Would you trust this eBay buyer?

[Dontom]

I have a buy it now with best offer up on eBay now. I got a offer from someone that has 2 feedback. He joined eBay in 2018 the 2 feedback he has are both positive. If we agree on a price it will be around 10k. Should I respond to his offer or stay away. What would you guys do? What kind of scams can I potentially be in for?

[GeechQuest]

I have a buy it now with best offer up on eBay now. I got a offer from someone that has 2 feedback. He joined eBay in 2018 the 2 feedback he has are both positive. If we agree on a price it will be around 10k. Should I respond to his offer or stay away. What would you guys do? What kind of scams can I potentially be in for?

The most likely “scam” would just be the buyer not paying and trying to pump his own version from an alternate account.

Ship the card with signature confirmation, insurance, and overnight if he pays and you’ll be fine. Most people don’t want to deal with a $10K mail fraud case. Everybody has heard the horror stories but 99% of deals go off without a hitch.

[daviswr7]

I would never sell a $10k card to a buyer with 2 feedback. Ever.

I know everyone has to start from somewhere. But personally, no way, no how, no chance.

[Dontom]

Im just worried about how PayPal sides with the buyer on just about everything. The card can be delivered exactly as described but the buyer can return it if he wants even if I don’t offer returns. He can then send me a box of rock with tracking and PayPal will refund him.

[KhalDrogo]

See if he'll have a phone conversation so you can get a feel for him.

[Dontom]

I would never sell a $10k card to a buyer with 2 feedback. Ever.

I know everyone has to start from somewhere. But personally, no way, no how, no chance.

The more thought I give it the more I feel this way. I’d like to sell the card but it’s just too much of a risk with how PayPal treats the seller.

[cardmole]

The more thought I give it the more I feel this way. I’d like to sell the card but it’s just too much of a risk with how PayPal treats the seller.

If possible, I would consider doing this deal in person.
I would not do this large of a deal with this buyer thru the mail/Ebay/Paypal.
Of course, this opens up other problems.

[GeechQuest]

Im just worried about how PayPal sides with the buyer on just about everything. The card can be delivered exactly as described but the buyer can return it if he wants even if I don’t offer returns. He can then send me a box of rock with tracking and PayPal will refund him.

That’s what you’ve heard, but that’s not actually the case.

It’s especially not the case on a 5 figure transaction.

[daxwills]

10k transaction? If it’s a domestic deal just fly there, cash deal, save the fees, all problems solved.

[shrevecity]

You are at no more risk from a 2 feedback buyer than one with hundreds. It has been shown over and over feedback does not mean that much.

I agree with the cash deal in person on 10K though.

I get more issues from buyers with thousands of feedback including unpaid items and such than I do with buyers with less than 10 feedback.

As far a Ebay goes, its not that hard to win a case as a seller. I have won the last 3 filed against me.

[rippev]

10k transaction? If it’s a domestic deal just fly there, cash deal, save the fees, all problems solved.

If time permits, this. Round trip flights anywhere in the USA will be cheaper than eBay and PayPal fees.

[shrevecity]

Main thing is go with your gut. No matter what the feedback is, remember all buyers will have 100% feedback. If you are not comfortable don't do it and block them.

[jkl165116]

I wouldnt do it... unless it was in person cash. If it were someone with more feedback I would have no issue.

[1dayshow]

Too many things can go wrong. My rule of thumb is every positive feedback on eBay is worth $2 in value. So if the member has 100 feedbacks, I trust him up to $200. So for a $10K transaction, the buyer must have at least 5000 feedbacks.

Of course this is flexible if the person communicates with you clearly and perhaps distance may be a factor as well. But, when it does come to matters like this, I like to stick to that.

[GeechQuest]

I would never sell a $10k card to a buyer with 2 feedback. Ever.

I know everyone has to start from somewhere. But personally, no way, no how, no chance.

If possible, I would consider doing this deal in person.
I would not do this large of a deal with this buyer thru the mail/Ebay/Paypal.
Of course, this opens up other problems.

I wouldnt do it... unless it was in person cash. If it were someone with more feedback I would have no issue.

Too many things can go wrong. My rule of thumb is every positive feedback on eBay is worth $2 in value. So if the member has 100 feedbacks, I trust him up to $200. So for a $10K transaction, the buyer must have at least 5000 feedbacks.

Of course this is flexible if the person communicates with you clearly and perhaps distance may be a factor as well. But, when it does come to matters like this, I like to stick to that.


This is exactly how people are able to pull off scams. The person scamming you is going to play to your ill conceived notions about “who could be a scammer” and just wait for you to mess up your end of the transaction process. If you see a feedback number and associate anything with it, I can’t help you. The number on eBay means absolutely nothing. The number on itrader means absolutely nothing. It may give you a false sense of security, but that’s about it. That false sense of security is also the exact reason why you will be scammed.

