Tyler326 | 18 Jun 2014 6:40 a.m. PST |
here is the dilema: I post an item on Ebay and specifically state in bold red that international buyers that have any questions or concerns about shipping cost can either check by using the USPS calculator or emailme to discuss the cost prior to bidding.Pretty straight forward. So what happens? Somene buys it , then argues about the cost of shipping and states they do not want the item.Then I have to go round and round with them to get a price we can agree on. I hate having to do this. Any ideas short of not selling international? |
scrivs | 18 Jun 2014 6:54 a.m. PST |
I either put no international shipping, or work out the price when the item is listed. The buyer cannot quibble then. |
Deadmen tell lies | 18 Jun 2014 7:37 a.m. PST |
I have to agree with above, as I have seen so many on evil bay have the same problems as you are and that is what they did in the end, dropped international shipping. Paypal will back the buyer not the seller I have seen this happen also so you will totally lose in the end its just not worth the aggravation. People just want things for free and don't want to pay. Good luck Regards James |
Ironsides | 18 Jun 2014 7:40 a.m. PST |
If stated up front what the shipping cost is one shouldn't argue the shipping cost. |
Rudysnelson | 18 Jun 2014 8:05 a.m. PST |
A lot depends on the item in the auction. You can pre-determine shipping based on the International Priority flat rate. The amount is set during bidding. This has happened to me a number of times in the past even if I place no International bidders on the auction. If I do not lose money on the item I go ahead and send it. I am about to do a lot of 25mm and 15mm bulk lots of 70 castings. Honestly I am not sure whether to do International bidding or not. if i do I will use the priority flat rate. Oh well. |
79thPA | 18 Jun 2014 8:12 a.m. PST |
Either go with flat rate boxes or don't provide international shipping. As an individual seller, I find international shipping to be a pain in the ass I don't need. Every once in awhile I will still get a "will you ship to Canada?" question. Okay. These guys know they will be paying more and we can work something out, but I don't have any interest in shipping things to Brazil or Japan or damn near anywhere else. |
Admiral Yi Sun Sin is my Homie | 18 Jun 2014 9:44 a.m. PST |
I use the Global Shipping Program with exclusions for certain countries. "Sell globally, ship domestically using the Global Shipping Program" auction Just be aware of the limitations and how it makes the seller responsible for shipping it if you don't follow it. I don't sell anything over $500 USD so it's not a concern for me. Buyers see the price on their end so they know what to expect. It's worked for me well as all I have to do is ship to the eBay shipping center and from their eBay deals with it. |
Light Horseman | 18 Jun 2014 9:48 a.m. PST |
You can always have ebay cancel the deal with no penalty to you if the buyer refuses to pay the postage. |
Midgetmanifesto | 18 Jun 2014 10:28 a.m. PST |
I always note that buyers are to pay the actual shipping costs, and then I enter inflated weights and sizes in the ebay shipping calculator. Typically the prices quoted are at or above the true prices. I think this might follow the old saying about 'under promise, over deliver'. |
Tyler326 | 18 Jun 2014 10:31 a.m. PST |
The main problem is that they do not want to pay for the shipping cost yet seem to bid without taking the cost into account or checking with me first. This irritates me big time.Is it laziness on the buyers part ? There is no reason they cannot check the cost first. Next time this happens they will either pay the cost or I file a complaint for non payment when they state they do not want the item due to the shipping cost.I have done it with one person so far and Ebay did back me as they stated I had been right upfront with the listing.He paid . I guess I have a problem with lazy stupid bidders. |
79thPA | 18 Jun 2014 12:06 p.m. PST |
Just to help protect yourself from the whims of ebay, I would add something like, "International buyers to pay postage at cost/current international rates, which can be found at USPS.gov (or whatever their address is). If you are not willing to pay actual postage cost, do not bid on the item." This is a more definitive statement than your "let me know if you have any questions" line. |
IGWARG1 | 18 Jun 2014 1:52 p.m. PST |
I had one bidder refusing to pay unless I lower the price. The price for international shipping was stated upfront. I called eBay and had a conversation. They agreed that my shipping was reasonable and warned the buyer. He paid. Another international bidder complained about high cost of shipping. I removed the item from the blister pack and was able to ship cheaper. Got the negative feedback for that. I was selling items that are still made for less than 1/2 price, not anything collectible. I blocked this guy from buying anything else from me. Saying all that, 99.9% of international transactions are no problem. I say that it's not your fault and the bidder just was trying to take advantage of you. You will always have a chance that someone complain, you are dealing with people after all. There is no reason to stop international selling because of few bad apples. |
