Ebay/Paypal - Does This Sound Fishy?

[pilotjim]

I saw a newly listed Rolex that had a low starting price on Ebay. I emailed the seller and asked if he would consider a buy-it-now price. He replies yes, but only if I send him payment directly through Paypal. He offers to send me an invoice and claims I will then have buyer protection through Paypal.

After reading terms and conditions on both websites, I feel that I will not have any buyer protection since his "invoice" does not constitute a website. Paypal protects buyers who buy on a website but not direct payments to someone's email account.

Anyway, I did not follow through, even though the seller attempted to make a number of pressing arguments to convince me. I later find that he had two other Rolex watches for sale, and then all three listings are ended early, then relisted. I reported all three listings to ebay. All three were removed, but then one of them reappeared under a different user name.

This is the current listing:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rolex-GMT-M...19.m1438.l2649


This was the original listing:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ROLEX-GMT-M...vip=true&rt=nc

[nsxnext]

Always weary when someone hides the dial text with the hands.
As for the PayPal issue, if he is a legit seller I'd say it's ok. He's offering to sell it you outside of eBay so he can avoid the seller fee.

As I've learned from the many many wise members of this board the #1 thing is trusting the seller. If your Spidey sense is going off, move on to the next seller.

[dmac001]

Then date looks too small. Fake?

[beshannon]

Of course this sounds fishy because it is.

Never send a payment outside of EBAY for an EBAY item, you will lose any kind of buyer protection.

[pilotjim]

Here are the other two listings he had which were ended early:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rolex-Presi...vip=true&rt=nc

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rolex-GMT-M...vip=true&rt=nc

[pilotjim]

The root beer pics looked fake, but the pics of the other two looked pretty good to me. I reported the current listing to ebay, but it is still active.

[GLADIATOR]

Originally Posted by pilotjim

Here are the other two listings he had which were ended early:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rolex-Presi...vip=true&rt=nc

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rolex-GMT-M...vip=true&rt=nc

GMT is fake

[GLADIATOR]

Originally Posted by pilotjim

I saw a newly listed Rolex that had a low starting price on Ebay. I emailed the seller and asked if he would consider a buy-it-now price. He replies yes, but only if I send him payment directly through Paypal. He offers to send me an invoice and claims I will then have buyer protection through Paypal.

After reading terms and conditions on both websites, I feel that I will not have any buyer protection since his "invoice" does not constitute a website. Paypal protects buyers who buy on a website but not direct payments to someone's email account.

Anyway, I did not follow through, even though the seller attempted to make a number of pressing arguments to convince me. I later find that he had two other Rolex watches for sale, and then all three listings are ended early, then relisted. I reported all three listings to ebay. All three were removed, but then one of them reappeared under a different user name.

This is the current listing:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rolex-GMT-M...19.m1438.l2649


This was the original listing:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ROLEX-GMT-M...vip=true&rt=nc

Why two different sellers.
Strange

[79280_116520]

The GMT is a fake and you NEVER want to buy an off-ebay item agreeing to the seller's terms. You will have no recourse with Paypal.

Many watch scammers are from Florida, and the name James Dunn rings a bell, but unfortunately I cannot find results in searches online at the moment.

[Chewbacca]

its a trap!

(Imagine Akbar Meme Here)

[Valenciawatchrepair]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

its a trap!

(Imagine Akbar Meme Here)

I got ya covered! lol

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by Valenciawatchrepair

I got ya covered! lol

[Beauregard]

I'd say he's just trying to get around Ebay's 15% fee, and in saving himself this fee perhaps he can offer you a better deal. He's still going to take a 3% hit from PayPal and you will still be protected by PayPal (unless you send the money "friend's and family" at which point walk away).

[MILGAUSS88]

I did not look at the watch, so I am not commenting on it's authenticity.
You do have recourse if you purchase through PayPal, as long as there is an invoice and the money is stated that it is for merchandise, not a gift.
It is not ebay holding your money. In reality they have no power.
I have sold through PayPal many times to avoid the 11% ebay fees.
I couldn't do some of the deals if I had the ebay fees on top of the discounts.

[Andad]

As has been said.

Pass.

[avirom]

I would strongly reccomend not doing any deals from ebay, outside of ebay, no matter who the seller is.

I saw a nice watch for the wife on ebay - contacted the seller (has over 4000 sales with a very high feedback) and offered him a trade. I sent, he did not. contacted ebay - not interested at all in helping.

beware.

[vincenzowl]

Originally Posted by avirom

I would strongly reccomend not doing any deals from ebay, outside of ebay, no matter who the seller is.



I saw a nice watch for the wife on ebay - contacted the seller (has over 4000 sales with a very high feedback) and offered him a trade. I sent, he did not. contacted ebay - not interested at all in helping.



beware.

Sorry to read this. Hopefully will be good for others to learn not to go down this avenue. Should always try to cover all angles from your end before making any deal. This wasn’t an eBay transaction so it probably wasn’t the best idea.

[mtgjr]

Originally Posted by beshannon

Never send a payment outside of EBAY for an EBAY item, you will lose any kind of buyer protection.

This is absolutely not true. PayPal offers pretty solid buyer protection, whether it's an eBay or non-eBay transaction.

[avirom]

Originally Posted by vincenzowl

Sorry to read this. Hopefully will be good for others to learn not to go down this avenue. Should always try to cover all angles from your end before making any deal. This wasn’t an eBay transaction so it probably wasn’t the best idea.

vince you are right.

I had done one other trade before on ebay, and it went well, so I thought it would work out ok here too.

He asked to send first (which doesn"t sound unreasonable since he doesn"t know me) and I did.

He kept mine, and he kept listing his for sale, till I filed a complaint with ebay (they did nothing) then he cut off all contact.

I only lost about $150 on the deal, but it was a good lesson, learned well.

[dmac001]

I had a case where PayPal did not consider an eBay link as proof of item. PayPal dispute ruled in favor of the seller (not me)..... These scammers know how to work around eBay and PayPal. For any significant PayPal purchases, I will now use my credit-card.