Recent e-Bay Experience...

[Pete Ebbink]

Just recently I had an odd e-Bay experience that others may have interest in knowing about...

I was very interested in a really nice, authentic police holster that had a buy-it-now price of $ 400. I emailed the seller through e-Bay, asking if I went for the buy-it-now price, would he include the shipping/insurance costs in the price.

He replied yes but then cancel the e-Bay auction and was trying to sell it directly to me. I had no problem with that...figured he was trying to save a few dollars in not paying the e-Bay auction fee to cover the "free" shipping costs.

The seller has an excellent 100% rating. But then he sends me an email saying my personal check payment needs to be made out to another person's name, not his. Said the sale was for a friend.

I sent him a lengthy email explaining my concern for this off-e-Bay sale for the following reasons :

1. If I made a payment and the holster never arrived, I would not have any recourse through e-Bay and would not be able to post negative feedback on e-Bay.

2. If the shipment never arrived, I would only be holding a cancelled check made out and paid out to a person not the seller. How could I possibly take any recourse with local law enforcement when I could not even prove the "seller" stiffed me...?

I politely suggested the seller re-active the ad on e-Bay and I would then decide to bid or not. I chose not to...since the off-line transaction just left me with so many doubts...I think the holster went gavel-down for $ 350.00 the 2nd. time around...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

[Herb]

Pete, I think you did the right thing, I've heard of this kind of scam before, send the money never get the item, no recourse. I'm not implying this seller is a scammer but it has happened.