Ebay question

Tusky

Im considering buyng an expensive electronic item on ebay. The guy has been around since 2002 and is a power seller. He has 100% positive feedback. Ive looked through his feedback and it seems to be all from the same, cheap, item. (around 20 euro) The item I am buying is about 350 euro.

I emailed him asking if he shipped to Ireland. He told me that he will BUT his current listing for the item is only for UK so offered to sell the item off ebay with me paying with paypal. This set my alarm bells off. I told him that I would only buy through paypal.

He said that he understood but he would have to make a new listing for the item and I would have to cover the cost (2.50). I said ok.

Does this sound odd ? Should I buy from someone else ? The fact that he has 100% feedback seems a bit strange to me too. Even the best sellers usually only have about 98%. Could he have orchestrated this himself ?

Item Number: 320234471445

rubadub

I have done it once or twice, for cheaper items. Once I won an auction, the guy was selling another item so I asked how much combined post would be, he said no extra as post was up to 5kg. So I made an offer and he pulled the other auction win/win for both of us.

I have had that situation before, all I simply had to do was change my ebay address for that single transaction, the only bit I changed was the country, and put a big bold print in the paypal message thing. I may even have put "county" as Ireland, and then UK, US. I have done this 3 times now I think, with no problems. Just remember to change it back.

The seller gains by not going via paypal, they take 4% of the value, so sellers want to buypass. ebay also take a cut, so if they can avoid ebay too they will.

I browsed his feedback and it looks legit.

Tusky

rubadub wrote: »

I have done it once or twice, for cheaper items. Once I won an auction, the guy was selling another item so I asked how much combined post would be, he said no extra as post was up to 5kg. So I made an offer and he pulled the other auction win/win for both of us.

I have had that situation before, all I simply had to do was change my ebay address for that single transaction, the only bit I changed was the country, and put a big bold print in the paypal message thing. I may even have put "county" as Ireland, and then UK, US. I have done this 3 times now I think, with no problems. Just remember to change it back.

The seller gains by not going via paypal, they take 4% of the value, so sellers want to buypass. ebay also take a cut, so if they can avoid ebay too they will.

So the chances are the guy is genuine and I'm just being paranoid ? I probably wouldnt normally think twice but its an expensive purchase so I'm a little wary.

jor el

Sounds a bit dodge to me, but it could be legit as rubadub says. Depends on whether you'd be willing to risk the money, and since it's €350, it's a lot to risk. Since you're paying with Paypal anyway, that's at least some protection.

rubadub

Tusky wrote: »

So the chances are the guy is genuine and I'm just being paranoid ? I probably wouldnt normally think twice but its an expensive purchase so I'm a little wary.

Probably genuine, but you are rightly paranoid. I would just change the country to UK like I said. But you must get him to confirm postage costs and tell him what you are at. That saves him relisting it, and saves you paying him to do so.

He is offering first class, he might go standard for the same price. If he charges more you can add it on at the final payment stages on paypal, there is an additional cost/discount feature at payment stage.

I once got quoted cheaper postage to here than the UK from a UK seller. This was since I asked for the cheapest possible post.

Tusky

rubadub wrote: »

Probably genuine, but you are rightly paranoid. I would just change the country to UK like I said. But you must get him to confirm postage costs and tell him what you are at. That saves him relisting it, and saves you paying him to do so.

He is offering first class, he might go standard for the same price. If he charges more you can add it on at the final payment stages on paypal, there is an additional cost/discount feature at payment stage.

I once got quoted cheaper postage to here than the UK from a UK seller. This was since I asked for the cheapest possible post.

Cheers. Well he made a new listing for me which listed Ireland as a delivery option.

I went to buy it but when I tried to pay with paypal it wouldnt let me! Its saying Ive reached my card limit and need to relink it to paypal (with that number that appears on the statment).

Kick in the balls. No idea why its telling me this now, Ive bought plenty with paypal with no problems before.

Anyone know how long it takes to appear on statement ?

rubadub

Tusky wrote: »

Anyone know how long it takes to appear on statement ?

I am not sure, but you could try ringing the bank. I bought a load of stuff from play once, about 20 things and the bank rang me, thinking it was a stolen card, so I think it appears instantly on their system, but takes time to go on the statements.

Tusky

rubadub wrote: »

I am not sure, but you could try ringing the bank. I bought a load of stuff from play once, about 20 things and the bank rang me, thinking it was a stolen card, so I think it appears instantly on their system, but takes time to go on the statements.

I'll ring the cc company in the morning.

Cheers.

jor el

"Expanded Use" takes about 3 days to appear on your account, and if you can check it online then you'll be able to get it there. You can't check the number on the phone (apparently). If you haven't done this yet, then I think you're restricted to something like 700euro a month with Paypal. Would this 350 push you over this limit? If so, that's probably why it's not letting you do it. Ringing the CC people probably won't help as it's a Paypal restriction.