Problem with Ebay seller -- any advice?

Anonymous · October 8th, 2003, 04:44 PM

Ebay is an odd enough cyber-land that I figured I might run across something like this eventually. But here's the 411:

I recently won an auction on a guitar. I contacted the seller, everything seemed fine, but when he got back to me with a shipping price, he asked to have the payment (money order) made out to a different name. Well, okay, so maybe he owes someone some money or something.

But after mentioning to him in two separate emails that I wanted his phone number before sending payment, he has now emailed me back and said, "I gave you all the important information. I do not give out my phone number."

Now, we're not talking a fortune here, but it IS several hundred dollars. I'm going to email him back and try to work things out -- I would like to have the guitar, and I'm sure he'd like to have the money -- but I really don't want to send a 3rd party money order "blind" to someone who won't give me his phone number. I have no others reason(s) to be suspicious, his emails aren't weird or anything, I'm just feeling reluctant on this one.

IF WE CAN'T WORK IT OUT... how should I approach this? Should I communicate directly with Ebay? Communicate with him and send a cc to Ebay? Send the money and hope for the best? Just blow off the deal and leave negative feedback? What do you think?

Thanks in advance,

Chris S.

Edit to add: He has a feedback rating of 90 with only 1 complaint, so obviously he's had a lot of satisfied customers.

Blueblood · October 8th, 2003, 05:07 PM

A good friend of mine went the ebay route to buy a guitar for his wife. He found a seller with monumental positive feedback and the results??

http://community.webshots.com/album/86435761gwyRvH

BTW...couldn't you get his phone# online since you already have his name and address?

cowboy · October 8th, 2003, 05:54 PM

about it, something is wrong. I went through the same thing with some guy in Florida a couple of years back.. no phone available, no address checked out, etc....I saw SCAM in big letters..never heard back from him. Be careful. later.

cowboy

Brad · October 8th, 2003, 06:22 PM

if the red flags go up, there's a reason. You may want the guitar bad, but my guess is it will never show up.

BLACKCAT69 · October 8th, 2003, 08:08 PM

If he wants to sell bad enugh he'll work with you. Seems he suspiciously doesn't want to be followed up with. Could be a 3rd party seller. Not worth the hassle if you get burned. Don't worry about the feedback....honest guys have to take a negative hit every once in a while in Ebay land. Damn shame though. Incidently,...if you don't mind divilging,..what geetar did you win? Hopelfully it wasn't the smashed Ricky going for $610.00...then again you have Einstein as your avatar...I'll give ya the benefit of the doubt!

stantheman · October 8th, 2003, 08:08 PM

in a case like this I'll keep my cash and risk negative feedback...in the last 16 months a new type of member
is being seen with more frequency and E-Bay is supposed to check these types out. honestly if they don't do PayPal I move right along, those types are not my type of E-bayer. Paypal is the only way I trust 'cause
it's trackable AND I always read feed back.

genelovesjez · October 8th, 2003, 08:19 PM

I don't care what the circumstances, I would not make payment to anyone except the seller. At least that way, you know who got your money, and who you need to pursue. There are definitely a lot of red flags here. Think of the reasons someone doesn't want payment in their own name - a lien on them, unresolved bankruptcy, outstanding warrants, who knows? If it's because he owes money to someone else, that's his problem, not yours. I would be very reluctant to proceed with this.

Honga Man · October 8th, 2003, 10:14 PM

I agree with the previous posters.

If you smell a rat (and clearly there is reason for that) then hang on to your money. It's not worth the risk.

CC · October 8th, 2003, 11:51 PM

Communicate with Ebay first and do not leave any negative feedback until they say its ok to backout on the auction.

Asking to address payment to someone other than the person who is listed under the Ebay account is one red flag. Not providing a phone number is a second red flag.

If you alert Ebay first and go through the proper channels, they might be able to block the seller from leaving you negative retaliatory feedback.

I had a similar experience over a misrepresented amp (also overcharged me $51 on shipping). I followed Ebay's policy (submitted documented proof and used Safe Harbor for negotiating). Seller refused to make things right. Ebay partially re-imbursed my loss...I went ahead and left negative feedback. The seller responded below the negative feedback I left for him on his account; but surprisingly no negative feedback appeared under my account (I think Ebay pulled the plug so he couldn't retaliate).

FWIW, prior to my leaving him negative feedback, the seller had a perfect record of 74 positives. The Ebay account was listed under his girlfriend's name. After leaving them their first negative feedback, 2 more negatives immediately appeared under their account. I'm sure they abandoned the account and started another one with a different ID...the account has been inactive since 2000.

