Ebay paranoia question!!!!!!
 

I'm gonna throw out a random ebay question. I could be paranoid. It could be nothing. Even if there is an issue- I'm not toooooooo concerned about this (or should I be?).
I have been an ebay member for well over 10 years. I've bought a bunch of stuff. 100%+ feedback- immediate payment- and always- the item has been shipped and everything was good.

Until the other week- I never sold a thing. Being sidelined with some extra time around the house, and the realization I have latent hoarding genes in my DNA, I decided it was time to clean out some stuff.

So 2 weeks ago I broke into the "selling" category of ebay. My goal was to pick out several simple items ($1-$100 value), list them, receive payment, and ship them as a foot in the water to ebay selling. Went off with out a hitch- infact- surprised how well ebay is set up to sell things.

Last week I cranked it up a notch- several more items- now in the $100+ range.

Ordinarily (at least in my experience) as an ebayer buyer/and now seller, an item is listed, the auction ends, the buyer pays, the sender sends it off. Last week, I was fortunate to have (as I have always done) almost immediate payment from the buyers.

Today, the buyer hasn't payed yet- no big deal- but sent a message requesting the ebay item# be put on the box. Ok- no biggie- but makes me wonder- why?

For a buyer to want an item # on the package, they must buy a lot of stuff (right)? No biggie- I mean, this buyer has 3500 buying purchases with 100% positive feedback.

No need to worry? right? okay- because I was thinking having a tracking # on the outside of the box might give a postal worker/armor wearing assassin, etc) an easy way to know the value of the contents inside- (paranoia....) but with a 100% positive feedback- that can't be the ploy-even if it is- I insure for full value if needed for USPS protection.

so I looked at the guys feedback record-

HE HAS BOUGHT 3500 THING THIS MONTH!!!!! 100%+ FEEDBACK
What gives? Is he a reseller? Scam? Who does this?

Paranoia aside- that is odd to join ebay and whip out 3500 purchases this month. The only logical (non scam) conclusion is that he is a Saudi Prince with a lot of dough and some time to kill- but why would a Saudi Prince waste time buying used on ebay?) (you get the picture...)
Inquiring minds want to know.

There are plenty of people that make pretty god coin flipping on ebay.

3,500 in a month seems a bit much. That's 116 items per day. One individual would be processing 14 items an hour in an 8 hour day.

It is odd.

A bunch of years ago I set up some ecomm infrastructure for P&G.

Every now and again someone from fulfillment would call me about a product return that they had a record of shipping out but they did not have the customers financial info to refund the card.

One day while looking at transactions to improve the back end database I sorted them a way I had never done before and boom, the light went off.

Found a guy in the database who had done hundreds of transactions.

His entire business was finding deals on the net, free shipping, discount codes, etc... He would list the products on his own website, and he had hundreds of them, take an order from and bang the customer card, buy the product using his own card but have all the order info as the original customer so the manufacturer dropped shipped direct.

Based on the orders he was placing with P&G he seemed to be making a nice living and had no overhead other than a computer and internet connection.

My advice:

When you get paid,

Box up the item, write the item #on the box, and ship it.

If you're worried about the value, then insure it for the value.

If you're really worried, over-insure it and make a little more money!

Yes, very very paranoid.

Post office employees get into big doo doo if they steal stuff. (Federal offense). Plus with the tracking system, it's almost impossible for employees to get away with it. Gift cards, and cash are two different things though....

My immediate impression was that he was a reseller, however, the item he bought closer to the top of the range for this item- he has no margin. (This is not porsche stuff btw...)


To summarize why my life sucks and I am a perpetual worrier- please fast forward to kirk at 1:16 to view my confusion over this... we all know what happens next! : enjoy! D

(edit)- I guess pelican parts is logical wisdom of spock!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WCpYqWAIwFA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

He is a local re-seller with a warehouse, but doesn't want to open any boxes?

No pay = No play.
You buy you leave.
Next.

If you're really worried, you can call an eBay rep and discuss the situation. I've really been surprised how easy they are to get hold of and, more often than not, helpful.

My experience with the last buyer who was high volume and asked that the number be put on the box wasn't a good one.

A neighbor gave me some expensive copier parts. Said they were new. I didn't open them because he said they were new. Just listed on eBay. They sold for $140 or so. Cool! Buyer asks that they be double boxed and to put the number on the box. Within a day of them hitting NJ I get a return request saying my item was not as advertised because the box had been opened.

