Thx Callum. It is a 500 error (not sure if that is significant). It happens when I try to submit the "fees refund" request, or click on the sellers feedback. If I click on their name I get a page saying they have no listings.

So I got two emails from the seller yesterday, from a different email domain but the user bit on the left was the same as the xtra email address, so probably the same person. The first asked me to deposit the money into a westpac account, followed by another 3 hours later saying "should I wait for the payment, if not feel free to cancel". I replied saying "he" needed to update his email address in TM and that I would get a friend to collect and asked for the address. So far there is no reply from the seller but a request from TM this morning saying the seller has asked for a refund of the f...

Thanks Callum. I think a little more checking out is justified. A reverse image search did not return anything obvious.

I've just search expired listings and found the same auction (same words and a subset of same pictures) on a TM auction from a brand new seller in Aus that closed in Nov. So the auction I won is https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/building-renovation/tools/power-tools/saws/listing/4470599554?archive=1&bof=SADRYoxr And the other one is https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/building-renovation/tools/power-tools/accessories-consumables/listing/4401641565?archive=1&bof=GZybhsL0   So I will definitely not be sending any money their way. Either one of these, or both are dodgy as heck.(Edite...

Although it says they are an authenticated member. How often is that reconfirmed, and is it just via a physical letter  or also via email ?

Yeah, a busy time of the year and also it is an xtra email address. My recollection is that Spark changed email back ends a few years ago so maybe the trader has forgotten to update stuff and the email address registered with TM is dead. Unfortunately they do not have anything else for sale, otherwise I'd give them a reminder via the Q&A section of their other auction.

Thx, they have been registered since 2001, but no sales since 2012, and no purchases since 2017. No negative feedback on their account. The only email I've received is from TM for confirmation of the sale. The only payment method was bank transfer, none of the protected methods (although due to fees I kind of understand that choice. I'll give them another day to make contact. Is there an escrow type of payment service where I can pay the purchase but it is not released if the goods are not delivered ?