posted on May 9, 2001 06:22:21 PM new
I have a potential bidder for 2 of my items, they are in Singapore. That's not the unusual part. They are asking me to receive a 3rd item (from another ebay seller)for them and include it with my 2 items. I have tried explaining that I do not want to be responsible for this 3rd item as my insurance won't cover it as it is not mine (I use U-PIC) and well it just isn't mine. They are trying to ignore the fact that I don't want to do this. I try to save people on shipping but this seems a bit much to me. My question is would you do this?
Thanks!
Ann
[ edited by evermore42 on May 9, 2001 06:23 PM ]
posted on May 9, 2001 06:31:37 PM new
I absolutely would not. It's a good thing to be a cooperative seller, but not a good thing to take that cooperation too far and live to regret it.
posted on May 9, 2001 06:38:23 PM new
Just for argument sake, let's say that third item had some type of illegal substance inside. Try explaining this shipping story to the DEA.
Use some common sense. I cannot believe this question even had to be asked.
posted on May 9, 2001 06:38:24 PM new
I would never agree to that. Tell him thanks but not thanks and hope he doesn't bid on your items! I am paranoid by nature. Something may not be quite Kosher!
Respond in clear percise language something similar to:
I will ship only items I sell. I will not ship for someone else. Sorry.
posted on May 9, 2001 06:46:25 PM new
pamlur & sulyn1950, thanks for the feedback. I just wanted to make sure I was in a bad unreasonable mood.
Ladyfargo, the item in question is not illegal but the 3rd to a set. Your comment: "Use some common sense. I cannot believe this question even had to be asked." was uncalled for. I was just asking for opinions not to be insulted.
Ann
[ edited by evermore42 on May 9, 2001 06:53 PM ]
posted on May 9, 2001 07:01:16 PM new
Tell him you won't do that, but you'd be happy to send your two items to the seller of the third item (once payment received and confirmed), so the other bloke can ship the wad to Singapore-itz!
posted on May 9, 2001 07:16:00 PM new
I have never been asked this before and found it highly unusual. I tied explaining why I didn't want to do this but that wasn't the answer he wanted and chose to ignore it.
So, I replied back "I was trying to politely say NO to your request. That didn't work, so I must be blunt and say NO. This is not something that is done. I won't be responsible for or ship another seller's item."
posted on May 9, 2001 09:43:33 PM new
Just to play the devil's advocate - could it be possible that the guy is just looking to save some money on the ship charges?
I read of a USA based company (on this board) that would receive eBay shipments on behalf of people living in Japan. When they had a nice sized boxful they sent it off. Even with this company taking a fee, the total ship cost was still cheaper than if each item had been sent individually.
So the idea is not unprecedented. All of you guys jumped to the worst case scenario so quickly - such cynicism !!
capotasto's idea would have been a good compromise.
Your exactly right he was looking for a way to save on shipping costs. It turns out the other seller was not keen on his idea either. I didn't think he had any sinister intentions about this, I just didn't like the idea of being responsible for someone elses item. You can get in enough trouble with your own.
posted on May 10, 2001 08:22:24 AM new
It may well be totally innocent. However, suppose he is using a stolen credit card or payment service to pay the other seller and therefore it has to be shipped within the US. He looks around for a US seller willing to ship internationally, then has the other purchase sent to you to forward. Now any investigation of fraud has your address as the recipient. I don't know how he paid or what the value of the item is. It may well be innocent. But do you want to take that chance?
posted on May 10, 2001 08:28:37 AM new
For those of you old enough to have seen the Mary Tyler Moore show, or young enough towatch it on "nick at night", there was a show where Mary was travelling out of the country for some reason. A "friend of a friend" asked her to deliver a package to someone there. The "friend" said that the recipient "would feel good when they light this".
Of course, Mary, the quintissential do-gooder, is sure she has a box full of dope, and just about has a nervous breakdown, until she discovers that she actually has...a candle.
posted on May 10, 2001 10:51:13 AM new
This definitely takes 'combine auctions to save on shipping costs' to a new level.
They have a lot of nerve asking you to do this. The scenarios that could develop are only limited by your imagination.
Thinking about it, I wonder if they asked the other seller the same question and the seller turned them down. So now the buyers turn to you. Tell 'em, thanks, but no thanks
posted on May 10, 2001 11:04:00 AM new
Well, after reading the additional information, I think the buyer is above board, just trying to save on shipping. However, NO is still the best answer. With my luck, I'd pack all three items, ship and have the package arrive with one broken item. Guess which one???? Then of course, I would be expected to refund.
posted on May 10, 2001 11:07:42 AM new
I'll go the extra mile for a buyer, but this buyer is asking you to go an extra hundred miles, I don't do that. You end up being responsible for customs, insurance, packing, etc. It shouldn't be hard to explain diplomatically it's more responsibility that you are willing to accept.
posted on May 10, 2001 04:02:37 PM new
Illegal items weren't at the top of my list of reasons why I would have answered no, on this. I just wouldn't want to take the responsibility of shipping for somebody else; what if the item was damaged somehow between point A and point B, and not noticed before shipment to point C? Who would take the fall for it?
I can certainly understand wanting to save on the horrendous international shipping; I traded beanie babies (don't laugh, I needed a pink one for my granddaughter) with a lady in Japan, and the postage was horrible! But I'd have to know the other person well before I'd take on shipping for them.
Pam<--waving to Lynn, glad to see you are recovering.
posted on May 10, 2001 07:40:11 PM new
I completely understand you not wanting to do this, but thought I would share my experience. I sold a couple toasters on eBay a few months ago, and the high bidder, who had an excellent feedback rating, asked me the same thing you were asked. It seems he bid on another toaster from another seller before he realized they didn't accept foreign bids. He paid me right away, and I simply opened the package when it arrived, and put the new toaster in the box with the two he bought from me. The only thought I had, as I opened it and there was only a few pieces of newspaper for packing, was that it would stink to have received it all broken. I probably wouldn't do it again, although it turned out just fine.
The most important thing, however, is that you are uncomfortable doing it, and if you have any reservations, there is no reason to do it, no matter how much they want you to. They could have asked before the auction ended and before they bid. If you don't want to deal with it, stand your ground.
posted on May 10, 2001 09:55:26 PM new
uuummmmmm...... I've done it once, it worked out fine. A customer in Ireland (I believe) bought a book from me and mentioned there was another on a related subject she'd like to have but the seller didn't ship out of country. I said "see if you can win it and ship it to me.... I'll package it with your book and send M-Bag." She did, paid the M-Bag postage and was quite pleased.
I know, and knew then, that a lot of things 'could' come up. I figured a book was easy to inspect (I'm just a tad paranoid), a book was less breakable than a lot of things, and I told her right up front all the risk was on her for loss, damage etc. I did for her what I'd be so pleased if someone did for me.
They are asking me to receive a 3rd item (from another ebay seller)for them and include it with my 2 items. I have tried explaining that I do not want to be responsible for this 3rd item as my insurance won't cover it as it is not mine (I use U-PIC) and well it just isn't mine. They are trying to ignore the fact that I don't want to do this. I try to save people on shipping but this seems a bit much to me. My question is would you do this?