Expert: Marvinator - 5/26/2006

Question
Can you actually trust the feedback on a seller??...We have bid on a HD TV, and had won the bid for far, far less than it should have been.  This, right away sent up a red flag for me.  We had looked at the sellers feedback, and everything was 10+++, but the users names seemed sort of "fishy" to me.  They were all jumbled letters..ie: flhsoek, or goowldskj...rather than names like most people would have, if you know what I mean.  Also, when we emailed the seller, he said that he did not accept paypal, as Bejing, China (where he is located) was not allowed. (another red flag).  Could he have put in the feedback himself to make him look like he is legit?

Answer
First, let me answer your first question.  Yes, a seller's feedback can be mostly believable.  You are correct in viewing both the level of feedback as well as the names as a clue to their origin and holding this informaton as evidence as to the type of person with whom you are dealing.  Feedback is the one thing everyone should check before bidding or even before they THINK of bidding.  

Now, that said, let's also state that there are a lot of Scammers out there and you need to be aware of how they do what they do. THe first thing they do is to post a bunch of fake auctons and then get a bunch of fake names to win those auctions so that they can leave feedback for themselves.  In addition, they can go out and buy a bunch of cheap windows wallpaper, e-books and the like for as little as 1¢ and get feedback that way.  

You were right to suspect this auction and I sincerely hope this deal turns out well for you.  As you say there are several red flags (and again, these red flags should have gone up before you bid).  

Other red flags of this nature are: Not using paypal, and additionally INSISTING on Western Union for payment.  (Never deal with any seller who insists on Western Union. This is a common way Scammers get their money and you won't be able to track them anywhere in the world.)

Always be wary of a person who lives in a foreign land who is selling an expensive item AND a HEAVY item for too little.  Our budget minded nature wants to be able to find inexpensive electronics, but the only thing you can find in these deals is problems.  

As I stated, the feedback is there for anyone to see, And as you have already pointed out, there are red flags there to see too.  

Yes, it is very possible that this seller did the feedback himself.  I would get a contact number for this person and see about making contact as soon as possible.

Good luck in this.