Quick EBay Advice

dindude

I've sold a guitar on eBay. Buyer has asked to send it to his mates address as he is on holiday for a week.

I have received the money through PayPal.

Is this a reasonable request or could it backfire?

DaevidJ

Can he not wait a week?  Has your conversation been via eBay message box?

ThorpyFX

dindude said:

I've sold a guitar on eBay. Buyer has asked to send it to his mates address as he is on holiday for a week.

I have received the money through PayPal.

Is this a reasonable request or could it backfire?

Unless that is an address in his paypal approved list, it could definitely backfire. id just explain to him that neither of you are covered if you ship it to a non approved address. 

not_the_dj

As a rule only ship to a buyers registered address.

Any of these "send it to a friend, family member etc" could be scams.....but of course not everyone is a scammer and it could be genuine....but it's a risk.

Any other concerns over the transaction?

dindude

No other concerns, but I was reluctant if not an approved PayPal address as has been said, I believe this doesn't provide protection.

dindude

He has given me both him and his mates mobile number

vasselmeyer

Risky. I did do that once a few years ago as the bloke sold me a very convincing story about not wanting his missus to find out. However, with the recent changes in Ts&Cs in favour of the buyer I wouldn't do it now. What do eBay's terms say about it?

mgaw

I wouldnt do it...if hes on holiday he aint going to miss it....verified address only to get protection

shuikit

I wouldn't do it.

Have you checked what Paypal say?  I suspect that they'll tell you only to send to the registered address.  I think what might happen is, he could say, he never received it then raise a Paypal dispute and then you'll have to say that you sent it to a 'mate'?  I think you would be on very dodgy ground then.

What good is a mobile number?  People give out sim cards on street corners these days, I don't there'll be much to go off if it all did go pear shaped.

If it were me, I would politely say that I would be happy to hold the guitar till he got back and then post it to the registered address.  If he didn't agree then I would probably cancel the whole thing.

ICBM

dindude said:

I've sold a guitar on eBay. Buyer has asked to send it to his mates address as he is on holiday for a week.

I have received the money through PayPal.

Is this a reasonable request or could it backfire?

Yes, it could backfire. You must *only* send it to the registered Paypal address, via a signed-for trackable courier service, or you leave yourself open to a "non-delivery" chargeback.

Wait until he is back from holiday and then send it to his proper address.

Sassafras

Isn't that a bit like the way Drew got stung?

usedtobe

Only to the registered address. Ever. No exceptions.

jimboflojo

I wouldn't risk it myself. Too many scams going on unfortunately. If he wants it delivered to his mates he might be able to register that address on his paypal account. Then you're covered as long as it's on there.

dindude

Cheers all, just cemented what I thought. I actually think the buyer is genuine but have explained the protection element so hopefully he understands.

underdog

dindude;767844" said:

Cheers all, just cemented what I thought. I actually think the buyer is genuine but have explained the protection element so hopefully he understands.

Ask him what day and times he's back and you will post it so he gets it the first working day he is home.

streethawk

We've all seen what can happen with a package spending 24hrs in a warehouse/van. 

For the 7 days it would be housed at his mate's place, the responsibility for its condition would effectively still be yours.

And to what end? He can't play the thing from Torremolinos.