Ping Pong | 18 Jun 2014 2:41 p.m. PST |
I dropped international selling. Not worth it. |
Fried Flintstone | 18 Jun 2014 3:02 p.m. PST |
I often buy from the US and fully expect to get stung for shipping. Put the cost on the site upfront and I don't see how anyone can argue. |
Sysiphus | 18 Jun 2014 3:12 p.m. PST |
I dropped International shipping, life has been easier since. |
Cardinal Hawkwood | 18 Jun 2014 3:18 p.m. PST |
works both ways..bet it wasn't an Australian or New Zealander complaining.We here well understand the price of postage and have always done so. |
Mako11 | 18 Jun 2014 3:46 p.m. PST |
File a complaint with eBay, not that it will do you any good. |
Zargon | 18 Jun 2014 4:01 p.m. PST |
Put NO INTERNATIONAL POSTING in bold type Also explain how ridiculous you post rates are to the rest of us and how isolationist the PowersThatBe in the US have become. I have really stopped buying from Evil Bay too and am always looking at reasonable deals out there. I have found that most Canadian companies have fairish postal rates to the rest of us. Perhaps you lot should set up Canadian subsidiaries as well ??m Lastly some US companies have pretty decent shipping rates, how do they do that? My2cents on what is a frustrating state for us how like lots of stuff coming out of the US hobby suppliers but just get shocked by the post costs for even small things sent overseas. Here's hoping they find another way to fund US posts pension plan. Apologies for the tirade and even understand ( and have moaned plenty before here on TMP :( but just sad you guys don't get to get more of your stuff out to all of us. Cheers and hoping it becomes a better deal soon fo all of us. |
(Stolen Name) | 18 Jun 2014 4:18 p.m. PST |
I often see US auctions with a shipping price of $35 USD-45 for a small light item that is selling for $15 USD-20 – I do not bother bidding even though I know the true flat rate shipping international is prob $12 USD-15 |
Temporary like Achilles | 18 Jun 2014 10:13 p.m. PST |
Being in Japan I well know the price of international shipping and am always grateful when someone will make the extra effort to ship overseas. Sorry you got a bum deal with this guy. I guess the best thing is to state shipping price first, but that is probably difficult to do given ebay policies and variation in shipping rates. |
DuckanCover | 19 Jun 2014 3:35 a.m. PST |
"works both ways.. bet it wasn't an Australian or New Zealander complaining. We here well understand the price of postage and have always done so." For certain. If not, most of us would simply have had to do without all manner of things to do with our chosen hobbies. Duck |
Khusrau | 19 Jun 2014 3:54 a.m. PST |
Can I suggest that as a seller, you don't always select the most expensive shipping option? I have contacted US sellers and pointed out to them that the courier with registration, tracking and insurance on a $15 USD item is adding $45 USD – and it just isn't going to sell O/S. |
Inner Sanctum | 19 Jun 2014 4:10 a.m. PST |
I wanted to buy a few, fun figures from the US. Between $1.5 USD and $2.99 USD. I played with numbers but could not get the total below £4.00 GBP per 15mm figure. If I want to spend stupid money there's a shop in the high street- |
Stosstruppen | 19 Jun 2014 8:38 a.m. PST |
As a seller I have a small scale and set up my auctions with the shipping and the weight. That way international buyers can see up front the cost. Shipping to and from Australia is just crazy high so I never buy from Australian sellers no matter how great a deal it is. |
Tyler326 | 20 Jun 2014 5:49 a.m. PST |
Appreciate all the comments and insight. Unfortunately selling thru Ebay , even with their Global Shiping is too high for some. I just wish they would take that into account prior to bidding and buying and then complain. To me it is their problem if I post upfront tto check the cost and they complain afterwards. |
Tumbleweed | 21 Jun 2014 9:34 a.m. PST |
Of course this answer refers to our product sales and not e-bay in general, but here at the Viking Forge we charge a flat $15 USD for shipping a package overseas no matter how big or small the package. This does two things: 1)It discourages very small purchases that cost more in shipping than the purchase price. 2) It serves as a discount of sorts because if you buy a lot and it is heavy, you will not have to pay more for shipping. This plan appears to have worked very well for us. Please let me know what you think. |
lou passejaire | 23 Jun 2014 2:38 a.m. PST |
i avoid ebay for international selling
i use website such as LAF bazaar of obscurities and have not had a single problem . anyway the problem is not ebay but the postage rates anywhere ( special price for USPS ) . |