Buyer has great feedback, but no PayPal?

[Mighty Brilliant]

So this is weird.
I just accepted on offer on an item I’m selling. The buyer has been an eBay member since 1999, is both a buyer and a seller, and has a 100% feedback score of 7800. They give and received tons of positive feedback. Truly an asset to eBay.

That said, I just got this note after I accepted the offer:
“Hello, Thank you for your accepting my offer. I have a small problem. I do not use Paypal at all but pay through Bankcard. Ebay has the new system and I can use that but I believe you are not on this yet. Can I somehow get payment to you via Bankcard Merchant?
Thanks so much.”

Does this sound as weird to you guys as it does to me? How could someone have survived on eBay this long with no PayPal account? I don’t have any other merchant accounts so I’m going to have to cancel the sale. I almost think perhaps the account has been hacked and someone is trying to pull one over on me? Should I inform eBay?

Cheers.

[Sharyn]

Anyone can use a credit card and not have an account through PayPal. If they have an issue with PP where they don’t want to use it at all, then there is no other method to take their money.

I suggest that you tell them that you are not on managed payments, but they can use their credit card without having a PayPal account. If they still have an issue, then cancel the sale or open an unpaid item.

[Ryanne]

yeah that was my impression too, that you can pay with a credit/debit card no matter what as a buyer.

https://ebay.to/2IAGnNH

maybe make sure that you have that turned on as an option via paypal? not sure if it has to be turned on or not, i forget.

[Mighty Brilliant]

Thanks for the info.
I can’t believe I’ve never noticed that a buyer can pay with a credit card through PayPal without having an account. I’ve only been on the platform for nearly two decades…
I wrote him back to suggest this was possible, but unfortunately I can’t find any step by step directions. We’ll see what happens.
He did offer to send me a USPS money order. Again, this is something I would never consider for 99.9% of buyers, but this guy has such a positive established history. Honestly, its the best account history I’ve ever seen. Is that a possibility? Does he have my address already, and if not, am I allowed to send it to him or would eBay consider that “working outside the platform”? Am I foolish for even considering it?
Thanks.
(It’s only a $40 order. Worst case scenario is that I lose the ten bucks the item cost me. It’s a soothing plaster leg wrap…not something that would generally be the subject of a scam like an iphone.)

• This reply was modified 6 years, 12 months ago by Mighty Brilliant.

[Jay]

If they’ve bought this much stuff off eBay, I can only imagine they’re losing it. 7800 feedback and they’ve never used Paypal?

[Sharyn]

The buyer and seller do not get contact information until a payment is made. That said, I’ve never accepted a check from a buyer, and I don’t know the process. Unless someone here knows, you might have to call eBay.

Personally, I would insist on payment through PayPal. You never know, sometimes people sell their account in good standing. Does he have recent feedback? Anything about payment (disregarding standard feedback wording)?

[Mighty Brilliant]

Here is the user profile.
https://www.ebay.com/usr/paperuswest

Yes, recent feedback.

He said he is his wife’s caretaker, which is why he’s buying the product. I imagine he is up in age. I don’t see any red flags (other than the whole no PayPal thing), but maybe some more experienced eyes can spot something I don’t?

I do have his contact information, including address, email address, and telephone number even though he hasn’t paid yet.

[So Cal Joe]

I wouldn’t have any reservations accepting a USPS money order. You can cash them at just about any Post Office. Just tell the buyer, you won’t send the item. until payment clears.

[Jay]

Mighty Brilliant, sounds like you have a choice to make. It’s weird that an experienced eBayer doesnt understand Paypal, but doesnt mean you cant sell to them with a USPS money order.

Do what makes sense. I doubt its a scam unless its an expensive item they want you to ship overseas. Just might be a hassle jumping through hoops for him.

[Sharyn]

He seems to sell and purchase car parts and tools. I looked at one of his listings, and I don’t see PayPal as an option. Perhaps he ditched PayPal altogether when he went with managed payments?

I’m not sure how you received his personal information before payment. I checked the last time I accepted an offer, and I did not get the contact information until after he paid.

You should go with your gut and/or take the suggestions of Jay and So Cal Joe. I don’t see any apparent issues.

[Mighty Brilliant]

Thanks all.
I haven’t heard back yet, but if he’s not able to pay with his debit card, I think I’ll accept the money order. This was a long tail item and I’m happy to have it gone.
I’ve never used money orders before, so I just wasn’t sure if that was a legitimate form of payment. Yes, it adds a little hassle, but it does save me the paypal fees.
I think I was just more shocked about his inability to do PayPal. Everything else seems legit.
Thanks for walking through this thought exercise with me.
~Christian

[bcfol440]

Mighty Brilliant – Money Order (USPS Money Order only). Make sure you have immediate payment turned Off.
So, he will “buy it” but not pay. He will mail it, you get it, mark Paid and then ship to him.

[Mighty Brilliant]

Since this was an accepted best offer, immediate payment doesn’t come into play, but yes, I’ll need to remember to mark the item as paid once I cash the money order.
Thanks,
Christian

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