posted on October 11, 2000 09:44:59 PM
I was hoping for some advice on out of country buyers... my auto emails went out at the end of auction as usuall...on them I state there winning bid plus USA Priority shipping....I get a response from one piticular bidder saying thank you they will send money order ASAP...they didn't send an address so I thought oh well I will get it off the envelope when it arrives...some people send it some don't...I prefer it when they do...well a couple of days latter they email again and say "Oh I forgot to send you my address and they give me an out of country shipping address...I instantly realize that I did not quote for out of country shipping ....when I emailed back to explain to them that shipping would be higher for out of country buyers they come back with sorry check is already in the mail....and you didn't ask if was out of the country...so I guess what I am wondering is whos responsability is it ..seller to ask or bidder to tell...I do have it in my auctions that out of country shipping will be higher...but in all honesty it was not in the email...thanks for your suggestions...
posted on October 11, 2000 09:48:15 PM
I've been waiting for one to try that! If you stated US shipping in your TOS, they know exactly what they are doing, and hoping you'll fall for it! Write back and tell them you will hold the item for them until they are able to send complete postage costs.
posted on October 11, 2000 09:56:59 PM
thanks for that response...ok...so if the money comes I should just hang on to it to see if another follows... and if it dosen't I can just send it back to them and tell them the deal is off...does that sound fair enough...ohhh...I feel a big fat neg coming on...yikes ...my first one...
posted on October 11, 2000 10:05:12 PM
A few months ago, I listed some video tapes on eBay. The description listed the shipping for USA; said international would be more. When I sent out the invoices, I did not ask if they were out of the country, just sent the USA totals.
A couple weeks later, I got a payment ... from Australia. I emailed the guy and said I would eat the difference, but in future, since HE knew he was in Australia, that it would be appropriate for him to let future sellers know his location, even if the seller didn't specifically ask his location.
He replied that he had replied to my invoice with his Australia address - odd that I didn't receive that first email from him.
I didn't lose any money, fortunately - we shipped the video tape via slow turtle or something, but it arrived eventually.
Anyway, I think it's the bidder's responsibility - they know where they live. And, if the difference in shipping is a fairly large amount, I'd email him right back and tell him to drop another payment in the mail for that difference. Or failing that, if possible ship it via a method that matches the amount of money he did send for postage.
posted on October 11, 2000 10:19:40 PM
I have wording about the quoted fixed shipping price applying to US bidders ONLY in both my auction and the end of auction e-mail.
I think the buyers all know that it costs more to ship something from one country to another, it's just the unscrupulous who pull this sort of sneaky penny ante stuff.
The same sort who short you on the quoted shipping cost, or "forget" to pay the quoted tax and other nickel and dime childishness.
It is the buyers responsibility to let you know if they are outside of the country. You have no way of knowing this.
There's no grounds for a neg here. Just send them an email stating that they must send the full amount of postage owed and you will hold shipment until it arrives.
They will send the additional postage if they want the item. We have had a few people short us on shipping. They have all eventually sent the full amount.
posted on October 11, 2000 10:43:22 PM
I state specifically in my TOS that International buyers pay actual shipping. I haven't had any problems with any of the buyers so far. An at least none of them has been a deadbeat so far.
"Western culture has practiced imperialistic conquest, racism,
slavery, persecution, intolerance, and oppression. So has every
other culture in the world. Only two things remain to be explained.
First, why was the West so successful at it? Second, why did
they repent?"
posted on October 11, 2000 11:56:30 PM
It depends on how the terms were stated in your auction. If you said you ship US only, then it was the bidders responsibility.
If you stated that you ship internationally but didn't state in your auction the charge for the shipping is $XX.XX and you don't specify something different for international, then I think it is the seller's responsibility, since the auction was unclear.
Ethically I think that all international bidders should be upfront about it. Sometimes there email will give it away - .ca is canada, .uk is England and .jp is Japan.
I had an Australian bidder win an auction, said payment would be sent through bidpay, then never paid. I sent 3 NICE emails, a NBPA and finally requested a credit. I left neg feedback that said, "Said payment would be sent; 59 days no paymnt, stopped answering emails."
They returned with negative feedback that said, "Big Mistake...nasty seller, Not one of ebay's finest a big O." I was crushed. I have over 660 post, 443 unique, no neg and no nuetrals. I also have been on ebay for 1 1/2 years.
