susan1232
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posted on June 27, 2001 08:56:17 AM
I clearly state in my auctions that I ship to USA only. A couple of days ago, Winning bidder sends address-Australia. Just now-get email from another winning bidder-Germany. Hello!! I must have been absent when they expanded the USA to include those two.
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bidsbids
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posted on June 27, 2001 09:02:18 AM
Could be worse. I've rec'd payment from buyers in other countries after stating USA only several places in the auction description. I felt like keeping it but always sent it back at my expense. Buyers know that most sellers will send the item if they have payment and that fact makes it difficult for adamant sellers.
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gs4
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posted on June 27, 2001 09:15:29 AM
People just do not read or just plain ignore your tos. I take bidders from anywhere as long as they pay me in greenbacks.
But do what you think is best for you.Send a fast e mail to them and let them know that you do not sell out of country.
File for your fees, and relist. Let safe harbor know that they did not follow your tos.
Might help if you put in your tos that there will be a one hundred dollar surcharge for out of country bidders, that will wake them up.
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mballai
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posted on June 27, 2001 09:32:43 AM
Best thing to do is charge extra for shipping when you get these to cover the additional paperwork.
You can also add a tidy surcharge to your TOS for any future auctions if you want to keep (most) foreign bidders away.
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MAH645
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posted on June 27, 2001 09:40:50 AM
I put in all my auctions I do not ship internationally right in my description for the item after I list my shipping charges. I very rarely have someone from another country bid anyway. If they do I ship it to them.
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dacreson
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posted on June 27, 2001 09:44:49 AM
Hello all,
Like you I occasionally list an USA ONLY lot and get a buyer from somewhere else. I simply look up the charges at the USPS site and e-mail them with auction lot cost and postage fees. I treat it as THERE problem, they bid even when I asked them not to. They have a problem, pay or back out. If they back out I nuke them and relist. Since 1998 I have had about six incidents like this they near ALL paid the "whatever" postal costs. I relies that there are some items you just cannot ship out of USA but most can be shipped with enough postal money. Works for me anyway.... Dave.... [email protected]
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capotasto
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posted on June 27, 2001 09:45:06 AM
Thank you for not taking international customers.
I will gladly take their money. I have never had a problem.
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fonthill
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posted on June 27, 2001 12:08:09 PM
I am an international buyer, and occasionally I err and bid on something that is available only within the U.S. SOme dealers repeat their TOS in the description which helps, but its not easy to always remember to look at those tiny little lines at the top of the page, especially if its something you want and are eagre to read the description and see the pics.
When I do catch the U.S. sales only I usually write the seller and 9 times out of 10 they are more than willing to sell to me, and usually say something like "I forgot to check that box..."
I think a large part of the problem is simply the design of the page, and ebay's seller's page where it defaults to "Ship to U.S. only" . It would be easier if they made it a required field.
The only other thing I can say is that you might want to reconsider selling abroad. Outside of the U.S. and Canada I would say our sales are 5 - 10% international, usually Australia, England, Japan and Germany. They got bucks and know that shipping will be much more and it doesn't bother them.
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yumacoot
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posted on June 27, 2001 12:14:49 PM
Like previous poster says...thanks for not selling to them....send them my way. I have never had a problem.....until today! I sent WBN, and specifically ask in my TOS and in my WBN "if you are an international winner, please notify me right away so I can RECALCULATE shipping." WBN went out.....no reply....check arrives (us check even!) and shipping amount is not enough. I had no idea this person was Canadian until the check came. I thought "no big deal, $4.00 will probably cover it anyway" NOT!!! It came to $6.40. I ate the shipping this time, but from now on, If the winner does not let me know he is international, and sends money anyway, I will.....I will.....
WHAT will I do???? Send the money back? Request additional shipping? Eat the extra? I will have to ponder this for awhile
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eSeller004
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posted on June 27, 2001 12:17:39 PM
Are you saying international buyers don't care that shipping from the U.S. to international locales usually costs an arm and a leg, and they're willing to pay??? Sometimes shipping outside the U.S. is more than the cost of the product!! 
