I've been shopping e-bay for a used Yamaha RX1 snowmobile, and I've noticed deals that are simply to good to be true. They usually want you to e-mail them before you bid, so obviously they want your e-mail address for something. Other than spam what can they do with your e-mail address? Thank you.

 

Gives them the ability to contact you directly for sales---eliminating the ebay commission

 

Or they want a real contact so they can TRY to avoid non-paying bidders by verifing that you are serious. Happens alot on higher value items.

 

They usually are out of the USA trying to sell the said items because of a multitude of reasons. Usually they want you to send the money by Western union, telling you that safeharbor will guarentee the sale. Western Union is a good way to loose money, no safety net. Safeharbor is only for disputes. My rule of ebay.... If you must prequalify, you dont need to be there. Good Luck.

 

There is a scam going on where sellers will want your info outside of e-Bay and they steal your credit card info, ect. You don't have to give it to them to get it. They can send you a spyware cookie and get your info if its on your computer.

Always go through e-Bay and always use paypal.

 

This is it.
I stay clear of ANY "private" auctions, 9 times out of 10 they are some 19 year old punk in Germany that has stolen someones E-Bay identity.
Take a look around, they are alomst always Buy it Now's at like half the price of what the item is worth. 4 wheelers, tractors, snowmobiles, etc. Another dead give away is the 24 hour auction, no normal seller would even want a 1 day auction.
They rope in 20 or 30 perspective buyers and try the same "send me half of the money via Western Union" trick.

 

In the 600+ ebay auctions I have taken part in, I have been scamed 1 time and it was 4 years ago. Just stay away from the auctions that don't look right, it is not worth it. I don't bid on anything that is a private auctions, or any auctions that make you pre aprove. On the big items, i can see why the people want to make sure you arnt just gonna bid and not pay. If it is big money, get the guys phone number and talk to him on the phone.

Coop