[jesscat]

I sent a message to a seller asking if they would consider shipping an LV bag internationally, and just got this reply:

yes, shipping would be more expensive around $15 USD.
Please give me a offer for this bag, I am taking offer from all
potential buyer, if your offer is ok, I will end this auction early.

I only replied to ask for more photos as this person has 0 feedback and only 1 photo of the bag (which I also find kind of shady - when I sell things that are of more value, like jewellery, I ALWAYS include more than 1 photo to show that it's authentic), and is also offering the bag at an unbelievable price - too good to be true? (He/she claims to have gotten it as a gift and that it was never used.)

Anyway, do you think the seller means to give a private offer for the bag not in the eBay auction format? Isn't that completely unsafe in case it turns out to be fake or the seller doesn't come through?

We'll see if they come through with photos...I just asked for some in different angles of the bag.

[mmmsc]

My advice is don't do it!!! You will not be protected if this is a scam.

[ladyisobel]

maybe they just don't know how eBay works yet if they're new, if you did want the bag, they could end it early with your offer and send a revised invoice.
on the other hand, yes, be careful !

[nooch]

This sounds like a terrible idea, ringing pretty much all my eBay warning bells.

[hipnycmom]

Definitely sounds off. I don't know how international shipping can cost $15.

If the bag turns out legit, there is an option to end the auction early through eBay. You can bid and seller can sell to the highest bidder. Or you can ask the seller to revise the auction to show a BIN. Please DO NOT transact outside ebay - this is one of the easiest ways to get scammed out of your hard-earned $$$.

Also, I would ask for a shipping quote that includes tracking and insurance (and maybe something that won't take 21-30 days to get to you?)

[jesscat]

Originally Posted by hipnycmom

Definitely sounds off. I don't know how international shipping can cost $15.

If the bag turns out legit, there is an option to end the auction early through eBay. You can bid and seller can sell to the highest bidder. Or you can ask the seller to revise the auction to show a BIN. Please DO NOT transact outside ebay - this is one of the easiest ways to get scammed out of your hard-earned $$$.

Also, I would ask for a shipping quote that includes tracking and insurance (and maybe something that won't take 21-30 days to get to you?)

Thanks for the advice!! If the seller actually responds with photos I'll mention all of the above.

[nickkyvintage]

My advice would be - stay on your guard - don't complete outside of eBay and especially with a zero fb seller with only one photo! It's normally too good to be true

keep us updated! x

[onegirlcreative]

Agree with everyone above.

This is NOT typical eBay practice, and they really discourage you to transact outside of eBay. It's OK to accept an offer from someone else and end listing early, but she is making it an outright bidding war, which isn't cool. If she wants best offers, she should utilize the best offer option. But if she's new, I don't think she can??? I could be wrong.

Either way, it's cheesy and I wouldn't do it.

If it seems too good to be true, than it is.

[jjyounger]

Well, since a zero fb seller CANNOT offer a Buy It Now, she will have to invoice you at least part of the cost as a PayPal invoice, presumably. Or she will want to be paid in another way, which to me would be a definite no-no. I would not be interested in buying an LV from a zero fb seller in another country. Too much can go wrong.

[jesscat]

Ok, so the seller sent me a link to a photobucket album of the bag, (18 photos total), and it looks ok to me...but then again I don't know if they're just linking to someone else's public album entirely. sigh. I think I should just give up! It's way too cheap to be real (even if it was a gift), like US$150, and this bag retails for US$970!

[onegirlcreative]

Originally Posted by jesscat

Ok, so the seller sent me a link to a photobucket album of the bag, (18 photos total), and it looks ok to me...but then again I don't know if they're just linking to someone else's public album entirely. sigh. I think I should just give up! It's way too cheap to be real (even if it was a gift), like US$150, and this bag retails for US$970!

Oh, then something is definitely wrong with that. Price is WAY too cheap, especially if it's new, which I'm assuming it is.

Walk away from that one.

[gacats]

Run the other way, Jesscat, there is no way this could turn out well.

[noshoepolish]

scam

[sarahsar]

I agree with the others - a new LV that retails for $970 selling for $150 sounds like a big scam. If you are thinking of proceeding, I would make sure you get it authenticated here, with pictures of the heat stamp and date code. And absolutely do not buy it out of eBay. If you buy through eBay, using PayPal, with a credit card, you will have protection if it turns out to be fake. But otherwise you could end up completely out of luck. It _is_ possible for the seller to end the auction early and sell it to you through eBay, which is the only way I would even consider it.

Still, the combination of a zero feedback seller in another country selling a new LV for way below retail, with a shipping cost that is much lower than it should be - it just all adds up to trouble.

[Trocadero]

If it sounds too good to be true.....DON'T GO THERE. This sounds like a problem waiting to happen. Spare yourself.