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Author Topic: Ebay buyer from Mexico?  (Read 481 times)

KE2KB

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Ebay buyer from Mexico?
« on: August 18, 2021, 08:22:34 AM »

Hey guys;
I have an Ebay listing for a RigExpert AA-170 antenna analyzer.
There were no bids for the item over the first few days, then:

I received an e-mail from Ebay informing me that a buyer had asked me a question about the item.
I opened my inbox on Ebay messages and read the message.
The buyer wanted to know whether I still had the item listed. I thought that to be a strange question, since obviously the item was still listed on Ebay, thus it must still be available.
I responded to the buyer with that info.
The buyer then placed a bid on the item.
He did not respond to my message.
The buyer's profile states that he is 'based in' Mexico. It also stated that he had been an Ebay member since yesterday; the same day he placed his bid.

Later, after doing some Google searching, I started to feel anxious over the possibility that this buyer from Mexico might be a scam.
Apparently, some Mexican (and probably other countries as well) will purchase an item on Ebay from a U.S. seller, pay for the item so the seller ships it, then a couple weeks later report that he never received the item. Ebay then refunds the buyer's money, leaving the seller out the money and the item.
Apparently, this could happen because USPS tracking info ends when the item leaves the U.S. So the seller has no way to know whether the item has actually been delivered.

I have set up my Ebay account to ship only to U.S. addresses, so I guess I have a right to cancel an order if a U.S. address is not provided.
In addition, I will purchase insurance and signature service from USPS when I ship, so I have that to fall back on if the sale goes awry.
Since the auction has not yet ended, I cannot know the shipping address for my buyer. I may be making much ado about nothing.

So I guess my question to you guys is whether you have ever sold an item on Ebay where the buyer was based outside the U.S.
Do you think this bidder is legit, or would you also be a bit wary?

Thanks for your help
Frank <KE2KB>

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AC2EU

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Re: Ebay buyer from Mexico?
« Reply #1 on: August 18, 2021, 08:41:49 AM »

Reject the offer with a note stating that you only ship withing the USA. Done!

KE2KB

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Re: Ebay buyer from Mexico?
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2021, 09:00:01 AM »

I have read that some international buyers have a U.S. shipping address.
I have sent the buyer a couple of Ebay messages informing him that he will need to provide a U.S. address.
However, if I don't get a reply from him within about 24 hours, I am inclined to cancel the bid and block the buyer.

I have always been a good communicator. I guess it comes from being a ham - or perhaps I am a ham because of it. Whatever. I expect others to respond to my messages, but don't always get that, even from family members.

Maybe I am expecting too much.

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N8FVJ

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Re: Ebay buyer from Mexico?
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2021, 10:20:21 AM »

Use ebay Globial shipping, You ship to KY address and get paid when arrives in KY. ebay does the rest and takes any risk once received in KY.
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SOFAR

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Re: Ebay buyer from Mexico?
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2021, 10:40:24 AM »

Three red flags:

1. Asks a dumbass question, just to make contact.
2. Based outside U.S.
3. New account, no history.
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K7LZR

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Re: Ebay buyer from Mexico?
« Reply #5 on: August 18, 2021, 11:06:23 AM »

Reject the offer with a note stating that you only ship withing the USA. Done!

Exactly. Don't mess with it. In fact, why sell it on eBay at all? I quit selling on eBay over a year ago and even closed my selling account which I had had since 2000 with 100% excellent feedback because eBay has become too risky for sellers.

Sell it here or on QRZ or on QTH instead....
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KE2KB

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Re: Ebay buyer from Mexico?
« Reply #6 on: August 18, 2021, 01:17:00 PM »

Thanks for your advice/help guys;
I ended both auctions early. I really wanted only to remove the bidders I didn't feel comfortable about, but instead canceled the listings completely.
I was charged with the Ebay final sale fee, but after a chat with customer service, I had the fee reversed, so I lose nothing.
Since I listed the items, I changed my selling preferences to block all international buyers. However, even Ebay will admit that they have no way of blocking international buyers if they have a U.S. address listed as their primary address.

Funny thing happened while I was trying to decide what to do about the first item with the Mexican bidder.
My other item also received an international bid - from Baharan.
I have set my preferences to block international, and tagged the box 'apply to current listings' (or whatever the label is) but apparently that does not prevent foreign bids. Maybe these bidders have a U.S. address, but it just makes me feel very uncomfortable.

I will take your advice and list here or on QRZ or QTH, or maybe at an in-person hamfest. I would think that by now, outdoor hamfests are pretty safe for someone (me) who is fully vaccinated.
Or, I may just decide not to sell the items.
Honestly, my gut was not feeling very comfortable about the whole process of listing items on Ebay, despite my having sold a fair amount there in the past. I never had an issue like this before.

Another interesting thing happened:
Shortly after I had received an e-mail from Ebay informing me that my listings had been canceled, I received an obvious (seemingly unrelated) phishing e-mail from someone claiming to be Walmart.
I had not even placed an order with Walmart, but looking at the return address, I could clearly see that Walmart had not sent me this e-mail.

So now I'm thinking that perhaps my Ebay account has been hacked?
I have changed my pw and questions. Not much else i can do, but I have to be vigilent of fraud charges on all of my accounts.

Man, I really miss the days of just doing everything in person. We went to hamfests, and sold stuff at our repeater club's swap 'n shop.
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KE2KB

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Re: Ebay buyer from Mexico?
« Reply #7 on: August 18, 2021, 01:23:09 PM »

Now this has got me thinking: How can I prevent someone from 'hijacking' my callsign?
I'm going to look into that now.
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AC2EU

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Re: Ebay buyer from Mexico?
« Reply #8 on: August 18, 2021, 01:39:59 PM »

Quote
So now I'm thinking that perhaps my Ebay account has been hacked?
I have changed my pw and questions. Not much else i can do, but I have to be vigilent of fraud charges on all of my accounts.


