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Love the folks who try to sell items off Ebay

Been working on a deal for a card on Ebay which is over $10 and under a million. Emailed the buyer to get an idea of what they wanted for their best offer price so I did not go back and forth on the price. Basically agree on a price and told him I would send him payment this evening after I submitted a "best offer" price. About to send a best offer and Paypal, and buyer asks for my number to text me. Via text he says he wants to do the deal outside of Ebay but I am protected through Paypal. My gut says not happening, and if you are going to list something on Ebay and then try to sell it off of Ebay not feeling it. Not to mention he told me he has several folks offer him about what I was offering him - if that was the case he would have sold the card already. Anyone else experience this and while I want the card and I am protected through Paypal I don't like it when I get contacted outside of Ebay. Thank you in advance for the help.

Comments

  • bziddybziddy Posts: 710 ✭✭✭
    I don't remember -- been a while since I bothered to look...

    If you do the sale off e-bay, but do the transaction through paypal goods/service, aren't you still protected?
  • Never bothers me as a buyer or seller. All the same as long as the numbers work out.
  • BIGBEN7BIGBEN7 Posts: 394 ✭✭
    If the numbers work out all good. You are protected if you pay by credit card.
    image
  • bouncebounce Posts: 1,094 ✭✭✭
    Seller is saving 9-10%, if he shares some of that with you what's the big deal?
  • begsu1013begsu1013 Posts: 1,943 ✭✭
    i don't mind doing deals off ebay at all. however, if they ask for friends/family (and i am not immediately aware of who they are or know someone that does), i run for the hills.

    i have had positive success at:

    doing the deal off ebay
    pay via reg paypal via cc
    actually receive said card
    send lowered amount via paypal ff.
    get refunded original pp amount.

    most everyone happy in the end.
  • MULLINS5MULLINS5 Posts: 4,517 ✭✭✭
    I had a best offer of $3,750 on an item a few weeks ago and before hitting the accept button reached out to the customer and offered the item for $3450 direct via paypal goods and explained they'd still be protected through paypal. It was just a way to save the guy $300 in fees that I would have paid, but he insisted paying $3750 via eBay.
  • KendallCatKendallCat Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thank you for the responses. I should have clarified my post with a little more info but I was going 3 things at once. When I reached out to him the first time about the offer he said he had several offers in the $1950-2050 range but did not take them, but my offer at $2050 was good and I seemed like a good guy so he would do the deal at $2050.

    My gut was if he has a dozen people offering him the same $$ before me why did he not accept any of those deals. The other thing that concerned me is his feedback was 99.3 which is fine, but in looking at past sales they were all $20-30 sales with his largest sale during 100's of transactions being one for around $500.

    I can always get the card for around the same price other places, and would prefer to pay an extra $150-200 to make sure I get it. Not 100% sure if he even has the card to sell based on his past history and stories he is telling me. Thank you for your feedback and input.

    KC
  • begsu1013begsu1013 Posts: 1,943 ✭✭
    ask for additional scans. if he cant provide them on a $2K card or "is outta town and wont be back til Friday but will take a deposit", then run.

    there are a lot of ebay seller accounts being hijacked right now.
  • eagles33eagles33 Posts: 2,683 ✭✭✭
    I would offer him 1950 off eBay so you will be splitting the savings. The seller makes 100 more and you save 100 by buying it for 1950 off eBay rather than paying 2050 on eBay. I wouldn't worry if it's through PayPal goods but I wouldn't do gift. If you are getting a bad vibe though then just pass. Especially if it's a fairly common item to track down.
    Scans of most of my Misc rookies can be found <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://forums.collectors.com/m...y&keyword1=Non%20major">here
  • craig44craig44 Posts: 11,457 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have done a few deals off ebay and everything worked out ok.

    George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.

  • packCollectorpackCollector Posts: 2,786 ✭✭✭
    you are trying to save money, he is trying to save money. if you ask him to cut you a break, it is reasonable for him to ask you to cut him a break.

