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Sold my PS4 on eBay to cover my Pro, buyer is claiming it's console banned, what do?

Madao

Member
this kind of stuff happens at this time of the year often. scammers come out like rats leaving a sinking ship.

hopefully the OP has means to prove he gets the correct PS4 and can fight the case if the buyer does try to scam him.

also, this is a good reminder for me to not sell anything this month. was gonna sell a 3DS but now i'll hold off until january when things go back to normal.
 

ViolentP

Member
I deactivated the console prior to sending and factory reset it.

But my other PS devices in account settings don't list their serial number either.

If Sony can ban a console, it means they have access to a unique ID on the device. This ID should be accessible to them. If they claim it has not banned, provide documentation to eBay and Paypal confirming the item was sold as described.
 

phonics

Banned
Umm no, if the buyer is entitled to a refund that money is owed. He can't runaway from that. That's illegal AFAIK or at least a fine line. PayPal already has his info too.

OP got scammed :(
Yeah, but when you see it's a scam from a mile away, just fuck it. They locked my account and put me in some kind of "collections" I have a 780 credit score. The buyer tried to say that I sold them fake sneakers, which was a bunch of bullshit.
 

NewDust

Member
I didn't think Sony banned consoles, only accounts. When did that change?

This.

Sony bans accounts and IP's, not console ID's AFAIK.

Which doesn't necessarily means that the buyer is malicious. He might have gotten a previously banned IP from his ISP and simply don't know better.

EDIT: apparently they do ban consoles. At least verify the error code the buyer gets when booting up the console.
 
Bluff and tell him you contacted Sony and they said your serial number is NOT banned. I'm guessing he silently slips away once he realizes you "found him out"
 

Whales

Banned
tell him you noted your PS4's serial number and that you will not hesitate to report him if the one he sends back isn't the same
 

Hedrush

Member
I didn't know Sony banned the actual console, I thought they only banned the account.

I'd stipulate that they can return the console and a refund will be issued once the console has been checked over and verified to be the one the buyer purchased. Oh and use "you've marked the console, in various places" If they are trying to scam you that should surely frighten them off.
 

Vashetti

Banned
Bluff and tell him you contacted Sony and they said your serial number is NOT banned. I'm guessing he silently slips away once he realizes you "found him out"

I think this sounds like the best idea.

But is there any way to find out the serial number? Would Amazon have that information?
 

BibiMaghoo

Member
They at least banned modded PS3 consoles.

I think they blocked them access, I don't think they have ever banned consoles in the same way that MS did with the 360. To my knowledge, what the buyer is claiming against the OP is not possible.
 

OSHAN

Member
Damn dude. Just sold my Vader PS4 to upgrade to the Pro on ebay. I didn't take the serial number down, either. Buyer just gave me positive feedback, so I'm in the clear, but I didn't realize how reckless I was being without taking down important shit like the serial number.
 

x3sphere

Member
Banned PS4s are rare, they did ban a lot of PS3s back in the day for connecting to PSN on CFW but none of that is available for PS4 yet (Only a very limited exploit on old firmware).

If the buyer that bought from you actually has a banned PS4, high chance the unit is stolen IMO.

If you're lucky it's just buyer's remorse and he came up with a bogus reason to return it.
 
Ive sold hundreds of things on ebay and this happened once. Sold a shirt that was in perfect condition and the buyer said their was a hole in the armpit. I fought and fought but paypal gave him a full refund and he got to keep the shirt.
 
Fuck that. Delink your bank account and credit cards from PayPal asap. You're getting scammed. It happened to me when I sold sneakers back in the day.

This happened to me as well when I sold a BC compatible PS3... They claimed it was broken, and sent me back their broken PS3... They also sent it back in a box that wasn't padded, so the system was damaged even further (case broken).


Ebay will ALWAYS side with the buyer unless you have a ton of information to backup your case including serial numbers, etc.
 

Zafir

Member
Yeahhh, rough break... :/ I hope you manage to sort it out.

Back when I sold my old PS4 after I got the Anniversary edition, I just sold to CEX because I couldn't be bothered dealing with the scammers.

I only sell cheaper stuff on Ebay, stuff that I don't really care about losing.
 
Bluff and tell him you contacted Sony and they said your serial number is NOT banned. I'm guessing he silently slips away once he realizes you "found him out"

Yeah I'd go with this.

Your next message to him should be very clear about these things:

1) Bluff and state you verified with Sony that your console's serial number isn't banned.
2) Tell him you won't issue a refund until you verify the serial numbers are exactly the same, and that you have taken a photo of the serial number in case it has been tampered with.

edit: apparently they do ban serial numbers
 

N° 2048

Member
umm if hes getting scammed, why are you saying he shouldnt try to protect himself?

You have never been scammed in PayPal before, have you?
They always side with the buyer.

This happened to me as well when I sold a BC compatible PS3... They claimed it was broken, and sent me back their broken PS3... They also sent it back in a box that wasn't padded, so the system was damaged even further (case broken).


