Strange eBay request...UPDATE

fastrudy · March 19, 2007 11:02AM

I had to do it. I placed an unopened box of GW$ on eBay, my brother-in-law placed 4 boxes for auction as well. All five boxes sold. They all went for varying amounts ($1110-$1250) to the SAME bidder. The auction was won on Saturday and the bidder has not yet paid. I get a message asking that we meet in a public place and transact business there. He says he wants to save on postage and he does not trust mail. I call my in-law and he said he got the same message. Very Strange. What do we do?

edited for update

SpaceMonkey · March 19, 2007 11:04AM

IMO... back out... the price you are getting seems like something you could get again... seems way to stinky for me.

/ed

LickThoseStamps · March 19, 2007 11:04AM

Suggest your local Police Department and see how he responds

agentjim007 · March 19, 2007 11:04AM

He must be local. I've done it before.

goose3 · March 19, 2007 11:05AM

Tell the moron that he needs to adhere to YOUR terms.

If he doesn't, Neg him and relist.

Russ · March 19, 2007 11:05AM

As long as it's a public place I would meet with him, but I'd also bring my buddy Pete along just in case.

Russ, NCNE

Zoins · March 19, 2007 11:05AM

If you want to go forward with the transaction, how about:

(a) have him send you the money and have it clear before you see him, just like normal
(b) meet him in a very public place

NumisMe · March 19, 2007 11:06AM

If you are considering it, you and your brother might as well go ahead and shoot each other now and get it over with.

Beware

pharmer · March 19, 2007 11:08AM

<< Tell the moron that he needs to adhere to YOUR terms.

If he doesn't, Neg him and relist. >>

Absolutely. Since when do buyers dictate to sellers? Look at it this way: is there any upside to doing it his way? Is there any potential downside to doing it his way?

tjkillian · March 19, 2007 11:09AM

If you do it in a public place, heck, in the cop station, I would think it would be ok. He need not know anything about you, just make sure he brings cash (Federal Reserve Notes).

pharmer · March 19, 2007 11:09AM

<< If you are considering it, you and your brother might as well go ahead and shoot each other now and get it over with.

Beware

>>

That made me laugh harder than anything I've ever read on this forum

LindeDad · March 19, 2007 11:11AM

I like the deal of meeting at the local police station myself.
And make him bring the dounuts, and they must be jelly or Bear won't be happy. Also suggest you provide the Starbucks.

DorkGirl · March 19, 2007 11:14AM

Have him pay you first. I've done this before and it worked just fine.

Boothill40 · March 19, 2007 11:21AM

Make the meet at your local cop shop, just let the desk officer know why your there and tell the buyer it's a cash deal---JMO

OneCent · March 19, 2007 11:21AM

<< As long as it's a public place I would meet with him, but I'd also bring my buddy Pete along just in case.

Russ, NCNE >>

Would that be "Pistol" Pete?

LALASD4 · March 19, 2007 11:34AM

Since it is an auction, you get to set the terms. But I don't see why not if he brings cash to a bank or police station.

Russ · March 19, 2007 11:34AM

<< << As long as it's a public place I would meet with him, but I'd also bring my buddy Pete along just in case.

Russ, NCNE >>

Would that be "Pistol" Pete? >>

That it would. Also known as Pietro.

Russ, NCNE

goose3 · March 19, 2007 11:36AM

I spose if someone were to ask me to do that, I could just have them stop and see me at work and pick up their item.

21Walker · March 19, 2007 11:38AM

Just had an ebay auction close this weekend. The guy that bought it lives about 7 minutes away. Paid bu PAYPAL with insurance.

I would never either do a local or home pickup...........Rick

Russ · March 19, 2007 11:38AM

<< I spose if someone were to ask me to do that, I could just have them stop and see me at work and pick up their item. >>

Yeah, lots of "buddy Petes" where you work.

Russ, NCNE

goose3 · March 19, 2007 11:42AM

here is my friend Sig.

au58 · March 19, 2007 11:49AM

Do you bank locally? Your branch manager might provide a meeting room.

Bochiman · March 19, 2007 1:22PM

<< Do you bank locally? Your branch manager might provide a meeting room. >>

Yeah, I was just gonna suggest, if not a copshop, then a bank. Cash is the way to go as he could write his own check and hand you the cash.

AnkurJ · March 19, 2007 1:57PM

A few people said to have him pay first.

If he pays first via paypal, you meet, give him the coins, he can EASILY cancel the paypal transaction, and you have no delivery confirmation or anything that proves he recived the coins.

It is your auction, tell him it has to be shipped. Period. If he doesnt like it, sell to the underbidder.