    The other option is pay him the asking price and he will pay the fees and you will both be happy.
  • KendallCatKendallCat Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thank you for the reply. I actually did not ask for a price break and he volunteered it - just too many red flags for a $2000+ card. Maybe he was perfectly legit, but too many stories and requests for info and then sell off Ebay. Any time I have received a text or request to do off Ebay it does not turn out well.


  • << <i>I would offer him 1950 off eBay so you will be splitting the savings. The seller makes 100 more and you save 100 by buying it for 1950 off eBay rather than paying 2050 on eBay. I wouldn't worry if it's through PayPal goods but I wouldn't do gift. If you are getting a bad vibe though then just pass. Especially if it's a fairly common item to track down. >>



    This is exactly how an off eBay deal should be done. I can't stand it when I have an item listed for $500 and they say "I'll pay you $450 off eBay and save you the fees". They aren't saving you the fees, they are taking the fees as a discount. If it's listed for $500, the off eBay deal should be $475. Both parties win.
  • miwlvrnmiwlvrn Posts: 4,266 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>I would offer him 1950 off eBay so you will be splitting the savings. The seller makes 100 more and you save 100 by buying it for 1950 off eBay rather than paying 2050 on eBay. I wouldn't worry if it's through PayPal goods but I wouldn't do gift. If you are getting a bad vibe though then just pass. Especially if it's a fairly common item to track down. >>



    This is exactly how an off eBay deal should be done. I can't stand it when I have an item listed for $500 and they say "I'll pay you $450 off eBay and save you the fees". They aren't saving you the fees, they are taking the fees as a discount. If it's listed for $500, the off eBay deal should be $475. Both parties win. >>



    +1
  • The way the seller wins through an off-eBay deal is:

    -- making the sale!

    and

    -- fewer headaches through the eBay system (stars, shipping requirements, etc)


    The discount should be passed to the buyer.

  • KbKardsKbKards Posts: 1,782 ✭✭✭
    This is exactly how an off eBay deal should be done. I can't stand it when I have an item listed for $500 and they say "I'll pay you $450 off eBay and save you the fees". They aren't saving you the fees, they are taking the fees as a discount. If it's listed for $500, the off eBay deal should be $475. Both parties win.

    Both the buyer and seller have to spin the numbers up. Hitting the BIN on that $500 item knowing you've got 4-5x Ebay Bucks, Mr. Rebates, and a cash back credit card, you're paying less than $450. The seller gets the full $500 he was asking and also gets a nice normal automated and easy to process order through Ebay/PayPal, reduced shipping cost, and free seller protection. After fees, discounts, incentives, etc. he receives a stress free amount of greater than $450. If he sold it off line for the customary $450 offered by a buyer, then he's still going to be out the PayPal fees, pays higher shipping, and receives no seller protection on the transaction if he encounters a flaky buyer.
  • LarkinCollectorLarkinCollector Posts: 8,975 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>This is exactly how an off eBay deal should be done. I can't stand it when I have an item listed for $500 and they say "I'll pay you $450 off eBay and save you the fees". They aren't saving you the fees, they are taking the fees as a discount. If it's listed for $500, the off eBay deal should be $475. Both parties win.

    Both the buyer and seller have to spin the numbers up. Hitting the BIN on that $500 item knowing you've got 4-5x Ebay Bucks, Mr. Rebates, and a cash back credit card, you're paying less than $450. The seller gets the full $500 he was asking and also gets a nice normal automated and easy to process order through Ebay/PayPal, reduced shipping cost, and free seller protection. After fees, discounts, incentives, etc. he receives a stress free amount of greater than $450. If he sold it off line for the customary $450 offered by a buyer, then he's still going to be out the PayPal fees, pays higher shipping, and receives no seller protection on the transaction if he encounters a flaky buyer. >>


    I agree with most of this, though the shipping is the same amount regardless. You can print postage from Paypal at the same discounted rate, regardless of purchase method.
  • dberk12dberk12 Posts: 399 ✭✭
    I have never had an issue buying something off of eBay. As long as the seller meets you half way with the savings it should be a win/win. I like the suggestion of asking for more scans if you are not certain the seller is legit. I am sure there are cases where an account is stolen and the seller is trying to scam the buyer but I have not run into that. My next transaction will definitely be a scam since I made that statement image

    Good luck with the direction you choose to go.

