I think someone was trying to scam me
By maezee
@maezee (41988)
United States
April 21, 2012 2:07pm CST
This girl won the bid on one of my blouses, which sold for a measley $5. Anyway, I set up shipping as $8, which was probably more than enough for domestic shipping. In all of my auctions it said that I only ship to the U.S. Keep that in mind.
So I was about to package up this order and send it out after I saw that the "paid" thing was checked on eBay, until I printed out the order info. page to see that she ONLY paid me $5.00. And did not pay shipping.
And not only that, but she lived in Canada.
I sent her a message, and explained the two problems. I said either you can send me more money to ship to Canada, which I don't usually do but I would make an exception this time if you paid me enough to ship it, or I can refund that $5 you sent me and we can forget this ever happened.
She had a "4" by her name (reputation) and it said 0.0% Positive Feedback received. I'm pretty sure she is trying to run a scam, to see if people don't notice that she isn't paying for shipping - perhaps?
She responded all coyly, like "Oh my gosh, so sorry, I didn't see that there was a shipping charge, I thought it was free!". And then she said I should just refund her $5.
So I did that, and now I am just trying to figure out a way to close out the auction so I can re-list it and try again.
Anyway, I am pretty sure she was trying to run a scam on me.
Have you ever had this happen to you on eBay or any other site for that matter?
4 responses
@cinderella2007 (2662)
•
21 Apr 12
I thought when you paid for items on ebay it automatically charges you the shipping fee??? Might be different for auction items, I have never bought any auction items plus I live in the UK.
You would think that people would check the shipping fees before buying and paying for items.
As for a scam, it could just be a one of mistake but at least you found out before you had posted the items!
Hope you managed to re-list your item and got the value that you wanted.
@judy43 (299)
• United States
18 May 12
I have used Ebay several years and been ripped off several times. People say they didnt receive item but it took them a month to ask where their item was. You would think if you had paid for item and hadnt heard from seller in a month to ask what happened. Of course I had to refund money
@oscarbartoni (2581)
• United States
22 Apr 12
First off you mentioned that you only ship to the USA. You could put the price of the shipping in the bid price and say free shipping. I know that you might get fewer bidders but at least you will not have the same thing happen with someone trying to get you to ship the item free. Try to make sure to put in the shipping cost (either in the price of the item you are selling or make sure that it is included below) so that Ebay wil add it when you get a winning bidder.
When I buy something from Ebay, it automatically adds in the shipping unless in the posting it gaves a shipping calulation. Some people say to wait until given an inventory including shipping. Good luck in selling yor items. Let us know how you make out selling your items.
@JohnRok1 (2051)
•
23 Apr 12
Maybe she thought, having scammed you for a second hand blouse at $5 and not paying the shipping price, that she would make a massive profit selling it on? Maybe she makes a lucrative practice of doing this?
Reminds me of Hymie with his ice-skates business in the middle of the Sahara, complaining to his friend, Moshe that business wasn't doing well. "What do you expect", said Moshe, "trying to sell ice-skates in the middle of a desert?"
"That's not the problem", was the reply, "it's the competition".
