compucycle
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posted on October 11, 2001 07:38:23 AM new
Here is an edited copy of a letter I just sent to EBay.
I can't continue to pay listing fees if eBay can't keep people who are unable comply with my listings from ending my auctions.
Does anyone have similar problems with non U.S. users?
I sell computer equipment and cannot risk shipping to a unverifiable address given the amount of credit card fraud that takes place.
I used to accept cashiers checks from non US bidders but the first time I received a counterfeit bank check I ended the practice completely.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
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Hi XXXXXX
In the past 7 days I have had 7 bidders not pay.
(from about 45 completed auctions)
Of those 7 bidders, 6 [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] , [email protected] and [email protected]
are not located in the US and according to my item descriptions were not eligible to bid on my auctions.
(from first to last these users are located in: Argentina, Madrid, Romainia, Guatemala, England and Australia)
This is a very serious matter and has cost me well over $100.00 in listing fees as all of my auctions are featured auctions and cost at a minimum of $19.99ea. to run. (not to mention the lost revenue to eBay billpoint when those sales fail to complete due to these users not being on the Billpoint supported countries list)
Many of these auctions are being ended "Buy It Now" within hours of my placing them completely negating any advertising value those featured placements may have otherwise gained.
This is very frustrating as it in only one week represents $5045.00 in lost sales, is tying up thousands of dollars of inventory and hundreds if not thousands of dollars in working capital.
As a result I would like eBay to have some software blocking in place that would block users registered from non US countries from bidding in auctions that are listed as US shipping only.
As you can see my eBay Account Balance so far this month is -$4,944.51 approximately 50% of that is featured auction fees.
Unless eBay can do something to keep non qualified bidders from bidding on my auctions I will be forced to consider discontinuing my long use of optional eBay listing products.
Thanks
Jim
[ edited by compucycle on Oct 11, 2001 07:41 AM ]
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bunnicula
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posted on October 11, 2001 07:43:58 AM new
Insist that non-US buyers use BidPay. Then, if you are still feeling paranoid, don't ship when you get the second confirming email from them--wait the 3-7 days for their Western Union MO to reach you & deposit it before mailing out the item.
Voila!
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compucycle
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posted on October 11, 2001 08:04:48 AM new
Bidpay has a $500.00 maximum, wont work on any of my aucitons. Not to mention we do not accept any form of payment other than Billpoint, Paypal or credit cards.
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heygrape
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posted on October 11, 2001 08:10:45 AM new
I agree with ebay putting a block on non USA bidders when the seller only sells to folks in the USA. And it would be so easy. We already click a box that says we only sell to USA bidders. Why not attach the block to that?
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spotmatic
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posted on October 11, 2001 09:05:49 AM new
Heygrape: the eBay item page states "Will ship to United States only" and not "Will sell only to USA bidders", as many sellers would like to think.
Fact is, I'm from The Netherlands (Europe) and I frequently bid on US-only items. Yet I have no problems with sellers at all. My secret? I pay usually faster than US residents AND I do have an US address (from where my item will be shipped to Europe).
Yes, that's my way of getting access to those desirable items that can't be found in Europe.
So, are you really sure you only want to sell to US bidders and not to foreign buyers with a postal address in the USA? Please let me know and you can be sure I'll never bid on your auctions... 
Just an idea: you could start your description with "WILL ONLY SHIP TO THE USA" in large, capital letters. Even a blind buyer will understand this notice
PJ
[ edited by spotmatic on Oct 11, 2001 09:07 AM ]
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commentary
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posted on October 11, 2001 09:12:54 AM new
Simple solution - cash only for non-U.S. purchase. It will limit your sales. But, at least there is still a chance for the sale.
You can also look into wire transfers. I have not heard of fraud involving wire transfers of small amounts. If you are real nervous, you can open an account just for transfers only and empty it on a regular basis.
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heygrape
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posted on October 11, 2001 09:15:03 AM new
spotmaticYes, that's what I meant. The shipping.
