Gilkar

I posted my D850 for sale on UHH and on EBay. The Ebay posting was accepted at full price within 15 minutes! No questions - no nothing- just, "tell me how to pay and send the camera". I answered immediately saying, "I only accept Paypal". I changed my listing on UHH from "for sale" to "sold". Then the fun started. Buyer wrote to me and said "money sent, send camera". Strangely the e-mail was from a completely different address than the one used when Ebay notified me that the camera was sold. Ebay suggested that I invoice the buyer immediately using their system. So I sent the invoice to the buyer at the original email address used at the start of the transaction. I then got a response from a third party with a different name asking me to send the camera to him in Atlanta, GA. The first email was from a man, the second was from a woman, and the third was from a man with a, (dare I say it, a very Nigerian sounding name). Then I remembered reading a thread some time ago on UHH describing a similar situation. DING! went the bell in my head, (my head isn't big enough for a bell to go "DONG!"). OK I thought, "obvious scam". So I wrote to all three parties and received responses from each swearing that the money was sent to my Ebay account and I should check my email inbox and my junkmail box for confirmation. OK I thought, "Why should I tell them I do not have an Ebay account?" So I responded again to all three, "sorry but I do not see any money in my, (imaginary), Ebay account. Send the money to my Paypal account when the money is there they will notify me and I'll send the camera. After a few more tries they gave up and there was complete SILENCE. I guess the scammers, (these folks were not very bright), thought, "If we tell him the money is in his account he will not check and send the equipment". I have read the threads from fellow hoggers describing the red flags and I'm glad I paid attention.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Wow!

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Good for you!! Glad you caught this and didn't get scammed.

Dodie

NickGee Loc: Pacific Northwest

On likely 80% of the ads I place (Craig's List, FB Marketplace, etc., even UHH), I get at least one of these approaches. Fortunately, this approach all but props a neon sign blinking "SCAM."

Just Shoot Me Loc: Ithaca, NY

Unfortunately E-BAy, Craigs list and Pay-Pal, etc. all have scammers. I don't use any other payment form except a check. If you are out of town you will wait 10 days to 2 weeks before I ship, if I ever ship.
When your funds are in my account the item will be shipped to you.
No exceptions. Anyone who is honest will not think this is out of the ordinary.

Ron

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

I got bit but a little further down the process. I did have paypal and they even sent me email saying the money was sent. Every time I looked into my Paypal account, no money. I called paypay, hell i had email saying it was there. After we both looked at email headers, paypal says the never use that type of email address and it is a fraud. Caught the Bastards and told them i did and they still lied and said they sent it. It was a cleaver ruse.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

I recently sold a camera and lens to someone locally and stipulated that when she comes by to pick it up I want cash. There's just too many dishonest people out there.

Hip Coyote

Paypal works well if you follow the rules. First, you must have an a PayPal account. The buyer has to have an account. Send the person an invoice. When they pay it, it will show paid on your account. Do not trust and email. Go onto Paypal account via the web and check. Once the payment is posted, you are safe to send the item.

Why a person would send someone a check, hoping that they for sale item is legit is beyond me. The reason paypal is so prosperous is that, if the rules are followed, it works and all parties are protected.

gwilliams6

As a longtime pro and one who does trade or sell my gear from time to time when upgrading, I NEVER use EBAY, ever. Just too many horror stories from fellow photographers that have gotten burned, even by USA buyers . Ebay just is home to some of the worst buyers and straight out scammers. Just not worth the risk and hassle IMHO.

There are other more secure and reputable ways and places to sell used gear where you wont get scammed.

Cheers and best to you.

radiojohn

"Why should I tell them I do not have an Ebay account?"

How could you list it on eBay without opening an account?

Ebay ONLY accepts Paypal, no money orders, etc. and has a lot of buyer/seller protection built in.

The only dumb things I get are early low-ball offers asking me to close the auction.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

Good work! Scammers scam. They never learn. Apparently, there are enough suckers to keep them in business.

I've noticed an uptick in text messages to me from banks and accounts I do not have informing me that something has occurred and I need to confirm my account. Uh, right.

radiojohn

"I NEVER use EBAY, ever. Just too many horror stories from fellow photographers that have gotten burned, even by USA buyers "

Never had the problems you describe in 15 years.

The only problems I've found come from people wanting a MINT, IMMACULATE 50mm f/1.4 Super Takumar so they can great bokeh with their mirrorless camera. The expect sellers to hop into a time machine and fetch a lens right from the camera store shelf and bring it back.

Sadly, eBay does value the buyer more than the seller, you you grit your teeth and take the lens back.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Actually you just reminded me that I have a Super Takumar 50 f1.4 that is immaculate on the outside (off a Spotmatic with a shutter that won’t fire), and no fungus, but unfortunately there is some corrosion right at the edge of the aperture blades in several places, so I can’t change the aperture even in manual mode. Sad.

radiojohn

Yeah, there is a "perfection" buyer that must be nice, but you pay for it dearly.

SoHillGuy Loc: Washington