I really didn't look that closely. When I got the parts back I opened them. Internal bag had been cut open and contained what I assumed to be used parts. I have no case as I never opened the original box in the first place. I had to pay shipping in both directions, so I'm out $20. Reminds me that I need to check with the neighbor to see what he knows about the parts he gave me.

Oh yeah i wanted to ask:

How long has it been since the end of the auction?

Most people pay in the first day but I don't think you need to worry unless it's been more than 3 days or so.

Lee, your story has absolutely nothing to do with 'putting the item# on the box."

It has to do with your crappy neighbor pulling the ol' Harbor Freight special on you.

wow! you can contact an actual person? Amazing! :D I'm not toooo concerned as it is around a $200 transaction- however- It is an item of art (to me) which, more than the money, I want it to go to someone who appreciates it.

Going with full value insurance- $ not a big deal.

I like John70t's advice of no pay...>next- because there were several authentic bidders who deserve getting it if this is a sham....

I posted the star trek thingee because I love that movie- and the music at that point!!! (and Kirstie Alley back then).:D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1444173800.jpg

Thanks- not even a day (yet)- and ordinarily-that wouldn't matter to me for obvious reasons- it's just that they DID have the time to respond and ask for the ebay #, but not take the time to pay, which STILL isn't a really big deal, but it did get to me pry further into their feedback wondering what their angle is.

Yep. Paranoid!

There's nothing wrong with being careful, though. SmileWavy

agreed! ;) however- I wonder about the angle- Something like Stomachmonkey's response seems to be going on here..It's almost like the buyer stole an account and is going bats#$% crazy on buying,

(editors note)- still NOT too concerned- although my daughter just drew all over herself in sharpey marker while I was typing. Mother still unaware- and THAT is a REAL danger!!!!! Must go clean...

Thanks eveyone!

I doubt he could buy 3500 items in one month by himself. He has to have help. Maybe a team ... or small army.
They sound well organized and trained, not sure how disciplined but you can never take that for granted.
By now they've surely studied your intel...... profile, history, rating, who knows how much they've uncovered.
But rest assured they are capable of using it against you.
I recommend an immediate and strong defensive posture.

Unplug the computer, dim the lights, move the car into the garage, and line the windows with aluminum foil just to be safe. On the inside.

Oh and make sure your garbage cans are empty. Take them way across town to dump them and never into the same dumpster. it's amazing what they can tell from your garbage.

I would also unplug the phone, it's most likely tapped by now.
Cell phone is a no-no, get yourself one of those disposable pay by the minute obamaphones in case you need to call 9-1-1.
Cancel that, don't call them. At this point you can trust anyone.

Did you hear that? Sounded like it came from the back yard. Better go check it out, we'll wait.

Be careful!!!!!!! .........................

^Bullet proof vest? 22 vs. 223? J@#$ I'm scared!!!!! Good God man!!! :D:D:D:D

Edt: S#$ my wife is coming home and will discover child with sharpey all over house- this is not paranoia- this is real problem!!!!

BTW, there are sniping services that can automatically bid for you. you don't even have to be around.
One time I bought something and forgot about it for almost a week.

About the insurance post above: If you insure it with the post office and something happens don't ever expect to collect a dime!

The buyer uses the ebay item no on the box to know when his purchase has come in and what is in a box without opening. You might say it is his inventory no.

Does this buyer resell on ebay or have a store.

Yes u can do some major flipping on ebay. At one time I would buy at online auctions and resell on another site. However after awhile the margins got too small.Never had to leave the basement except to ship

I know a book guy that buys at Thrifts and sells on Amazon .He has about 3800 books currently listed.All he does is scans the books to find what they are worth.

I have argued so long and hard with ebay on the phone that they have actually changed company policy about returns

USPS Priority mail gives u tracking and insurance plus it is quick. Their Flat Rate boxes fixs cost of shipping everywhere in the USA. Ebay Global Shipping uses Fed Ex and is the only way to fly. The Seller is only responsible to their Hub in KY.

The biggest ticket item I ever sold on the bay was the Actress Lana Turner's Tiffany Sterling Silver Tea Service Set it went to NYC. Last year I sold an item on another international site to a guy in the Netherlands whose business is metal coating stuff for use out in the North Sea oil rigs. He even flew an agent of his in from OK to examine it, paid his expenses of a car, hotel and an xray of the item. I had bought that item at an auction down under in OZ .

In order to be clear for all parties when I sell on Ebay: My payment terms are in the body of the listing. "PAYMENT - due immediately from the winning bidder at end of auction. By bidding you agree to these terms."