Buying and Selling on eBay: Tips, Tricks, Problems & Questions



SeaJen said:

I have a suit buyer from Poland. His address is showing as invalid (in which case, why is he allowed to use it, eBay?) and if I edit it the seller protection is gone. 
And, delivery confirmation is not available for Priority International to Poland.
This isnt looking good, but I would appreciate the collective wisdom on what to do.

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Same question. But for me it's Hong Kong.

Question for mainly Wes, but I'll gladly take others opinion...is there a point you quit selling Tweed in the spring and start stockpiling it away for Fall? I've got 4-5 coats to list and thinking I may be to close to Spring to do so.

Thanks

SeaJen said:

I have a suit buyer from Poland. His address is showing as invalid (in which case, why is he allowed to use it, eBay?) and if I edit it the seller protection is gone.
And, delivery confirmation is not available for Priority International to Poland.
This isnt looking good, but I would appreciate the collective wisdom on what to do.

Click to expand...

I've ran into this a few times, mainly the issue has been "too many characters per line" Sometimes overseas address will be put into 1 address line. In this case, I've been able to just move half of it down to the second address line that you are able to use. When you edit this, and save it, you should be able to still have this address be "verified" because you are not altering any text, rather just moving it down to fit into another line.

Try that and see what it says.

Tweets said:

Question for mainly Wes, but I'll gladly take others opinion...is there a point you quit selling Tweed in the spring and start stockpiling it away for Fall? I've got 4-5 coats to list and thinking I may be to close to Spring to do so.

Thanks

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I'll chime in on this: I stock pile tweed during the summer, for fall / winter release and vis versa for summer stuff.

I'll usually continue to still list some tweed during the warmer months to have a variety for sale. Now, what I will usually save is specialty tweed. For me this falls into 2pc or 3 pc suits. Norfolk, hunting, shooting style jackets that gain much more interest to the majority during colder months.

As an example, I am going to be releasing much of my summer stock pile this up coming week. I feel it will be out there early, when peoples minds are going to be switching over to warmer clothing options. I tend to get a great response from those interested in getting their Cotton, Linen Suits, Jackets, Shirts, Pants prior to wearing allowance.

And within the next month or two, I'll be saving my Fall / Winter "Special Tweed".

Snoogz said:

I've ran into this a few times, mainly the issue has been "too many characters per line" Sometimes overseas address will be put into 1 address line. In this case, I've been able to just move half of it down to the second address line that you are able to use. When you edit this, and save it, you should be able to still have this address be "verified" because you are not altering any text, rather just moving it down to fit into another line.

Try that and see what it says.

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It's actually the buyer's name and title that are over 40 chars and whenever I edit it I lose the protection, however I do it.
Also, does the fact that delcon and signature confirmation isnt available mean any insurance I take out is pointless? It appears that it will still let me go forward with the shipping despite the red text warning me that delcon isn't available.



SeaJen said:

I have a suit buyer from Poland. His address is showing as invalid (in which case, why is he allowed to use it, eBay?) and if I edit it the seller protection is gone. 
And, delivery confirmation is not available for Priority International to Poland.
This isnt looking good, but I would appreciate the collective wisdom on what to do.

Click to expand...

Exactly. They allow the buyer to enter excess characters but then will not allow the seller to use them. Pure genius.

If it is an address which I understand (British, Canadian, Australian) I will abbreviate and see if I can make it fit. Otherwise I tell the buyer about the problem and ask for an abbreviated address. Worst case (and this is rare), I copy and print the long address, tape it to the package, stand in line at the post office and do it the old fashioned way.

In my experience, the worst addresses are Thai and South American, because person and place names are often very long.

Steve Smith said:

Exactly. They allow the buyer to enter excess characters but then will not allow the seller to use them. Pure genius.

If it is an address which I understand (British, Canadian, Australian) I will abbreviate and see if I can make it fit. Otherwise I tell the buyer about the problem and ask for an abbreviated address. Worst case (and this is rare), I copy and print the long address, tape it to the package, stand in line at the post office and do it the old fashioned way.

In my experience, the worst addresses are Thai and South American, because person and place names are often very long.

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South Korean address I shipped to was also quite long. I messaged the buyer to confirm the address and only shipped after confirmation.

gyasih said:

Can anyone explain this? I have a package coming in from the UK? I am in NYC. Thanks

February 24, 2014
Depart USPS Sort Facility
SPRINGFIELD, MA 01152

February 23, 2014 , 7:09 pm
Processed through USPS Sort Facility
SPRINGFIELD, MA 01152

February 16, 2014 , 3:54 pm
Processed Through Sort Facility
ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS)

Origin Post is Preparing Shipment

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All international packages have to go through customs, I am guessing after it passes through customs (at the International Service Center NY at JFK) they send it to the nearest NDC (Network Distribution Center) which may be Springfield. Since there is one in Philly and New Jersey as well but Springfield is 100 miles closer to Albany. So I am guessing it is where in NY the delivery is to that the NDC is chosen, I find it odd that NY doesn't have an NDC.

Anyway all of that is just a guess!

Fueco said:

Same question. But for me it's Hong Kong.

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Just shipped a package to Hong Kong last night and had to use the USPS site instead.

Lirum said:

Just shipped a package to Hong Kong last night and had to use the USPS site instead.

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Was it just giving you a generic error and not creating the label?

Sniped some Santoni Loafers for 7 bucks. Good condition, but they were pretty carelessly thrown into a plasic bag, and put in a (what seems to be) dumpster dive box. Now I don't feel particularly surprised seeing as how the price of the Loafers (9.99) are still on the shoes, but for someone with 8k feedback, I thought they'd show a little more professionalism.

Steve Smith said:

Exactly. They allow the buyer to enter excess characters but then will not allow the seller to use them. Pure genius.

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You guys are forgetting that the address verified via PayPal is through PAYPAL! eBay uses PayPal address's but have a different requirement for characters per line. And the reason for this is, PayPal is not just a means of payment for eBay, but rather for many many other channels for purchases. PayPal is a merchant service, and each company that uses paypal as an option has their own requirements when it comes to address inputs.

So to clarify, eBay's address characters per line differs from PayPals address characters per line requirement.

So one would expect to be able to ship through paypal rather ebay, but no dice.

So now I have to use the usps site and lose my shipping discount and the ability to insure through shipcover.

Snoogz said:

You guys are forgetting that the address verified via PayPal is through PAYPAL!  eBay uses PayPal address's but have a different requirement for characters per line.  And the reason for this is, PayPal is not just a means of payment for eBay, but rather for many many other channels for purchases.  PayPal is a merchant service, and each company that uses paypal as an option has their own requirements when it comes to address inputs.

So to clarify, eBay's address characters per line differs from PayPals address characters per line requirement.

Click to expand...



Snoogz said:

You guys are forgetting that the address verified via PayPal is through PAYPAL!  eBay uses PayPal address's but have a different requirement for characters per line.  And the reason for this is, PayPal is not just a means of payment for eBay, but rather for many many other channels for purchases.  PayPal is a merchant service, and each company that uses paypal as an option has their own requirements when it comes to address inputs.

So to clarify, eBay's address characters per line differs from PayPals address characters per line requirement.

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The fact that PayPal is a subsidiary of Ebay and has this incompatibility is focking absurd...

Fueco said:

Was it just giving you a generic error and not creating the label?

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Yes. Same error from Paypal too.

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What is this pattern called when it's a solid color?

Silly question, but my rule of thumb is deduct 20% off of the final price in my head to account for ebay and paypal fees, anyone else do this?

I'm switching to more fixed price listings and thinking I might need to adjust it.