Example of when to block a prospect buyer

[ebabe]

Prospect Buyer sent me a message on ebay saying she ''NEEDS'' the item (shoes) for a Christmas party thats coming up on the 8th of Dec and that if I could express ship the item . At first I was like oh great shes interested in them. But then I thought to myself, hang on...she gonna buy these shoes for the party and then try to get a refund after Where then I will have to refund also the express shipping fee which could be around £10.00 and I cant recupe from the shipping company. It doesn't work like that. If she returns on the basis ''doesn't fit'' she has to pay for return shipping but im still out the express shipping money. If she says there is a stain on them or anything where she can put ''Item not as described'' im out of pocket even more as I have to also pay for return shipping. She has 0 feedback, based overseas, and just signed up to ebay this month. I will just relist as an auction and tell her the item wont be available for that date. I have also blocked her. Yes she could have said nothing and just said can you express ship the item. But I think she slipped up telling me she ''needed'' the shoes. When ever you get spooked best to bail out. Wait for the next buyer who will probably be more genuine. Iv been selling on ebay since 2002 and this is just my 2 cents. Anyone else have any similar experiences?

I tend to agree, but having said that most buyers are genuine.

I've had the same situation plenty of times and it wasnt some sort of scam.

But if you get a bad feeling, just block and move on

[SaiJin]

It's about what you feel more comfortable at this point.
It's ashame that eBay breeds this kind of buyers.

But more often than not, buyers aren't scammers.

So again, do what you think is right at this point.

[ebabe]

She has been messaging me all day asking me if I can deliver the shoes to her, blah blah blah. I could accept cash on collection. But something doesn't seem right, shes way to eager. There is nothing special about these shoes. I get suspicious when people act like this. I mean she just created the ebay account a few days ago, states that she is overseas but yet she is available for me to deliver to her...

[bjammin]

When people express urgency that usually throws red flags up for me. Being overseas and new with no feedback just adds to the red flags.

[applebaum]

Follow your instinct. If it seems off... it probably is.

[kirkland]

block her, someone else will buy them

[kirkland]

She may not be a scammer but she may have high unreasonable expectations. Let her screw some other sap, you don't need to finances her return shipping costs and take a neg on top of it

[dealagreeproceed]

Originally Posted by kirkland

block her, someone else will buy them

this^^^^^^ i tend to block any buyers that ask me any question period... because 9 times out of 10 its already been answered or its a stupid question etc... ........ F um...

[dallis]

She's absolutely GOT to have a pair of shoes and is willing to pay around $16USD to ship them.

And she's nagging you relentlessly.

I don't know the price of the shoes, but seriously, go out to your local Wallymart and buy them if you're in such a hurry.

Shoes are not something you should be buying online like this.

[ebabe]

She sent me 5 messages this morning asking where I live, my number, really laying it on thick. Now, I know that you are not suppose to do a deal outside ebay, and im thinking this was a competitor trying to bait me into giving out my details so I would violate ebay's new policy. So I reported her, and I think either ebay banned her or she closed her account. Ebay has been around since 1998, why did she just sign up for an account a few days ago. That makes me think she is a competitor , made a new account so I cant see what she is selling. Just my 2cents, but I had a bad feeling. Be wary of competitors people...

[newjerseymax]

If she paid for express during checkout just ship them and if it was just a question then block her. Take the best route to save your account and not a few bucks.

[vettefever17]

ALWAYS follow that gut feeling. Those buyers that ask questions outside of the normal questions for a particular item are usual going to give you a bad experience or use you to their advantage. I've had a few gut feelings about buyers that later came back to bite me. And it stings even more when you see the case opened and knew what they were going to do.