Should I trust this offer? (Ebay)

[Haruna]

I'm just feeling a little leery of a message I received on Ebay regarding the ponies I have up right now. (You can see my listings here: http://www.ebay.com/sch/7682thomas/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
). It reminds me of the messages people were getting a while back from technopon-e (http://mlparena.com/index.php/topic,348234.0.html), but this one doesn't mention any sick child with cancer or anything -- just a kid with an upcoming birthday, pretty common. The person has only 8 feedbacks, but they're all very good; seven are as a seller (of non-pony items), one is as a buyer. Just wanted to run it by you guys:

"hey there -

looking to get a few of the G1 ponies for my daughters' birthday. Was thinking 3 for $35? PARASOL, and any other near mint ones. COuld you let me know if you could do this and if we could do the transaction right away. Her birthday is next week.

thanks"

The ponies aren't up for best offer, which is why I find it kind of weird, I guess. The ones I had listed at the time (Skydancer sold just now to someone else) as near mint were Parasol, Skydancer, Starglow, and Rosy Love. The two last ones are in very good condition and worth more than $10 . . . but I'm not sure those are the ponies she means. I have other nice ones up, they're just not near mint. Argh, I don't know.  I need to clarify which ponies she's asking about, but even then I don't know quite what I'd do next. Do you guys have any opinions? I'm probably overthinking this.

[emery]

Could be fishy... they sound a little too confident that you will do this for them?

I would just respond with something like "I'm not currently taking offers on my ponies but feel free to purchase any of my listings that are within your budget and I will get them shipped out right away so that they arrive in time for your party!"

[rosierjay]

good idea emery!

i think it's funny to ask for near mint ponies for your daughter.
normally kids who play with them don't care about the condition of the ponies they have.
of course there are some that do.
but i know when i was little i didn't care, as long as it was a pony.

[hilamb]

Emery has a great advice. 
Lets hope there is nothing fishy about this person.

[Ringlets]

I totally agree with Emery and thats the exact type of response that I would send back to this person
 - dont buy the story!   most kids dont care about near mint ponies - especially old ones- they are happy with most conditions if they want them to play with. Some people will saying anything to get ponies (or other items for cheap) particularly it seems dodgy if there is no option to make a best offer . I'm especially wary of people with stories involving kids with illnesses or b'days or whatever  .  The genuine ones dont usually mention it at all -or they will mention it after the purchase in a thank you message or similar message like "I bought this for my kids b'day thanks for (insert whatever they liked - for example the nice wrapping" (I gift wrap the items I sell) or  my daughter/son will be so happy to have this item as its for their b'day etc)  Or  "This ... is for my kids b'day , any chance you could ship it by such n such a date please?" you  know - that type of thing 

[snwbear24]

I agree with the response as well but we just assumed it was for a little kid most likely it is but all she said was daughter maybe she is an older collector that is why she wants near mint. And, I think she mentioned the Birthday possibly for a quicker response as she needs them by next week so for urgantcy she might have mentioned that. I don't trust stories eithe and I would def say the response of emery.

[bluerose9978]

I had someone recently try to make offers on my ponies, too. They, as well, only had a few feedbacks. I told them I do not negotiate prices on eBay. I wonder if it's the same person? They did not give me any lines about a daughter's birthday but it did make me think that it was technopon-e under a different name.

[kCherry]

There seems to be a bunch of these people running about eBay atm; I just got a message from a member with a low offer saying she was wanting to purchase for her daughter but had been in and out of the hospital due to chronic illnesses. This member has 70+ positive FB so it's not the same account, thought it could be the same individual.

  I'd be more than happy to help people who Actually Needed help. But one bad apple ruins the bunch and I am super wary of these types of messages. I like Emory's response, too. I think I might use it. :3

[Haruna]

Thanks, guys. I've responded with essentially what Emery said, and the person who sent the message hasn't responded yet but may; I sent my message around 8 this morning. Yeah -- it's interesting that several of us have gotten messages like this. I hope it's not a scammer; we really don't need more of those running around. I'll post if I hear any more from her, but hopefully it's nothing serious, and maybe if she's genuine she'll have found what she needs from another seller.