posted on September 2, 2002 02:20:23 PM new
Help..I don't sell internationally. States that in the auction. Item ends with a bid out of nowhere at the last second. He writes to tell me where to send it internationally and step by step instructions on how to fudge the paperwork for customs. I wrote back right away to say Sorry. I only ship to US. Now where does that put me with regard to receiving a neg for not completing the sale and can I offer to the second high bidder under these circumstances? Never had it happen before and I know you guys have the best advice ever. Thanks.
posted on September 2, 2002 03:01:34 PM new
that leaves you everywhere. bidder not meeting your tos is grounds for filing a npb and is an actual option on the npb form. this person did not complete the transaction because he did not meet your tos. leave a neg stating this and start the npb process, or as you have suggested offer to the next highest bidder. you will more than likely receive a neg but you did nothing wrong. also even if you did ship internationally i would not complete the transaction because the bidder asked you to illegally mail the item.
posted on September 2, 2002 03:02:05 PM new
If your auction states you do not ship outside the US, then you are not obligated to complete this transaction.
You may file NPB and receive FVF credit, on the basis that the bidder violated your TOS. The FVF might give him pause, as it is one strike against him just as surely as if he were a deadbeat. (Just be sure you don't use the 'mutually agreed not to complete'.) Perhaps he has already done this to others; and if he hasn't, he will surely be encouraged to do it again if it works.
Please note that I am not telling you what you should, or should not, do regarding this bidder. You asked about the consequences of not completing this transaction, and I'm merely answering that question.
And yes, you could approach your underbidder, as long as you stay on the up-and-up.
Interestingly enough, I just received an email from Belgium which says (and I copy), "Hello,
Can I please buy it ? I 'm from Belgium ?
You may send it by boat.
Thank you"
Ahhhh...The item in question has a 4.95 starting bid - no reserve and no bids. I picked it up in a garage sale for a dollar - thinking that a little rough place on it was tape residue - rather than the glaze imperfection which it is. (At best, it might have brought $10.-20.00 without the flaw.) But with the cost of eBay and AW, plus my packaging materials to ship internationally, I might net 2.00 on the sale.
If s/he knocked on my door, I'd give it to her/him, but do I really want to get involved in an eBay transaction that (aside from the fact that it would be a little extra work) will take weeks, risk the item not getting there at all (as I'm sure the bidder won't want to pay for the over-priced insurance) - and consequently risking one of those email messes and negative feedbacks where I'm accused of being a crook - all for a couple of dollars?
posted on September 2, 2002 03:50:29 PM new
Thanks for the help. I didn't realize the npb would apply to this scenario. It's a shame to have to brace for the possible 1st neg over someone not reading the tos. Hope it doesn't come to that. If I did something wrong I'd take it on the chin, but this is the buyer's fault. Thanks again.
posted on September 2, 2002 04:27:16 PM new
He most likely won't neg unless you do.
And if he does neg, just respond with the facts: "Bid on US only auction in violation of TOS."
For some reason, the FVF Credit is less riling to some; I suppose that's because, even though it is more damaging, it is 'hidden' rather than embarrassingly 'public' (at least, until one gets three of those babies - then they are crowned with the ultimate embarrassment: "NARU".
Negative feedback has to be looked at in an overall sort of way. And a negative like he might leave cannot possibly affect your sales, which is what you have to consider. When and if several people negged you for taking their money and not shipping, then buyers might begin to be uncomfortable with you. But the mere fact of a "red mark" is not necessarily going to hurt you from a business standpoint. (Although it does subtract from the positives you worked very hard to earn, and that is personally hurtful.)
Two of the many flaws of the eBay feedback system.
posted on September 2, 2002 04:34:45 PM new
I would File NPB & FVF.
I wouldn't Neg him unless he Negs you first.
If everything works out between you two, I'd say a Neu. or Pos. is in order!
posted on September 2, 2002 04:54:53 PM new
If you're a seller that doesn't not ship internationally it is best to state in bold letters that fact several places in your TOS and at the very beginning of the actual auction description. Jack up the font size on the warnings.