The amount of scams online is absolutely microscopic relative to what you read. For the totality of 5 figure purchases people are completing online each day, there sure aren’t a ton of posts online where you can read about people being scammed for that much.

If it’s a 5 figure card and you’re paranoid but have the time to burn in travel, just go meet the person.

If you follow all the proper processes for selling online via eBay/PP, it’s going to be tough to have a judgement not ruled in your favor. I have NEVER once had a judgement go against me either via eBay or PayPal, and most were exactly the type of scams you read about here.

[shrevecity]

This is exactly how people are able to pull off scams. The person scamming you is going to play to your ill conceived notions about “who could be a scammer” and just wait for you to mess up your end of the transaction process. If you see a feedback number and associate anything with it, I can’t help you. The number on eBay means absolutely nothing. The number on itrader means absolutely nothing. It may give you a false sense of security, but that’s about it. That false sense of security is also the exact reason why you will be scammed.

The amount of scams online is absolutely microscopic relative to what you read. For the totality of 5 figure purchases people are completing online each day, there sure aren’t a ton of posts online where you can read about people being scammed for that much.

If it’s a 5 figure card and you’re paranoid but have the time to burn in travel, just go meet the person.

If you follow all the proper processes for selling online via eBay/PP, it’s going to be tough to have a judgement not ruled in your favor. I have NEVER once had a judgement go against me either via eBay or PayPal, and most were exactly the type of scams you read about here.

Spot on. I will add if you are so paranoid about what will go wrong maybe you should not sell on Ebay.

Buyers with thousands of feedback will often use that to their advantage. They prey on those who put false trust in their numbers. Many scammer will build up their feedback just to build that false trust.

A buyer with 2 feedback or 2000 feedback both have the same tools available in fact the 2000 feedback buyer is likely to know more about how to do it and get away with it, and what would one bad transaction really do to them. They would turn it on the seller and move on unscathed while the seller comes out looking bad.

I have won more cases on Ebay than I have lost, the only ones I lost were mostly due to the fight not being worth it. Reality is there are thousands more successful transactions per day than scams we only hear about the bad ones. If they are bad as the internet makes them sound sometimes do you seriously think anyone would sell online.

A 10,000 dollar card would be better served being sold through a consignment service like Probstein or PWCC. Any card over 200 that is what I do.

Its just like sellers who have 100% feedback they are often the targets of scammers because of the preconceived notion that based on what has been seen here that these sellers are spineless and will do anything in fear of getting a neg and end up willingly becoming the victim.

There has been talk for the past couple of years that Ebay is going to eventually do away with buyer feedback altogether much like Amazon does

[shrevecity]

Let me ask this question after May 1st if a buyer with 2 feedback hits BIN on an item of this value and pays right away what are you going to do then?

[Stifle]

Communicate on his cell phone and ask for a pic to be sent over the phone with a short discription of transaction. If he is against doing this then be done with it! ! ! !

[LC2nine10]

What was haikus feedback before it all went down?

[Dontom]

I ended up declining the offer. I know feedback doesn't mean much but it does give you a little bit to go on. I've only had the card up for a few days so I'm going to give it more time and see if someone that lives closer makes a offer. I would feel a little better if they had more feedback but even then I would probably still prefer to make the deal in person. Thanks for all the input.

[BOboy]

If you ever do sell something expensive to somebody you have concerns about and have to mail it, get as much documentation as possible. Pack it at the post office, take pictures and video, show it to the clerk that it is going in the box and how well you packed it, the more the better. It's a lot of work but worth it if you have a problem.

[houdini]

If you ever do sell something expensive to somebody you have concerns about and have to mail it, get as much documentation as possible. Pack it at the post office, take pictures and video, show it to the clerk that it is going in the box and how well you packed it, the more the better. It's a lot of work but worth it if you have a problem.


None of this will matter.

[Killerbeeze]

If it is a popular item and you think it will sell for the same amount via auction, I would go with PWCC. Fees are less on a $10k item through them vs eBay/PayPal by yourself I believe and they would have the risk then.

[Dontom]

If it is a popular item and you think it will sell for the same amount via auction, I would go with PWCC. Fees are less on a $10k item through them vs eBay/PayPal by yourself I believe and they would have the risk then.

I never looked into their fees. I just assumed they would be a lot more than ebay/paypal. I'll have to look into that because if that's true that's probably the route I'll go.

[lietuvalabas]

as a fellow chicago suburbanite, i approve this method, definitely fly, or if he wants it so bad have him fly here

[Killerbeeze]

8% Total fees for individual graded card selling for $5K+. See attached pic.

[asujbl]

You are at no more risk from a 2 feedback buyer than one with hundreds. It has been shown over and over feedback does not mean that much.

