I won an item on ebay. The person listing the item gave me a different person/address to send payment to. They told me the 3rd person was helping them with the auction. Does this sound right?

Sounds like fraud to me...

Sounds fishy to me. Are you picking it up or having it shipped? If you are picking it up maybe you can send a deposit and pay the balance in cash.

Link to auction?

It may not be bad, I have helped others list their items on ebay before because eiuther they didnt have a computer or didnt have an ebay account or what not.

I would ask for a phone number and call them. That way if anything does go awry you have a way to find out who they are.

First of all thanks for the quick replies, I will ask for a phone number!

Meanwhile, here is the 3rd party address that I was talking about

John Fernandez
819 Portland Rd, Apt C,
Saco ME 04072

I have tried to use a phone number finder, but I got nothing. Could anyone help me with this.:rockon

James, I would contact the seller and tell them you don't feel comfortable sending the money to a third party (that person is not bound by E-Bay rules and could cause problems if you had to file a claim). Tell the seller you will send them the payment (made out to them) and they can forward the amount to this John guy. Makes me wonder a little though, who has the item?? The listed seller or "John"? I guess these are questions to ask the seller.... and go with your gut feeling and the number of feedbacks...+/- .

make sure you are using the ebay message sending thing and not your personal email address.

James, I would contact the seller and tell them you don't feel comfortable sending the money to a third party (that person is not bound by E-Bay rules and could cause problems if you had to file a claim). Tell the seller you will send them the payment (made out to them) and they can forward the amount to this John guy.

:stupid

That should cover your ass well enough.

It's likely that they aren't trying to rip you off, but you never know. That being said, If the auction ended for under $50.00, I would just send the $$$ on to whomever they instructed. The odds of intentional fraud over a low value item is slim to none given a seller with good feedback.

If the payment details werent spelled out in the ad, I'd walk away. Seems fishy. If it were me and I could talk to the individual personally, I MIGHT go through with the transaction....depepnding on the vibe I got from the conversation. ...otherwise...walk away.

It could be that the "seller" got his account "hijacked". I would definitely check withthe seller and also see if he has any other current or recent auctions (in other words, is it someone who would notice if their account was hijacked)

It could be that the "seller" got his account "hijacked". I would definitely check withthe seller and also see if he has any other current or recent auctions (in other words, is it someone who would notice if their account was hijacked)

good call

Hey yall, I emailed the seller told them I would send the money to them, they said it wouldn't work that way and to send 5 dollars to cover the listing. I emailed them back through ebay and said that I wanted a phone number the the fernandez fellow and that I would only conntact them through ebay. It was for a 2gb zen plus mp3 player for 81 bones. I think I am gonna walk like you all said I just dont want the hassle of them saying something bad about me. I also contacted ebay and asked them if it seemd fishy. Will keep you posted.

what ther feedback?

try contacting other buyers from them.

i did that once on a item. found out the 3rd part was the retailer.

Right I contacted her last buyer and asked if they thought it was odd. Still waiting for there history with her. Maybe I am just being paranoid. I quess I this is a learning experience for me. More later.

Ok I said previously that I contacted EBAY. Well they basically deleted the sale and bid. I thought OK they think the seller was pulling some crap. Forgot all about it and then two days ago I get a package in the mail and it is the item I bid on. Brand New in an unopened/sealed box. Today I got an email from the seller saying to still pay for the item. Now EBAY warned me about the seller contacting out of EBAY. My last bid was 74 dollars with a 7 dollar postage so it will be 81 dollars. What would all of you do? Should I contact Ebay or should I just pay for the item since that is what my gut is saying and not tell EBAY. My friend mentioned that the item could be stolen and it still is a scam. Also one other wierd thing was the package had a receipt in it from newegg. This little mess involves me, the seller, the 3rd person the seller wants me to pay, and a 4th person listed on the receipt. Please help in my dillemma. Thanks

What is the item?

It is a Creative Zen V Plus 2GB MP3/Photo/Video Player

IDK, i don't really see how you could get in any trouble, and it's really not worth the hassle. I think I'd send 'em a check and be done with it. The only possibile trouble is "receiving stolen property", but you are paying a fair price (I think retail is about $95, right?

Something like that, I have seen some for $120- 138. But I wouldn't pay that much.

Anyone else have any ideas?

well, you have no legally binding agreement with them. Ebay negated that. You told them do not send it you were not paying and they sent it anyways. There is actually a federal law about that. If they sent it to you anyways it is yours free and clear.

The reason there is that law is because back in the 20's I believe people would just randomly mail packages of stuff out to homes with a bill in it demanding payment for the goods. Of course they never ordered the goods but a lot of people felt obligated into the forced sale and paid anyways. The mail law came from that and then a little extension is the door to door sellers. Anything you buy from a coerced sale like a door to door salesman you can renig on with 3 days I believe.

(I'm all curious now, I think I know which one of my law books it is in, I'll find it)

You did not solicit the sending on that package, under the postal reorganization act of 1970 unsolicited merchandise sent by US Mail may be retained, used, discarded, or disposed of in any manner deemed appropriate, without the recipient's incurring any obligation to the sender.

39 U.S.C. Section 3009

Of course that is not the ethical thing to do...

How much for the retainer?

ha, I am an accountant. I just figured I would pipe in my 2 cents.