max40
|
posted on June 11, 2003 09:03:22 AM new
Had an auction close last nite at opening bid. The buyer is in Australia. My TOS states clearly that I do not ship outside USA. Buyer never asked if he could bid.
I don't want to go thru the hassle of shipping a $10.00 item out of country, but don't need any negative feedback. How would you handle the situation?
There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
[ edited by max40 on Jun 11, 2003 09:04 AM ]
|
replaymedia
|
posted on June 11, 2003 09:17:57 AM new
If the buyer pays the appropriate shipping cost to ship to Australia, just send it and move on. Either ship the item or take the feedback hit.
It's one of the many hassles of selling on eBay. Get over it and move on. It'll happen again eventually.
|
msincognito
|
posted on June 11, 2003 09:25:01 AM new
You could email him and say "Hey! I noticed that your eBay address is in Australia. AS you probably saw, I only ship inside the United States. Can you give me a shipping address inside the U.S. so I can get your item to you? Thanks!"
If he backs down at that point, all you have to do is file FVF, either by mutual agreement or NPB, depending on how mad you are at him.
Who knows, he might have a shipping addy inside the U.S. or want you to use a shipping service.
One thing I've learned from reading this board is that you usually just create more trouble for yourself when you state a reason. "I don't ship outside the U.S." gives very little room to wedge an argument in. "I don't ship outside the U.S. because I have kids and it's too inconvenient and I don't trust the mail, etc. etc." gives them multiple openings to pick a fight with you.
The most explanation I ever give anyone anymore is "I'm not set up for that, which is why I set my policy that way. Sorry." (I'm not speaking about international shipping - I do ship to Australia - but of general policies. I'm also a lot more accomodating if the request comes before the auction ends instead of after.
Anyway, good luck!
|
sanmar
|
posted on June 11, 2003 09:37:41 AM new
Early in sellig on eBay, I had some pipes on. I stated clearly that I ship only in the USA & a person in Singapore won 2 of them. His ezcuse was that he had very poor vision & couldn't read the fine print. I refused to ship & took 2 negs for it. I have never looked back & with a total of seven negs in 5 years, it has never been a problem. Especially when you look at all of the glowing pluses I have had since then.
|
jensmome
|
posted on June 11, 2003 10:10:36 AM new
OK. So he shouldn't have bid. But a lot of over seas buyers have a US address for shipping. Or they are willing to pay the huge amount for shipping. Most of them know the score.
And is filling in a customs form such a hassle? Why lose a perfectly good sale over an extra two minutes?
|
kraftdinner
|
posted on June 11, 2003 12:48:17 PM new
max40 - I've seen this done before and it would sure stop me in my tracks from not reading the terms - the seller stated that while they didn't ship outside of the U.S., they would be happy to ship outside the U.S. for an added $35.00 handling fee. Smart seller!! 
|
MAH645
|
posted on June 11, 2003 01:15:44 PM new
All my auctions state I don't sell Internationally. Most buyers e-mail before bidding and ask if I will ship to them,as long as they are willing to pay the shipping,I really don't mind.
|
CBlev65252
|
posted on June 11, 2003 02:00:47 PM new
When I first started selling I didn't want to deal with international sales. But, after my first one (one just as you describe and I caved) I don't mind doing them at all. In fact, lately the international bidders have been my best. They do pay a lot for shipping. Had one girl win a "lot" to have shipped to Israel. It cost $22.00 to ship it to her.
Cheryl
My religion is simple, my religion is kindness.
--Dalai Llama
|
sapington
|
posted on June 11, 2003 02:19:21 PM new
I had a bidder do that to me a few days ago. The item was heavy (9 Lbs)so I told them the shipping rate and said I would cancel the sale if it was too expensive for them.
They were real happy to do cancel it. They also had won a couple other items that weren't very heavy that I did sell them but I added the ebay fees for the item they didn't buy into the s&h they paid.
|
shop4shoes
|
posted on June 11, 2003 02:49:15 PM new
I don't want to go thru the hassle of shipping a $10.00 item out of country, but don't need any negative feedback. How would you handle the situation?
Report them. Ebay will remove the neg also if you email them with the case number where you reported the bidder.
http://webhelp.ebay.com/cgi-bin/eHNC/showdoc-ebay.tcl?docid=1087&queryid=13885951&querystring=An_international_bidder_has_bid_on_a_US_only_auction
|
max40
|
posted on June 11, 2003 03:10:44 PM new
Thank you all for your input. Special thanks to shop4shoes (I put your link in my favorites), msincognito,(I like the suggestion of asking for a USA address-have already emailed that request) and kraftdinner, (I will be modifying my TOS to include your suggestion)
I'm really glad to be a part of Vendio family.
There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
|
Roadsmith
|
posted on June 11, 2003 04:02:01 PM new
Is the item fragile/breakable? If not, just go ahead and figure the shipping costs and send the danged thing! But make sure the buyer pays through the method you choose. I didn't sell to international buyers when I first started in ebay but I do now, and I've had trouble with only one in nearly four years.
|
soshoeme
|
posted on June 14, 2003 12:16:02 PM new
Shop4shoes: I would like to thank you for the link and the info also.