I agree with the cash deal in person on 10K though.

I get more issues from buyers with thousands of feedback including unpaid items and such than I do with buyers with less than 10 feedback.

As far a Ebay goes, its not that hard to win a case as a seller. I have won the last 3 filed against me.

Agreed

[asujbl]

Too many things can go wrong. My rule of thumb is every positive feedback on eBay is worth $2 in value. So if the member has 100 feedbacks, I trust him up to $200. So for a $10K transaction, the buyer must have at least 5000 feedbacks.

Of course this is flexible if the person communicates with you clearly and perhaps distance may be a factor as well. But, when it does come to matters like this, I like to stick to that.

So you’d only sell me a $1,200 card?

Interesting

[RogerGodahell]

I'd be weary to but everyone has to start somewhere. I've been in your shoes and here's what i did. In my listing i specifically stated i wasn't shipping the card to anyone under 100 feedback. I don't think you can enforce it but i put it in the listing anyways. I've sold several cards over $10k and not had any problems but they all had positive feedback as well. I also tell them im shipping registered mail with restricted signature confirmation which means no one else can sign for the item except them. No chance of USPS or Fedex dropping the card off at an apartment with anyone signing for it and then them saying they never got the card. That's another scam people pull.

[BOboy]

None of this will matter.

It does matter, not all claims are cut and dried with Ebay. They also keep notes on all members. It matters even more with USPS when filing an insurance claim.

[rittdk01]

Too many things can go wrong. My rule of thumb is every positive feedback on eBay is worth $2 in value. So if the member has 100 feedbacks, I trust him up to $200. So for a $10K transaction, the buyer must have at least 5000 feedbacks.

Of course this is flexible if the person communicates with you clearly and perhaps distance may be a factor as well. But, when it does come to matters like this, I like to stick to that.

This is a bit goofy. I’ve been on EBay since 2001 and have perfect feedback. I could only get a $3200 card going by this above system.

[JammingJay]

+1 on fly, meet in a safe, mutually agreeable place to transact.

[shrevecity]

If you ever do sell something expensive to somebody you have concerns about and have to mail it, get as much documentation as possible. Pack it at the post office, take pictures and video, show it to the clerk that it is going in the box and how well you packed it, the more the better. It's a lot of work but worth it if you have a problem.

Many POs will not even allow you to video inside of them, there is one where I used to live you have to go through metal detectors due to it being in a Federal Courthouse. Like Houdini said it will not matter one bit. Video can be easily manipulated, people can be manipulated.

[shrevecity]

It does matter, not all claims are cut and dried with Ebay. They also keep notes on all members. It matters even more with USPS when filing an insurance claim.

Most claims are pretty cut and dry, a computer program resolves them unless you call them about the case and most people do not.

[shrevecity]

8% Total fees for individual graded card selling for $5K+. See attached pic.

Don't forget that 8% is applied to the entire amount, Ebay fees cap at 250.00 or 300.00 FVf so a 10K item should only cost no more than 300 in fees from Ebay. So in these cases it maybe more, but the advantage is the headaches and stress involved in selling items like this are lowered dramatically.

[Dontom]

eBay caps it’s fees at 750. Then there’s still 2.9% from PayPal. If all they charge is 8% total then that is a pretty good deal.. I’ve never sold with pwcc but it’s sounding better the more I learn about it. I just assumed they would take a big cut and I would be better off Selling it myself but that doesn’t seem to be the case unless I’m missing something.

[shrevecity]

eBay caps it’s fees at 750. Then there’s still 2.9% from PayPal. If all they charge is 8% total then that is a pretty good deal.. I’ve never sold with pwcc but it’s sounding better the more I learn about it. I just assumed they would take a big cut and I would be better off Selling it myself but that doesn’t seem to be the case unless I’m missing something.

I forgot they raised that, I won't sell anything over 500 myself on Ebay so I stopped really watching that.

[1dayshow]

So you’d only sell me a $1,200 card?

Interesting

Yes and no. It is one factor that I used to determine when accepting best offers. I have sold more expensive cards to those with less feedback, and vice versa. Usually those with higher feedback, I just feel more comfortable with the transaction.

Different strokes for different folks. I understand that it is an inexact science.

[Litwing]

Two feedback is dangerous, unless he paid by bankwire.

[auctionjmm]

Yes and no. It is one factor that I used to determine when accepting best offers. I have sold more expensive cards to those with less feedback, and vice versa. Usually those with higher feedback, I just feel more comfortable with the transaction.

Different strokes for different folks. I understand that it is an inexact science.

They are just jealous that you would sell me a $49,000 card but not them :flex:

[1dayshow]

They are just jealous that you would sell me a $49,000 card but not them :flex:

Yes, I would. Only one minor issue... I don't have a $49K card to sell.