posted on March 26, 2004 06:52:34 PM
I'm going to!
My auctions are all ship to the U.S only with fixed price shipping for the U.S.
I will ship International if they ask, and I give a choice of shipping methods and prices for them to choose from.
Today I had someone from the U.K use BIN to purchase an item.
Never asked.
Never inquired shipping cost.
They used Paypal and paid which is OK with me, but paid for the item and U.S. shipping.
Well I found if I wrapped it as cheap as possible keeping weight down, and sending it 4-6 week ground I could ship at the fixed rate.
I figure they never asked me,so I'm not going to ask them.
They'll get it when they get it!
posted on March 26, 2004 06:58:50 PM
But what happens if they tell PayPal they didn't get it? Will PayPal bounce their money right out of your account?
Our policy now is to only accept www.AuctionPayments.com or cash for anyone outside of the U.S. Buyers don't seem to mind.
Wayne
Never explain -- Your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway.
~ Elbert Hubbard
posted on March 26, 2004 07:04:41 PM
I'm not worried about paypal I take it all the time for International, never a problem.
And if I should loose the couple dollars it won't kill me!
The point is I feel like they pulled a fast one on me.
And since I was able to do it,I feel I'm pulling (well sort of) a fast one on them.
posted on March 26, 2004 07:05:17 PM
they are either taking advantage of you or dont know any better.they should wait for you to tell them how much is shipping.you can send them a paypal invoice for extra shipping.
yes,if they file complaint,paypal will yank the money from you ,,you get no seller protection for overseas sales.
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
I've had bidders from other countries who didn't write me before winning the auction and then sent the wrong postage amount. It happens when they pay instantly with PayPal.
I've also had US bidders who didn't send the right amount - left off the insurance, paid shipping for multiple items when the combined cost is lower, forgot the S/H entirely, etc.
If the wrong amount is sent I write them and let them know the right amount. Then I refund their payment and have them send the correct amount.
posted on March 26, 2004 07:38:17 PM
Dad - UK bidders are not stupid - they know the regulations and they know that they have to file within 30 days. You know that the item is probably not going to arrive in 30 days. They file, you can do nothing about it, they get their money back and a few weeks later they get a free gift from you all because you want to be a smart ass. Please explain how thiscould possibly be seen as you "pulling a fast one"?
Here's a suggestion. Refund the initial payment and send a money request for payment with the correct postage. That way you actually get to keep the money they send you.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by fenix03 on Mar 26, 2004 07:40 PM ]
posted on March 26, 2004 10:56:33 PM
I'd never do this either. I've had several international bidders do this (pay US rates). I refund the payment and send them an e-mail explaining the situation. I've yet to have one who did not apologize profusely and send the correct amount as soon as I told them what it was. A couple have even added a little extra to compensate for my "extra trouble". One thing I did notice the last time this happened though. Used to be that there were no charges for refunds. I noticed this last time that there's a 1.00 charge (to the bidder) when a refund is made. I have added a statement in my TOS that international bidders should NOT pay until I let them know the international shipping charges.
posted on March 26, 2004 11:41:02 PM
There's better than a 50/50 chance he'll reverse the Paypal payment. If he does, you can NPB him. If the monetary loss doesn't bother you, go for it. I personally have no patience with international buyers who bid on auctions that specify that the seller will ship to the US only. OTOH, international bidders who email first and ask permission to bid on my auctions will find the red carpet rolled out for them.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
posted on March 27, 2004 12:10:26 AM
I'd say you just taught them a way to get free stuff from you. If that's the way you want to do it, have a blast - you are the one that is losing not them.
Since I sell to and in the UK, I already have correct postage figured out, I adore the brits and their strong currency value which makes them more likely to purchase from US sellers. You can send your customer to me any time you'ld like.
Sparkz - if you are going to lwt them bid anyway, why are you making them bow and scrape to you? For everyone one that writes, how many do you think are turned off by your requirement and move on to the next vendor?
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on March 27, 2004 12:15:10 AM
Hey I am kinda new still only three months selling..I had one happen to me also kinda like this where a foreign bidder "just paid", and have had others who sent me shipping charts (like when the item was 5 lbs and they sent me the chart for 2 lbs and I almost didnt catch it , just after I went this has to be wrong...I looked!), anyway my point is I almost quit shipping international then....but I did manage to smooth it out, it did require what I even consider ridiculous and completely ego-feeding butt kissing on my part...but hey my feedback is still 100 percent (knock on wood)...but then I have had great international customers too.....I guess the way I see it is this...try to kill them with kindness, even if you take a slight loss (just dont make that a habit). Then on the occasion someone is way too unreasonable, your feedback will speak for itself and you can just reply to their negative crap in a dignified way, making you look much more "in the right"...I agree though, they can be a pain at times....
