Am I being scammed?

sharpertongue

Estimable
Mar 12, 2014
1
0
4,510
I'm ordering this product http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0083IN7ME/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used&m=A17Q7O25M6RHZ

It looks like a scam for so many reasons
1) it's too good to be true
2) the seller has no ratings
3)And...

I tried ordering this once, but it was pending for a few days because I didn't have enough funds available on my card and Amazon was asking for another mode of payment. A couple days later when my funds became available, I cancelled the order and placed a new one. At that time, the charge appeared on my card but it remained pending. So, my total balance was at it's full but my available balance was minus $510 (the cost of the product). It wasn't being processed and stayed this way for a few days. And the shipping status stayed as "preparing for shipment"

I contacted the seller to ask what was going on but I never got a response. The seller included a number to text in the listing, so I contacted that number a day or 2 days later, and here is the conversation:

Me: Hi. Are you selling an hp envy beats on amazon?
Seller: Yes sir/mam I am
Me: Do you know that you have it listed twice?
Me: Hi. I'm kristen, btw. I placed an order a few days ago, but it's still awaiting you to complete the transaction
Me: I'm wondering what the problem might be
Seller: im new to amazon and i dont know how to complete an order. usually when somebody pays it shows up. yours is there but its greyed out and i dont know what to do
Seller: the laptop has been sitting up for awhile now and the backlit on the keyboard went out so im lowering the price and relisting it
Me: Could you ask customer service, maybe? I talked to someone named Usha to get help about the order and she said she emailed you
Me: the price difference between your two listings is only a dollar.... Lol?
Me: Or do you mean you're relisting it again, 3rd time...?
Seller: i was going to take a $100 off since the backlist went out
Me: Oh. What other information could you give me about the laptop? When is the last time you used it?
Seller: im actually using it now to check everything out on it...to make sure its still working right

I could have been more inquisitive, I guess, but I wasn't. I felt really anxious that he would have just lied about what "great" condition the computer is in, anyway.

Really, it's possible that he's honest. It seems innocent, but it's also really suspicious at the same time.

How does he know that "usually when somebody pays it automatically shows up"
There is no such thing as "usually" for someone who is new and has a new account. And if he has sold things before, why are there no ratings? Why is his account one that has "just launched"
It's like he's using a new account to hide. Do you know what I mean? And talking about hiding, his text number is a number on Pinger/TextFree which is an app, not a real number.

Anyway, the next day after I had texted him, the charge on my card was gone. I don't know if he cancelled it or if Amazon cancelled it (because I also contacted them or because it was cancelled automatically after being pending for so many days?), but the charge was gone. This was Sunday, now it's Tuesday night, almost Wednesday. I haven't heard anything from this seller. If he really wanted to sell it, wouldn't he be communicating with me a little more...?

I'm so dumb, seriously. Back to the list of red flags:
1) the product is amazing and an amazing low price
2) seller has no ratings
3) seller would not resolve the problem with me
4) has a new account but has sold items enough to know what "usually" happens when people order
5) hiding behind a fake number (which is understandable...but could be concerning)
6) Multiple listings for that single item

I might just be paranoid. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and placed an order again on the 2nd listing for that item since my order on the first one isn't going through and the charge on my card was cancelled. So now I'm just waiting again. This time, the charge isn't pending but is processing, and my total balance in my count has been subtracted from rather than just my available balance. That means he received the payment this time. The order is still preparing for shipment. I know, I just ordered today so he's not going to ship it immediately, but I'm just worried. I'm afraid he's not going to ship it at all. I'm just afraid it's a scam, whether he ships a defective product or ships nothing at all, I don't feel good about it.
 
Solution
Usually if something feels wrong, it probably is. I wouldn't recommend buying something like a laptop from anyone but a retailer or the manufacturer them selves just because you may not get what you paid for. Not to mention the possibility of questionable programs on it. I believe amazon has a policy for refunds or cancelling an order if you feel the seller may be scamming you. Contact Amazon customer service to be sure and see what they say. Hate to see you spend money and get ripped off. Good luck!

ps. If you can keep any and all communications between you and the seller available, amazon might want to see it.

CMCCStudent

Estimable
Mar 12, 2014
2
0
4,520
Usually if something feels wrong, it probably is. I wouldn't recommend buying something like a laptop from anyone but a retailer or the manufacturer them selves just because you may not get what you paid for. Not to mention the possibility of questionable programs on it. I believe amazon has a policy for refunds or cancelling an order if you feel the seller may be scamming you. Contact Amazon customer service to be sure and see what they say. Hate to see you spend money and get ripped off. Good luck!

ps. If you can keep any and all communications between you and the seller available, amazon might want to see it.
 
Solution