    Dave


    Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona.





    -George F. Will


  • << <i>

    << <i>This is exactly how an off eBay deal should be done. I can't stand it when I have an item listed for $500 and they say "I'll pay you $450 off eBay and save you the fees". They aren't saving you the fees, they are taking the fees as a discount. If it's listed for $500, the off eBay deal should be $475. Both parties win.

    Both the buyer and seller have to spin the numbers up. Hitting the BIN on that $500 item knowing you've got 4-5x Ebay Bucks, Mr. Rebates, and a cash back credit card, you're paying less than $450. The seller gets the full $500 he was asking and also gets a nice normal automated and easy to process order through Ebay/PayPal, reduced shipping cost, and free seller protection. After fees, discounts, incentives, etc. he receives a stress free amount of greater than $450. If he sold it off line for the customary $450 offered by a buyer, then he's still going to be out the PayPal fees, pays higher shipping, and receives no seller protection on the transaction if he encounters a flaky buyer. >>


    I agree with most of this, though the shipping is the same amount regardless. You can print postage from Paypal at the same discounted rate, regardless of purchase method. >>




    You also have Seller Protection through PayPal.
  • LarkinCollectorLarkinCollector Posts: 8,975 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>You also have Seller Protection through PayPal. >>


    If invoiced, yes, but not with FnF. It wasn't specified, so didn't want to imply all PP transactions have Seller Protection image


  • << <i>Seller is saving 9-10%, if he shares some of that with you what's the big deal? >>



    If they'll give you a 5% discount to do it via PayPal I'd do it. You both save money and eBay foots the bill. Granted I'm sure this is all figured into their finances so why not be one of the ones that benefits from everyone else "playing by the rules".
  • KendallCatKendallCat Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Card was already "sold" but thank you for all of the comments and advice. I can grab another one no problem if I need it - pretty common card to find on Ebay.

    KC
  • mtcardsmtcards Posts: 3,340 ✭✭✭
    I will ALWAYS sell a card off ebay if given the chance. Last card I sold off ebay was $425...had it up on ebay a $499 OBO, buyer offered $425, told him I would take it the offer if paid off ebay. He got the card at the price he wanted, I saved ebay fees by selling it to him at the price he wanted OFF ebay, everyone wins. If he wanted to go through ebay and pay $499, then he could have...he saved $74, I got the sale quickly by taking it. If ebay didnt gouge so much of the FVF, I think there would be less of this going on.
    IT IS ALWAYS CHEAPER TO NOT SELL ON EBAY
  • JoeBanzaiJoeBanzai Posts: 11,976 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Thank you for the reply. I actually did not ask for a price break and he volunteered it - just too many red flags for a $2000+ card. Maybe he was perfectly legit, but too many stories and requests for info and then sell off Ebay. Any time I have received a text or request to do off Ebay it does not turn out well. >>



    If you have a bad feeling about it and can get the card for a similar price elsewhere, pass on the deal.

    When I go against a "gut" feeling, things often go wrong.
    2013,14 and 15 Certificate Award Winner Harmon Killebrew Master Set and Master Topps Set
  • jackstrawjackstraw Posts: 3,783 ✭✭✭
    It's just a matter of time before you don't have any idea who is making a bid or offer on your item
    until it's paid for..
    Collector Focus

    ON ITS WAY TO NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92658
  • ndleondleo Posts: 4,146 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If the seller has good feedback, I have no problem with a off ebay deal. I only use FnF for people I deal with on this board and sellers that I have experience with.

    As a seller I don't understand why some buyers pass up an off ebay deal, especially when we both share in the savings. The seller protection is through Paypal anyways even if purchased thru ebay, so ebay doesn't really add any more value to the deal.

    Mike
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