Sold a bike on eBay and it sold just before I was going away for 10 days. Messaged the buyer to say 'pick up tomorrow or when I'm back) and got no reply (no contact from them at all).
Just checked my account and it seems they're no longer on eBay so I can't message them. Payment for the bike (just over £1000) cleared into my bank account on the 7th March.
WTF?
Have the funds actually cleared? And arent sitting waiting to clear?
Weird they have disappeared though generally if its a scam, they would keep contact until pick up hen request a return of funds through their bank.
Contact eBay help and ask their advise, did you previously let them know the address?
You’re now providing a bike storage service. I sold a bike on eBay and the buyer didn’t turn up for weeks. I got the impression he was buying bike commercially and collected then when he was in the area.
Don't spend the money!! How did they pay? if it's via PayPal it may be a scam to get money back plus fees, I'd personally refund and re-list.
It just appears in my bank account as a credit and shows in my available balance. I put my phone number in the eBay message I sent on the day of the sale but not my address (and I've heard nothing at all, which is plain odd).
The Buyer's address appears to be a Safestore unit (but the auction was very clear this was collection only). I'm not inclined to chase eBay on it really - it's kind of not my problem (as the only disappearing eBay account I've ever seen have been scams)
Don’t spend the money!! How did they pay? if it’s via PayPal it may be a scam to get money back plus fees, I’d personally refund and re-list.
Not possible to see how they paid any longer - it all comes via Ebay not PayPal whatever.
I don't see how they could try to claim it back now their eBay account seems to have gone. Nor how I could give them a refund for that matter.
I don’t see how they could try to claim it back now their eBay account seems to have gone. Nor how I could give them a refund for that matter.
they can go to their bank and claim fraud, however you have evidence to say its not, so it wouldnt go very far.
All seems very odd to be honest.
Good luck getting it sorted.
If they turn up to pick it up, make sure you use the barcode scanning tool via ebay, so you have proof of collection.
Took someone over 4 weeks to collect something from me earlier this year.
Just move the cash to savings and sit and wait. It sounds like you've chased them enough already.
Relist and sell to another buyer.
Be prepared to have to pay it back if need be. But not your fault if that doesn't come about, obvs.
Coke and hookers
I would just call eBay so you get the right process to follow rather than the variety of guesses you have received on here so far
My worry would be that if they are no longer registered on ebay how are they going to give you the barcode to scan to confirm collection. Definitely get in touch with ebay to see what they say. I can see them arranging collection, having 'problems' getting the collection barcode when they are with you and trying to convince you to let them take the bike without proof of collection, then when they've got your bike dispute the transaction with their bank/paypal and get the payment reversed.
I can see them arranging collection, having ‘problems’ getting the collection barcode
This sounds very plausible, given you don't know their phone number you've no reason to pick up though, no one answers unknown numbers do they? If they leave a message, text back and ask them to confirm their phone number via ebay.
If nothing happens within about a month I'd contact ebay. Likely the payment was fraudulent and has been /is being dealt with at the other end by the bank of whomever's payment details were used but you may find ebay come calling for the money further down the line.
If it was me I'd put the money somewhere safe/separate, saving account, premium bonds whatever and relist. Sell again.
If they come asking for it just say sorry no contact so I sold elsewhere, here's your money back. If they never come asking treat it as yours after a reasonable time.
I had the same happen to me but it was a fiver rather than a grand...
I've lost track of how Ebay payments work these days but if the buyer has paid using a stolen cheque or some kind of stolen or fake account the money can appear to have cleared into your account but can be reclaimed sometimes many weeks later by the bank.
As it stands now, you have the goods and the payment so are not out of pocket as such.
There has to be something fishy going on in which the buyer will try it on or they did, got found out, closed and the process to recover fraudulent steps is under way.
If it was me I'd be contacting eBay with all the details and waiting for their reply. Waiting for something to happen with you doing nothing is not good as it will constantly be on your mind and something will happen eventually - probably the day after you've spent the money.
Being a reasonable amount of money, I can't see anyway it could just be forgotten about.
Leaving it alone and waiting for somebody is all well and good but, you can't spend it and how long do you wait. Much better to try resolve this and sell if properly.
Having been the recipient of a scam in the past (the classic claiming it never arrived/isn’t in the condition it was advertised, they tried to pass off a knackered very expensive tap they already had as the one I sent) I would set the money aside and contact eBay.
eBay always strikes me as leaning towards siding with the buyer rather than the seller in most cases.
Cover your arse and let them deal with it. These criminals rely on the fact that a lot of people don’t go through the proper channels on eBay/PayPal to protect themselves.