posted on September 6, 2000 04:32:13 PM
My true friend Ken,
My heart was too full for words. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness. You are a really great person.
I left very positive feedback for you. This is quitea new experience to me. But I don't worry about your shipping, because you are my true friend.
Living in this world, I have the chance to meet various sorts of people. And I acquainted with you. This is very lucky to me.
I am a documentary photographer. 31 years old. I have 14 years ones photographing career. And I working for the Geo Korea(like a National Geographic), Asiana airline and Samsung, LG, Hynday, etc company magazine.
The National Geographic photographer, this is my dream. I doing my best day and night in the belief that I would come true future. And I'll come and see you one of these days without fail.
Thanks again for make me happy. I'm as happy as happy can be. Please accept my best wishes for your happiness.
posted on September 6, 2000 05:27:12 PM
My international buyers have been a super group of people. They overcome language differences, currency differences, postal differences & still are cheerful & happy to get the item.
Some of them still keep in touch...and if I'm ever in their country, I know I'll have a friend there.
It's been more than worthwhile for a few extra minutes of filling out a custom's form.
posted on September 6, 2000 05:35:06 PM
We previously did not sell internationally. Now I am working with an Amazon buyer that sends her mail in German and does not speak a word of English.
posted on September 6, 2000 06:02:42 PM
Yes, great job making someone this happy.
Most of the overseas (and Canadian) folks I've dealt with have been very gracious and friendly and excellent buyers.
I sold a Dansk wooden bowl to a lady from England one time and the transaction was plagued with problems from the beginning. Shipping was way more than I would have thought (I was new) and her money order never arrived. Weeks went by waiting for it to show, but she never had an angry tone in her emails. She finally sent payment again by Western Union and had to file for a refund on her original money order. After all that, she had to wait another two months to get the bowl due to surface mail (air mail would have been almost 100.00). Still, through it all, she was friendly and came through like a champion. Left me the nicest feedback too. I should see if I still have her address. I ought to send her a card.
posted on September 6, 2000 06:20:31 PM
The world is an amazing place and full of amazing people.
Isn't this just one of the best ways to meet them.
Well done krs.
Bob, Downunder but never down.
posted on September 6, 2000 07:15:37 PM
I did select International on my listings, but I did not really expect to interest anyone outside of maybe Canada because I sell books (which are heavy) and craft patterns, all in English.
But I got my first Hong Kong buyer last night.
Too cool.
posted on September 6, 2000 07:28:43 PMVictoria I sell mostly books also and I can tell you that there's a great market overseas for all kinds of books.
My experience has been very positive and I agree with the others here - they're always more than patient and unbelieavably grateful.
As for payment I receive some cash but most use BidPay. My last two money orders from BidPay were received within a week of notification - very impressed here.
Depending on the amount of the purchase and the buyer's feedback I sometimes work out exchanges. It's been a terrific way to help my eleven year old son build an international scrapbook. We've got pages from Australia, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Hong Kong, Norway, lots of Canadian and England, etc. I always end up feeling a little like I short changed them though because in every case they've sent way more than was expected. The best yet was a big box of Norwegian Chocolates - sinfully delicious! Didn't fit in the scrapbook though.
posted on September 6, 2000 07:35:52 PM
KRS: I read a few posts over at the MotleyFool eBay stock chatboard tonight, and they all were very pessimistic about 3-D postal systems outside of Western Europe and North America.
However, my one and only FUN & kewl~for~KEWL etail experience was through Novica dot.com, where I got an alpaca sweater handmade in the Andes, and it took a couple months to finally arrive, but I enjoyed the order SO much and learning about the artisan living in a teeny mountain village, that frankly, I didn't care if the item actually made it to my door, LOL!
The KEWLEST thing about the Net is that is proves it is a very werry small world, indeed!
posted on September 6, 2000 08:15:14 PM
Are you saying that I should qualify the title of this thread, Neil?
Not this time.
I should point out that this was not a very expensive item, and that this is not the first such experience that I've had, particularly with Asian customers.
If Amy can stomach this little bit of encroachment into her pompom waving domain, Radh is right that online auctioning/selling and buying has shrunk the globe. Many in other parts of the world have never had any opportunity to purchase such a wide variety of goods, even U.S. goods as they now can with ease, and the result is a great appreciation both for the opportunity and to the people who they perceive as having made such wonders possible.
Sure, you have to check a couple of boxes and fill in a few blanks on a form, but it takes no longer than writing a check. Maybe there will be some difficult to decipher emails, but along with them will come a marvelous graciousness which is next to impossible to experience in our own country.
For my part, I cannot understand anyone who would deny themselves such things simply because of time or a little more trouble.
posted on September 6, 2000 08:19:20 PM
One more thing; the envelope in which this buyer's payment was delivered showed that it was in Souel, South Korea on 9-4, and it arrived to me at 8:00am pdt on 9-5.
He Express Mailed it!
posted on September 6, 2000 09:29:39 PM
I will always sell International (with 2 exceptions- South Africa and Mexico- wierd things happen with both those spots.) Of course being Canadian and 95% of my business being with the States I pretyy much HAVE to be International.
That said, over the years I've dealt with people in the UK,France,Sweden,Finland,Germany,Japan,China,Singapore,OZ, even Kosovo (the guy bought a Spider-man compilation)- I've literally been all over the world and had very little problem-the two wackos in Singapore were outdone by the 12 or so other good dealings I've had with people in other countries.
I don't understand people refusing to deal Internationally- it's no extra hassle except figuring out the shipping and most International buyers understand shipping will be more expensive and gladly pay it. Like you said KRS-their loss.
Re:the shrinking of the world comment.
