posted on July 3, 2001 03:22:21 PM
I'm sure this topic has been covered many times before, but I just had a bidder from Germany win my auction, which stated that I shipped to the U.S. only. Any advice on how to handle the situation? Does eBay have a "policy" on this? Thanks for any info. you might have.
posted on July 3, 2001 04:14:19 PM
Well, it is up to you if you want to complete the transaction. International buyer seem to be polite and very quick to pay. You can check out the shipping costs at www.usps.com. You could always offer the item to the second highest bidder (of course no feedback can be left for that transaction, so there are some risks). As far as I know, eBay doesn't have a specific policy on this, but others may know more on that point.
posted on July 3, 2001 05:08:12 PM
Not sure that this is any help, but before bidding on US only auctions, I always ask if you will ship to UK. And the replies are always YES, if I get $.
posted on July 3, 2001 05:41:30 PM
On the new feedback pages, in the top left corner of the box it says what country the person is from . If you find out before the auction is over, you could always cancel the bid. I have 3 international buyers last Thursday and I have US bidders check and in the text of my description. Oh well I guess I wouldn't have sold the items if they hadn't bid. If someone asked me first before they bid I'd probably say yes.
Mel
posted on July 3, 2001 06:57:30 PM
Hello there, aroe & other fellow Auctionwatchers. For years, I was staunchly against dealing with international bidders, even Alaskans & Hawaiians outside the continental USA. I mean, I'd get into incredible e-mail battles & even give negs
the SECOND that the 7th day after the auction came, because I was so angry with these foreigners that couldn't or wouldn't read and bid on my continental US only auctions.
I would shoot down even the most polite e-mail requests from international bidders, even though some of them asked me before they bid. Obviously, I was hardcore
dead set against bending my rules, even though I wasted 100s of hours being angry
and even getting retaliatory negs. Oh, I had
my reasons for my USA only terms (bank fees, extra paperwork, post office hassles, etc). But looking back, I can't believe all the hard feelings and unneeded stress I caused due to my own stubborness.
But one day, I stopped in my tracks and actually read the words these people were saying in their e-mails. I have no idea what made me try to finally see things from their perspective. They're just like all of us, in fact many are far worse off. Some of the collectibles & other items we Americans take for granted, these foreign
bidders consider the holy grail, and it breaks their heart to look at an auction
just to see that it's continental USA only.
I remember consciously trying to imagine
what it would be like if I kept seeing auctions that I was forbidden to take part in, due only to the sin of where I was born.
So little by little, I came around and began to ship overseas. You know something? I have yet to have my FIRST international deadbeat
after several months and probably 150 int'l
deals now. I certainly can't say that about
my US bidders with a straight face. And I'm
a LOT less stressed now. Looking back, I can't believe how much time I've lost forever
by arguing with Canadians that they are NOT part of the USA!
Anyway, my point is I wish you luck in your decision. A year ago, I would have said h*ll
no to the deal and neg that bidder that deliberately defied your wishes, just out of principle. But I've learned the hard way that human feelings are more important than principles. Although rules were important to me, they have never once paid my rent.
This post is just my long winded way of saying that even the most heinous of USA only
sellers can see the light. I did, and now feel a lot closer to the fellow human beings
who previously I couldn't wait to give negatives to. There are so many online payment options that allow international payments nowdays, that all my original fears about foreign bidders don't hold up anymore.
Thanks for reading & I hope you work everything out.
posted on July 3, 2001 08:09:03 PM
I sell Intl. and always have, Never put your Silver Dollars all in the same jar.
I don't know what I would do if I only sold in the US, When the buyers slow down around here they will generally pick up in a diff country. Japan has been a gold mine for me the last year. I actually list auctions on the Japan ebuz.There are a lot of items made in the US & Canada that are never exported out of country. And Everybody wants some.
GONE FISHING
posted on July 3, 2001 09:49:18 PM
Thanks for the responses everyone. I really appreciate it. Right now I think I'm leaning toward the conclusion that blackjack 21 eventually made.
posted on July 3, 2001 10:43:39 PM
I posted a thread about this not long ago. I had a winning bidder from Australia and another from Germany after listing as USA only.
Agreed to ship to both-still waiting for payment from Germany. The one from Australia posted positive feedback that sounded like a negative. Mentioned that the shipping was expensive. Didn't bother to mention that she opted for Global Express to Australia-or that it was international at all. Just made it sound like I padded my shipping. I responded that yes, global express to Australia can be very expensive!
posted on July 4, 2001 12:16:17 PM
i don't mind if people email and ask first, but do mind if they bid and win, and never bother to ask. had one from spain who won an auction, despite my 'u.s. only' listing. he was, er, pushy about it. i sold it to the 2nd highest bidder.
now i've got someone from germany who emailed and asked first. i asked her what i'd have to do, and if it wasn't too much trouble, sure. she replied, and if she wins, i'll do it and see how it goes.
Just make sure that the german buyer - if not using a credit card or Pay Pal- gets a POSTAL money order. Bank money orders have about a $ 5.00 to $ 10.00 fee on them, depending on the bank.
posted on July 4, 2001 10:40:43 PM
As long as the check or money order is made out to US DOLLARS, there should not be a fee to cash it at your bank, but double check with them first, and make sure you point out the US DOLLAR statement so they don't overlook it.
However, I have been told that the way to cash International Postal Money Orders is at the local Post Office.
Yes, it could. I recall a few years back when a seller in the US told me her bank charged her $15 to deposit a Canadian International Postal MO that I sent her.
She wasn't asking me to cover it, but was just shocked that her bank would charge a fee, let alone such a high amount.
The auction total was less than her bank fee.
Most International Postal MO's can be cashed at any USPS outlet for free.