Michael R · October 9th, 2003, 08:47 AM

Weird thing to me is he asked you to make the M/O out to someone else (instead of just using that name to begin with). If he wouldn't let me contact him by phone then that would be all I would need to back out, and I never buy (items over $50 from a 'personal' seller) if I can't can't verify/match the address/phone # to the seller. I would just go with your gut feeling, and let him know what you need as a buyer to complete the deal, if he can't provide it then back out through ebay. Good luck hope it works out.

Scotland · October 9th, 2003, 09:13 AM

Take a walk....right away from that "deal". It almost screams SCAM

Raymond · October 9th, 2003, 10:38 AM

Another one for "eBait"!!!!

1. The payment should go to the seller only. Even if he owes money to someone that's his problem, not yours. He collects the money, then he pays the other guy.
2. When you won the auction, you should have gotten his phone number. This is a BIG RED FLAG
3. He doesn't want to talk. Another RED FLAG

I don't care if the seller has a 1000 positive feedback, that could've been for selling books or CDs and this is his first guitar.

Thefore, contact eBait and don't send any payments until the situation is resolved.

Good luck.

Wahwax · October 10th, 2003, 02:30 PM

Another thing. If you decide to leave negative feedback, expect to get negative feedback from him.

tdp46 · October 10th, 2003, 03:55 PM

Just had exactly the same thing here in Europe. A guy in Germany selling a G4 laptop at a really great price. Would only accept payment by wire. Tried to work out a deal by other means......Big silence. Still waiting for him to get back, it's been a few days....

October 8th, 2003, 04:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
Anonymous Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 0	Problem with Ebay seller -- any advice? Ebay is an odd enough cyber-land that I figured I might run across something like this eventually. But here's the 411: I recently won an auction on a guitar. I contacted the seller, everything seemed fine, but when he got back to me with a shipping price, he asked to have the payment (money order) made out to a different name. Well, okay, so maybe he owes someone some money or something. But after mentioning to him in two separate emails that I wanted his phone number before sending payment, he has now emailed me back and said, "I gave you all the important information. I do not give out my phone number." Now, we're not talking a fortune here, but it IS several hundred dollars. I'm going to email him back and try to work things out -- I would like to have the guitar, and I'm sure he'd like to have the money -- but I really don't want to send a 3rd party money order "blind" to someone who won't give me his phone number. I have no others reason(s) to be suspicious, his emails aren't weird or anything, I'm just feeling reluctant on this one. IF WE CAN'T WORK IT OUT... how should I approach this? Should I communicate directly with Ebay? Communicate with him and send a cc to Ebay? Send the money and hope for the best? Just blow off the deal and leave negative feedback? What do you think? Thanks in advance, Chris S. Edit to add: He has a feedback rating of 90 with only 1 complaint, so obviously he's had a lot of satisfied customers.

October 8th, 2003, 05:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
Blueblood Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Location: Directly in front of monitor Age: 55 Posts: 676 13 Photos	I'd pass.. A good friend of mine went the ebay route to buy a guitar for his wife. He found a seller with monumental positive feedback and the results?? http://community.webshots.com/album/86435761gwyRvH BTW...couldn't you get his phone# online since you already have his name and address? __________________ (((((((((((({{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{got mojo?}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}))))))))))))

October 8th, 2003, 05:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
cowboy Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: West Gardiner, Maine Age: 57 Posts: 140	I agree on the pass....if he isn't willing to talk.. about it, something is wrong. I went through the same thing with some guy in Florida a couple of years back.. no phone available, no address checked out, etc....I saw SCAM in big letters..never heard back from him. Be careful. later. cowboy __________________ my dream is just a couple of notes with some passion and soul.........

October 8th, 2003, 06:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
Brad Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,294	Follow your instinct..... if the red flags go up, there's a reason. You may want the guitar bad, but my guess is it will never show up. __________________ We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old becasue we stop playing.