Ankur

persaus · March 19, 2007 1:59PM

Meet at a local doughnut shop............you will be safe

thisnamztaken · March 19, 2007 3:29PM

<< Suggest your local Police Department and see how he responds

>>

storm888 · March 19, 2007 4:46PM

"If he pays first via paypal, you meet, give him the coins, he can EASILY
cancel the paypal transaction, and you have no delivery confirmation or
anything that proves he recived the coins."

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////

NEVER accept PayPal for a local pickup.

PayPal's "Seller-Protection" is out the window, if you do.

lathmach · March 19, 2007 11:11PM

I bought an 1842 Seated Quarter from a guy that lives about 5 miles from me, over Ebay once. I went to his house and picked it up. Had coffee with him and looked at a lot more coins he was going to list. He wanted me to make an offer on all of them so he wouldn't have to bother listing them.
I didn't but I did let him know what he had so he could list them better.

Ray

Writersblock · March 20, 2007 4:22AM

I've often thought that if someone wanted to pick up an item the police station would be the perfect place to meet. If he is willing to come in and be seen by all the police officiers and get his picture taken on their security cameras, he probably isn't going to try anything. Because if anything happened, even later he would be a natural, identified, suspect.

slipgate · March 20, 2007 4:33AM

Sounds like a "snipe" hunt to me. Maybe he is pissed off at all the people selling nothing? Doubtful he'd show and if he did, probably taping it for a good laugh.

percyb · March 20, 2007 4:40AM

Don't meet him. Tell him you'll insure the package, that's all.

fastrudy · March 20, 2007 7:48AM

Just an update. He has not yet completed checkout on eBay and has told us that he would be there with cash for our coins. So, I gave him the following message:

It is possible if and only if you complete the checkout process on the item you have won. If you do not complete checkout, then there is something wrong with this buyer/seller relationship. So far, you have usurped my position as seller. I personally feel a little strange accepting cash from a person in a public place. I know you have won 4 other auctions from Danny (my good friend) and that's a lot of cash for you to be carrying, don't cha think? So why don't you simply pay AS PER THE AUCTION REQUIREMENTS THAT I HAVE SET, and you agreed on by bidding. I want paypal, or postal money orders. It is safer for both of us. And I need you to complete the checkout procedure on eBay before I arrange for my representative to meet you and transfer coins for payment (NO CASH, postal money order). Or I can just ship it after you pay. It saves you alot of gas money and ferry charges or tolls and time spent in the horrible traffic of Long Island. If you don't trust the mail, the package is insured. Think about it while you complete the checkout process.

...and I just know that that is not the end of it. When I was in business, I was a wholesaler. I had to deal only with other businessmen. This general public stuff sux!

dorancoins · March 20, 2007 7:57AM

<< I had to do it. I placed an unopened box of GW$ on eBay, my brother-in-law placed 4 boxes for auction as well. All five boxes sold. They all went for varying amounts ($1110-$1250) to the SAME bidder. The auction was won on Saturday and the bidder has not yet paid. I get a message asking that we meet in a public place and transact business there. He says he wants to save on postage and he does not trust mail. I call my in-law and he said he got the same message. Very Strange. What do we do? >>

If I was you, I would kindly but firmly inform the winning bidder that you cannot do that and that the terms of the auction state that the item will be shipped. If he can't follow the terms, then he shouldn't have won the item. You will probably get a negative from the winning bidder because of his insistence, but eBay rules has policies about doing business on an eBay item outside of eBay.

Bochiman · March 20, 2007 8:29AM

<< Just an update. He has not yet completed checkout on eBay and has told us that he would be there with cash for our coins. So, I gave him the following message:

It is possible if and only if you complete the checkout process on the item you have won. If you do not complete checkout, then there is something wrong with this buyer/seller relationship. So far, you have usurped my position as seller. I personally feel a little strange accepting cash from a person in a public place. I know you have won 4 other auctions from Danny (my good friend) and that's a lot of cash for you to be carrying, don't cha think? So why don't you simply pay AS PER THE AUCTION REQUIREMENTS THAT I HAVE SET, and you agreed on by bidding. I want paypal, or postal money orders. It is safer for both of us. And I need you to complete the checkout procedure on eBay before I arrange for my representative to meet you and transfer coins for payment (NO CASH, postal money order). Or I can just ship it after you pay. It saves you alot of gas money and ferry charges or tolls and time spent in the horrible traffic of Long Island. If you don't trust the mail, the package is insured. Think about it while you complete the checkout process.

...and I just know that that is not the end of it. When I was in business, I was a wholesaler. I had to deal only with other businessmen. This general public stuff sux! >>

That's your right as the seller but you come off rather uppity and rude (yeah...I know others will chime in and say you are being too nice as he tried to change the conditions after winning but I think your reply could have been worded in a much nicer way and had the same things said in it).

fastrudy · March 20, 2007 8:46AM

Bochiman: Moderation in disagreement is stupidity. "uppity & rude"?? Why did Mom name me RUDY? I'm trying to save him some gas money. I reported him to eBay as an unlawful bidder.

jhusman · March 20, 2007 8:53AM

I made the mistake of letting a seller dictate to me how he would like shipped. I did it, and there was a problem with delivery. Got me my first neutral.

