help needed!!

[gingersticks]

Hello all, i am in need of some major help. I have recently sold an item on eBay, and now have to send the produsct to Nigeria. I am a first time eBay seller, so apparently for my account to be credited, I need to send proof that I have sent the item (meaning the shipping/tracking number), and I was unsure of how to send a tracking number if i sent the item via the Post Office. I am really unsure of what to do next, ie whether to send via courier or Post Office. I also think i have to fill out a customs form, but i don't even know what that is! Can any eBay sellers (or anyone at all) help me out! Any advice is appreciated! Pleaaaase!

[CheekyChops]

Hmmmm, I would be very wary of sending anything to Nigeria. Just google 'Ebay Nigeria' and see all the links that come up giving details of scams.

Is the item of high value?

[CheekyChops]

What is the Ebay Nigeria Scam?
The scammers will have newly registered IDs (quite often registered that very day) with fake addresses in various countries including the Netherlands and the UK but they actually live in Nigeria. They persuade the seller to send the goods on receipt of a fake payment confirmation email, eg. from Paypal, Nochex, banks, Bidpay (which in reality no longer exists) or other payment services. Or just by promising payment. The seller sends the item to Nigeria but the promised postal/money order or payment never materialises. They target new sellers of relatively expensive items, especially mobile phones and other electronic goods.

How to deal with them?
eBay are usually quick to suspend these scammers.

[CheekyChops]

I have also just realised that you won't be paid until you have proved it has been sent. NEVER do this, even in the UK!

Get the payment first, you would have a nightmare on your hands if you had already sent the item and the other person never paid you!

[gingersticks]

Rite, well. On the same e mail, it did say the amount has been deducted from bla bla's account, but wil not be credited to yours until u send the shipping number.

The item im selling is a mobile phone, but it was bought buy a woman in USA. I have had a whole load of palava with the whole thing, (she canceled the payment, then re-payed, adding an extra �50 for express mail to send to Nigeria to her son.) it was all a bit stupid, considering i only post to the UK. Stupid people just don't read. The item sold for quite a lot, so I was quite content on getting the money and just sending it.

[Ethel]

NOOOOO!

This is a very common scam on ebay. Do not send the phone, and report as a non-paying bidder.

Then leave negative feedback.

Best advice here:

http://forums.ebay.co.uk/thread.jspa?threadID= 1200099554&tstart=0&mod=1177082968852