posted on July 20, 2005 09:22:23 AM
I just had my first international sale to the UK and it is going to be my last international sale. I have read about international buyers and paypal, but thought I would give it a try. This buyer had high positive feedback so I thought I was safe. Well no I was not! She filed a complaint with paypal and said she never received the items. Now my money is gone, gone, gone and she has my product!
I sent the items via global priority mail with a tracking number but I guess that is not good enough for paypal.
Well I'm out $65.00 and never doing international again.
posted on July 20, 2005 09:29:18 AM
I've never had a problem with a UK buyer - was it insured? Can you file a claim? Does the tracking info show it was delivered?
posted on July 20, 2005 10:03:46 AM
It doesn't matter that it was an international sale; that loophole can be used at anytime. Statistically, its probably not a problem; however, it is a loophole and as more people know about it, the more often that ploy will be used.
There's going to be all sorts of people posting on this thread saying "I've never had a problem" but they will. However, if they do enough business, it probably won't bother their bottom line.
posted on July 20, 2005 10:15:20 AM
I thought that Global Priority Mail was tracked, but now the US Postal Service is telling me that it is not. The tracking number only is used to show it was received. It does not track the package any further than that.
Since this is the only Global Priority that I have sent, I have no way of knowing about this. The postal service told me that the only way to track the package to the buyer is with global express mail, which is very expensive.
The package was not insured, the buyer refused insurance on it.
So how am I to send a small package and be covered as a seller?
posted on July 20, 2005 10:37:07 AM
That USPS global priority serial number is scanned and does show delivery. Don't waste your time arguing with USPS. You will get 101 different answers.
You need to argue with PayPal. They are the ones who are taking your money while the buyer is sitting pretty with your item for FREE!
Supply the customs declaration form number and global priority serial number to PayPal. Fight it!!
Don't stop doing international, just stop doing International and PayPal.
My understanding was that as of IIRC June 17, UK and Canada Confirmed Addresses are now covered by PayPal's Seller Protection. AFAIK, that doesn't require tracking, only delivery confirmation.
When did this transaction take place? Was it a confirmed address?
Claude
[ edited by cashinyourcloset on Jul 20, 2005 10:39 AM ]
posted on July 20, 2005 02:30:52 PM
that Global priority mail number is not trackable outside post office, and it does not show it has been delivered to the recipient,so it is worthless for paypal seller protection.
You should have asked your buyer to use bidpay and send you a western union money order.
may be she did not receive the item,mail fraud is common in some countries,but not in UK.
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
posted on July 20, 2005 02:39:41 PM
Global PRIORITY Mail = NO TRACKING!
Global Express Mail = Tracking!
"I sent the items via global priority mail with a tracking number but I guess that is not good enough for paypal"
Yes, it is NOT good enough -- PP requires:
1) Shipping to a CONFIRMED address +
2) ONLINE TRACKING...
Essentially, not practical for INTERNATIONAL transactions, as most bidders will REFUSE to pay for GEM fees!
PAYPAL works great most of the time, but Ralphie & I NEVER ACCEPT IT from International bidders...
Many here disagree -- they never have any problems...UNTIL THEY DO HAVE A PROBLEM & then THE MOOLA IS GONE!
That is NOT PayPal's fault, but rather our own fault for accepting the RISK of receiving a PayPal payment outside of the slim & meager protection offered by the Sellers' Proctology Program...
"I'm going to spend a lot of time on Social Security. I enjoy it. I enjoy taking on the issue. I guess, it's the Mother in me."—Guess Who? Washington D.C., April 14, 2005
posted on July 20, 2005 02:46:54 PM
I do a lot of international shipping, and to date have not had a real problem, but I know it can happen...I have a flat rate insurance plan with DSI, and everything I ship is covered, so if the person says they did not get the package, I just send an insurance form to them and refund. Makes life easier not to worry about a package getting there or not. If I started to notice a problem with "false" paypal claims, I might adjust my policies, but until then I will accept paypal.
posted on July 20, 2005 03:15:17 PM
Wow...sorry to hear about the bad experience...We too ship around 25 International items each week. Mainly to the UK, Canada, and Australia. I agree that if you can avoid PayPal to do so...However, we still use PayPal for our orders and have had very few problems..I guess over time you expect a few problems, so when we do get one or two for every 75+ orders we send, we just live with it. Then again, I fear that more and more people may start scams as soon as word gets around about PayPal and the many "loopholes" in their system.
posted on July 20, 2005 11:12:34 PM
>>>The package was not insured, the buyer refused insurance on it.
So how am I to send a small package and be covered as a seller?<<<
Simple enough, insurance is NOT optional for my international shipments. My shipping quote always includes insurance. If you don't give them an option, they can't say no <g>.
posted on July 20, 2005 11:21:15 PM
ltray...I apply the same principal to my domestic shipments. All shipping charges I quote include insurance. The only way a customer can opt out is to pick it up in person.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on July 21, 2005 06:27:51 AM
I don't get it. 99.8% of transactions go without a hitch. If you had a B&M store, you would lose more than that to shoplifting, etc. The risk with international is somewhat higher, but still gets me more sales than otherwise.
If a person picks up their item, you get NO Paypal seller protection. I sold a drum set listed as local pickup only and was paid for with Paypal. Prior to the buyer arriving, I called Paypal and asked what I needed for the seller protection and they said you are outta luck since there is no online tracking. I had the guy show his drivers license and sign a receipt that stated this was required by Paypal. I wanted him to think all was covered. I never had a problem and all went well. Sellers just need to think twice on pickup and Paypal as well.
posted on July 24, 2005 04:32:42 PM
Marcn...I realize that without online tracking, paypal's seller protection does not apply, even in the case of customer pick up. I figured out a way to get around that problem. I don't accept Paypal on anything.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on July 24, 2005 05:24:37 PM
If a buyer comes to your home and pick up the item,signed and showed his driver license number and then turned around and filed chargeback,then you could win the case.
See,in a chargeback,Paypal is just the conduit where you submit your evidence(signature and driver license number)thru them to his cc issuer and the cc issuer will review the case ,your proof is not any online trackable number,it is his signature and his proof of WHO HE IS.
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
posted on July 25, 2005 06:17:29 AM
USPS loses about 1% of my packages no matter where I send them. Just stick in a handling fee to cover insurance and count the lost 1% as a cost of doing business.
I just updated my new website - give me your feedback on it. http://gotflag.com
posted on July 25, 2005 06:43:15 AM
This is a good point-both Ebay and PAYPAL should clarify on personal pickup policy.
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
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