"It is amazing how the pattern of love so closely matches the pattern of insanity"
-anyone know ?
posted on March 27, 2004 12:21:45 AM
Oh and to blueyes...in that situation where a buyer has paid I just charge the extra and let them know please send the difference....makes that refund thing kinda pointless dont it though? ....
..so I mean yea international shipments get messed up...so far it seems like thats just the associated risk...but the business I have done by dealing carefully and very courteously with them (some who have learned MY language to buy MY stuff...), far outweighs any small hassles involved in initial payment mistakes. I just think the real key here is communication, both in your TOS in your ad and when you contact the buyer....
posted on March 27, 2004 08:38:07 AM
Joey...Thought about that but, when the buyer sends the rest of the payment, I have to pay the additional PayPal fee. So, decided it saved me some money when I refunded the incorrect payment. There's no charge to me, as a seller, when I refund. Plus, I still have the item in case the deal goes south. Didn't want to get into any "I paid for item but seller didn't send" hassles. I've had 100% success with this so far. By the way, I do LOVE my international customers. Almost all have paid quickly and are courteous and knowledgeable. Mistakes are always possible and I like to treat those who make them the same way I like to be treated when I goof.
[ edited by blueyes29 on Mar 27, 2004 01:46 PM ]
posted on March 27, 2004 10:25:17 AM
NO, I would not do what your doing.
Since they paid without asking I would return the money via paypal, then I would contact them telling them what the correct shipping cost to there location is, and I would pick the quickest shipping method.
I always feel the longer the package stays in transit the more problems you can have.
If they choose not to do it your way, then report them as a non paying bidder and go on with your work., lol
posted on March 27, 2004 01:07:11 PM
dad, your just setting yourself up for PayPal to refund money to the buyer & a probable neg for you. Makes no sense at all.
You might even be teaching them how to get "free" stuff on eBay.
What's in it for you when the buyer will have the last laugh.
posted on March 27, 2004 02:14:57 PM
PAYPAL LAUNCHES IN THE UK
In First International Site, PayPal Offers Seller Protection Program
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- October 10, 2003 -- PayPal, a leading global online payment service, has launched PayPal UK, its first international website and service (https://www.paypal.co.uk) designed exclusively for users in the United Kingdom. PayPal UK will allow British online buyers and sellers to securely, conveniently and easily send and receive payments to more than 31 million PayPal members around the world.
An important benefit available with the launch of the new UK site is PayPal's Seller Protection. This program offers fraud protection from chargebacks for qualified transactions and is one of the only online protection programs offered to sellers in the industry. Sellers can qualify for this program by following a few simple rules which include having a verified business account, making a timely shipment of tangible goods, and retaining proof of shipping. More information about the program can be found at https://www.paypal.co.uk/sellerprotection.
"PayPal is already being used by a large number of people in the UK to buy and sell locally, regionally and across borders around the world," said Matt Bannick, General Manager of PayPal. "With the new customized features and Seller Protection program on the site, we are bringing additional convenience and security to our UK customers."
With the launch of the UK site, PayPal is also reducing or eliminating withdrawal fees for its UK members. Withdrawals of under £50 to a UK bank will cost 50% less or £0.25 and fees will be eliminated completely for withdrawal amounts of £50 and above. PayPal UK is the company's first international website and part of its broader plan to expand the service in Europe. On September 16, PayPal announced the establishment of its new European headquarters in Dublin, Ireland. The Dublin headquarters provides customer service, fraud prevention and operational support for PayPal members in the UK and other European countries
posted on March 27, 2004 02:34:50 PM
Dad - As someone that has an UK only account and accepts PayPal let me assure you that the press release you posted was referring to UK members. There is no protection to a US seller with UK buyers. I'm in the middle of one of these right now. Normally I would just kiss it off because it's a low ticket item but this little b*tch filed the day after I sent notification of shipment and claimed no communication when I have three responses from her.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on March 27, 2004 04:00:58 PM
What I do in a situation like that is return the payment and send an invoice with a chose of how they want it shipped and a quote for each way and ask them to resubmit the correct amount. I haven't had any problems doing that.
posted on May 9, 2004 12:03:17 AM
Buried in the announcement about new deadbeat processing procedures I think I saw something that said it will (or can?)
automatically refund fees for sales to overseas buyers that bid despite your restrictions.
Wonder if it will KEEP them from bidding in the first place.....
?