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AuthorizedArt
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posted on October 11, 2001 09:34:56 AM new
I only auction to USA MX AND CA, and Europe.
I had nothing but trouble in other countries,
I had one bid up a $99 auction to $700ish and not pay, then said we owed his country billions of dollars, I was freaked, and also did not realize what country had access to eBay, raather shocked to had seen where this guy was from.
Although, I have had 3 NPB in a week and all were Feature auction! nearly $75 burned! One was from RU (russia)
After I realize I am up against a NPB and a week or so passes I will send an eBay reminder, an Auction watch reminder, a personal letter from me, I also file a NPB with eBay.
After I file for my FVF I leave a NEG - if it is a feature auction where I stand to lose $20 -$25 , I will also contact the other people the loser bid on so they get a heads up, and I am also contacted ahen this happens.
I am writing eBay as well and use part of your letter.
Good luck
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mballai
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posted on October 11, 2001 10:12:06 AM new
I would put a warning that any non-US bidder who bids or does a BIN risks immediate negative feedback and an NPB claim as they are violating your acution terms. Do not use Billpoint for these auctions.
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kiawok
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posted on October 11, 2001 11:37:07 AM new
In close to 4 years of selling world wide on eBay, my ONLY deadbeats have been from the USA.
Spotmatic makes a very valid point. It doesn't matter WHERE a buyer lives [or is registered on eBay as living], if they have a US addy to ship the item to.
The problem with eBay setting up a bidder block for non US users is that those buyers with US shipping addys would be blocked as well.
No doubt eBay is considering setting up such a filter, which means more biz for me.
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chris30
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posted on October 11, 2001 11:43:15 AM new
Even if the person (international/non usa) has a US ship to address there could be problems. While we take billpoint for US residents we do not offer billpoint to international buyers. This is due to the additional fee's charged by billpoint. Also paypals seller protection policy does not cover international members.
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compucycle
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posted on October 11, 2001 02:50:21 PM new
Just because someone has a US shipping address does not mean I want them bidding on my items.
NON US credit cards are NOT verifiable by US merchant account holders, NOT guaranteed by paypal's seller protection policy and certainly not backed up by Billpoint.
Hopefully eBay's new filter (if they do come out with one) would not be across the board and allow most sellers to continue with business as usual, but allow sellers such as myself who are selling 10 or 20 thousand a week on eBay (or items that have a high rate of fraud)
to limit who bids on our items.
What I would welcome is a Billpoint Electronic Check service that would allow non US bidders to wire funds directly via Billpoint, the way they have it now is useless to sellers such as myself due to the $200.00 limit they impose on it.
[ edited by compucycle on Oct 11, 2001 02:52 PM ]
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GreetingsfromUK
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posted on October 11, 2001 03:32:04 PM new
I am an International Verified user of PayPal. Guess I have lost the thread!
[ edited by GreetingsfromUK on Oct 11, 2001 03:38 PM ]
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GreetingsfromUK
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posted on October 11, 2001 03:44:48 PM new
In all my visits to USA, I have never had a problem using my UK Mastercard and Visa cards.
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compucycle
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posted on October 11, 2001 03:53:31 PM new
In person there would be no problem, (as long as the signature on the back of your card matches what's on the sales draft)
The problem here with online sales is the AVS (Address, verification, system) US merchants use with mail order, telephone and internet sales will not work with international cards it just defaults to a Y (pass)
[ edited by compucycle on Oct 11, 2001 03:56 PM ]
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kiawok
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posted on October 11, 2001 05:16:53 PM new
Just because someone has a US shipping address does not mean I want them bidding on my items.
Not to mention we do not accept any form of payment other than Billpoint, Paypal or credit cards.
Is someone forcing you to only accept CC's?
Ever hear of a thing called a wire transfer?
Sorry, but that's certainly not eBay's problem .....
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compucycle
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posted on October 11, 2001 05:47:08 PM new
kiawok sure it is.
eBay derives a good portion of its value by bringing bidders to auctions, bidders who are qualified to purchase the products being auctioned.
