Possible Ebay Scam

[addcourt]

Looking for some feedback on this recent development. #I was second high bidder on the Derrington signed Gibson Custom F5 on ebay last week. #Yesterday I received an email thorough ebay regarding an opportunity to purchase at my high bid price and if interested, email the owner directly. #I emailed the address given in that correspondence and received a reply from an unkown email address stating that he was the high bidder and had the approval of the seller to sell to me at my bid price and that all would be sanctioned by ebay rules. #I emailed this new address with an offer based upon the bid I would have made bidding against the 3rd place bidder since the high bidder "ran" my max bid up. #I then received an email from a third email address accepting my new amount and stating he would cover all shipping costs and that the transaction would be covered through his deposit(insurance amount of $20,000)with ebay. #The tone in this last email smacks of "English as a second language". #Any comments are welcomed.

[danb]

second chance offer = scam. Ask them to relist it with a buy-it-now price you are happy with, if you trust them.

[PhilGE]

Run, don't walk, away from that "deal"! That's a classic rip-off. Each time they contact you, they feed you a little more tempting tidbit to entice you to forget your judgement and follow the greed.

-Phil

[addcourt]

Much thanks! In the three or so years I've been involved with ebay transactions, I've not been approached with a "second chance" offering. The first contact in this transaction looked very official coming from ebay and as the correspondence continued, the quality of communication dropped off. Will let you know if they continue to be creative. Regards, Mike

[Keith Miller]

I've had a couple of 2nd chance offers, each time it was in the form of a Buy it now auction at my price, anything else I would not touch.
Keith.

[JimW]

Mike, that very same mandolin was on eBay yesterday again, only this time it was listed from someone in the UK, a new user with zero feedback, and started at 1000 pounds with no reserve and the typical scam alerts. It had the pictures of the label, the two included cases w/calton, etc. I'm like the others, run, don't walk away from this deal.

Ebay Gibson Scam

Jim

[Tom C]

Ask them if it has the hidden 9th string and if it is signed by Lloyd Loar.
I'm sure you would get a "yes " on both of those.

[bdisp]

I had 2 of these for an F-2. I reported it to spoof@ebay.com. I got the automated response then a response telling me thanks for reporting it It is a scam. The scammers are all over Gibson mandos.......

[mrbook]

With all the talk on this forum about how people should buy from reputable dealers to get a fine instrument that is properly set up, I am always surprised at how much time is spent on ebay trying to find a great mandolin at a bargain price. Then comes the surprise when so many turn out to be scams.

I am surprised (shocked) by the number of scams, and becoming more disillusioned with the human race. I have bought a couple mandolins on ebay along with other instruments (sold a few, too), but if I were buying a really fine instrument I would only go to someone who would stand behind my purchase - and I never expect that on ebay.

[addcourt]

Thanks Bob--will file a report with ebay--these guys are really a pain. Regards, Mike

[Gibsonman]

Hi Mike how are you? I would stay away from that one.

[addcourt]

mrbook--sounds like abit of lecture. I've had nothing but good results using ebay for sales and purchases over the years(as well as entertainment value). I've had more problems with wasted time and money dealing with brick and mortar dealers. I posted this recent situation with ebay because I had not encountered it before. My method of dealing with any seller is "buyer beware". It has served me well.

[mrbook]

Probably was a bit of a lecture, but I've read quite a few here, and thought I'd like to give it a try. I've sold several instruments I no longer played on ebay, and was generally quite happy with the results - certainly better financially than selling to a dealer. I've bought some good ones, too - even got a good laugh from the guy in Arkansas who sent me a dobro by slapping a shipping label and stamps on the side of the case and sending it Priority Mail (he did tie a string around it, but couldn't use a lock because I didn't have a key). Even a couple others with hidden problems were things I could fix, and I don't mind taking a chance.

I look for things everyday on ebay now, although I haven't found much of interest lately. I do overlook the great instruments at low prices, partly becasue of the scams mentioned here, and partly because I can't spend more than I can afford to lose. If I spend a couple thousand or more on something with a problem that the seller can't fix, I'll have to explain it to someone at home. Also, since so many people here check ebay regularly, I'm sure it is a lot more difficult to find a sleeper today than a couple years ago. Doesn't mean I don't look, but I would be suspicious of any bargain on a Gibson there.

[neal]

I use to email the poor suckers that bid on these scams. I won't anymore. The last time it sort of blew up in my face.

[grandmainger]

The second chance offer is a legitimate ebay system, designed mainly for retailers who have more than one item of the same kind. If the top 2-3 bidders ave bid at a price that the seller is happy with, he can initiate a second chance offer at their maximum bid price. It is sometimes used also when the highest bidders does not pay up for the goods. I got some stuff on ebay through these. They do however come in a much more official form than a basic mail, and always originate from the seller.

If in doubt, always always ALWAYS go back to "My eBay" manually (i.e. do not click on the links in the email, rather type up ebay's address in the browser). Once in "My eBay", contact the seller of the goods on second chance offer for a confirmation.

Be safe

[addcourt]

Ooch! #Now I'm a "poor sucker". #Neal--this item was a real deal on ebay put up by a bonafide ebay member, won by a bonafide ebay member with legitimate feedbacks on both parties. #Besides myself there were about 30 other bidders(many from the Cafe). #It was not an unrealistic price for the item--just a fair deal. #The scam took place after the transaction was complete. Man, I'm sorry I posted this...by the way, in having a little fun with the scammer, I ask for his phone # so I could finalize the deal--poor guy lost his hearing awhile back.

[Jasper]

While the second chance offer is legitimate, it will come through ebay, and there are very specific rules concerning what the second chance buyer has to pay...it isn't some arbitrary number that can be changed based on some other bid. Second, I had a mando on ebay several months ago...it didn't make the reserve price, so the auction ended. A potential buyer who bid below my reserve received an email from a third party stating that the third party had won the auction but couldn't follow through on the deal and had the permission of the original seller (me) to sell it for me directly. A scam very similar to what you describe above.

[Greenmando]

The second chance offer is a legitimate ebay system, designed mainly for retailers who have more than one item of the same kind. It is sometimes used also when the highest bidders does not pay up for the goods.

Yes, but it is never offered by the "highest bidder" just because he can not complete the sale.

I have used the "second chance" offer myself in the past with duplicate items and/or when the buyer is a flake.

I had a odd bidder whom was a kid bidding on all bowlbacks on ebay, he could not complete the purchase and when I relisted it he continued to bid on it with simular new ebay id's. I ended up selling it with a second chance offer to the bidder he outbid the first time.

[neal]

MIKE! #I wasn't talking about you, I'm so sorry! #I was off on a tangent after reading some of the other posts...yeesh, I feel bad now, truly. # I was the one that shouldn't have posted.

[addcourt]

Neal--relax, no harm done. Regards, Mike

[Carolinamando]

This does sound like a scam, but Ebay does offer a second chance deal. I just recently try to sale a MK on their and the winner didn't pay. THat is when you usually have the option to relist or offer to the second highest bidder.