If you have done all of this it will be very difficult for an internastional bidder to write that they missed that part of your TOS.
posted on September 2, 2002 05:08:48 PM new
Am I hoping for too much to think that if I just leave "sleeping dogs" alone that maybe all will be forgotten as just a mistake? I'm wondering if doing the FVF and NPB will just irritate him into leaving that neg. I didn't hear anything else back from him after my initial email. I'm not concerned about the FVF and it would seem the NPB thing almost doesn't apply since he was willing to pay, I just wasn't willing to go outside my TOS or more importantly to fluff on any paperwork. I know full well that a neg isn't the end of the world, but as I said before, I hate like heck to get my first this way. Especially for refusing to be less than honest with customs.
posted on September 2, 2002 06:10:52 PM new
LEAVE IT ALONE. AND LEAVE HIM ALONE. FEED BACK IS IN NO WAY MANDATORY.
I HAVE HAD MANY DEALS THAT NEVER WORKED OUT. I JUST SAY LET'S GO OUR SEPRATE WAYS AND BETTER LUCK IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU.
I MUST HAVE 100 FEED BACKS TO GIVE RIGHT NOW. I WON'T GIVE EVEN ONE. NOPE! NOT UNTIL IF EVER THE BUYER GIVES IT TO ME FIRST. I WOULD RATHER NEVER HEAR FROM THEM AS TO DISTURB THEM AND GET A BIG SURPRISE LIKE I DID ONCE BEFORE FOR BEING SO STUPID. LET IT GO,,,,,UNLESS THEY COMMENT ON YOU.
EVERYONE IS SO SCARED OF THE DREADED NEG FEED BACK. MY STATED POLICY,YOU GET EXACTLY WHAT YOU GIVE. I REMIND THEM OF THAT FACT. IT IS CLEARLY STATED ON MY WINNING BIDDER NOTICE AND MY "ME" PAGE. NOT OUT THERE ON THE AUCTION FLOOR.
NOT ONE,I DON'T CARE HOW PIZZED OFF THEY ARE EVER WAS SO STUPID TO EVEN DO A SPITE THING. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WILL GET RIGHT BACK.
EDITED TO SAY:
I JUST LOOKED FOR REAL, 96 FEEDS TO LEAVE. SO TEMPING, HAHAHAHA. THOSE WOULD PUSH ME UP TO OVER 1000,,,,,NO WAY WILL I EVER TOUCH THEM.
I AM ALMOST 6. I RITE WHIFF A KRAON.
AND THE BEAT GOES ON......
[ edited by JACKSWEBB on Sep 2, 2002 06:26 PM ]
posted on September 3, 2002 06:39:38 AM new
I would contact the POTUS and ask him to include the buyer's country on his "we're going to war with" list ... that'll teach 'em
posted on September 3, 2002 08:44:26 AM new
Chances are that the customer, in fact, read your TOS.(no international) Some bid anyway hoping you'll ship despite what you say.
posted on September 3, 2002 09:21:24 AM newChances are that the customer, in fact, read your TOS.(no international) Some bid anyway hoping you'll ship despite what you say.
That's true. That's why placing the no international bidders clause promonently in several places and especially at the bery beginning of the auction description really takes away their "I must have missed it" gambit.
posted on September 9, 2002 01:14:08 PM new
In our auction terms we have a section for International Bidders in red, bold and lager font.
Within that we clearly state they must contact us prior to bidding or ending an auction with BIN. We will then supply them with our payment terms and a s/h quote which they must agree to (reply back with agreement). We also state we only take bidpay,payingfast or international money orders.
Well, Last week I had five people use BIN. Not one of them contacted us prior to bidding. All but one person complained about the cost of s/h which is only the USPS airmail price plus 1.50 handling. Then three wanted to use PayPal which I no longer offer to international members.
I don't understand why people bid knowing the terms and then complain later. It's getting to the point where selling internationally really isn't worth it.
posted on September 9, 2002 03:03:44 PM new
Romantiques ... I always play these by ear. I do state "U.S. Only" in a few of my auctions due to the size and/or weight of the item, etc. so I've only dealt with this once or twice.
One time I just told them "nope, sorry" but the amount was so small that I did not file FVF. They were apologetic.
One time I told them "nope, sorry, and by the way, you shouldn't have bid." The FVF was considerable and I couldn't really forego it. They got mad but backed down when they heard how much it would have cost to ship.
In neither instance did I leave negatives. In the second case, the buyer had a history of retaliatory negs.
I was able to cancel one bid from an international bidder who had a policy of retaliatory <i>and</i> untruthful negs ..."I paid but she never shipped." They were on my block list before they could try it again.
I guess it's a case-by-case call. Good luck in your situation....the fact that they were instructing you how to duck customs really sets off alarm bells.