Is it that bad in reverse too (into the U.S. from abroad)???
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Microbes
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posted on June 27, 2001 12:53:30 PM
I'll ship to anyone that will pay in yankee greenbacks, and foot the shipping bill. I'm waiting for one from the international space station, but I'll probably be waiting for awhile  
As for buyers bidding on US only auctions (only ones of mine listed like this is software with US only restrictions) most of them could very easily use their own site (ie. eBay Canada, eBay UK, Ebay Austraila, etc.) and not find "US Only" listings, but they hit www.eBay.com and bid away.
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marnisbooks
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posted on June 27, 2001 04:00:04 PM
We have had a number of international buyers without any problems - until last week when a buyer wanted us to mark a modem as a "gift" with a value less than $10. We allowed him to back out when we refused, now have a line in TOS saying that we will fill out customs forms accurately.
If it had been opened & held at customs he probably would have wanted a refund!
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sadie999
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posted on June 27, 2001 07:00:30 PM
yumacoot, I've only had one intern'l bidder do that to me. When I rec'd their payment, I just emailed them that unfortunately they'd sent the wrong amount to ship to their country and to please remit an add'l $x.xx. They apologised and sent the balance.
I'm with the international sellers. Haven't had a problem yet, and am pleased as punch to be selling internationally from a little bitty town of just over 1000 people!
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susan1232
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posted on June 27, 2001 09:08:11 PM
Thanks for all the replies. I sent an email with the shipping cost. One has already paid. Wow-can't believe it costs so much!
One day, I will take the "USA Only" out of my auctions. But I'm fairly new at this and am still learning the ropes. I just am not ready to deal with customs and overseas shipping and all that. Am just now getting it right calculating shipping for the US. And just when I get it-they are going to raise the rates! LOL
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DDICffe
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posted on June 27, 2001 11:42:31 PM
I LOVE international bidders. Not only have I had the least problem with them, but my wife and I have made several good friends. Now my business is expanding to being a drop shipper and distributor on the East Coast. I get paid to ship in the US, to store items, and bulk ship items overseas. And here is a good one; my friend in France won an auction for a toy cannon off of me, which started our friendship/partnership. An 39 oz cannon cost $10.00 to ship. I just sent him a package via Fed-Ex that weighed 48 POUNDS, and it cost him $168.93. The package could have weighed up to 60 POUNDS for that price. Work with the international bidders, they will love you!
Rick
In the begining, God created the heavens and the earth.
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Zugspitz
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posted on June 29, 2001 12:01:58 AM
Reply to microbes:
The crew of the Int. Space Station would probably have an APO address.
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maeveronica
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posted on June 29, 2001 01:22:33 AM
i ship regularly internationally - regularly to Singapore and Australia...(which btw seems to be cheaper than shipping to Canada)-please continue to refuse to sell to them and send them to me - I find them to be the most accommodating, understanding, willing and grateful customers out of the whole lot!
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Microbes
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posted on June 29, 2001 06:42:00 AM
The crew of the Int. Space Station would probably have an APO address.
No problem, I ship to APOs all the time
Who Need's a stink'n Sig. File?
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touchofeurope
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posted on June 29, 2001 07:47:55 AM
I agree, send them on - without a single exception they are wonderful, pay faster than a lot of US customers and are so happy to get whatever it is you sell. I have even sent European items back to Europe on occasion (not to the same country...yet ) and all international sales have been great.
It really is not any harder than shipping within the US once you get used to the different methods available - that little extra effort can pay off big time IMHO.
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susan1232
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posted on June 29, 2001 08:41:45 AM
Ok-I'm convinced. I changed my listing in all my auctions yesterday to include international buyers. If some are going to bid anyway, might as well open them up to everyone!
Had some help from my postal clerks, too. We have the nicest people in our post office. They gave me a short lesson in how to ship and calculate the cost-also on the customs forms.
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