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Ebay buyer issues, what would you do?

C

Candi

I sold my 50g tank on ebay yesterday, it was sold as a cash on pickup or paypal only auction. I just received a message from the buyer saying they have had some sort of undisclosed car issue and they want me to hold the tank for a couple weeks and they can send me a money order deposit.

This leaves me with a bad feeling, I'm leary of money orders given all the fraud you read about with them plus I want the tank gone ASAP, not collecting dust in my garage any longer. My husband is worried a couple weeks would turn into a month, then two, etc and eventually we'd sell it to someone else and end up getting negative feedback from the original buyer.

The buyer has 44 feedback ratings, all positive except for one last year for nonpayment. I have 100% feedback and would hate to get a negative from this guy when he's the one trying to change the terms etc.

Thanks for any opinions!
 
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

I would accept a money order deposit as long as it is a US postal one. Just check this site to verify authenticity:

http://www.usps.com/missingmoneyorders/security.htm

Also - I would not accept say a $500US money order, asking for the difference back in cash.

If you're really pinched for time - I would say this:
Give me a (non-refundable) deposit and I'll hold it for you for X weeks (whatever you /hubby decide on).

I guess I don't see a problem with this guy - only if he decides later not to pick up. He offered the highest bid (by far) to meet your reserve and does not have a negative feedback in the last 12 months.

If you feel "weird" about this buyer, then just say that your family is moving out of country and you can't hold the tank for a month. Therefore you want to re-list a 5 day auction. The bidder is welcome to re-bid if his car is fixed.

Just my 2 cents.
 
H

harryk

I would send them an email and set a drop dead deadline maybe a week or two max and request payment in full now via paypal or cash upon pickup. You holding it for a few weeks wasn't part of the Ebay ad correct? I wouldn't worry about the bad feedback in that case you didn't do anything wrong if anything you would be accomidating them. I believe you can always dispute the reason for the bad feedback. worse case scenario you relist the tank in a week or 2 or place is somewhere else for sale

Just my opinion. good luck
Harry
 
reefsandrotts

reefsandrotts

NJRC Member
Ebay allows 7-10 days for a bidder to unless stated differently in the auction.
I would give the buyer 10 days to pay if he doesn't you can re-list the item,if the buyer decides to leave negitive feedback all you have to do is contact ebay and they will remove the bad feedback.I've been down this road before.Just make the buyer aware of this ASAP.
 
M

medachef

i would accept the money order and if it fall through after the dead line as stated above your still up. But let the buy know that once the dead line is up the tank will be re-listed and the deposit is nonrefundable. or just re-list it on craigslist. they usually sell fast and it'll be local too.
 
S

Subliminal

NJRC Member
Trying to get eBay feedback removed is pretty much impossible.

Car problems happen. But, doesn't this person still need to get to work? Weeks without a car? Doesn't sound likely.

Sucks, but that's eBay for ya. ;)
 
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