This struck me between the eyes a few years ago when Ebay was pretty much brand new. Got home at noon one Saturday and there was an e-mail from a guy in Italy I sold some comics to. I answered the question and minutes later there was his reply to me.
Curiosity getting the best of me I had to ask what time it was over there (Midnight I THINK is what the answer was.)
It was only after I logged off that the enormity of what had happened hit me. I was in instantaneous contact with a guy half way around the world- had a conversation (we traded a few comments- not major on the scale of conversations- but that is effectively what it was) and it cost me virtually nothing. It was as quick as a phone call to my mother across town and just as easy.
What struck me most is how jaded I was- just talked with a guy half way around the world like it was nothing. It is really awsome when you think about it.
what a lovely letter; I totally agree about international buyers. Most of my sales are internationally (comes with the territory when you are in Canada). My overseas sales were all very polite and friendly, even if postage takes a little bit longer than expected they keep their cool and are very polite and patient.I had even dealings with a guy with neg. FB and he turned out to be one of my nicest buyers, very polite and actually charming letters.
JT,
I am German and I find that Translation program too unreliable, it very often translates word by word and does not take in account the German grammar. Therefore the meaning of something can be quite misinterpreted; I had some cases where it even said the opposite of the original meaning. Some words are not translated at all. But this is just my opinion and I guess it depends what you need it for and therefore some mistakes might not be that crucial.
So much for my five cents.
edited: oops, I guess HTML does not work here! How do you get the bold letters anyway?
[ edited by rxo120 on Sep 6, 2000 09:41 PM ]
[ edited by rxo120 on Sep 6, 2000 09:45 PM ]
posted on September 7, 2000 01:29:22 AM
Selling internationally is cool. Profitable too, esp. for toy cars.
--------------
Don't take life so serious, it ain't nohow permanent.
posted on September 7, 2000 07:37:52 AM
rxo120, HTML isn't enabled here, you have to use UBB codes. To make a word bold you place [*b]bold[*/b], without the asterisks.
As far as translators, I had a guy from Spain communicate to me via one of those program. It was far from perfect, but the transaction went well.
James.
posted on September 7, 2000 08:50:47 AM
rxo120 you are quite correct. I am not sure this transaction is going to go through. It has worked for me in the past but I am struggling with the German translation. I know that I could go out seeking someone to help me, find someone in a cultural specific chat, but I can't always devote that much time to a $5 item. I do try to work with all my buyers and most of them speak at least a little English if not fluent. Thanks for pointing that out. I should have.
T
posted on September 7, 2000 09:08:19 AM
To all, I am not yet selling Internationally but this post is encouraging.
Yesterday I asked for help from a University Library in Australia and found answers from friendly responder....must find out more about shipping before I commit to all my auctions , or can I just do International on individual auctions??????????? Dana71
Goingslow
posted on September 7, 2000 10:21:45 AM
I wouldn't peg bidders by geography. I have had good results with foreign transactions, but not necessarily any better than US.
This transaction is a gem and it's always nice to hear some good news.
posted on September 7, 2000 10:56:43 AM
Krs..if you will send your new pom poms to me I will dye them a pretty blue color so they can match your gender...pink ones just aren't you!
International sales are fun, although even international buyers can be PITAs too. I remember the sale of a Baccarat paperweight to a buyer in the Philipines...she reponded to my end of auction email by saying that she had remembered all the starving children in her country and just couldn't, in good conscience, spend so much money on a "bauble" for herself when there were children going hungry in her country. She wanted me to relist the item, at a higher minimum bid, and split the profit with her. I sold it to the second high bidder!
I have to go to the post office today and pick up a registered letter from a buyer in Japan. He (she? I don't know how to tell the gender of Japanese names) bought a WWII Air Force pilot's pin from me (for a very nce piece of change). His emails were in such broken English that they were really charming!
I love almost all my customers, both U.S. and international...they have been such nice people. Even the PITAs are fun...fodder for some really funny stories!
posted on September 7, 2000 10:57:23 AM
I was really nervous when I first began accepting International bidders (I deal in Pokemon cards and items). I had a few from Europe and Asia bid on my auctions without telling me they were international, and even though my auction listings said US/Canada only.
But because I am a nice person, I followed through on the transaction anyway. I use USPS and find their international rate calculator a lifesaver in getting the postage fees correct. I made a few mistakes early on, but my buyers were very understanding, and I send additional items at no charge as an apology for my error. They were very appreciative.
I now have had deals with people in Singapore, Hong Kong, Norway, Denmark, Great Britain, Belgium, and Canada. I plan to continue keeping my auctions open to international bidders.
posted on September 7, 2000 12:59:43 PM
I'm kinda puzzled here. Why is "meeting new people" in, say, Kuala Lumpur via ebay any more valuable or exciting than "meeting new people" on the other side of the Mississippi? Maybe I've just traveled enough, and have had enough overseas contact on a personal level, already not to find a foreign stamp on an envelope in my mailbox a kind of novelty.
All I can think of is that, as Barry once noted, many of you choose to sell as a hobby/for entertainment/to meet people, and only incidentally as a means of generating income. Then, I guess, I could kind of see the fun in selling outside one's own borders.
posted on September 7, 2000 01:20:55 PMAll I can think of is that, as Barry once noted, many of you choose to sell as a hobby/for entertainment/to meet people, and only incidentally as a means of generating income. Then, I guess,I could kind of see the fun in selling outside one's own borders.
Yes, that certainly does sound like something Barry the Hobbyist would say.
The reality is that International bids account for thousands of $$$ I've made on eBay. I could careless where someone lives - show me the money!
Pompoms become you, KRS!
