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6106 Views 22 Replies Latest reply: Feb 10, 2010 4:43 PM by Purify72 RSS
fester2000 Iknowathingortwo
fester2000
1,050 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 Just Startin'
    donfrantz
    278 posts since
    Feb 8, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    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 Expert Line 6 User
    spaceatl
    3,833 posts since
    Jan 24, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    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 Expert Line 6 User
    phil_m
    3,076 posts since
    Jan 25, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    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 Gear Head
    LoonyBin-Fizzbin
    2,070 posts since
    Mar 26, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    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 Just Startin'
    nuser101
    177 posts since
    Jan 24, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    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 Expert Line 6 User
    Karl_Houseknecht
    3,374 posts since
    Jan 25, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    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.

    • mimungr Gear Head
      mimungr
      649 posts since
      Mar 25, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      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.

  • Bluestone Iknowathingortwo
    Bluestone
    1,198 posts since
    Feb 11, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    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

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

    NVM, I'm stupid.

     

     

  • Matt_J71 Just Startin'
    Matt_J71
    103 posts since
    Jan 25, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    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 Just Startin'
      Mcgill
      338 posts since
      Jan 25, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      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 Just Startin'
    a3d3
    2 posts since
    May 14, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    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.

    • phil_m Expert Line 6 User
      phil_m
      3,076 posts since
      Jan 25, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      Oct 26, 2009 9:03 AM (in response to a3d3)
      Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

      I always put Buy it Now on my auctions, and I'd say a solid majority of them have sold that way.  I've never had any issue with it.  I don't sell a huge amount, but I've probably sold 25-30 items over the past two years.  I guess you just have to make sure you use common sense - don't do something you're not comfortable with and make sure you're operating within Ebay's and Paypal's terms of use.

      • fester2000 Iknowathingortwo
        fester2000
        1,050 posts since
        Oct 30, 2006
        Currently Being Moderated
        Oct 26, 2009 9:37 AM (in response to phil_m)
        Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

        I want to thank everyone for their input on this one.  As it turned out, the guy put a bid in, but it was too low ($900 -- I'd gotten another bid for $325 from a domestic buyer -- I was thinking "are you effing kidding?").  No other bidders made attempts, so the guitar is still mine.  And I must say it did very, very well in a casual practice jam setting Saturday night.

         

        I suspect I can sell it if I drop the price down to $1,099 or so, but if I can't sell it for that I'll probably just keep it.  I just bought a Michael Kelly Patriot Custom (I already have a MK acoustic that I'm totally blown away by) for $270 on eBay to replace the Ibanez I sold.

         

        Cheers,

         

        Fester2k

        • Matt_J71 Just Startin'
          Matt_J71
          103 posts since
          Jan 25, 2007
          Currently Being Moderated
          Oct 26, 2009 2:25 PM (in response to fester2000)
          Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

          100_1015.JPG100_1002.JPGAmazing the lowball offers you will get on stuff. I had a SUPER nice Warmoth Strat that I built a few years ago. It cost me 425 for the body, 280 for the neck, plus I put an EMG DG-20 setup in it and Sperzel locking tuners, brand new hardshell, the works. I had about $1200 invested. I put it on ebay for about $700 (already breaking my heart) and I had guys offering me $300 or $350 for it. I was like "you gotta be kidding me?" 100_0992.JPG

  • Slingy Just Startin'
    Slingy
    418 posts since
    Jan 25, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Oct 26, 2009 11:11 PM (in response to fester2000)
    Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

    Nice wood! What was it anyway? Looks like an unfinished neck, nice!

    • Matt_J71 Just Startin'
      Matt_J71
      103 posts since
      Jan 25, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      Oct 27, 2009 5:19 AM (in response to Slingy)
      Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

      The body was Black Korina. The neck was made of Canary with a rosewood fretboard. Canary does not require a finish - so you can play on the bare wood. It was an awesome guitar - wish I had kept it instead of selling it. I think I only ended up getting about $650 for it. I am thinking about building another Warmoth sometime.

  • philasonic Just Startin'
    philasonic
    127 posts since
    Oct 19, 2009
    Currently Being Moderated
    Oct 28, 2009 11:56 AM (in response to fester2000)
    Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

    This sounds more like a good question for eBay support.

     

    Sounds like a potential scam to me.

     

    Even if he pays up front, pay pal might offer him protection if he can some how demonstrate that he didn't get the product.

  • yen10 Just Startin'
    yen10
    1 posts since
    Nov 5, 2009
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 5, 2009 2:49 PM (in response to fester2000)
    Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

    I highly doubt that this is a scam as I have many regular buyers that use Shipito to forward their American purchases. Also, if someone enters in the Shipito address as the destination, no risk is involved as long as you are paid and the package is tracked and delivered to the specified destination. Paypal can be pretty refund-happy though, so be sure you get everything in writing from your buyer.

  • Purify72 Just Startin'
    Purify72
    1 posts since
    Feb 10, 2010
    Currently Being Moderated
    Feb 10, 2010 4:43 PM (in response to fester2000)
    Re: eBay Advice needed (fraud/scam question).

    I'd be very careful... Shipito is a legitimate company, but they have some not-so-legitimate customers.  I had a customer that claimed to be in Australia that bought a laptop from me and gave me a Shipito address.  I sent the laptop and, about four days after I shipped it, received notification from Paypal that the payment was fraudulent.  Luckily, I used FedEx to ship it so I called FedEx and the were able to re-route the package and return it to me, so I didn't lose it.  But it taught me a lesson-- so ship to them with caution!

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