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

[Shoeluv]

I have a guy in New Zealand make an offer on 2 ties, when I go to accept there seems to be no charge for shipping.




Here are my shipping options, $30 flat rate to the countries specified but New Zealand isn't one of them. If I accept his offers, would it have to be free shipping or can I send him an invoice after? Should I just cancel both the auctions and combine them into a single one with BIN and $30 international shipping anywhere?

 

[drlivingston]

What to call?

Italian Floral check

Black and white harlequin print framed with gold brocade

 

[JFST]

If you haven't already, set your seller preferences to exclude locations / countries that you will not ship to, as well as block bidders from countries that you do not ship to (along with other blocks you can implement - negatives received etc).
If you already did this, then make sure your buyer does not already have a forwarding service - - I have gotten buyers from outside the US - it says buyer is "based in [whatever country]", but their shipping address is US - i.e.: a forwarder. Quick way to check is to start printing a shipping label and see the destination (then cancel without actually printing it).
If they do not already have a forwarding service, it may take them a while to set one up, or, they may not want to use one. I'd probably let then know you made a mistake, if that was the case, and cancel the sale if you're dead set against shipping internationally for some reason. Though depending on the country, the majority of int'l sales & shipments are perfectly safe. If you do decide to ship int'l, ask here again for best method and let us know what it is / value / destination.

Yeah, it was my mistake, I didn't check the "block bidders from locations I don't ship"...I know he doesn't have a forwarding service because he messaged me asking for the price of shipping and an invoice (I have calculated shipping cost). Ok, first I'm going to read the thread to the best way to send a jacket to Japan and prepare an invoice from paypal (unless you guys just give it to me

).
EDIT: just sent the invoice, priority mail padded flat rate envelope is 23.50 frigging bucks! so expensive. One question: the custom form has to be taped in the package?

 

[TheNeedMachine]

Yeah, it was my mistake, I didn't check the "block bidders from locations I don't ship"...I know he doesn't have a forwarding service because he messaged me asking for the price of shipping and an invoice (I have calculated shipping cost). Ok, first I'm going to read the thread to the best way to send a jacket to Japan and prepare an invoice from paypal (unless you guys just give it to me

).

Both Spoo and Brian ship USPS Priority Mail Express International to Japan, and is what I normally choose if I'm listing an item that I'll ship internationally. This method offers the best tracking to most places in the world. A step down from that would be regular Priority International.
Sending the invoice from within PayPal is really straight-forward.

 

[FreedBird]

I just got a return from a buyer and it reeks of smoke and I don't think I will be able to get the smell out, plus it is absolutely covered in cat or dog hair. I know buyers would have a legitimate complaint here for smoke smell, but as a seller do I have any recourse? These are BNWT items, so I can't exactly just pop them in the wash.

 

[SpecialK2k12]

One question: the custom form has to be taped in the package?

The postal workers will have a little plastic window thing for them, since you have to include 3 copies. Just go in and tell them you have an international shipment. Make sure you've signed all the copies first though.

I just got a return from a buyer and it reeks of smoke and I don't think I will be able to get the smell out, plus it is absolutely covered in cat or dog hair. I know buyers would have a legitimate complaint here for smoke smell, but as a seller do I have any recourse? These are BNWT items, so I can't exactly just pop them in the wash.

I would try and fight it, they are supposed to return it in the same condition they received it. It's worth a shot, as lame as sitting on hold can be.

 

[txwoodworker]



I just got a return from a buyer and it reeks of smoke and I don't think I will be able to get the smell out, plus it is absolutely covered in cat or dog hair. I know buyers would have a legitimate complaint here for smoke smell, but as a seller do I have any recourse? These are BNWT items, so I can't exactly just pop them in the wash.

first, what is the buyers id?
second, be prepared to spend a lot of time arguing with people reading prepared statements. They will tell you that buyers like this are part of the cost of doing business. They will also tell you that since you opted to take returns, you have to take anything back no matter what. They will also tell you to try to work it out with the buyer, because, of course, anyone who would return items in such condition are perfectly rational and reasonable human beings :/
if you are persistent, you will probably get ebay to give you your money, they won't take it from the buyer though, which is why you have such an uphill battle on your hands, because it will cost ebay money.

 

[Brianpore]

Quote: On that note, I sold a pair of shoes $300, didnt fit buyer, opened a case, I won in a 5 min call to ebay, he shipped them back after opening the case (before I even called ebay to have it closed) and I received the shoes back. Ebay obviously didnt take it out of my paypal account but I saw it noted that "buyer refunded by ebay". They sent the guy $300 because he couldnt follow some basic rules how to return (or not return) something

 

[FLW]

It is pretty ridiculous how much ass kissing eBay directs towards their buyers. As a seller I have learned that, if you have zero scruples, you could bend the seller's policies any way you chose, just by manipulating eBay's rules. Hell, you could probably even get some items for free.

Being a top-rated seller requires you to offer more services and ship faster than Amazon, J Crew or any other retail giant. It really is asinine that eBay wants me to deliver a $14 used shirt (that took four days to pay for) faster than Mr. Porter would deliver a $2500 suit.

 

[Snoogz]

It is pretty ridiculous how much ass kissing eBay directs towards their buyers. As a seller I have learned that, if you have zero scruples, you could bend the seller's policies any way you chose, just by manipulating eBay's rules. Hell, you could probably even get some items for free.

Being a top-rated seller requires you to offer more services and ship faster than Amazon, J Crew or any other retail giant. It really is asinine that eBay wants me to deliver a $14 used shirt (that took four days to pay for) faster than Mr. Porter would deliver a $2500 suit.

In 5 years eBay TRS will require you to have your own personal drone unit to deliver interstate purchases in less than 12 hrs.

 

[capnwes]

It is pretty ridiculous how much ass kissing eBay directs towards their buyers. As a seller I have learned that, if you have zero scruples, you could bend the seller's policies any way you chose, just by manipulating eBay's rules. Hell, you could probably even get some items for free.

Being a top-rated seller requires you to offer more services and ship faster than Amazon, J Crew or any other retail giant. It really is asinine that eBay wants me to deliver a $14 used shirt (that took four days to pay for) faster than Mr. Porter would deliver a $2500 suit.

Actually, I read somewhere recently, that if a buyer takes longer than 3 days to pay, you are not held as strictly to your stated handling time. I'll see if I can track that info down.

 

[ridethecliche]

On that note, I sold a pair of shoes $300, didnt fit buyer, opened a case, I won in a 5 min call to ebay, he shipped them back after opening the case (before I even called ebay to have it closed) and I received the shoes back. Ebay obviously didnt take it out of my paypal account but I saw it noted that "buyer refunded by ebay". They sent the guy $300 because he couldnt follow some basic rules how to return (or not return) something

That 300 didn't come out of your pocket though, right?

 

[JFST]

Anyone familiar with Rag & Bone jeans/products? If so can you tell me if these are men, women or unisex jeans?

 

[Brianpore]

Quote: Nope but just was surprised they refunded the guy for not following their TOS.

 

[FLW]



Anyone familiar with Rag & Bone jeans/products? If so can you tell me if these are men, women or unisex jeans?

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Certainly LOOKS female. How long is the inseam? The zipper on the fly looks tiny, too small to... you know... "use". The single rear pocket and zip legs would also be more likely on a woman's trouser. My only hesitation is that they look baggy by women's clothing standards...