Ebay advice needed

[Russel]

Hi all,

In need of a little advice here... I'm selling a used Fujifilm X-T100 on ebay, reserve price £280, but I'll accept offers at or over £300 as that is the current going rate for a used entry level Fuji body only camera, I may be slightly undervaluing it, but not by much.

I've logged into Ebay today to check the progress, I've received an offer of £600, so £200-£300 above the current average price, along with the below message from a buyer located in the US...

"Please kindly accept my offer or get back to me with your own counter offer so that i can made the payment as soon as possible and i want the item posted to my cousin address in UK and make sure you read my profile for you to email me asap"

Something doesn't seem right here and I'm inclined to decline the offer, anyone able to shed any light on what might be going on here before I decline?

Regards

 

[trainmania100]

Tell them to add the alternative address to their account. When they pay they can select it. Otherwise it's obvious a scam of some sort.
Need a record of the postal address on the order. Once it's on there, get proof of dispatch and tracking then you can get a reimbursement if they claim it hasn't arrived etc.

 

[Snow1964]

The problem with posting to a different address is if they claim non delivery, you might find payment is auto refunded because you cannot show delivery to the sellers address.

If that happens will have no money, and not have goods either.

Treat it as a scam unless the alternative address is registered to the buyer

 

[Russel]

Tell them to add the alternative address to their account. When they pay they can select it. Otherwise it's obvious a scam of some sort.

I'm guessing scam of some sort, but it's been years since I last sold anything on ebay.

The problem with posting to a different address is if they claim non delivery, you might find it is refunded

Yes of course, now you mention it, I've heard of this sort of thing happening in the past to others.

 

[pdq]

Given the amount offered is so significantly above market rate, I'd be tempted to stay well clear. It seems too good to be true, so is almost certainly a scam.

 

[Russel]

Given the amount offered is so significantly above market rate, I'd be tempted to stay well clear. It seems too good to be true, so is almost certainly a scam.

Yes, the inflated offer is what first rang alarm bells.

Offer declined.

Thanks all.

 

[4COR]

Yes, the inflated offer is what first rang alarm bells.

Offer declined.

Thanks all.

Yes - scam, and report buyer too!

 

[dangie]

Have you gone onto MPB Photographic and seen what price they will offer you for your camera?

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=UK%7CGoogle%7CBrand%7CSearch%7CNew%7CMPB_Brand%7CAll%7CAll%7CUK&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD-5icYhX6Xvgs7OVeKUDcBMsRJLL&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5-yW_f7PigMV9pFQBh1iWhlYEAAYASAAEgLnkPD_BwE

 

[Russel]

Have you gone onto MPB Photographic and seen what price they will offer you for your camera?

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=UK%7CGoogle%7CBrand%7CSearch%7CNew%7CMPB_Brand%7CAll%7CAll%7CUK&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD-5icYhX6Xvgs7OVeKUDcBMsRJLL&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5-yW_f7PigMV9pFQBh1iWhlYEAAYASAAEgLnkPD_BwE

Yes, they offer £200.

I'll be selling to MPB if it fails to sell on eBay first, I'm in no hurry though so thought eBay was worth a shot for the extra £100.

 

[dangie]

Yes, they offer £200.

I'll be selling to MPB if it fails to sell on eBay first, I'm in no hurry though so thought eBay was worth a shot for the extra £100.

Yes, as long as you get a genuine buyer, you'll generally get more on eBay. I sold a Sigma lens some time ago. MPB offered just over £200, I got about £350 on eBay after fees deducted.

 

[Roger1973]

I'd say it sounds dodgy.

I'm no expert on camera equipment, but may be worth a search to see what asking prices are on similar cameras are for sale, or do the 'advanced search' and search for completed sales and see what they went for. (some people over-inflate asking prices, but don't sell at them.)

With some items, people will put what seems a good 'offer' in at an early stage - I got that a while ago with a few collectables I was selling, but I saw the auction out and got more than they had offered.

What's this person's feedback score like? (although it's possible to bump up a feedback score with a lot of low value transactions between friends / sockpuppet accounts) A new account with no / limited feedback then I'd say definitely no.

Gut feeling is this is in the 'too good to be true' category.

 

[Darandio]

I wouldn't have either bothered starting an auction. They go all day long for £300-£350, there's one there now for £315 with 40+ watchers. I'd have just listed as 'Buy It Now' at £300 and let someone bite, which they will and it will be a genuine buyer. No fees to worry about either these days.

 

[david1212]

For anything valuable I always set the listing to UK buyers only plus state I will not ship to a UK mailbox or parcel forwarding company. I have cancelled sales stating why with no negative reaction from eBay. Also I use a major carrier - UPS, DPD or if light Royal Mail special delivery. So long as eBay get proof of receipt they will reject buyer claims for non-delivery.

Here I agree something does not seem right.

I wouldn't have either bothered starting an auction. They go all day long for £300-£350, there's one there now for £315 with 40+ watchers. I'd have just listed as 'Buy It Now' at £300 and let someone bite, which they will and it will be a genuine buyer. No fees to worry about either these days.

I would do the same - price to sell based on condition, if boxed, any accessories etc. Look at recently sold listings to set your price.

 

[Russel]

What's this person's feedback score like? (although it's possible to bump up a feedback score with a lot of low value transactions between friends / sockpuppet accounts) A new account with no / limited feedback then I'd say definitely no.

100% Positive feedback score over 13 reviews, however with the amount of alarm bells ringing, I wouldn't read too much into the feedback.

I wouldn't have either bothered starting an auction. They go all day long for £300-£350, there's one there now for £315 with 40+ watchers. I'd have just listed as 'Buy It Now' at £300 and let someone bite, which they will and it will be a genuine buyer. No fees to worry about either these days.

I'll let the auction run as it only has a couple of days left then relist as buy it now.

 

[QSK19]

Like all the others who have posted, I also agree that this feels like a scam. What also does it for me is the rather pushy, aggressive tone in the user’s message - almost like “you will accept my offer and you have no say in the matter”.

Stay well clear.

 

[Russel]

Like all the others who have posted, I also agree that this feels like a scam. What also does it for me is the rather pushy, aggressive tone in the user’s message - almost like “you will accept my offer and you have no say in the matter”.

Stay well clear.

Agreed, quite pushy.

What concerns me is that I'm able to pick up on this not looking right, but others won't and would have accepted and now face being scammed...

 

[QSK19]

Agreed, quite pushy.

What concerns me is that I'm able to pick up on this not looking right, but others won't and would have accepted and now face being scammed...

Indeed. I’ve always gone on gut instinct - if it doesn’t feel right, don’t go with it. Maybe there is the odd genuine person that I have turned away; however I’d rather do that just to be safe.