eBay Protection

["Kevin Hawkins" <lists@xxxxxxx>]

Just a few of thoughts on ways to protect yourself for larger eBay transactions. Common sense I guess but maybe something might help someone. I got caught once but only on a silly little transaction - I knew something wasn't right as the price for the goods was so low and the seller wanted to close the auction quickly. As they say if it sounds to good to be true it probably is.

 

    I have always tried to get the following information from the seller.

 

    1) Home address and telephone number - a check with 192.com validates this. Be wary of the 'no home phone' line - surely everyone selling expensive kit has a home phone. Don't accept a mobile number.

    2) Employers name and a work telephone number. Often very reassuring and high value goods seem to translate to well known employers - got to fund the habit somehow.

    3) An email sent using the work account domain (as well as one from the personal account)

    4) Are they a net visible person eg does the seller have a website - do they post to newsgroups (DejaNews will search on a name)

    5) Seller ratings - large plus scores are hard to build up (but not impossible to forge) - low ratings - be cautious but everyone starts somewhere.

    6) Suggest you might call around for a viewing (even though you have no intention) & gauge the reaction, you can always ring up and cancel.

 

    Also the following if you become wary

 

    7) A serial number from the goods being sold

    8) A copy of the original sales receipt by fax

    9) Does the seller seem to know and understand the product they are selling ?

    10) A photo taken of the product - with say a copy of todays newspaper in shot (if they have a camera)

    11) A question about the product only someone with the product to hand could answer eg writing legend on rear panel.

 

    I bought my Tag Mclaren stuff this way - it was a big transaction but the guy was more than willing to give enough of this info for me to feel happy (employer did it for me - Unisys). I called him at work just to check he was really there (using a number from 192.com not the works number he gave) and also phoned him at home at an unarranged time. Tag Mclaren happened to have a serial register for stolen equipment so I was able to verify the S/No was appropriate. I felt quite comfortable in the end.

    There are also some Escrow services offered - never used one but it seems a good idea. I think they work as follows. You pay the Escrow agent - they then tell the seller that funds have cleared - seller ships goods - buyer tells Escrow that goods are acceptable (work etc) and finally Escrow pays seller. Not sure what they charge for this.

    Lastly I guess there are quite a lot of HA members around the country who might be able to help out with a pre sale evaluation.

 

    2p Kevin

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