posted on May 5, 2005 03:34:47 PM new
I got an email from someone in Hungary who wants to buy a pair of speakers I'm auctioning. They are currently at $1125; will likely go up.
He has people who will get the speakers to him, and he wants to pay with a wire transfer.
I am going to send him the following conditions; am I forgetting something?
Assuming that you win the auction:
1. You would send me an email from your eBay-registered email account indicating who (i.e., your agents) will be picking up the speakers and when, and that you assume the risks of non-delivery once they have taken the speakers.
2. Your agents will have to present identification that matches what you have indicated. They will sign a form indicating that they are shipping these speakers to you outside of the State of New Jersey, and that they assume responsibility for the speakers once they pick them up.
3. You will add $10 to the total amount due because my bank charges that amount for receipt of a wire transfer.
posted on May 5, 2005 04:25:20 PM new
It does seem crazy, but maybe it's the only way to get the speakers over there. I must admit that I'm a bit skeptical.
Money Orders make me nervous, because they can be stolen or counterfeit.
My understanding of a wire transfer is that it is not reversible once it has "settled." I would of course confirm with my bank that a wire transfer had in fact been done (and not a bogus check deposited by a confederate for the identical amount, an old scam).
The "shippers" coming by concern me a bit.
Maybe I should insist on two BidPay payments.
I'm going to sleep on my response to him (it's late in Hungary now anyway ).
posted on May 5, 2005 05:14:21 PM new
Sounds like yoour bidder is offering you perhaps the most secure method of payment and for some reason you are trying to find a way to make it more difficult.
Just so that you don't waste your time... Bidpay will not do two seperate payments on the same item and their price limits is well below what your item is going for right now.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
You're probably right. I accept wire transfers reasonably often; I guess it is the strangeness of shipping these to Hungary that gets me. They weigh 105 pounds each, unpacked/uncrated... and they are large.
posted on May 6, 2005 12:26:48 PM new
Do the 'pickup' in a public place. I have a box at a local UPS store that I use for ALL transactions. There is a Starbucks on one side and a pizza take-out and Togo's on the other. I can sit at a table out side and wait for someone while having a cup of Joe.
I recommend an anonymous address to everyone doing eBay or other on-line auctions. For $120 a year I have a business address with many services available and USPS, UPS, Fedex, DHL, GSO, and others will deliver to it.
You must do it yourself, someone cannot just walk off the street and leave a package for you. If you offer the employees an 'incentive' to bend the rules they can get in trouble.
I also use a telephone number from a friend's funeral service as a contact number. It's a good number, and if you leave a message I can get back to you usually within five minutes.
posted on May 6, 2005 02:12:04 PM new
Ah, I see. Do you do multiple business' out of your B&M, or is it dedicated to your eBay activities? UPS(MBE) tried to enter the market, but used the wrong approach. I once considered an MBE franchise, but their contract was overly biased to the Franchiser.
posted on May 6, 2005 02:40:51 PM new
I only do eBay consignment out of the B&M. If you talk to UPS Store managers/owners, they will tell you that they don't like the arrangement with taking items in for eBay sales. They don't get paid very much for the service. One store nearby refers people to me when they come in
posted on May 6, 2005 03:13:17 PM newcashinyourcloset,
Bank wires are safe (and profitable for banks) provided that said bank account belongs to the sender and is not a hijacked one (in which case the funds may have to be returned to lawful owner). We have over the years returned numerous wire transfers (usually SWIFT cross-border ones) that were for the incorrect amount, credited to our account by mistake, or sent by bank without account holder's permission, etc. In no case did we ship any items so we were never out of pocket.
Do yourself a favor and do a little due diligence into the buyer, and establish that they are the bank account owner and eBay account holder. Their account name should be on the incoming wire. Also suggest you get photocopy of photo ID of person doing pickup - tell them at last minute you need it for sales tax (so they can't arrange phony ID ahead of time).
[ edited by agitprop on May 6, 2005 03:15 PM ]
Thank you for your reply. How would I go about doing due diligence on a Hungarian bank account? Is there a reasonable period of time during which my bank will be assured that the funds have been transferred in an honest way (i.e., not through hijack or other fraud)?
I don't get this paranoid with transfers from the UK or Hong Kong, maybe I shouldn't with this one, or perhaps I should always be
I guess I keep coming back to who would ship used (and cosmetically imperfect) speakers to Hungary with the following dimensions:
Size (W x D x H) 12.5 x 17 x 48.5 inches
Weight 107 pounds each.
posted on May 6, 2005 03:29:19 PM new
Claude...Assume for a minute that this auction closes at $1500.00. Simply tell the bidder to wire the money to the "agents" that will be picking them up. They can bring in the cash and walk out with the speakers. No need for i.d., detective work, valium or loss of sleep. Just let him know that the first person who walks through your front door with $1500.00 cash in hand will leave with the speakers. Invest a couple bucks in a pen to verify the cash isn't counterfeit. The only thing, other than the greenbacks you will need from whoever picks them up is the form in your original post stating they were purchased by a party outside your state, so you don't get dinged down the line for sales tax.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on May 6, 2005 03:37:32 PM new
...is Bud a Pest?
"I'm going to spend a lot of time on Social Security. I enjoy it. I enjoy taking on the issue. I guess, it's the Mother in me."—Guess Who? Washington D.C., April 14, 2005
posted on May 6, 2005 04:30:19 PM new
In an earlier thread, someone mentioned that you can get the pens at Walmart. Any business that handles large amounts of cash, such as your liquor store can obtain one for you. They even use them at McDonalds here in California.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
).
