How to sell safely and avoid being scammed

ddn97
Community Member

Hey everyone,

 

I haven't sold on ebay in a few years...my last experience was horrible.  I sold a brand new phone to a guy who submitted a claim in paypal after he received it.  Paypal took the money from my account and refunded him even after I attached the shipping info, tracking references and even online it showed delivered and signed.  I can't remember, but it may have been bc his address was not confirmed, I don't sell much so I wasn't aware of that scam or loophole in the system.  For the life of me and everything I tried, I couldn't get the money back with paypal even though it was extremely clear I was being scammed.

 

Anyway, I'm looking to sell something of much higher value and don't want to make the same mistake.  Other than checking for confirmed addresses in paypal, what other concerns or red alarms should I watch out for before shipping my item out to the buyer.

 

Thank you all,

Dan

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How to sell safely and avoid being scammed

Go to your seller preferences and set automatic Blocks on bidders with Strikes for unpaid items, on bidders with policy violations, and bidders without active Paypal accounts. There are other Blocks you may want to use.

 

I doubt the unconfirmed address was the problem. More likely, you used Delivery Confirmation , but not Signature Confirmation on an item whose value required it ($250 including postage ) or you shipped to an address that was not on his Paypal account.

 

Use Paypal labels. This makes it easier for PP and eBay to confirm shipping and delivery. Also you get a discount on many of the services offered.

 

Put a discreet note in your description to this effect " Your purchase will be well packed to prevent damage in transit, and will be insured and tracked for further protection."  Doesn't have to be big letters or anything. That all this protects you is not important, your honest customers will get the warm fuzzies and the scammers will be put on notice.

 

When you sell, include the shipping number in your feedback. Again, warm fuzzies for the good buyer, warning to the scammer.

 

 

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How to sell safely and avoid being scammed

That was extremely helpful, thank you..much appreciated!

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How to sell safely and avoid being scammed

Anonymous
Not applicable

The problem is that it doesn't include anyone who filed chargeback or have scammed one of us, so that feature really doesn't help much.  Unless it includes bidders who filed disputes with eBay/PayPal even the sellers have proof?  Doubt!

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How to sell safely and avoid being scammed

The honest and horrible truthful answer is you Can't ...

 

Tracking no tracking signature no signature doesn't matter ..

 

All you can do is limit the scammers but you can not stop them ..

 

You get signature confirmation.. Safe .... NOOOOOOO

 

Item not as described case filed.. Buyer ships back a boxs full of old socks provides paypal with there return tracking number showing delivery confirmation BAM buyers is refunded and you are now out the money with a box of old dirty socks..

 

 

Follow what Femme said as this will limit the possibility but if someone knows how they can scam you no matter what you do...

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How to sell safely and avoid being scammed

Anonymous
Not applicable

To Brand...

 

Why is that Signature confirmation not safe? 

 

PayPal requires us to  signature confirmation (proof of signature) for $250.00 and over. 

 

If you mean that PayPal still don't care??  PayPal should own up their own responsibility if they requires us to include signature confirmation (proof of signature).  They cannot say one thing and then turn around say something different!

 

It would mean we would have a good case in legal against them??

 

 

Message 6 of 8
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How to sell safely and avoid being scammed

No no paypal will honor there deal with that what I mean is ...

 

Signature confirmation good to go..

 

Buyer says Item not as described ...

Ships back box with socks instead of Ipad


Paypal sees return tracking has been received by sellers...

 

Paypal then refunds buyers

 

Seller says they shipped me back sock not the Ipad paypal says take a picture prove and we still don't care buyer is getting there money back..

 

 

There is no matter what you do a way for a buyer to rip the seller of with paypal .. NO MATTER WHAT

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How to sell safely and avoid being scammed

To the OP: Seling expensive items online is risky. Are there any local selling options there? eBay and Paypal aren't 100% scammer-proof unfortunately. 

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