Ebay will ALWAYS side with the buyer unless you have a ton of information to backup your case including serial numbers, etc.

Yep.

Look sorry OP but you made a huge mistake not selling locally, and not taking any information down as well.
 
OP do you have or keep a waranty card or some sort of documentation that might include the serial? This is a 100% scam, bluff the shit out of that fuck*er, ask him to provide you with the serial number so you can match it, when he sends the console with a different one dispute with PP.
 

ramparter

Banned
Getting the serial number shouldnt be difficult for Sony. I dont know if they give that info though.

Where does he live, if he is in the same country as you you could threaten him with legal action.

One thing is for, Im never selling on ebay after reading these stories.
 

T-Rex.

Banned
Call his bluff and tell him you have the serial number of your console noted down and if the one that's returned doesn't match up you'll report him for fraud. If you're lucky he'll back down, if not then gg.
 

Pandanaut

Member
That really sucks, OP. It's unfortunate that folks can be so dishonest.

mention that you marked a secret area on the ps4 and ask him to send it back

they're probably trying to scam switch their faulty system and it'll probably cause them to back off into their corner

This is probably your best course of action. You can just say you would like for the console to be returned so you can verify that it is is the same console on your end and that it was not shipped out with a ban of any sort. It will at least give the buyer some pause because they likely expected this to be an easy switch. May not end up doing much in the end (you're definitely going to be sent a different PS4), but maybe by calling the bluff you can put the ball in their court.
 

Zakalwe

Banned
Call his bluff.

Tell him you have marked the PS4 is a specific spot, noted the serial number, and taken photo and video evidence of this. Tell him he's more than welcome to return it, but you will need to check the console is the one you sent before returning any money.

He'll almost certainly stop the request.
 

N° 2048

Member
Call his bluff.

Tell him you have marked the PS4 is a specific spot, noted the serial number, and taken photo and video evidence of this. Tell him he's more than welcome to return it, but you will need to check the console is the one you sent before returning any money.

He'll almost certainly stop the request.

Best thing to do.
 

Arkeband

Banned
This is why I avoided EBay, there is so little in the way of seller protection that it's a scammer breeding ground.

Sold mine through Craigslist within hours for 220. No fees, no bullshit, got to meet the person and establish trust.
 
Wow lots of hate for eBay. I have sold pc parts and phones recently with no such issue. While I bet this is a scam you can sell things on eBay without issues as long as you make sure to protect yourself.
 
Call his bluff.

Tell him you have marked the PS4 is a specific spot, noted the serial number, and taken photo and video evidence of this. Tell him he's more than welcome to return it, but you will need to check the console is the one you sent before returning any money.

He'll almost certainly stop the request.

I agree with this post.
 
Say you'll refund them the money if they return it.

If you get it back and it's fine, sell it again. If it's banned then that's shit but at least you'll know there was some truth to what they're saying.

If he's sending you another PS4 however and you didn't note your serial you are boned.
 

Cmagus

Member
Can you call Sony if you registered it and check to see if it is? I'm sure they can look up your console based on your information can they not?
 

N° 2048

Member
Say you'll refund them the money if they return it.

If you get it back and it's fine, sell it again. If it's banned then that's shit but at least you'll know there was some truth to what they're saying.
Except the scam is that buyer already has a banned PS4. He will send that one.

One of the oldest tricks on ebay. Switcharoo.
 

phonics

Banned
Wow lots of hate for eBay. I have sold pc parts and phones recently with no such issue. While I bet this is a scam you can sell things on eBay without issues as long as you make sure to protect yourself.
There is no hate with eBay. There's hate for eBay scammers. There's a difference.
 

AgeEighty

Member
Call his bluff.

Tell him you have marked the PS4 is a specific spot, noted the serial number, and taken photo and video evidence of this. Tell him he's more than welcome to return it, but you will need to check the console is the one you sent before returning any money.

He'll almost certainly stop the request.

This. He doesn't know you don't have the serial number.

He may still go through with it, but at least you have a chance.
 
Call his bluff.

Tell him you have marked the PS4 is a specific spot, noted the serial number, and taken photo and video evidence of this. Tell him he's more than welcome to return it, but you will need to check the console is the one you sent before returning any money.

He'll almost certainly stop the request.

Yup. Me doing this saved my ass when someone tried to swap a PSP I sold them with one that wouldn't charge in eBayland
 

TSM

Member
Bluff and tell him you contacted Sony and they said your serial number is NOT banned. I'm guessing he silently slips away once he realizes you "found him out"

He won't care. Ebay will side with him regardless. They only care about tracking numbers and proof of delivery. They'll enforce the full refund as long as the buyer has proof of delivery. Once someone files a claim on a transaction you can't even leave negative feedback so this guy can pull this shit on the next seller.

Ebay only works because the buyer protection is so strong. I buy things on Ebay, but I'd never in a million years try and sell anything that way.
 
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