11-08-2008, 05:03 PM
Done a lot of selling on eBay. Upon first reading your post, I thought the buyers request was very strange, but somewhat plausible (though red flags would be raised in my mind as well). HOWEVER, when I read the actual text of the message, it sounded so much like a SCAM...yes, I'd figure out a way to avoid this buyer all together. Contact eBay and present the situation to them (via LiveChat). Ask them if there is a way to offer the bid to the second highest bidder without incurring the risk of negative feedback from the winning bidder. Worst case, ask them if they can nullify the auction due to the scammer (this way the scammer can't give you negative feedback).