How to Avoid Scams on eBay as a Seller

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By A. Suzanne Wells
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Avoid Scams on eBay as a Seller

eBay is notorious for scams - by both buyers and sellers. If you are an eBay seller, there are precautions you can take to protect yourself from shady buyers. Some buyers are really honest people who don't understand how eBay works. Others are crooks looking to get a free item or rip off sellers. Learn how to protect yourself as a seller, and avoid non-paying bidders and item disputes.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

Explain your payment policies clearly. Leave no stone unturned. What types of payment will you accept? How long does the buyer have to pay for his order? If you accept personal checks, will you hold the order until the check clears the bank? Cover all this information in detail so the customer is fully informed.
Step 2

Explain your shipping policies and schedule completely. What carrier do you use? How often do you ship? Will you provide tracking information automatically or only if the customer asks? Will you combine shipping on multiple items?
Step 3

If shipping to domestic addresses with USPS, always use Delivery Confirmation. You can track the package online and prove when it was delivered. If the customer files a non-receipt claim, you wil have valid proof of the delivery and win the dispute.
Step 4

Adjust your preference and block bidders with poor eBay history. On the Sell Your Item Form, look for a section near the bottom called Buyer Requirements. Sellers can set their preferences to block buyers with specific feedback scores, unpaid item strikes, or other factors. Use this screening feature to block undesireable bidders from your items.
Step 5

Always file unpaid item disputes. Since sellers can no longer leave negative feedback for buyers, the only thing we can do is make sure unpaid item disputes are filed as these go on the buyer's record. If all sellers band together to and file unpaid item cases, we can prevent undesireable buyers from bidding at all. Enough unpaid item strikes and the buyer will be removed from eBay completely.
Step 6

Follow eBay's rules for sellers to the letter - do everything by the book. Don't leave a loophole where a crook can take advantage of you.
Step 7

Be very careful what you say in emails and messages to customers. eBay can track everything and use it against you in a dispute. If you think you are being scammed, and receive questions from the buyer, reply to the buyer in a professional manner, stating everything by the book, knowing that your message will be looked at by many eyes later if there is a dispute. Refer to the step above - if you do everything correctly, you will appear more professional and it will help you in the event of a dispute.
Step 8

Listen to your gut. If you feel uneasy about a buyer who has bid on your item, you can cancel the bid and block him. If a buyer asks suspicious questions that raise red flags, block him. Not every buyer who asks something weird is a criminal, but your instincts don't lie.
Step 9

Be proactive in protecting yourself as a seller. It is better to block a bidder and lose an occassional sale than to get caught up in a scam that will cost you money and/or a product.