Don't worry. EBay got your back. Bid with confidence! Here is a recent Live Chat I had with an Ebay representative:
Me I bought a product from a user with 0 feedback. After the sale, I was asked to send a money order to a PO box. Additionally, the email names and persons name looks like just random letters. Can you look at the account and see if it looks valid or is likely bogus?
Agent Katrien In order to help you, I need to verify your information.
Me (Insert validinformation here) I dont know what Phone number you would have.
Agent Katrien May I have the last four digits of the following phone number: 203-335-xxxx
Me I dont know what that 335 number is. I suppose thats some really old phone iused to have.
Agent Katrien One moment please.Agent Katrien You may retract the the bid if there are more than 12hours left till the auction ends.
Me It already ended. I just didn't feel comfortable sending a bank check to a po box. Not to0 feedback new user.
Agent Katrien Unfortunately since the listing has ended, you can not retract your bid. It is best thatyou contact the seller and inform them that you would like to retract your bid.
Me So, if the person doesn't ship it, or if itarrives broken, or not as listed, Ebay will fully refund me?
Agent Katrien If that does happen, you may file a claim andthen we would review the matter.
Me That sounds like it would take a long time from today. It also sounds to me like a 0 user has as much weight as a 48 user, like me. I am uncomfortable with the transaction and do not want to proceed. Are you saying I have no choice?
Agent Katrien Since the listing has ended, we encourage you to contact the seller forcommunication.
Me I have. That's why I feel uncomfortable.
Agent Katrien I understand, that is why we encouragemembers to use our "Ask a Seller" option before placing a bid.
Me That would require several hours between seeing thelisting, and bidding. In this case, overnight. Sometime, this is not possible. What would you recommend then, notbidding?
Agent Katrien I understand your concern, but once a bid has been placed you have entered a legally bindingcontact.
Me You have not told me if you feel this person is a valid user, and not using a bugus account.
Agent Katrien The member appears to be a registered user.
Me You asked me all sorts of information when I came on here to make sure Iwas who I said I was. However, all your willing to tell me is that the person in question is registered. Nigerian Scammersare registered.
Agent Katrien Before I let you go, is there anything else I can assist you with?
Me No, you didn't help at all.Thank You.
End Result? Later that day I received an email from Ebay telling me the account was terminated and todisregard any transactions with this seller. While I think it's great that they followed up and took appropriate measures, it really was a "cover your ass" approach. It protected Ebay.
As for me, if I had listened to the Representative, I wouldhave gone to the bank, and mailed off a check. At that point, I am sure I would have been out the money, and Ebay would have wiped their hands of the whole situation.