This person has been on for less than 5 months, and has 6 positives. Now has 2 negatives.
posted on October 12, 2000 02:19:32 AM
Easy way to circumvent this problem...at the end of auction, send out an email with some wording like this:
"Congratulations on your winning bid! Please reply with your mailing address. I'll package the item, and respond back to you with the total including shipping.
Thanks,
xxxxx"
"Who's tending the bar? Sniping works up a thirst"
posted on October 12, 2000 02:39:55 AM"Congratulations on your winning bid! Please reply with your mailing address. I'll package the item, and respond back to you with the total including shipping".
Excellent advice! I think Koto1 has the perfect solution to prevent future misunderstandngs.
posted on October 12, 2000 02:53:15 AM
I used to do exactly what koto1 suggested---ask for the address at auction's end before giving the buyer his total including shipping, and it became such a HUGE HASSLE to deal with all the EXTRA EMAIL that I quit.
I quote "shipping within the U.S." only. Most of the time I catch the .ca or .jp in the international buyer's email address and just ask for their address first, as koto1 suggested. I have a real problem with Canadians trying to get by with my quoted U.S. shipping, and it's no mistake on their part---they KNOW you're quoting U.S. shipping rates, and hope you'll eat the extra cost.
posted on October 12, 2000 03:11:36 AM
I have the opinion that the eBay "venue" is lacking in post-auction guidance and direction......
As I seller why can't I ask for an option "That the high bidder to respond first and have eBay's EOA ask high bidder to do so"?
Why? I need the address, this determines likely currency options, possible post revisions etc.
The US$ is not automatically the currency for seller in Country B to receive from high bidder in Country C, and post & packing arrangements may need revisions.
Now when I buy, I snipe. I instantly know I've bought and advise the seller my address.
posted on October 12, 2000 03:32:29 AM
This is one of the reasons I do not ship out of the USA. I have also noticed any time a bidder does not answer with there shipping address it is usually a problem.
I request bidders address as confirmation of the sale. When i get an email without the address payment is usually late or not at all.
posted on October 12, 2000 04:39:15 AM
goodeal4u -
Let them know the postage they sent is enough to get it to the USA borders, but not to Australia (which has outrageous rates compared to the equally distant New Zealand. Than ask them where they want it sent WITHIN the reach of the USPS carriers, or which dock to throw the bottle off of so it can get there for free.
My EOA has this phrase, right above the total for a fixed-price item ...
IF THE DELIVERY ADDRESS DOES NOT HAVE A USA ZIP CODE, DO NOT USE THIS BILLING INFORMATION. CONTACT ME FOR SHIPPING TO NON-USA ADDRESSES.
posted on October 12, 2000 04:39:50 AM
The suggestion for bidders to send their address in order to get their total is good, but it creates a lot of extra work for you---now you have to email each bidder your EOA twice. What I do is give them their total with shipping in my EOA, but at the bottom separated by *** ***, I say that "the above total is for US addresses only; if you live outside the US, please send forward your address & I will send your correct total with shipping." That way you only have to deal with double EOA's for those outside the US. Works for me...
posted on October 12, 2000 06:37:01 AM
Koto1. That is exactly what I do. I like to make sure I make contact with the bidder and this is a good way to ensure they received the email. Once I receive the address, I do the math on shipping and send them back a detailed email explaining what their options are in postage costs (if there are any), type of payment I accept and that I will notify them when ship etc. etc.
Only once did I get a 'nastygram' when I sent the email. The person's return answer was "it can't cost over 3.20". Oh yes this person sent it during the night (late night) and followed up with an email shortly after with 'what's the delay?' Even though it seems I am up 24/7, I do require at least 4 hours of sleep a night. geesch.
posted on October 12, 2000 06:46:54 AM
I think koto1 has the best solution and also those of you who request address prior to quoting a price.
I disagree with "it's the buyer's resposibility" to let you know before you quote a total.
If you do send and EOA with a total and it doesn't mention US only well, it's now your dime. You're the seller, it's your responsibility to make sure you're getting the right amount of shipping from the buyer.
Ain't Life Grand...
[ edited by twelvepole on Oct 12, 2000 09:33 AM ]
posted on October 12, 2000 07:49:48 AM
I would deposite the payment and tell the smart buyer that the shipment is "pending" until the correct shipping cost is received.
