Advice On Dealing With Buyer Outside Ebay

What would be the thinking on selling things to a total stranger outside ebay?

I am currently listing three Lindner albums on ebay (Link posted elsewhere) and response so far has been nil. up to fifty views so far on most of them but no watchers at all..nothing. My gut tells me they won't sell.

Some guy ran a classified in Linn's recently asking for offers of Lindner albums so I emailed him. I sent him a link to my listings, he replied he doesn't do ebay. Doesn't want to share financial information, etc. I told him if these don't sell I'd consider letting him have them at the opening price and he said OK.

I'd bet he does not have a Paypal account. I really do not want to take a check from him. Would you suggest asking for a Money Order? That seems safest. I've exchanged two emails with him and my red flags are up. I had to explain what a 'Lindner' album was, etc.

He ran an ad asking for offers of Lindner albums, but then you had to explain what a Lindner album is? Sounds to me like a con.

As an aside, I don't do ebay either. And I don't do PayPal (my PP account lapsed some years ago. When I contacted them couple years later, they said they now needed my social security number either by fax or by phone. Goodbye PayPal!).

Stamps1962, if what you wrote is correct I would abandon this fellow. I agree - smalls like a con


Peter

Yeah I ran this past my wife and she said the same thing. To just tell him some excuse and drop it. Bet he wants to pay with Bitcoin. I think I know when someone is simply uninformed and when they are doing a con and this feels like the later. He pays for a Linn's ad- not cheap- to ask for something he can easily find from any number of dealers?

If I don't sell these now I'll probably knock a bit off and put them out on here. No need to be in a hurry and take needless risks.

On the other hand, if his check clears......

(Why spend the money on a classified ad in Linn's if there is no legit interest?). I would only accept a check in US funds and wait till it clears. Check with your bank if the buyer has any recourse once the check clears.

When in doubt about a buyer, request payment as a US Postal Service money order. Take it to the PO and cash it. If that goes through OK, send him the stamps.

I just checked and finally got a bid on one item, both others now have watchers. I doubt he and I will be doing any business...

No personal cheques...even if you're willing to wait for it to clear. If it bounces, then you're stuck with a hefty bank fee. No risk of this happening with a Postal Money Order.

And I did see where one album already has a bid, but I wanted to add my 2-cents worth as a reminder of bank bounce charges, albeit somewhat redundantly.

Strange he doesn't know a lot about what he buys.
I would stay away.

I think he's one of those newbies who thinks that 'Lindner' is generic for 'hingeless. I've seem ebay sellers titling their offering as a 'Lindner' album and it's some cheapo stock book. I had to explain what a Lindner page looked like. not a good sign.

One and done.

https://www.usps.com/shop/money-orders.htm

I second the recommendation for USPS money orders when dealing with unknown persons.

This doesn't sound right. I've had a PP account for many years and the subject of my SSN has never come up, and if it ever did I would have been out of there too.

Pardon me, but I find the post rather strange. I am curious as to why you would want to email him your ebay listing instead of just telling you have what he needs and you wouldn't mind doing a deal with him. You could always take down an ebay listing if you intend to sell it privately later on.

Because I'd rather sell through ebay where there are some protections. I mistakenly assumed this guy had an ebay account.

I have two watchers on one lot and one on another; one bid placed at opening price on the third. Interesting that the two with watchers have around fifty views. People are apparently surfing in then right back out. I think it's the starting bid, buyers are looking for a score and are not factoring in that these are like new.

You must surely know that ebay is more buyer than seller friendly.