I'm selling a wristwatch, price around £800, and tips to avoid the "empty box" scam from buyers.

[windsordavies]

On watch forums there are quite a few stories of watches being sold and when received the recipient claiming that the box was empty then ebay siding with the buyer and the seller loses the watch and the money. I have sold a few watches over the years but this is by far the most expensive so hoping for some tips to mitigate the danger of this happening. Also as a further question I have posted in the past using Royal Mail Next Day before 1PM which covers up to £500 but I see they also do an additional cover up to £2500 but as I've never used this option could someone tell me if this is something I can arrange at the time of posting or is it something I have to set up before hand. 

Thanks

[red_magpie]

You're currently selling a £700 watch, which you're proposing to delivery be 2nd class post.

I'm sorry, but to be blunt if you don't even realise the risks of sending anything of this value by economy post, you probably have no idea of the range of scams to which you may be exposed when you've actually sold it.

I do urge you to call a halt to selling such items here until you properly understand the risks. I've been a member for over 20 years, and a participant in these boards for most of that time, and I wouldn't even think of selling a watch of that value here. It isn't just that eBay is a magnet for thieves, it's the fact that eBay's money back guarantee is so open to abuse that even the most experienced sellers have absolutely no way of protecting themselves from dishonest buyers.

Don't imagine that eBay will care. Ask yourself just one question. If you posted a Rolex, and the buyer returned a box containing a few trinkets, how would you feel if eBay said that they had no way of knowing who has the valid case, and enforced a full refund anyway? Unless you're happy to accept this as just one of the risks of selling on eBay, do please think seriously about the value of items you're willing to risk selling here.

[windsordavies]

In my post I clearly said I was posting the watch Next Day before 1PM and getting the additional cover up to £2500. The auction does have 2nd class postage in the details but I am unable to update the details because I have received bids so will be adding a further comment in the auction to clarify that this will be posted Next Day Before 1PM. Thank you for your advice, it is something that worries me and I was looking for tips like video recording the packaging of the watch or only allowing bidders with high feedback to bid, that sort of thing but maybe ending the auction is my best option. I have sold around thirty watches of lower value than this over the years and maybe I have just been lucky so far. Thanks again for your comment

[papso22]

The only seller protection available is for item not received when the seller sends by the right option for the value. For the watch that would be special delivery signed for.

And that's as far as seller protection goes, there is no way at all to prevent, or protect yourself against, the empty box scam, or any claim that the item is not as described, or the return of a brick, piece of wood, or a piece of tat.  Ebay will do nothing to protect you.

The advice, as always, is don't sell anything on ebay that you can't afford to lose.

[tsmgmd]

Personally I would not risk selling anything of value on here. 

We are hearing more and more of the eBay MBG and it's failings. 

It seems all the buyer has to do is submit a claim and it's instant refund. 

As you suspect a claim of a empty box been delivered and kiss your watch and £700 goodbye. 

[roger_roger_over_and_nowt]

There is no 100% sure way of not getting scammed no matter what you do.

Don't list anything you cannot afford to lose.

[plpmr]

unless cash on collection.