posted on December 12, 2000 06:18:42 PM
I just has a BIN auction ended by a German bidder. I really don't know the payment options from over there.... Any suggestions?
Edited to add: The guy doesn't use a CC, so online payments are out of the question.
posted on December 12, 2000 06:35:00 PM
I have had many buyers from Germany, all have sent cash. I found most didn't use credit cards. Hope this helps.
Ann
[ edited by evermore42 on Dec 12, 2000 06:36 PM ]
posted on December 12, 2000 06:45:53 PM
I've had one bidder from Germany and he was great....except for the part of wanting me to mark the item as a gift and lower the price. I told him no I wouldn't do that and he was fine. He used a credit card as well so it made the transaction alot easier.
posted on December 12, 2000 06:46:30 PM
Many bidders from Germany, all but one sent cash payments in US dollars, often registered mail when the amount was high enough to justify it.
The only other payment was a Eurocheque in US-Dollars. That one was a problem because of the fees the bank asked to clear the check.
posted on December 12, 2000 06:52:23 PM
Just had a German bidder. He never identified himself as I requested in my invoice, but he did send enough cash to cover the postage. Unfortunately his handwriting is terrible so I'm waiting for him to contact me. (He didn't include his email address or the auction number either.) Never a problem with German bidders.
posted on December 12, 2000 06:54:42 PM
Add me to the list of sellers who were happy to deal with German buyers. Had about 10 and all paid very promptly in cash. They also had no problem rounding up to the nearest dollar to avoid coin.
They were very good at leaving feedback, too! All in all, very smooth transactions.
I LOVE my German bidders. Most of mine also pay in cash, they are prompt and great to work with and all have left feedback. I find my items sent to Germany from Louisiana arrived there before items shipped to California!!!
posted on December 12, 2000 07:56:23 PM
I recieved my first bid from anywhere overseas. It was Germany...a little scared but hey..I figure swing the door wide open and let everyone in...
posted on December 12, 2000 09:22:09 PM
Well, I had a German bidder sign on to ebay just to get something I was selling last year. It went off at over $500 so I was holding my breath but he did a bank transfer and it was quick and easy.
Customs held it unduly long which was a strain for both of us and we never found out why as it was only games and books (Dungeons and Dragons from the early 80's). Probably because they couldn't figure out why books and games were insured for $500. He did end up paying about $90 in import fees tho but was still happy as I paid most of the $100 for shipping.
One of my "happy dance" deals as I found them at a yard sale for an embarassingly small price.
posted on December 12, 2000 10:32:13 PM
Have had 2, both were wonderfully courteous sorts, first one paid and it never arrived though, so he paid again. Cash both times.
posted on December 12, 2000 10:48:59 PM
I have always had good deals with Germans, Japanese, ENglish, French, Danish... buyers. Its North Americans that are usually the source of most problems (Americans and Canadians), but I think this is partly due to computer technology costing more abroad. They don't have the money for endless online game playing - bidding on things and never paying... THey are serious buyers looking for serious deals. Europeans or any foreign buyers have come through for us (with only 1 Belgian exception) in 3 years of selling on ebay. We probably sell about 10% of everything we have up for auction to non North American buyers. SHipping can be nightmarish - we had a Russian sale that caused us to jump through hoops - but that wasn't his fault - it was customs and Russian importing laws that were the problem... THey usually never complain about the shipping either and it can sometimes be downright scary!
posted on December 13, 2000 12:20:04 AM
Yes...had a buyer from Germany last year (a vintage book), he sent cash (his choice), chose the least expensive shipping method....
rowboat , takes about 6 weeks. I was antsy as heck, worried about it getting there, taking so long. He was patient, thrilled with purchase, gave great feedback. As others have posted, my internationals are WONDERFUL folks. They are polite, professional, patient....even when I sent two pkgs on the same day, one to Australia, one to Canada. Pkgs were identical in size and after posting, I had an almost certain feeling I'd sent the Canadian buyer's vintage fabric to Australia, and the Aussie's vintage linens to Canada. I felt sick when I wrote them, thinking my eBay reputation was shot. They were awesome, both telling me *no problem, don't worry*, they'd send the pkgs to each other. Of course, I told them I'd pay their postage, plus refund their original postage for their trouble in reposting, customs forms, etc. Turned out all right. I sent them properly. Just the experience of their friendly willingness to oblige my error was heartwarming.
Cash both times.
, takes about 6 weeks. I was antsy as heck, worried about it getting there, taking so long. He was patient, thrilled with purchase, gave great feedback. As others have posted, my internationals are WONDERFUL folks. They are polite, professional, patient....even when I sent two pkgs on the same day, one to Australia, one to Canada. Pkgs were identical in size and after posting, I had an almost certain feeling I'd sent the Canadian buyer's vintage fabric to Australia, and the Aussie's vintage linens to Canada. I felt sick when I wrote them, thinking my eBay reputation was shot. They were awesome, both telling me *no problem, don't worry*, they'd send the pkgs to each other. Of course, I told them I'd pay their postage, plus refund their original postage for their trouble in reposting, customs forms, etc. Turned out all right. I sent them properly. Just the experience of their friendly willingness to oblige my error was heartwarming.