Ebay Seller wants me to send 2200 via cashiers check or money order?

Question

I made an expesive purchase on ebay. After placing my bid, I read that the seller will only accept a cashiers check or money order. The ebayer has a good track record 97.8% out of 150 feedbacks. He hasn't responded to my emails about about alternative payment options. Now, I don't want my ebay account suspended, but I'm not going to take the risk by sending the seller the check. I'm prepared to have my ebay account suspended for life...Is there a clearinghouse that the seller and me can use for the exchange, that is, he send the purchase to the clearinghouse and I send the check. If the check clears the clearinghouse sends the purchased item?

Answer 1

I absolutely would not send a cashier's check or money order for that amount of money to a seller with such feedback. If you pay that way there is no guarantee to protect you like you would get via PayPal or a credit card. Since he won't return your emails what I would suggest you do is:

Click on advanced search tab at the top of the eBay home page. When that page loads look to the left side of the page and it will give you the option to get a member's contact information under the members subheading. When you click on that option it will ask for the member's name and the auction number of a recent transaction you and the person participated in. Enter that information and eBay will verify that you completed that transaction with that seller and they will email you his address and phone number. Then I suggest you call him and discuss alternative payments.

If you do not pay for the item your account will not be permanently canceled. You will receive 1 unpaid item strike. You are allowed 3 within a 6 month period before eBay boots your account. I would reccommend reading the payment terms more closely in the future, that way you won't encounter this type of problem again.

Thanks,
Christina - eBay Powerseller

Answer 2

listen carefully!

this is most likely a SCAM!

97.8% feedback is AWFUL!! there isn't one poster on ebays Trust and Safety forum that would bid on a seller with that feedback!

if you don't pay, ebay will not suspend your account! it will give you one "strike" against your ID. BIG DEAL!

and if this guy is a scammer ebay will suspend HIM!

there is no safe way to send this guy a cashiers check or money order!

we have people come to the board DAILY with this same problem. unfortunately we are not allowed to tell them not to pay.

I'm telling you here, DO NOT FALL FOR THIS!

chances are really good that when the seller does reply to your email, he will give you some song and dance about sending your money and that "Safe Harbor" will hold the money until you get the item.

DO NOT BELIEVE HIM!! it is a load of lies!

i don't know if you are allowed to do this on this forum, but can you post the item # of the auction?

or if you can't do that, tell me the search title for YOUR auction and the sellers state. the ending date of the auction would help too

i should be able to find it, knowing his feedback rating.

i will take a look at it for you.

i am assuming this is some sort of electronic item? am i correct?

this is HUGE fraud area on ebay.

BTW, there is no clearinghouse for money or items on ebay. there is no ebay WAREHOUSE either!

PLEASE, DO NOT PAY THIS GUY YET!!


BOX815-

"You'll send your check to them, they'll make certain it's good, the seller will send the item to them, they'll make certain it's as promised and then they'll send the money to the seller and the product to the buyer."

this is patently FALSE!! ebay DOES NOT receive ANY GOODS for inspection! they DO NOT hold ANY money!

CEMNYC,

i sent you an email!

.

Answer 3

Listen, I think you are missing the point about cashier's checks. Perhaps, I'll help you understand better, what cashier's checks are. Cashier checks are also called banker's checks and they issued by banks from the funds in your account; it's kind of like a money order. It is different from a personal check because it does not contain any of your personal details like account number, it does not contain your name.

It contains the bank's name, the bank's branch number, the day it was issued and the name of the person receiving payments. So, it is perfectly safe and will not reveal any of your private details to a stranger.

A money order just contains the recepient's name and the sender's name as well as the total payments. It does not contain any other sensitive personal information. You have nothing to worry about.

Answer 4

Yes, there are escrow services specifically meant to work with Ebay purchases. You'll send your check to them, they'll make certain it's good, the seller will send the item to them, they'll make certain it's as promised and then they'll send the money to the seller and the product to the buyer.

Since the seller's posting probably didn't say anything about refusing to use one of these services they should allow it assuming you're the one who's going to pay the escrow fee (which seems fair to me).

If they refuse I think you've got reason to refuse to pay. They have no legitimate reason to refuse to use an escrow service.

Look on Google for them.

Answer 5

what ever u buy on ebay always use a credit card cause teh seller can rip u off it happned to nmy dad before when he paied by check. If there is a problem the credit card company will take of it. ontact ebay itself , about the problem and tehy will contact teh seller!

Answer 6

Paypal is the clearing house for ebay.

Answer 7

probably a scam never do that