If eBay cannot provide qualified bidders to it's paying users then eBay's value is diminished.
The reason we do not take bank transfers is the same reason we do not take checks or money orders.
I call it the BS factor, the less B#ll S#%^ involved with a sale the better...
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kidsfeet
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posted on October 11, 2001 06:43:31 PM new
I would state that Non-US bidders MUST pay via Western Union, or wire transfer.
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kiawok
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posted on October 11, 2001 07:47:19 PM new
Oh, I see, in your perfect the world the only qualified bidders on eBay are the ones who can purchase items with a CC.
Well isn't that special?
Here's the perfect solution for your apparent problem.
Have ALL potential buyers verify a CC with you [or a verified PayPal addy], then allow them to bid via your Pre-Approved bidders list.
Problem solved.
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compucycle
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posted on October 11, 2001 08:16:02 PM new
kiawok exactly! I'm glad you see my point. Pre approved Good credit havin US citizens.
Heck we'll even let Democrats, yankies and liberals purchase our items. (as long as they pay in 72 hours)
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kiawok
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posted on October 11, 2001 08:21:33 PM new
Knock yourself out ............
Pre-Approve Bidders
Create your own pre-approved bidder list for any item and only allow those on your
list to bid. Any bidder who is not in your list will be asked to contact you by email to place a bid.
You can add or delete bidders up until your listing ends. Please use this feature cautiously as it may limit the number of bids on your item.
http://cgi3.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?PreApproveBidders
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compucycle
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posted on October 11, 2001 08:29:42 PM new
The irony was lost huh.....
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kiawok
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posted on October 11, 2001 08:36:08 PM new
The irony is that a big power seller like yourself has yet to figure out that eBay could care less about the number of deadbeats you have. They get the listing fees, and are laughing all the way to the bank.
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ok4leather
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posted on October 11, 2001 09:01:31 PM new
When youve shipped outside the US and the item takes weeks or months to clear customs how do you deal with the stress of your customer and how can you track the item ? Sounds like spinning the Roulette wheel .
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compucycle
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posted on October 11, 2001 09:08:27 PM new
The irony is that a big power seller like yourself has yet to figure out that eBay could care less about the number of deadbeats you have. They get the listing fees, and are laughing all the way to the bank.
no, actually they refunded all my fees about a half hour after a wrote and indicated they were working on just such a feature.
[ edited by compucycle on Oct 11, 2001 09:10 PM ]
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kiawok
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posted on October 11, 2001 09:13:42 PM new
Well there ya go ........
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kiawok
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posted on October 11, 2001 09:16:04 PM new
ok4leather
I'm not sure where you got the idea that items take weeks/months to clear customs?
The shipping timeframe is usually based on how the item was shipped [Surface or via Air] and most items clear customs within 48 hours, or less.
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AnonymousCoward
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posted on October 11, 2001 09:29:36 PM new
It's too bad they are working on such a feature. I'm in Canada and I can tell you every seller I emailed and asked permission to bid on their "ship to US only" has agreed to accept my bids. With such a [i]feature/î] in place, it might not be possible for a seller to revise their policy and accept out of US bidders if there are bids. One seller I inquired about one item and ended getting 33 of the same item to resale locally. I would estimate, 50% of the time I don't win and just jack up the final winning price. In the end, the sellers still ship to the US and make more money. Too bad these sellers will lose to accomodate some other sellers.
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kiawok
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posted on October 11, 2001 09:34:00 PM new
AC
Good point. It's also quite common for "some" US sellers to not realize that "Will Ship To US Only" is the eBay default. Other US based sellers consider International buyers "overseas" buyers, and have no problem shipping to Canada. I've even seen a few Canuck sellers that have "Will Ship To US Only" checked off because they too didn't realize it was the default, and at least one of those sellers had 100+ feedback.
Oh well, more biz for me ........
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samsonart
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posted on October 12, 2001 02:49:41 AM new
<quote>Will ship to United States only</quote>
not nice!
if pay fast and pay the shipping - what's the trouble?
UK seller/buyer
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