October 8th, 2003, 08:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
BLACKCAT69 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canada-Windsor-Ont. Age: 37 Posts: 2,633 5 Photos	Pass... If he wants to sell bad enugh he'll work with you. Seems he suspiciously doesn't want to be followed up with. Could be a 3rd party seller. Not worth the hassle if you get burned. Don't worry about the feedback....honest guys have to take a negative hit every once in a while in Ebay land. Damn shame though. Incidently,...if you don't mind divilging,..what geetar did you win? Hopelfully it wasn't the smashed Ricky going for $610.00...then again you have Einstein as your avatar...I'll give ya the benefit of the doubt! __________________ http://www.lukefisher.com/blame.wav

October 8th, 2003, 08:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
stantheman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: White Mountains Posts: 4,560	Chris, I'd contact E-Bay ASAP.... in a case like this I'll keep my cash and risk negative feedback...in the last 16 months a new type of member is being seen with more frequency and E-Bay is supposed to check these types out. honestly if they don't do PayPal I move right along, those types are not my type of E-bayer. Paypal is the only way I trust 'cause it's trackable AND I always read feed back. __________________ Somebody Loan Me A Dime

October 8th, 2003, 08:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
genelovesjez Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Age: 41 Posts: 3,735	I don't care what the circumstances, I would not make payment to anyone except the seller. At least that way, you know who got your money, and who you need to pursue. There are definitely a lot of red flags here. Think of the reasons someone doesn't want payment in their own name - a lien on them, unresolved bankruptcy, outstanding warrants, who knows? If it's because he owes money to someone else, that's his problem, not yours. I would be very reluctant to proceed with this.

October 8th, 2003, 10:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
Honga Man Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 575	I agree with the previous posters. If you smell a rat (and clearly there is reason for that) then hang on to your money. It's not worth the risk.

October 8th, 2003, 11:51 PM	#9 (permalink)
CC Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Surfland USA, Hawaii Posts: 160	Communicate with Ebay first and do not leave any negative feedback until they say its ok to backout on the auction. Asking to address payment to someone other than the person who is listed under the Ebay account is one red flag. Not providing a phone number is a second red flag. If you alert Ebay first and go through the proper channels, they might be able to block the seller from leaving you negative retaliatory feedback. I had a similar experience over a misrepresented amp (also overcharged me $51 on shipping). I followed Ebay's policy (submitted documented proof and used Safe Harbor for negotiating). Seller refused to make things right. Ebay partially re-imbursed my loss...I went ahead and left negative feedback. The seller responded below the negative feedback I left for him on his account; but surprisingly no negative feedback appeared under my account (I think Ebay pulled the plug so he couldn't retaliate). FWIW, prior to my leaving him negative feedback, the seller had a perfect record of 74 positives. The Ebay account was listed under his girlfriend's name. After leaving them their first negative feedback, 2 more negatives immediately appeared under their account. I'm sure they abandoned the account and started another one with a different ID...the account has been inactive since 2000.

October 9th, 2003, 08:47 AM	#10 (permalink)
Michael R Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mystic CT Posts: 579	Weird thing to me is he asked you to make the M/O out to someone else (instead of just using that name to begin with). If he wouldn't let me contact him by phone then that would be all I would need to back out, and I never buy (items over $50 from a 'personal' seller) if I can't can't verify/match the address/phone # to the seller. I would just go with your gut feeling, and let him know what you need as a buyer to complete the deal, if he can't provide it then back out through ebay. Good luck hope it works out.

October 9th, 2003, 09:13 AM	#11 (permalink)
Scotland Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland, Yewrup Age: 54 Posts: 6,229 3 Photos	no way Take a walk....right away from that "deal". It almost screams SCAM __________________ All those who believe in psycho-kinesis, raise my hand !

October 9th, 2003, 10:38 AM	#12 (permalink)
Raymond Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Herndon, VA Posts: 2,417 3 Photos	Another one for "eBait"!!!! 1. The payment should go to the seller only. Even if he owes money to someone that's his problem, not yours. He collects the money, then he pays the other guy. 2. When you won the auction, you should have gotten his phone number. This is a BIG RED FLAG 3. He doesn't want to talk. Another RED FLAG I don't care if the seller has a 1000 positive feedback, that could've been for selling books or CDs and this is his first guitar. Thefore, contact eBait and don't send any payments until the situation is resolved. Good luck. __________________ "That's a hard pill to swallow, buddy; when you find out what the blues is all about"

October 10th, 2003, 02:30 PM	#13 (permalink)
Wahwax Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Location: Missouri Posts: 430	Another thing. If you decide to leave negative feedback, expect to get negative feedback from him. __________________ www.guitarforum.net My guitars

October 10th, 2003, 03:55 PM	#14 (permalink)
tdp46 TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North of the Border Posts: 86	Same thing in Euro-land..... Just had exactly the same thing here in Europe. A guy in Germany selling a G4 laptop at a really great price. Would only accept payment by wire. Tried to work out a deal by other means......Big silence. Still waiting for him to get back, it's been a few days.... __________________ "I could have been a contender" M. Brando