The joys of eBay

[jumpin_jeep]

[Let me set the scene, this auction was for a crappy second hand $50 mobile phone that I was selling, I had marked it Australia only but somehow some nut job from some country unbeknowns managed to win - these are the emails that followed]

First email.

Hello Seller,
Thanks for your advert via eBay, i want you to know that this item of yours is really needed and also want you to know that i will be paying via Postal Order/Transfer, i will need this item for my associate that was posted to Nigeria to finish some work for our oil company and on her journey for the assignment she lost her phone and i dont think there is a way i can communicate with her effectively without a phone so i will want you to help me send the item to her. I will want you to get the shipping and insurance cost so that i can make the total payment and you can send the item to her because i know she will be in need of a phone.i will be grateful if you can help me with this transaction so you should get me the address where you want me to send the postal order to and the full quote including shipping and insurance via Air Post.Till i hear from you.
Thanks.

Second e-mail.

The shipping information of where i want the item posted to is Adesanmi
Alakija, 28a hogan bassey cresent, off barracks bus stop, surulere, lagos,
23401, Nigeria. I'd be expecting your mail with the total including postage to Nigeria.
Thanks

Third e-mail - by this stage he has been delisted by e-bay and I've told him to get #$%^ed

Please i did not practise any thing illegal, am new to ebay and i dont
know all their policies and proceedures, i was suspended because i did not
keep close contact with the seller of the other item that i won so he
reported me, and at the moment am rectifing the problem and soon i'd
become an ebay memeber back, please am sorry for this.
Thanks

Extract from the Australia post website:

Senders should determine import restrictions from Nigerian authorities before posting any item except personal effects, newspapers and vaccines. Newspapers or periodicals must not contain articles or advertisements relating to the treatment of venereal diseases.

Nigerian import restrictions are strict and addressees face prosecution if senders do not comply.

Nigeria requires an Import Duty Report Licence for all goods except personal effects, newspapers and vaccines. Before posting, senders should confirm that the addressee has the necessary licence.

GOLD!

[Jeff]

I sell a fair amount of stuff on ebay, and seem to cop one of those emails for every 3 transactions. Pain in the arse!

[Breyten]

Pfft, send him a poster-ad for the treatment of VD.

[Jimmyb]

Yep got that one before also when I sold a Mobile. The guy wanted to buy it early and read just about the same as above.

[xflow]

My business partner is now on attempt 5 to see his digital camera. The first 4 all got hijacked with the same as above, or variations of the same

[fish]

ditto selling a moby

[OsirisRa]

Yup had the same crap when sold my old phone