selling a bike on EBAY, shipping out of country....

[ScooterCop]

I am currently selling a bike on Ebay. I have interest from a party in Puerto Rico that wants to buy the bike and have me drop it off at a shipping warehouse, for delivery to Puerto Rico.

Has anyone done anything like this before?

Or have any advice about any potential problems for me?

[camthepyro]

It can be iffy, how is he paying?

[ScooterCop]

not so concerned about the payment. I'm not going to drop off at the shipping warehouse w/o full payment. I'm just concerned about any export tariffs for shipping to Puerto Rico. Although I do realize that PR is pretty much the 51st state.

[camthepyro]

Well, make sure when he pays you, he doesn't go through a middle man (there are companies that do that). It's a pretty common scam for the buyer to request that you send it to him, while a middle man holds on to the money, and then he recieves the item, and you find out that the middle man is a fake company.

[WVUChrome]

Well, make sure when he pays you, he doesn't go through a middle man (there are companies that do that). It's a pretty common scam for the buyer to request that you send it to him, while a middle man holds on to the money, and then he recieves the item, and you find out that the middle man is a fake company.

DITTO to that. I've seen that happen MANY times to people. Any time you have someone request that, report it to eBay. Whatever you do, don't send the item.

Later,
WVUChrome...

[MrGromit]

Don't just wait for a check or a money order, wait for it to *clear* your bank.

From Craigslist.org:

Examples of Scams
1. Someone claims that craigslist will guarantee a transaction, certify a buyer/seller, OR claims that craigslist will handle or provide protection for a payment

These claims are fraudulent, as craigslist does not have any role in any transaction.
Scammer will often send an official looking email that appears to come from craigslist, offering a guarantee, certifying a seller, providing payment services -- all such emails are fakes!
2. distant person offers a genuine-looking (but fake) cashier's check
you receive an email (examples below) offering to buy your item, or rent your apartment, sight unseen.
cashier's check is offered for your sale item, as a deposit for an apartment, or for just about anything else of value.
value of cashier's check often far exceeds your item - scammer offers to "trust" you, and asks you to wire the balance via money transfer service
banks will often cash these fake checks AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE CHECK FAILS TO CLEAR, including criminal prosecution in some cases!
scam often involves a 3rd party (shipping agent, business associate owing buyer money, etc)
3. Someone requests wire service payment via Western Union or MoneyGram:
Often claim that an MTCN or confirmation code is needed before he can withdraw your money - this is FALSE, once you've wired money, it is GONE.
Scam "bait" items include laptops, plasma TVs, cell phones, tickets - but could be almost anything
common countries currently include: Nigeria, Romania, Ukraine, Spain, UK, Italy, Netherlands - but could be anywhere
deal often seems too good to be true
4. distant person offers to send you a money order and then have you wire money:
this is ALWAYS a scam, in our experience - the cashier's check is FAKE
sometimes accompanies an offer of merchandise, sometimes not
scammer often asks for your name, address, etc for printing on the fake check
deal often seems too good to be true
5. distant seller suggests use of an online escrow service.
most online escrow sites are FRAUDULENT, operated by scammers
for more info, do a google search on "fake escrow" or "escrow fraud"
6. distant seller asks for a partial payment upfront, after which he will ship goods
he says he trusts you with the partial payment
he may say he has already shipped the goods
deal often sounds too good to be true
7. foreign company offers you a job receiving payments from customers, then wiring funds
foreign company may claim it is unable to receive payments from its customers directly
you are typically offered a percentage of payments received
this kind of "position" may be posted as a job, or offered to you via email

[jonnythan]

I agree with the above.

As long as you make sure you have actual cash for the transaction (a money order, escrow, check, etc don't count until they have actually cleared the bank and have turned into cash for you), then you have nothing to worry about.

[MontyCarlo]

I agree with the others. I smell a scam.

I would only accept PayPal or a USPS Money Order for a transaction like this. *Maybe* a Western Union money order other well-known company. NO CASHIERS CHECKS.

[jonnythan]

I think any form of payment is fine, as long as it results in you having cash in hand before shipping.

You can mail me a signed note saying that Gustav down at the plant will make sure the cash gets under my lawnmower in the backyard by next Friday for all I care.

As long as good ol Gustav leaves a pile of cash in my backyard by Friday, I'm happy.

[Sev]

I'm sure that he can get a bike cheaply in PR. So why would he pay to have yours shipped to him? Imports etc can be crazy expensive to do. So like everyone else says, wait until you have cash IN HAND, and don't give him any banking info or anything.