# Dealing with a Scammer on Ebay

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-scammer-on-ebay/605626>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 9, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-scammer-on-ebay/605626 "2011-12-09T15:38:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-scammer-on-ebay/605626/41 "2011-12-10T20:29:47Z")

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> [@PunditLisa](#):
>
> In your case, I’d list the laptop on your city’s local CraigsList, cash only, pick-up in person only.
> 
> If it’s a good laptop and you’ve set a decent price, then you should get some interest. And there’s no stress involved with shipping or hoping that the funds aren’t backed out later due to fraud.

And if you sell on Craigslist, I recommend meeting at a neutral place (Starbucks?) to exchange item for money–don’t have them come to your house. Just for safety, is all.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-scammer-on-ebay/605626/42 "2011-12-10T22:13:12Z")

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> [@jjimm](#):
>
> Being non-US I’ve often wondered about - and been annoyed by - US vendors refusing to ship internationally. I guess that could explain it. The UK P.O. does have track-and-trace to international destinations, which explains my confusion. Couldn’t you use FedEx or DHL since the purchaser pays the shipping? Or would they just refuse due to prohibitive pricing?

I sell online for a living.  
I do not make items (except very expensive slow movers) available for overseas shipment.  
Reasons:

- It takes a lot more of my time to handle international shipping once the sale happens. I am not compensated more for my time, despite spending more. It lowers my effective hourly wage.
- It costs me way more to ship internationally with valid delivery confirmation than it does most vendors, because my UPS volume isn’t that high
- It allows me to avoid scammers.

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**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2011, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-scammer-on-ebay/605626/43 "2011-12-10T23:13:58Z")

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Those of a less trusting nature who are inclined to get even with scammers can visit [419 eater](http://www.419eater.com/html/baiting.htm) or alternatively [the scam baiter](http://www.thescambaiter.com/) if you want to ramp it up a notch. The OP was full of red flags.

Was the OP able to retrieve their $80?

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**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-scammer-on-ebay/605626/44 "2011-12-11T00:58:56Z")

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Mfm,

They won’t have been able to get a refund from the US Postal Service.  
As to what Paypal winds up doing, this story is less than a week old now, so no one knows.

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