I have reported quite a few in the last few days and ebay actually gets on them.
I sell items that I am allowed to sell to customers in the 50 U.S. states only.
My auctions say this in two places in clear print.
In the past week, I have had bidders from Canada, Australia, Mexico and Puerto Rico end my auctions with buy it now.
They know my policies they just ignore them.
I then will get an email from them that says something like this: "I bid on these items. I am in (whatever country), will you still ship them to me.
The emails from Puerto Rico are always like: "we are in the United States".
I always respond: "Which star on the Flag is yours? I am looking at the Flag right now and it still only has 50 stars. I am often behind on current events and did not realize that we had kicked a state out of the Union and replaced it with Puerto Rico. Which state was it? I'll bet it was Texas. They have been making noise about being soveriegn for years."
|
tomwiii
|
posted on June 14, 2003 12:29:40 PM new
The Commonwealth of PR is a US territory -- USPS treats PR just like any US State and, unlike APO/FPO addresses, DC works!
As far as I can tell, there is NO valid reason NOT to treat PR as you would treat any other US address!
I've shipped many items to PR via regular USPS mails & rates -- no different than mailing to Miami!
Some territories are NOT this easy, but PR is EASY, & their moola is GREEN US CASH!
 
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?"
http://tinyurl.com/5duz
|
tomwiii
|
posted on June 14, 2003 12:34:55 PM new
Q. Can I use Delivery Confirmation service on International mail?
A. Delivery Confirmation is not available for International Mail, military (APO/FPO) mail or for items addressed to U.S. territories, possessions, or freely associated states (with the exception of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
BOLD ADDED by Ralphie!
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?"
http://tinyurl.com/5duz
|
neonmania
|
posted on June 14, 2003 12:40:24 PM new
::The emails from Puerto Rico are always like: "we are in the United States".
I always respond: "Which star on the Flag is yours? I am looking at the Flag right now and it still only has 50 stars. I am often behind on current events and did not realize that we had kicked a state out of the Union and replaced it with Puerto Rico. Which state was it? I'll bet it was Texas. They have been making noise about being soveriegn for years." ::
Out of curiousity - besides the fact that they do not have a star on the flag - what is the rationale for not shipping to PR? There is no customs needed and postage is the same as to anywhere else in the US so I have to wonder if this decision, not to mention incredibly rude response was based on ignorance of this fact or some other bias.
|
captian23
|
posted on June 14, 2003 01:27:30 PM new
I took a Neg for the same thing. It was a guy in Australia as well. I agreed to sell it to him but he never sent the money. It was like $10 shipping. He called me a Wanker whatever that is.
___________________________________
If you build it they will come........
|
tomwiii
|
posted on June 14, 2003 01:30:19 PM new
"He called me a Wanker whatever that is."
It's a GUY thingy -- see the Goodly Book under "Onan!"
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?"
http://tinyurl.com/5duz
|
shop4shoes
|
posted on June 14, 2003 01:31:42 PM new
As far as I can tell, there is NO valid reason NOT to treat PR as you would treat any other US address!
Out of curiousity - besides the fact that they do not have a star on the flag - what is the rationale for not shipping to PR? There is no customs needed and postage is the same as to anywhere else in the US so I have to wonder if this decision, not to mention incredibly rude response was based on ignorance of this fact or some other bias.
Did you both miss the part where so she me said, I sell items that I am allowed to sell to customers in the 50 U.S. states only.?
The response was not rude. Bidding on an item that you are not supposed to is rude (especially since they bid BEFORE asking if she would make an exception). It does not matter how the USPS treats them. Until the USPS is given the power to make a territory a state...Puerto Rico is just that-- a territory.
Many sellers have items that they can not sell to people or businesses that are outside the 50 states or other areas. That has been mentioned on this board on many occasions. I have items in my online stores that I am not allowed to sell to Germany, Japan, France or California.
No matter what her reasons, she stated her terms in her auctions and the bidders ignored them.
|
grumpyebayer
|
posted on June 14, 2003 01:38:35 PM new
There is no customs needed and postage is the same as to anywhere else in the US so I have to wonder if this decision, not to mention incredibly rude response was based on ignorance of this fact or some other bias
It is a much nicer response than they deserved. Maybe soshoeme is biased against bidders that ignore her auction terms.
edited:
I like the response. I hope you don't mind if I use it sometime.
[ edited by grumpyebayer on Jun 14, 2003 01:40 PM ]
|
grumpyebayer
|
posted on June 14, 2003 01:46:20 PM new
It's a GUY thingy -- see the Goodly Book under "Onan!"
MUHAHHHAAAHHAHAHAAAAA!
|
bigpeepa
|
posted on June 14, 2003 02:07:38 PM new
Hey All, if you lived in PR and didn't have to pay Federal income tax would you vote to become a state? I take my hat off to them they get food stamps, welfare, plus other federal programs and don't pay federal income tax. They are smart people. I lived there for 5 years and enjoyed it.
|
soshoeme
|
posted on June 14, 2003 02:19:58 PM new
Out of curiousity - besides the fact that they do not have a star on the flag - what is the rationale for not shipping to PR?
