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21 Replies Last post: Nov 5, 2009 2:49 PM by yen10   1 2 Previous Next
fester2000 Iknowathingortwo 688 posts since
Oct 30, 2006
Currently Being Moderated

Oct 23, 2009 8:52 AM

eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

Got this message on eBay from a potential buyer of my strat:

 

Hi mate, would you ship it to the address of a mail forwarding service in Torrance, CA(shipito.com)? Gonna forward it to Russia.
Thank you.

Cheers,


xxxxx

 

I looked into shipito.com and it's a legitimate freight forwarding company.  As far as I can tell, so long as this guy pays w/ Paypal and has the address in Torrance, CA as his confirmed Paypal address, I'll avoid getting scammed, yes?

 

I told him that (1) so long as he agreed that my only obligation was to ship it to the shipito.com folks and (2) that I'm not responsible for any potential damage during shipping, I'm probably ok with it.  I told him not to bid unless he agreed to these terms in writing.  I haven't yet heard back.

 

Scam?  Fraud?

 

And while I appreciate those of you who don't think I should sell my strat -- trust me, I hear you, but for what it's worth I can get at least 2 and maybe even three nice guitars.  That ship has sailed, so to speak.

 

Cheers,

 

Fester2k

donfrantz Juststartin' 148 posts since
Feb 8, 2007
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1. Oct 23, 2009 8:59 AM in response to: fester2000
Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

I'd be very careful...sounds like a potential scam to me...

spaceatl Iknowathingortwo 896 posts since
Jan 24, 2007
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2. Oct 23, 2009 9:00 AM in response to: fester2000
Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

That sounds like a plan...Once it arrives at in Torrence, your obligation is completed...

phil_m Iknowathingortwo 618 posts since
Jan 25, 2007
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3. Oct 23, 2009 10:32 AM in response to: fester2000
Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

As long as he pays you first and indemnifies from potential damage, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

I'd say at least for about 50%  of the things I've sold on Ebay, I have an international contact me or even win the auction.  It is a bit more of pain to ship internationally, but I've often found that those buyers will often pay more because supply is limited in their markets.

LoonyBin-Fizzbin Poweruser 1,352 posts since
Mar 26, 2007
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4. Oct 23, 2009 11:46 AM in response to: fester2000
Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

If you have doubts?

 

Then do not do it!

 

It´s simple!  Trust your intuition, and why you are suspicious in the first place!

nuser101 Juststartin' 74 posts since
Jan 24, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
5. Oct 23, 2009 1:21 PM in response to: fester2000
Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

fester2000 wrote:

 

And while I appreciate those of you who don't think I should sell my strat -- trust me, I hear you, but for what it's worth I can get at least 2 and maybe even three nice guitars.  That ship has sailed, so to speak.

 

Cheers,

 

Fester2k

As the owner of a 2003 deluxe with vintage noiseless pus, I'm here to emphatically tell you that the ship doesn't sail until the guitar's in the mail, and once it does sail, you'll be sorry you weren't on board. DON'T DO IT, FESTER - AAGHHHHH............

Karl_Houseknecht Iknowathingortwo 1,033 posts since
Jan 25, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
6. Oct 23, 2009 2:44 PM in response to: fester2000
Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

Just make darn sure that the payment clears in PayPal before you ship.  They will sometimes hold the payment and tell you not to ship until they research the transaction.  Once it's approved, download that money into your bank account pronto and then ship.

Bluestone Iknowathingortwo 725 posts since
Feb 11, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
7. Oct 23, 2009 10:26 PM in response to: fester2000
Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

I have often gone on record here...unless you can get waranty info, return info, info on the seller that assures you they are honest...I don't trust Ebay for major purchases of gear...

 

Seller tend to unload damaged and faulty gear as "mint" on ebay..

 

If you can be peaceful about a deal on ebay..then go ahead..but proceed with caution..

 

 

OM

Slingy Juststartin' 197 posts since
Jan 25, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
8. Oct 23, 2009 11:08 PM in response to: Bluestone
Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

He is the seller. Seems to me that shipito is there to protect international buyers and to get a better shipping rate for the buyer. I would check the Ebay forums for threads related to shipito.com.

mimungr Iknowathingortwo 288 posts since
Mar 25, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
9. Oct 24, 2009 3:41 AM in response to: Karl_Houseknecht
Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).
Just make darn sure that the payment clears in PayPal before you ship.

 

If they pay by credit card, they have up to 60 days to dispute the charge. Even if you've already transferred the money out of your PayPal account, PayPal will still come after you to get their money back.

 

I wouldn't ship to an unconfirmed address.

Insidian Juststartin' 333 posts since
Jan 24, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
10. Oct 24, 2009 2:46 PM in response to: fester2000
Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

NVM, I'm stupid.

 

 

Bluestone Iknowathingortwo 725 posts since
Feb 11, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
11. Oct 24, 2009 8:39 AM in response to: Slingy
Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

Sorry...I missd that part..LOL

 

Get the payment!!!

 

OM

Matt_J71   55 posts since
Jan 25, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
12. Oct 24, 2009 2:03 PM in response to: fester2000
Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

I have sold over 400 items on ebay in the last 10 years. I have never felt comfortable shipping anything out of the USA or dealing with people that do not live in the US. There just seems to be more of a chance of getting scammed and then not protected by US laws because the person doesn't live here.

 

For every international buyer that wants to buy your guitar, there will be 50 in the USA with confirmed addresses that will buy it. I am probably overly cautious, but It just isn't worth the extra risk to me.

Mcgill Juststartin' 212 posts since
Jan 25, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
13. Oct 24, 2009 2:46 PM in response to: Matt_J71
Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

I have to agree!

 

And I am one of those out of country people!

 

I went to a gas station here 3 weeks ago, and said "Fill her up"  the cost on the meter was 30% more than I normally pay! So I argued, I was called a thief and that my car had a 70 litter tank.....  could´t prove it at that time.

 

 

I checked and my tank was a 55 Litter tank, was charged for 65 litlers of gas....  And I wasn´t on empty when I went in.....

 

 

If you want to know the point of my story?  Well these things happen on a daily basis!  I do not trust anyone here any longer! Harsh yes! But this is the reality!

 

But if I went to a USA dealer, and they sold me too much gas, I wouldn´t be called a thief! And I would not hesitate to call the Cops! Oh, Btw, I was robbed from the cops here, at gun point!

 

So Get paid first! (Cash in hand only) Then ship! This is what I expected of you too, and this is why I wanted you to have your money before you shipped the "thing". (Which I love BTW)

 

All this with loads of hard knocks, including a Dr. that wanted to cut me open and remove an organ when all I needed was hydration, and just to make money!  So yes all this venom is from personal experience of living in a "Lawless" place!   Toto this isn´t Kansas any more!

a3d3   1 posts since
May 14, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
14. Oct 26, 2009 5:59 AM in response to: fester2000
Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

I have had many folks try to scam me on ebay.  A couple things i learned the hard way... don't ever use "Buy it now" because a scammer will go in and click that little button and that takes your item out of the bid immediately.  So even after you have got the thing taken care of with the scammer you still have to go back and post it again... not to mention pay the ebay fees for posting it again.  And wait until your funds are in your paypal account and CONFIRMED!  Be very careful... because good scammers can imitate a very legitimate looking confirmation email saying the funds are in your account.

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