posted on April 22, 2004 05:34:02 AM
am I allowed to list my auctions in Australia or Great Britain Ebay? I'd like to target a different market and think that I have something that they can't get over their. If so, how do I list over there and can I use Vendio?
posted on April 22, 2004 06:54:21 AM
If when you list your auctions there is a box that states Will sell International. Click that box and in your auctions underneath your location box it will say I will sell world wide. That is how I sell internationally.
posted on April 22, 2004 08:13:15 AM
Libra-- Where does it say that? I see where it says that I will ship worldwide, but I don't see where it says I will sell worldwide. Can you help me find it?
posted on April 22, 2004 10:47:28 AM
Just to clarify a few misconceptions... what Libra and Rich are referring to is the "will ship internationally" option. What that does is make your auction visible to buyers who choose to search items "available to" their country as opposed to the default on the UK and AU sites which is items "available in" their country.
If you want to target other countries, you will want to list directly from their website. Logistically, the easiest to do it from is the UK site.
When you list, list you country as the UK. Your auctions are going to appear in British pounds (this is a good thing, they have a higher value). Make sure you make clear your payment terms. Pay pal is very simple to set up to accept payments in different currencies, just a few clicks. Most UK buyers use PayPal which makes things very simple. I don't picture patterns as being a high fraud item so I can't imagine that the lack of seller protection is going to be a problem. Be very specific about not accepting Postal Orders. These are very common forms of payment for the UK but the cannot be cashed here.
The most important thing is to research your category on the site you are listing to. Some items may have a different name or a different spelling than we use here.
Australia is the same but a little more difficult to get payment from since PayPal is not as widely used and their most common form of payment is bank transfers which are not feasible for you to receive because of US bank charges on international transactions.
If you decide to do it and have any questions, just ask. Most of my listings these days are UK listings but I have sold directly to Australia as well. If you run into any questions let me know.
BTW - your idea is a very good one, the depressed dollar makes the GBP go a long way on our items.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on April 22, 2004 08:32:08 PM
bizzycrocheting and fenix03,
Most UK buyers use PayPal which makes things very simple. I don't picture patterns as being a high fraud item so I can't imagine that the lack of seller protection is going to be a problem. Be very specific about not accepting Postal Orders. These are very common forms of payment for the UK but the cannot be cashed here.
Many UK (and European) have no need for PayPal as they can do direct bank to bank transfers for free, plus unlike PP buyers can not do a chargeback as easily. Postal Orders are not so common and if you ever get any, they can be exchanged into US$ cheaply through auctionpix
Australia is the same but a little more difficult to get payment from since PayPal is not as widely used and their most common form of payment is bank transfers which are not feasible for you to receive because of US bank charges on international transactions.
Easiest is credit cards through a merchant account. Australians can buy Western Union MOs in US$ at Post Offices, or online via Western Union Auction payments (formerly BidPay).
posted on April 22, 2004 09:20:26 PM
Agit - PayPal may be a little more common tha you think - I run at least 200 auctions a week directly to the UK and 90% of my payments are via PayPal. And their chargebacks on Paypal are exceedingly simple, all they have to do is claim they did not get their item and their payment if refunded. There is no seller protection for US sellers accepting international payments. The other 10% generally want to pay using Postal Orders and I end up trying to help them figure out other methods.
When I was selling daily to Australia most of my customers bristled at the idea of the AuctionPayments charges until I began figureing that cost into opening bid amounts and told them to deduct the fees from their payment. I agree that Merchant accounts would be MUCH easier but the problem is that they gateway programs that most accounts are compliant with do not allow for charges in foreign currency. The work around on this is to have the customer send you their info outside of the gateway which again, they don't particularly like doing.
As I said I am trying to find a mer chant account and gateway that allows in multiple currency pay-ins with USD payouts but the fees and requirements I have found on them are at least double what the fees on my current merchant account are. If you could direct me I would be eternally greatful - right now that is the biggest thing hanging up the launch of my new site which a UK targeted wholesale venue.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on April 22, 2004 09:25:53 PM
If UK buyers or any other international buyers are interested in your patterns and they enter what ever you put in your search it will show up in their search. You do not necessarily have to sell off their eBay. I sell quite a bit to Italy, Spain, Australia, I just had a buyer from Seoul Korea and I only say in my auctions will sell internationally. I take their PayPal. or Western Union or Cash. By the way the Seoul Korea buyer bought cross stitch patterns from me. What I would suggest if they are Crochet Pattern that would be the first letters I would put in my title. This should bring up all the crochet patterns that are in their search. If I was looking for more business I would try all the avenue's that are offered. Fenix is the charge the same as eBay USA?
No, it varies from ebay site to site. The more savvy of us know where to list on eBay for free, and even which sites have no final value fees
I could tell you, but I'd have to terminate you first. (Such seller secrets go with you to the grave!)
fenix03,
I run at least 200 auctions a week directly to the UK and 90% of my payments are via PayPal. And their chargebacks on Paypal are exceedingly simple, all they have to do is claim they did not get their item and their payment if refunded. There is no seller protection for US sellers accepting international payments..
