Too good to be true - scared!

[Wantajackrussell]

Had a PPI payout of £1,000 and I have wanted this armchair for quite some time but it has been beyond reach until now. It sells exclusively in John Lewis for £1,200. The exact same model on ebay and being described as coming from John Lewis and in new condition is going for £799 plus £49.99 postage. The seller has got a rating of 387 and there is lots of positive feedback on his profile - most of it relating to the sale of furniture. But is it too good to be true? I don't want to waste my money but it would be a saving of £350ish.

[Wantajackrussell]

Update .. this is the response I received from the seller when I was asking about discount and if the chair was new:

"This chair is 100% genuine. We specialise in branded furniture and deal directly with g plan and many john lewis manufacturers. We can get most items that john lewis have for sale.

The chair is brand new with no damage. And the discount is basically you get free delivery if "buy it now" is not used and you pay outside of eBay via card or you can still pay via PayPal if you like you would just not pay via eBay as this saves paying the eBay fees that you then save."

Should I pay him direct and avoid the fees? I suppose I wouldn't have any recourse against him through ebay though? Haven't got any experience of ebay. Thanks all.

[LittleMisslikestobebythesea]

Hmm I think it sounds dodgy, makes you wonder how they got hold of them?

I would pay by pay pal through eBay if I was you.

[theendoftheendoftheend]

Pay on a credit card? I think you're protected then (and pay it straight off with you're payout?)

[catsofa]

NO. Do not pay outside of ebay, and please report the seller to ebay for asking you to pay outside.

This is one of the main things that Ebay try to warn people about all the time as there are often scams involved and you would have no protection.

Sorry

How about waiting a bit until you can get the extra £200 saved up to buy from John Lewis? Could ask friends and family for JL vouchers for birthdays/xmas?

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

I'd pay through PayPal for such a large sum of money. Ebay will not be able to get you a refund, should you need one, otherwise.

[mysteryfairy]

It might well be a furniture retailer that you are looking at. Can you ask the seller if they retail stuff elsewhere - they might have a website.

[monkeyfacegrace]

Paypal is protected in its own right.

It's fine, honestly!

Pay via PayPal, and you can still claim even if eBay isn't involved at all.

PayPal is used on a gazillion other sites, it's not exclusive to eBay you know!

[monkeyfacegrace]

I always ask to deal outside of eBay. Saves a bloody fortune in fees, nothing more nothing less.

[Butterflyspring]

do not pay outside ebay - the fact the seller suggests that knowing it is against the rules makes me think he is not trustworthy. If it is not right you will have to return at your own huge expense to get your money back - I wouldn't touch it. Sorry.

[catsofa]

the fact the seller suggests that knowing it is against the rules makes me think he is not trustworthy

^ this!

[TheReluctantCountess]

Steer clear. They are prepared to break ebay rules - what else are they prepared to do?

[plinkyplonker]

Do you live near the East Midlands? John Lewis auction off loads of their furniture regularly in uttoxeter/marchington (i think they're called John Pye auctions) this is where a lot of eBay business sellers get their JL stuff from. Can you cut out the middle man and buy from auction yourself?

[WhereYouLeftIt]

Dodgy. Suggesting paying outside eBay is VERY dodgy as it breaks eBay rules. And 387 is not particularly high for a trader - how far back in time does that feedback go?

No OP, get your bargepole out for this one. You will find you have lost £850 rather than saved £350.

[differentnameforthis]

You are the buyer, surely you won't have to pay any fees...he does that & it should be included in the cost of the item.

[Nospringflower]

I know people who have got discounts in John Lewis just by asking if this is the best price they can do it for. Worth a try?

[Butterflyspring]

Different - the seller has ebay fees - 10% of final price if sold via ebay (£79), so they want to be paid outside ebay to save themselves that bill. Fees are nothing to do with the buyer.

[Wantajackrussell]

Thanks all. Have decided to pay the extra and order direct from John Lewis.

[differentnameforthis]

Butterflyspring Yes, I know...but the way the op's posts are worded, I thought he had told her that SHE will avoid fees, I was just wondering what fees he could have meant..

Also, I am aware that he will have to pay his fees, but surely they are worked into the cost