That was my concern when they changed the way people get payed on Ebay. It is outsourced to some offshore
entity that I know nothing about  other than they wanted my SS# to continue selling on Ebay.
I opted out for that reason.
The other inconvenience was the hassle needing to open a bank account just for Ebay transactions,  just for my own security. 
I hope they didn't get hacked, but it's very much a possibility!

KO4JPZ

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Re: Ebay buyer from Mexico?
« Reply #9 on: August 18, 2021, 01:54:46 PM »

The phishing emails that come after contacts with "most" selling sites don't come from the people hacking your account. They have virus type programs in the servers between you and the site you are doing business with. Your traffic with the site is discovered so they have the "from" and "to" addresses and go from there. Your transaction is usually encrypted so they can not see that.
It happens several times a year with me. I buy for a company and deal with many sites. As I felt responsible I was changing passwords constantly and about worried sick that someone could really make me look like a thief one day. Our IT guy came in one day and explained what was going on. think of it as watching the interstate. I see a car and his tag. I find his address and phone number. I can call you, but have no way to get to you or know what goes on in your car or house, but I sure can worry you.
Have not changed passwords all year and still get the emails and phone calls. Yes, those eggheads find a business phone number, but have not had one fraudulent charge. Ebay seems to be a magnet for those folks.
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WA2EIO

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Re: Ebay buyer from Mexico?
« Reply #10 on: August 18, 2021, 03:56:36 PM »

Reject the offer with a note stating that you only ship withing the USA. Done!

Exactly. Don't mess with it. In fact, why sell it on eBay at all? I quit selling on eBay over a year ago and even closed my selling account which I had had since 2000 with 100% excellent feedback because eBay has become too risky for sellers.



Yes, E-bay has become expensive for both sellers (the fees!) and for many buyers who now have to pay sales tax (on the entire total, with shipping) which brings the price up close to 10%.   I  would also suggest your trying to sell online or at a local hamfest if any are starting up again in your area.

Sell it here or on QRZ or on QTH instead....
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K1KIM

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Re: Ebay buyer from Mexico?
« Reply #11 on: August 18, 2021, 05:03:56 PM »

If you give eBay a list of excluded countries, territories etc it prevents the buyer from bidding. Go into your account and set up sales that way.

Reject the offer with a note stating that you only ship withing the USA. Done!

Exactly. Don't mess with it. In fact, why sell it on eBay at all? I quit selling on eBay over a year ago and even closed my selling account which I had had since 2000 with 100% excellent feedback because eBay has become too risky for sellers.



Yes, E-bay has become expensive for both sellers (the fees!) and for many buyers who now have to pay sales tax (on the entire total, with shipping) which brings the price up close to 10%.   I  would also suggest your trying to sell online or at a local hamfest if any are starting up again in your area.

Sell it here or on QRZ or on QTH instead....

EBay is now 14-15% including the shipping.
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K7LZR

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Re: Ebay buyer from Mexico?
« Reply #12 on: August 18, 2021, 05:24:35 PM »

A big trouble with eBay these days and the main reason that I quit selling there and closed my account is because it is all to easy now for sellers to be scammed. Anybody can buy something from you and then claim that it was never received or that it was not as described or ? and then get their money back from you as well as keeping the item. eBay will nearly always side with the buyer, especially if they pay using a credit card. Even if you have proof of delivery i.e. tracking etc. it means nothing. Scammy buyer can file a SNAD claim, get their refund, and then send you back a bag of rocks and still make out like the bandits they are. After you sell your item, the money isn't really yours for awhile and you go to bed at night worried that the bomb from eBay can come at any time.

I was lucky - only one such claim in over 20 years but I finally decided that the stress wasn't worth it.


It is very much a double-edged sword for eBay and I don't envy them. They are trying to protect both parties but it just isn't possible.
   
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KE2KB

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Re: Ebay buyer from Mexico?
« Reply #13 on: August 19, 2021, 09:01:20 AM »

It's a shame what is happening to Ebay and other online auction sites. There are still many more reputable sellers and buyers than there are scammers.
But knowing that they're out there creates stress for both buyers and sellers.

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K1KIM

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Re: Ebay buyer from Mexico?
« Reply #14 on: August 19, 2021, 10:52:34 AM »

A big trouble with eBay these days and the main reason that I quit selling there and closed my account is because it is all to easy now for sellers to be scammed. Anybody can buy something from you and then claim that it was never received or that it was not as described or ? and then get their money back from you as well as keeping the item. eBay will nearly always side with the buyer, especially if they pay using a credit card. Even if you have proof of delivery i.e. tracking etc. it means nothing. Scammy buyer can file a SNAD claim, get their refund, and then send you back a bag of rocks and still make out like the bandits they are. After you sell your item, the money isn't really yours for awhile and you go to bed at night worried that the bomb from eBay can come at any time.

I was lucky - only one such claim in over 20 years but I finally decided that the stress wasn't worth it.


It is very much a double-edged sword for eBay and I don't envy them. They are trying to protect both parties but it just isn't possible.
 


I don't think 1 claim in 20 years would stress me out enough to quit, but we all have our individual tolerance level.

It is a double edged sword. The seller can also ship that "Bag of Rocks".

It cuts both ways. I just won't ship the heavy stuff. Too much packing hassle, though the prices I can get for all my complete hybrid stations are far greater than selling at a Hamfest even with the 15% vig!
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