We run considerably fewer listing a week, but direct sale (from our website) outsell our eBay listing by a factor of three or more. 100% of our UK payments are direct into our bank account, many confirmed with the same day. No fear of chargebacks since we don't accept PayPal and the ensuing risks.
As I said I am trying to find a mer chant account and gateway that allows in multiple currency pay-ins with USD payouts but the fees and requirements I have found on them are at least double what the fees on my current merchant account are. If you could direct me I would be eternally greatful - right now that is the biggest thing hanging up the launch of my new site which a UK targeted wholesale venue.
WorldPay comes well recommended and offers multi-currency shopping carts and accounts, also strong anti-fraud protection (unlike PP). Good threads on WorldPay and Int'l CC acceptance here: Payment Processor for UK SME and Credit Card Processing
Check the forums for recommendation on other merchant accounts - both good and bad - and you'll tap into a wealth of experience with all the joys and pitfalls of international commerce...
posted on April 22, 2004 11:08:24 PM
:: If UK buyers or any other international buyers are interested in your patterns and they enter what ever you put in your search it will show up in their search. You do not necessarily have to sell off their eBay.::
Libra -that is only partially true. Go directly to some of the foreign sites sometime. European buyers have two search options. One is Items Available to.... - this is the option is which items listed from the US that are internatioanally enabled will appear. The other is "Items within..." These are items which are being listed as within the home countries of the site and THAT is the default search. Foreign bidders will not automatically see your listing unless their default is reset. Believe me, I would not have half the sales I have if it were not so since the items I sell in the UK sell for about half in the US.
:: Fenix is the charge the same as eBay USA?::
The lower intertion fees are actually a little less on the UK site.
£0.01- £0.99 - £0.15
£1.00 - £4.99 - £0.20
£5.00 - £14.99 -£0.35
£15.00 - £29.99 - £0.75
£30.00 - £99.99 - £1.50
£100.00 and up -£2.00
Agit - Many Thanks! Most of my ebay customers will quickly be transitioned to my website as soon as it is launched, they are just waiting for the blessed event. I am waiting for new inventory to arrive which is the other delay but in the mean time they are buying almost everything I list and considering that I my opening bid prices are what my site prices will be it bodes well for the site. I know now that they prices are very customer friendly while the profit margins are exactly what I want. Once the site launches I will cut dow on ebay listings and using it primarily as a marketing toll. Getting the right payment portal has been the final piece of the puzzle and I will definately take a look at the links you gave and camp out in the forums for awhile.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on April 23, 2004 12:01:25 AM
I had a rare book that I sold internationally not on eBay France. I did receive numerous bids only from the France but it was not a book that they would look outside their eBay. It was only a book the french would want. I should have gone in and searched it through eBay France but I didn't so I just assumed that it appeared when they did their search. Maybe they did list it available to. It went higher than I expected and what ever I did I guess I did right. I imagine a lot of foreign buyers use the option to check eBay USA as I do sell a lot to Italy. Next time I am going to ask.
agitprop- I am not ready to leave yet....but you are telling me that some eBay site don't charge? Well if true that is very interesting.
Thanks Fenix and agitprop..I appreciate it.
posted on April 23, 2004 07:41:55 PM
fenix -- I'm not very good at the computer stuff. Is it possible to list through vendio on United Kingdom Ebay? If so, how do I do it? Also, I figured I would ONLY paypal and nothing else. That would make it easier.
posted on April 23, 2004 09:22:51 PM
Vendio does not allow for listing directly to the UK site. I use a different service, called AuctionWorks (the one I mentioned in the profit tracking thread) which does allow for listing directly to the UK site. The have a two week free trial period if you want to give it a run. Just remember when you are first setting it u p to indicate your currency as GBP not dollars.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on April 24, 2004 05:27:25 AM
Thanks fenix. I'm going to give it a try this week. I'll let you know how I do! I have a strong feeling, based on e-mails that I get from UK customers, that I have a market.
posted on April 24, 2004 06:11:15 AM
Bizzy - for what it's worth, I do know that in the UK counted cross stitch kits are very expensive. I bought 8 kits at a yard sale for 50 cents each, listed them for $5 each. UK bidder e-mailed and asked if she could bid (wasn't that nice?) and bought them all. Paid promptly via PayPal. I was curious, and watched her sales. She sold every one of them for over $10! She also confirmed that the kits were expensive in the UK. So - good luck!
posted on April 24, 2004 06:36:19 AM
Thanks, Earthmum. I was told by so many UK customers that they can't even get some of my patterns over there. That's why I believe I may have a strong market over there. I also noticed that no one is listing what I will be listing. I'll keep my fingers crossed!