My reasons were stated in my post.
There is no customs needed and postage is the same as to anywhere else in the US so I have to wonder if this decision, not to mention incredibly rude response was based on ignorance of this fact or some other bias.
Stop wondering. I am not ignorant of postal rules. I am biased. Biased against ^^&$$#@@# who bid eventhough they know I do not ship to them.
That wasn't rude. That was fact. There are 50 states and that is where I ship to.
Many sellers have items that they can not sell to people or businesses that are outside the 50 states or other areas.
BINGO!!!! I just found out that this lady wanted the items for her boutique in Puerto Rico. The company must not have approved her to sell their items, so she is trying to get them through an alternate method. She ended 8 of my auctions with buy it now.
I am steamed. She has one other neg from about a month ago for the same thing. I hope ebay gives her the boot.
|
neonmania
|
posted on June 14, 2003 02:40:50 PM new
Ebay is not going to boot her because she is not an International bidder.
Of course you realize that if you attempt to file against her she can also file back for your refusal to follow thru. If I were her, that is exactly what I would do.
Mario Andretti - “If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.”
|
shop4shoes
|
posted on June 14, 2003 03:06:55 PM new
Ebay is not going to boot her because she is not an International bidder.
I have complained about bidders from Puerto Rico and ebay before and ebay has given them the boot and removed the negs. Unlike others, ebay support seems to have grasped the fact that Puerto Rico is not one of the 50 states.
Also when a bidder is from Puerto Rico their ebay is card says "Location: Puerto Rico". It DOES NOT say "Location: United States".
If she wanted to sell to the Caribbean (which is where Puerto Rico is located), she could have checked that box on the selling form.
Shoeme, If you are a powerseller talk to your rep and see how fast she is gone.
|
neonmania
|
posted on June 14, 2003 03:24:01 PM new
I'm still dying to hear a logical explination for not selling to PR considering that there is no additional expense or work involved. Now that there are two of you here that do it, perhaps one of you can offer one?
Mario Andretti - “If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.”
|
biskitsandgravie
|
posted on June 14, 2003 03:30:58 PM new
Must be an epidemic...I have had a rash of bidders outside the U.S. too.
neonmania, you give some good advice quite often, but you are wrong on this one.
Ebay will suspend members from U.S. Territories that bid on auctions that say the "50 United States" in the auction listing. That is what mine have said. Ebay has suspended users from Guam (5 so far) and Puerto Rico (8) that I have reported.
I did not know they would do anything about it until I stumbled upon an about me page by a seller that had a real hatred for bidders outside the United States. He kept a tally (with a bullseye by each country) on the page of how many users (outside the U.S.) that he had reported for bidding on his auctions. He listed how many of them were suspended. Canada, Germany and Australia had the higest tallies. Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands were on his list also. He had a long rant about international bidders. He had the same link as shop4shoes posted. I started turning them in that day. I bookmarked the page, but he must have changed his user name since it doesn't lead there anymore.
Edited for clarification: Some of my items I can ship outside the U.S. If I choose. Others I am forbidden to sell outside the 50 states by my agreement with my suppliers. I had one Item that I could not sell to people in Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Montanna, Washington, California or Nevada. I could sell it in Pureto Rico though.
[ edited by biskitsandgravie on Jun 14, 2003 03:40 PM ]
|
tomwiii
|
posted on June 14, 2003 03:33:00 PM new
Seems a tad bit inflexible -- would you refuse shipping to the District of Columbia because it's not one of the "50 states?" There's NO difference between shipping to Wash,DC, and shipping to PR!
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?"
http://tinyurl.com/5duz
|
shop4shoes
|
posted on June 14, 2003 03:37:18 PM new
I'm still dying to hear a logical explination for not selling to PR considering that there is no additional expense or work involved. Now that there are two of you here that do it, perhaps one of you can offer one?
What is it that you do not understand about the following statement made by soshoeme?
I sell items that I am allowed to sell to customers in the 50 U.S. states only.
The statement is very self explainatory to anyone that realizes Puerto Rico is not a state.
|
biskitsandgravie
|
posted on June 14, 2003 03:48:01 PM new
Seems a tad bit inflexible -- would you refuse shipping to the District of Columbia because it's not one of the "50 states?" There's NO difference between shipping to Wash,DC, and shipping to PR!
In a heartbeat, If I had an agreement with a supplier not to ship there. It has happened and one supplier I dealt with gave the D.C area to another vendor. That vendor had no online sales at all, but I could not ship to anyone with an address in D.C.
I see auctions all the time that state they can not ship to certain states or areas due to restrictions. It isn't that uncommon.
I have one supplier that has wholesale distributers for different regions.
D.C., Puerto Rico and Mexico are handled by the same office. Which always seemed strange to me since D.C could be more easily handled by the office that handles Maryland sales.
[ edited by biskitsandgravie on Jun 14, 2003 03:52 PM ]
|
