Freight Forwarding Addresses in 2024

[jf5670]

Hello!

I've tried to sell stuff on ebay numerous times, and each time the winner of the auction or buy it now has had an address that followed the following format:

123 Street Way

Suite 601

Box 67820

City, State and Zipcode

Googling the address it's a freight forwarding address. I called up the company and they state they handle freight forwarding for customers by giving them a specific suite and box number for tracking purposes.

Are these buyers legitimate? I keep marking my items to only be sold in the U.S. and in this way they are going around this limitation.

What about scams or INAD cases? Do they lose their protection doing this when (as a seller) I can provide evidence that the item was delivered to the address listed in ebay as being valid.

I'd prefer to carry on selling items on Ebay without the risk if there is any.

Your suggestions or guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[tobaccocardyahoo]

Like buyers with any type of address, some are legit and some are scammers.

All are not in the US.

There is no way to decide whether a buyer is a scammer or not before you ship.

Never. If the buyer messages you you might find out if they are a PITA, but even some PITAs are not scammers.

[mtgraves7984]

@jf5670 

I've shipped loads of things using freight forwarders. I've never had the first problem with any of the orders. Good luck.

[slippinjimmy]

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@mtgraves7984 wrote:

@jf5670 

I've shipped loads of things using freight forwarders. I've never had the first problem with any of the orders. Good luck.

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This^^^^^^

In my case at least 500 times and maybe closer to 1000.

I have some great buyers in Chile and China, multiple orders of multiple items. Many other countries as well even though I ship directly to everywhere except South America and China.

[ittybitnot]

What about scams or INAD cases? Do they lose their protection doing this when (as a seller) I can provide evidence that the item was delivered to the address listed in ebay as being valid.

@jf5670 

Presently, buyers that use a freight forwarder give up the opportunity to use the Money Back Guarantee.  The problem is that eBay doesn't pay any attention to that, and treats it like any other sale.  Since you know in advance, should any SNAD case come in, you have the opportunity to take care of the issue BEFORE the problem gets worse.   Reporting the issue through one of the eBay social media portals (not the regular outsourced foreign call center reps you get in chat or call back) may get the case dismissed before you even have to send a return label. 

As others have said, buyers that use forwarders are not all crooks.  It depends on the product, but since you KNOW it is a freight forwarder it actually has better protection for the seller than a domestic sale, and the 'fake tracking return scam' that often ensues for the uninformed seller whose buyer makes a claim can be avoided. 

Here are some recent cases that can provide you some more insight: 


https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Buyer-using-USPS-return-scam-Ebay-decided-case-in-buyers-favor...

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Help-Miami-Freight-Forwarder-says-wrong-item-sent-and-returnin...

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Getting-screwed-over-for-months-as-a-seller-on-on-an-blatant/m...

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Ebay-refunded-a-buyer-without-me-getting-my-item-back-from/m-p...

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Return-scam-nothing-new/m-p/34302635#M2358896

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/The-new-buyer-scam-and-eBay-s-ignoring-Policy/m-p/34301810#M23...

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Return-Scam-so-simple-but-super-effective-What-should-I-do/m-p...

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Scam-and-ebay-ignores-it/m-p/34356453#M2372717

[12345jamesstamps]

Freight forward usually might be in Delaware or Florida. And it's usually a number after the buyer's name on the address. I have never seen "box" or "suite" on the address.

I never had any problems with freight forward as yet. As long as it makes it to the USA address a seller is fine.