Ebay/Paypal question

Mercury · August 20, 2008 2:02AM

I currently have a auction on Ebay that is around $100. Hopefully, it will go up to around $140-$150.

I have a guy from Italy with almost 700 transactions and a feedback rating of 99.8 asking if I will ship to his friend in New York and he will pay by Paypal.

What kind of problems could this cause if I said ok to this? I looked at Paypal's site and it looks like he could send the payment in US Dollars without incuring and extra charge on my end.

I would be grateful for words of wisdom from the ebay gurus.

Mercury

rgCoinGuy · August 20, 2008 2:06AM

Unless his Friend in NY is HIS confirmed address registered with paypal, you will have no paypal protection and can be ripped off. That said, I would just be careful and make sure it is on the up and up.

ProofRainbowRoosevelt · August 20, 2008 2:08AM

The only way you're covered is if you ship it to his confirmed address. This is how many of these scams start off, "I have a friend". It's only a 150.00 item, but sounds risky to me.

adamlaneus · August 20, 2008 2:10AM

For your own safety...

Insist on shipping to confirmed PayPal addresses only.

Be a broken record. Do not vary from this.

newbiecollector · August 20, 2008 2:13AM

I personally have made that sort of request several times. I am not in the US and via eBay I buy gifts for freinds in the USA. I ask for it to be shipped direct to them.

Much less chance of damage/loss in shipping if it does not have to cross the water 2 times.

ps: I have never been refused for my request either.

greghansen · August 20, 2008 2:14AM

Possible solution. Tell him his 'friend from NY' will have to pay from his own Paypal account so you can ship it to a confirmed address. The Italian guy can then Paypal reimbursement to his NY friend. That's the only way I would do that deal. Otherwise, the risk is not worth the addtional bid or two you might get on the item. You only have to get ripped off once to erase a lot of profit margins!

abitofthisabitofthat · August 20, 2008 2:17AM

I get this request sometimes and always oblige the buyer. I have never had any trouble. I once sent a package to Italy and it spent almost 30 days in Italian customs. I would be much happier shipping to the US. Everyone on ebay is not a scammer. Trust people.

adamlaneus · August 20, 2008 2:20AM

I guess I am just insensitive to the plight of folks not in the US, trying to get mail through that awfully long pipeline.

Actually, i'm in week-two of awaiting an international shipment from Switzerland.

If only that process was easier. I guess some US sellers truncate their own buyer-pool for 'convinience'.

291fifth · August 20, 2008 2:31AM

Unless the address he gives you is "confirmed" you should decline. If it turns out the friend's address is confirmed it is probably a good sign.

mrpotatoheadd · August 20, 2008 2:47AM

<< <i>I have a guy from Italy with almost 700 transactions and a feedback rating of 99.8 asking if I will ship to his friend in New York and he will pay by Paypal. >>

This is no guarantee, of course, but I have done this for buyers before and things have worked out fine. Be aware that the postal system in Italy sucks, and the people in Italy know it.

newbiecollector · August 20, 2008 2:47AM

<< <i>I guess I am just insensitive to the plight of folks not in the US, trying to get mail through that awfully long pipeline.

Actually, i'm in week-two of awaiting an international shipment from Switzerland.

If only that process was easier. I guess some US sellers truncate their own buyer-pool for 'convinience'. >>

Did you mean what you typed? It is ok for you to ask and expect it to work for you in the US from Europe?

or did I totally misunderstand what you posted?

prooflike · August 20, 2008 3:26AM

Figure that the worst that coould happen is that you would be out your coin and your money.

Are you willing to accept this risk?

OPA · August 20, 2008 3:34AM

Have him mail you a US Postal M.O. if he is in the Military or a Bank Draft in US Funds which are easily obtainable in Europe.

Ebay/Paypal question

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