Ebay scammer warning.

Greg32 wrote: As your pal had to address the package maybe its best to send the lads over to talk it through with the purchaser.

yes, this is your protection as a seller. you have their address. for a grand I'd go and set fire to their car at least.

too many dishonest people these days  has an address so cud sort sumthing out if he wanted to otherwise a heavy loss 

I remember reading somewhere about buying items like chain off the roll in a diy store. It went something like, cut off the length you need, then walk round and abandon it somewhere else in the store. Return to the store the following day or so and then collect the chain which is now in the bargain bin at considerably reduced price!

Always have to be careful even as a buyer.

Once bought a JBL diaphragm that I saw on ebay.

The seller had photographed it in it's original box and described it as being brand new. Only opened to photograph. Working perfectly.

Won it on an auction. Was happy because got it for a really good price. Maybe something like £20.

It arrived. Perfect cosmetic condition in the original JBL packing box.

But open circuit.

So I contacted the seller to generate a return. Yes, no problem he said. All very friendly.

He sent me the ebay returns label which I stuck on the box. Sending it back tracked, standard non-insured Royal Mail 2nd class post. Paid for by the seller.

All good I thought.

Then a couple of days later I got a message from the seller via ebay along with a photograph, showing that basically someone had pushed their finger onto the diaphragm and ruined it.

Then maybe 5 minutes later another message from ebay saying that a case has been opened against me for the new replacement cost of the diaphragm.

So I contacted ebay and explained what had happened, and how the diaphragm was impossible to be damaged in that way it was, because it was in the original packing box.

Then the seller gets nasty and says he will sue me for the new replacement cost of the diaphragm (around £250) unless we "come to an agreement".

Fortunately the seller messed up by sending that message though the ebay messaging platform.

So I contacted ebay again and explained to them that I don't like being threatened.

They found in my favour, and the seller got banned from ebay.

What was interesting is that the seller was so professional and smooth in his approach, that I am certain that he had succeeded in this scam before. ie. Sells a dead diaphragm, and gets back good money for it.

So what are the morals of this story:

Firstly be very careful about buying a "new" diaphragm in it's original box that has only been opened to photograph.

If you think about it, if you change a diaphragm, where do you put the non-working one? Yes, back in the original box where the new one used to be.

Be careful about sending back potentially valuable items on an uninsured ebay return initiated by the seller.

Private buyers/sellers are a nightmare ive had some things up for sale on ebay for years Im not posting/pallet/courier if its too heavy and defo not posting if over £100 and not enough feedback or years behind them I use ebay for reach as much as possible redirect to Facebook folk have to collect. Im another one who cant stand their fee's. If you become desperate to sell/buy or get something for nothing thats when the trouble starts