Big order (unusual for me) from new member, how to protect myself if they are scammer?

Tiny Robot

Hi

I've been selling on here for around 6 months and am used to orders which are small or moderate in price etc and I've just had an order today over 700 items £50 odd quid etc from a new member of 11minutes.
Maybe I'm being paranoid but I'm just suspicious,
I have not quoted price but am definitely going to have signed for tracked but would that help me if they claim they have not received the items etc?

Maybe I'm being paranoid and should really be happy etc as this happened

Hope you can help
Tracey

Jay37

Hi Tracey,
I can fully sympathise with your story. Although I have been selling on here for a couple of years most of my orders, like yours, have been smallish quantities/value (I suspect this is due to my stock levels). Every so often I get a big order, some from overseas, and in over 800 orders I've only ever had one order the customer claimed never arrived. It's only natural to have misgivings when the normal pattern is disrupted and I think quoting for tracked and signed is wise. The customer can always reject your quote, and as long as you explain your reasons for doing it, hopefully they will be OK with it.

Hope this helps

James

Tiny Robot

Thanks Jay37
Yes I've quoted which includes signed for delivery etc and I will hope the best he he
At least I have proof with PayPal if anything goes wrong plus I have insurance from the post office etc
If it happens its happens etc
Thanks again ?

Hoddie

There's no guarantees in this business.

Either you track and/or insure all orders, reducing your pool of buyers, or you take the risk and accept that 1 in 100 (or whatever it turns out to be) orders will go missing in the post, or were placed by dodgy buyers. Best advice I can give is factor the risks/costs in to your prices and expectations, and try not to dwell too much on those orders that go wrong (easier said than done).

WESTIEKaTH

I have paid for the extra insurance myself on a couple of orders- just for my own peace of mind. Of course there is nothing to stop the buyer saying he/she is not happy with the order and demanding a refund. I am sure 99% of people on here are not scammers but then there prob is 1% that could be. Hopefully your customer is one one of the 99%. I have had my doubts on a few orders because the customer was new as yours is - but my doubts were unfounded. After all we all have to start buying somewhere. Good luck

Teup

This is just an emotional matter that you just have to go through, I think. When I moved into this house I was a little worried every day that someone might break in. But after living here for years I don't feel worried at all anymore. It's the same with selling. I've sent thousands of orders, without tracking, and never had any real problems. It's not 99% of the buyers that are fine, it's really 99,9 or more :)

White Horse Bricks

Don't forget this is a very fast growing marketplace. A good few of my orders are from new users with less than a day's membership.

As per other's comments, take reasonable precautions, follow Paypal's rules for seller protection, and insure the package. Or take the risk. Fraud doesn't happen all that often.

fitbricks

I've had just two orders go missing since I started selling (May 2016).
One doesn't really count because the customer moved home without updating address. She later recovered the package.
The other one was to Russia and wasn't too expensive but the Royal Mail reimbursed me without any trouble, even though it disappeared in Russia.

I think everyone here is unanimous on two fronts:
1: It's rare, but can happen.
2: Insure / Proof of Posting

Good luck with all.

Calibrick

Echoing WhiteHorseBricks, I've noticed a surprising number of my buyers are first-timers here - I think they are finding us via Rebrickable or Google, either of which is GREAT! :-)

Tiny Robot

Hi, and thanks everyone but this one is getting more suspicious. They have just immediately ordered another even bigger order of really random parts over 800 pieces and I have noticed the names are different on PayPal. I don't know what to do as I don't want someone who has hacked another account and reaping the rewards. I have found the person on Facebook and waiting to see if they know someone else is making orders etc.

Tiny Robot

I have never been suspicious of new buyers and have over 150 orders etc but this one just seems different. Maybe I'm wrong but with finding out there are two names on the PayPal account it seems fishy. I hope not but I'm going to investigate before sending out another order.

Jay37

I can remember having an order that was shipping to the US, ordered by one person, paid by another on Paypal and shipped to a third! I thought that was a bit suspicious but researched the company and discovered the (what I thought were random) parts actually had a purpose. I've often had what I assume are spouses using their other half's Paypal account, and I suppose it's entirely possible that a parent could be ordering for delivery to a son or daughter but these don't raise as much suspicion. Hope your issue has a positive outcome.

Tiny Robot

Thanks jay37, I still have not got back to the person. They did sign for the last order they received and this second order is bigger. I found the person on Facebook and even looked up the other persons name in their friends list which came up nothing. I may call PayPal as they have not got back to me.

WESTIEKaTH

> @Calibrick said:
> Echoing WhiteHorseBricks, I've noticed a surprising number of my buyers are first-timers here - I think they are finding us via Rebrickable or Google, either of which is GREAT! :-)

Yep agree - I have had quite a few orders where the buyer is first time - keep them coming I say

:))

phill

not had any probs with orders i have placed since i found this site though the posting is a little slow from some sellers but thats probs me and some of my orders are random but i do a lot of diff old type models

any how would just like to say thanks to all the sellers i deal with on here keep up the good work
and them i have yet to buy from
phill