospective buyer in Canada for a high value item. I don't currently offer international shipping but hadn't excluded this in selling preferences. The message seems genuine but the account is brand new with zero feedback, and further, eBay messaging produces this error message when attempting to reply "the recipient did not post the question you are trying to answer". So far, so very odd and so far, so very dubious.  I've been able to message the account outside of any transaction, simply to 'keep the door open' should it prove a genuine enquiry. eBay support has been useless and now, oops - our server is down (messaging). Anyone experienced anything similar?

[tsmgmd]

As everybody has said. 

Block the prospective bidder. 

Change the listing to UK only. 

[john1297576]

Consider the risks of breakage, potential not as Described claims and the cost to you.

If you had to pay return postage, and loss of Paypal fees which would be at least £35, probably more if paid from Canada. 

I would suggest that you block this person, and edit the listing to exclude ALL foreign bidders. 

Have you checked that the postal method you propose to use in the UK covers for the value?

[heartshapedworld]

I use a courier in the UK with an option for full value cover provided the packing is at a required standard (eg guitar in hard case and boxed). It’s not feasible to do this transatlantic and neither is if necessary - a much bigger choice over there.

[1902elder]

Personally I would treat it with a great deal of suspicion and I would be very careful. Best thing is just to put the ID on your blocked bidder list, it might just be genuine but I would not take the chance.

[heartshapedworld]

Agreed. That error message suggests a hacked account, but that would seem pointless, hence I suspect the original message is genuine but from someone new to eBay who has fallen foul of some technical horridness. Either way, I take no chances. Haven't seen anything like it in ten years and have sold some mighty odd stuff all over the world along the way.