Can't make sales?

[Gatchman]

I was contacted by a potential buyer today that they could not make a purchase because my paypal isn't set up, it told them. 

My paypal is set up, I used it last week. I cannot find any paypal setting area to check on etsy.

At one point while checking it had me re-log in and I added some tax info. I was told by the customer they got a bit further, but they still got an error that said 'Oh dear, The shop you are trying to order from cannot accept Paypal payments.

[TheVintagePineapple]

This must be the latest scheme the scammers are using - telling a new seller that there's a problem with Paypal.  Yours is the second OP with the same problem within the last hour.

You have Etsy payments which includes Paypal and I see no problem when adding one of your items to my cart.

@Gatchman Do not respond anymore.  If you gave this scammer any financial information, get in touch with your bank asap.

[Gatchman]

Thank you. I told them of a different way to purchase the item, still through paypal, but to test if the issue was etsy or paypal. They didn't want to use a 'site they hadn't used before'. 
They sent me a screenshot of the error, which was timestamped with my Etsy user name on it within 3 minutes of a reply that they encountered the error on the 'choose a shipping address' screen, not on adding to cart screen. 

I can't imagine them photoshopping things in real time conversations within a couple minutes or taking the time to do that when they haven't asked for any other information, personal or otherwise. They aren't making any suggestions to do so either. They weren't interesting in using any other method but etsy shop to purchase the item. So I don't know what the scam would be. 

[Amandglm]

C'est un véritable fléau en ce moment ces tentatives d'escroqueries! 

Dans la même après midi et dans un temps très proche 2 personnes malveillantes ont tentés de récupérer mes informations personnelles et bancaires en me disant qu'ils n'avaient pas mon adresse mail ...!

Vraiment il faut être TRES vigilant(e)s, tout passe par Etsy donc dorénavant si vous avez des messages de personnes qui vous demandent d'effectuer des démarches particulières ne répondez surtout pas et mettez le message dans votre boîte de spam

[Gatchman]

What is the scam? They never asked me for any other info and would only buy through etsy. 

[ZenCatPottery]

This is a scam.

Do not give this “customer” any financial information (credit card numbers, bank account numbers).  If you have already done so, contact the bank or credit card company immediately.

Also do not click on any links they send you.  If you need to go to PayPal, type in the URL on your own.

[Gatchman]

Do you know what the scam is? How do they get info if they never ask for it and they will only buy through etsy? They don't post any links either. 

[TheVintagePineapple]

@Gatchman The scam starts with the ''buyer'' saying they're having a problem making a purchase.  They ask for your email address.  If you give it to them, you would then receive a regular email from them, one that makes it look very much like it came from Etsy, and they ask for your banking information by telling you to click the link they also sent.  Sometimes the fake Etsy emailed message tells you that you need to deposit a certain amount, through that link, so that the order can be processed.  There are other schemes that have fooled new sellers, but this is the latest and most common.

If you didn't go any further than the first Etsy message, stop responding and put that message in your spam folder.

Protect Your Account From Scammers - Welcome to the Etsy Community

[Gatchman]

Thank you for your time to explain this to me. I appreciate it. 

[ModJose · Accepted solution]

Hello, everyone! We appreciate everyone's feedback, discussions, and debate about themes relevant to Etsy are welcome and encouraged but it is also recommended to keep said discussions civil and friendly to comply with our Community Policies. Thanks!

[Gatchman]

This happened again. A different buyer with an obvious old profile contacted me and was having issues with purchasing the same item. They did NOT give any outside link, they did NOT ask for any information. 

They told me that they contacted support and they were told to contact me. They told me that I was the only shop they were having issues with.

AND they went to my actual website and purchased the item instead ....

So it seems pretty clear they aren't trying to scam me. They are genuinely trying to purchase the product. And it is failing PAST the add to cart point.

so it's very CLEAR the issue is with my shop, and I can't get help with support. I have no way to test it myself. I can't purchase from my own shop to test it. 

i've had multiple people report this issue now, had them purchase the item through alternate methods, and still support tells me there isn't anything wrong with my shop. Where else can I turn to get help testing my shop so that I can see it is working correctly?

[VintageRescueSquad]

I just put one of your items in my cart and clicked Paypal to check out (then abandoned it). It went fine! I still contend that this is a scam, albeit a slow one.

Perhaps they are trying to gain your trust and revisit the problem later.

You are a brand-new shop with no orders, so are a sitting duck. They rely on shops like yours to fall for it.

Whenever a buyer has a "problem" purchasing, you need to direct them to contact etsy. It's not your problem, and we have no way of fixing it anyway.

[Gatchman]

I've no reason to believe it's a scam since they never ask for any information, either eventually leave without asking for any information, or go to alternate places and make a purchase. It's just a weird scam when the scammers either give up before attempting to scam me or, alternatively, buy my stuff elsewhere. 

I feel like i'm just wasting 20 cents for listings so people can't buy my stuff here. It's just a listing for people to contact me so I can send them somewhere they actually make purchases. I don't understand that scam. 

I guess it isn't my problem as you state, to figure out why sales can't happen here at my shop. lol. Not sure why I tried to fix a problem selling my stuff in the forums. Thanks though. I'll refrain from trying to solve it in the future. If anyone does have any info that helps, feel free to message me. That way I don't share my problem I'm having with my shop. Thanks.