ebay question

[Steve's Girl]

I had some things that I needed to sell and finally got around to listing them on ebay. I really procrastinated since I wasn't very comfortable with selling on ebay.

So, I get an e-mail today saying that one of my items has sold. In the listing it says shipping to the United States. Well, the buyer lives in Switzerland. How do I handle this with ebay and the buyer? I'm not going to ship to Switzerland. I've sent ebay an e-mail, but the auto reply said they would respond in approx. 48 hrs. My item is listed as sold. Will I have to cancel the transaction and pay a second time to relist? This is the reason I really hated to go the ebay route.

 

[pjacobi]

Do you know how a charge-back scam is conducted?

Was this sale
Valuable electronic or photographic equipment?
Paid by PayPal/VISA?
Shipped to outside the USA?
Inexperienced seller?
Sale price more than expected?

These are red flags for possible charge-back scam.

Hopefully you have a perfectly honest sale, but you need to protect yourself.


-Paul

 

[boBQuincy]

Assuming all is ok with the buyer it may be worth reconsidering. I also list my eBay items as "ship to US only" but a bidder from France wrote that he *really* wanted the item and would make it worth my trouble if I would consider shipping overseas. I replied that if he really wanted it and if he made it worth my trouble I would ship to Mars.

The short story, I took it to the post office, filled out the papers (it wasn't that much trouble), and probably made a lot more $$$ than I would have otherwise.

 

[Steve's Girl]

Do you know how a charge-back scam is conducted?

Was this sale
Valuable electronic or photographic equipment?
Paid by PayPal/VISA?
Shipped to outside the USA?
Inexperienced seller?
Sale price more than expected?

These are red flags for possible charge-back scam.

Hopefully you have a perfectly honest sale, but you need to protect yourself.


-Paul

Unfortunately, most of those apply. I have sent an e-mail to the buyer requesting that they agree to cancel the transaction since I specifically stated shipping in the US only. I sent the e-mail through the ebay system. If I don't hear back from them, I can file an unpaid item in 7 days. I think I need to go through ebay's resolution center. My frustration is that I may have to wait 7 days before relisting. I had tried to list this item on Craig's List and got nothing but scam replies there. I hate selling stuff! It's so much more fun to buy. But, somehow I've got to fund my wish list.

 

[annnewjerz]

Ooooh, what are you selling? Anything of interest to another Nikon owner??

 

[EnnEss]

You're doing the right stuff. Just refuse the sail regardless. If this person really wanted it they'd have contacted you first. Thats a flag right away that no matter what this buyer isn't very bright, but its probably a scam.

 

[fitzperry]

Assuming all is ok with the buyer it may be worth reconsidering. I also list my eBay items as "ship to US only" but a bidder from France wrote that he *really* wanted the item and would make it worth my trouble if I would consider shipping overseas. I replied that if he really wanted it and if he made it worth my trouble I would ship to Mars.

The short story, I took it to the post office, filled out the papers (it wasn't that much trouble), and probably made a lot more $$$ than I would have otherwise.

I was going to suggest the same thing. I also list my eBay items for shipment only to the U.S. but on more than one occasion I've received an email from a potential buyer asking me to consider shipping internationally. As long as they'll pay the shipping cost, I don't mind. It does take a trip to the post office instead of just printing out a label here and leaving it for pick up, but I've gotten more $$$ for a couple of items than I might have otherwise. IIRC, I shipped a pda to Japan and I've shipped a couple of things to Canada with no troubles at all.

Since your buyer didn't ask first about international shipping I'd be a little more hesitant, but it might be an honest mistake. Does the buyer have decent feedback?

 

[Steve's Girl]

Does the buyer have decent feedback?

No feedback. Member since Dec 22, 2008. That was the reason for my concern. Sure, I'll ship internationally if someone will pay me enough. But, this just didn't look right.

 

[fitzperry]

No feedback. Member since Dec 22, 2008. That was the reason for my concern. Sure, I'll ship internationally if someone will pay me enough. But, this just didn't look right.

That would raise a red flag, although it could just be a newbie mistake.

IIRC you can now block certain types of buyers (such as those with some specified percentage of negative feedback, etc.) from bidding on your item. You'd think their software could also allow you to block bids from buyers who are not within your approved shipping area.

Hope you get this straightened out and that you don't end up having to pay two listing fees.

 

[seashoreCM]

You would not file a "buyer did not pay" claim because you are calling off the sale.

You would not have to wait 7 days before relisting because you are cancelling the sale no matter what the buyer does.

If you change your mind and let a non-qualifying buyer complete the transaction "just this once", feel free to expect the buyer to use a form of payment you really want even if your listing suggests or states other forms of payment. For example you can disallow credit cards or even Paypal.

 

[Boss Hogg]

You should get your final value fee refunded if you file a dispute and go that route, then you'd get your relisting fees free the second time you relist (assuming the item sells second time around).

Could well be just an innocent mistake, I sell quite a lot of stuff on ebay in the UK, and quite often get people buying without asking how much international shipping is to their country - admittedly my listings do say I'll send abroad. I always just make sure that the shipping costs include an amount to cover expenses.

Hope you get it sorted.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I haven't sold much on ebay but one of the times I did a person from France was the winning bidder even though I listed it for US only. We communicated back and forth and I did decide to ship to them. It really was much easier than I ever thought - hardly different from shipping to to someone in the US. They did know I had stipulated US only but really wanted what I was selling and it was legit. But they also were aware I could back out.

I agree the join date could be a red flag. Hopefully you'll hear back from them. Maybe it'll work out like it did on my transaction. If you do decide to complete the sale to them just be certain to document the shipping very well if paypal is used.

 

[saturndb]

If they have not paid thru paypal it is most likely a scam. Have they asked you to ship the item right away? Is it going to be a gift for someone? I have had great succes with Amazon marketplace and I think the cost of selling it lower.