Strange Amazon experience

[JkroLOLing]

Hello everyone , So I'm in need of advice/opinions. I've had my eyes set on a laptop from amazon for quite a while. I finally decided to order at the price of $759. To my supervise. a third party just posted another listing for $445.

Under the sellers info was a message in all caps saying EMAIL FIRST BEFORE PURCHASING. This was a first for me but I shared a few emails to find out what it was all about. Basically he says amazon has some sort of problem with his payment process. The only way for me to purchase the laptop is to buy an amazon gift card without redeeming it on my account but instead send a screenshot of it and the confirmation number to the original cancellation email from amazon.

Is it me or is this highly unusual? I feel like it could be a sort of scam.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[bignastyid]

It's a scam.

 

[Math Geek]

i'd be weary. once he has the card number, you have no guarantee he sends the product. no way to get a refund or have anyone step in for you since it is basically a cash transaction.

not sure why amazon would allow the listing if they don't like the way he does things. that's odd in itself.

 

[photonboy]

Hi,
I'm a Nubian prince but I'm locked out of my funds at the moment. If you could loan me $5000 then i will reimburse you 4X that amount after just one week. Just give me your financial information so I can deposit the funds.

(even if there's a chance the seller isn't lying, just AVOID everything like this on general principal.)

 

[JkroLOLing]

I feel the same way. The thing is when I called amazon support they didn't indicate that anything was unusual. They said that the gift card method was to prevent fraud from the buyer.

 

[USAFRet]

Run away, run away.

 

[USAFRet]

3rd party via Amazon is only a half step more legit than a random ebay sale.
Any weirdness = don't go there.

 

[JkroLOLing]

Thanks guys, this is what I assumed from the beginning but the response from Amazon Support cause some doubts