I'm just saying

Bochiman · March 20, 2007 9:22AM

I'm curious....how is he an "unlawful bidder"?

fastrudy · March 20, 2007 9:28AM

from eBay security center via e-mail:

Thank you for taking the time to write to eBay's SafeHarbor department.
Unwelcome bidding is a serious offense and we will investigate your
report as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours.

Unwelcome bidding occurs when a bidder violates the terms of your
listing as stated in the listing description or re-bids after you have
canceled the initial bid. We will investigate the information you
provided and review our internal records to compare them to bidding
patterns and any other activity involving the reported account.

If we find evidence of unwelcome bidding, our actions may range from
issuing an educational alert, a temporary suspension, or in some cases,
an indefinite suspension. The type of action taken depends on the
specific situation surrounding the individual account. Things such as
the existence of a previous warning, the nature of the offense and the
length of time as a community member will be taken into consideration.
Repeated violations of policies will often result in the suspension of a
member's account.

wayneherndon · March 20, 2007 9:32AM

Sell enough on ebay and ultimately a local bidder will ask to deal in person to save a buck or two on shipping. If that is acceptable, find a location that is safe and convenient for you. If not, politely decline and indicate that you will only ship the item as noted in the auction terms.

WH

Bochiman · March 20, 2007 9:33AM

<< Sell enough on ebay and ultimately a local bidder will ask to deal in person to save a buck or two on shipping. If that is acceptable, find a location that is safe and convenient for you. If not, politely decline and indicate that you will only ship the item as noted in the auction terms.

WH >>

I agree Wayne. No need to go on the offensive but just politely state that the terms are for shipping and that is what you are set up for.

LALASD4 · March 20, 2007 9:35AM

Since he has at least 7 days to complete the transaction, he is not a unlawful bidder yet, he was just making a request and had not said he would not pay otherwise.

rec78 · March 20, 2007 9:37AM

unlawful is not the same as unwelcome

AlteredTone · March 20, 2007 9:38AM

I've done the local thing several times. Sold a guitar to a lady who wanted to do the transaction inside a local grocery store. Felt kinda weird walking in there with it, but whatever...

Picked up furniture that I won more than once. Had a few people come to the house, too. That probably wasn't too smart, but I am not a small person and I am armed.

I'd suggest a phone call first. Could be innocent. What does the buyer's feedback look like?

Fjord · March 20, 2007 9:53AM

<< Moderation in disagreement is stupidity. >>

I don't think I could possibly disagree more. Certainly there's no reason to lie about a disagreement just to spare someone's feelings, but being both polite and accurate about the problem don't conflict.

<< I reported him to eBay as an unlawful bidder. >>

I'm suprised you reported him so quickly.

Did the buyer even have a chance to respond to your "sorry shipping only" reply?

notwilight · March 20, 2007 10:01AM

Geez. Some of you guys are tough. I would not hesitate to meet him in a public place. I also wouldn't hesitate if I were the buyer to make this request. I delivered a $5700 silver set to a guys work and he paid cash. I saved a couple hundred bucks paypal and he got his coins the day after the auction closed. it is not unusual for me to meet at a restuarant to do business. --Jerry

OBSESDD · March 20, 2007 10:05AM

I have done this as both a buyer and seller. I've only done it with long time Ebay members with higher rated feedback. I meet in public sometimes my office and either get or pay with cash. Never had a problem, but always keep alert and don't deal with a new ebay (10) member.

Bochiman · March 20, 2007 1:10PM

Hey OP.....got a handle you are willing to share for ebay?
Just want to make sure I don't accidentally bid on your items.

Thanks

Dollar2007 · March 20, 2007 1:55PM

What is the big deal of meeting in a public place, people sell cars to people for much more than what your auction was for. Doesn't the buyer know your address already besides or he will know soon from the package. I don't see what the big deal is.

pharmer · March 20, 2007 2:41PM

What is the big deal about receiving the coins in the mail as agreed to under the terms of the listing?

Dollar2007 · March 20, 2007 2:56PM

<< What is the big deal about receiving the coins in the mail as agreed to under the terms of the listing? >>

That is a good point too, Ha Ha.

fastrudy · March 20, 2007 10:53PM

Hey Bochiman!
That is very considerate of you. Why don't you give me your handle and I will block you from bidding on my auctions. That way your super fine mind won't have to remember an insignificant fact. I like to do business my way. I am sure that you like to do business your way. There are plenty of fish on eBay.

My way or highway.

Strange eBay request...UPDATE

Comments

Leave a Comment

Strange eBay request...**UPDATE**

Comments

Leave a Comment

Strange eBay request...UPDATE