Vietnam bidders.

[oldcoin007]

Hi - I just sold some zippo lighters. I only ship to the USA. Ebay's site problems would not let me make a country exclusion list. My question may be dumb, but I am serious.       Does anyone know why so many Vietnamese bidders seem to like Zippo lighters? Maybe some international sellers can help me. I cancelled bid after bid from Vietnam, more than from any other country outside the US.   Thanks.

[tdumonde2014]

The probably discovered them when our Soldiers were there during the Vietnam war.

[slippinjimmy]

I'm going to guess that Zippo's became a coveted item in Vietnam during the 1964 - 1974 period.

If these buyers from Vietnam are able to bid on your items it can only mean one of two things.....

1 - They intend to use a US shipping address

2 - You are not actually blocking "buyer with a Primary Shipping Address that you don't ship to"

If you tick the box in your Site Preferences to block buyers in countries on your exclusion list these buyers will not be able to bid unless they have a US shipping address, which would satisfy your "I don't ship outside the US" policy.

[mtgraves7984]

I see the ended Zippos listing and see Vietnam in your list of 'Excluded' areas that you ship to. Hmmm...

[slippinjimmy]

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@mtgraves7984 wrote:

I see the ended Zippos listing and see Vietnam in your list of 'Excluded' areas that you ship to. Hmmm...

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Simply excluding does not actually block them from buying/bidding, they can still buy but will be blocked from paying.

[eleanor*rigby]

@slippinjimmy wrote:

I'm going to guess that Zippo's became a coveted item in Vietnam during the 1964 - 1974 period.

If these buyers from Vietnam are able to bid on your items it can only mean one of two things.....

1 - They intend to use a US shipping address

2 - You are not actually blocking "buyer with a Primary Shipping Address that you don't ship to"

If you tick the box in your Site Preferences to block buyers in countries on your exclusion list these buyers will not be able to bid unless they have a US shipping address, which would satisfy your "I don't ship outside the US" policy.

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I think all of that has been satisfactorily explained to the OP in his previous thread:

Selling to USA only but have foreign bids 

He's now just concerned about why Zippo lighters are popular with Vietnamese bidders, which you've also answered . . . 🙄

[oldcoin007]

Hi slippin - I just now checked the address of the winning bidder, who has not paid, & it appears to be a business that ships things to Vietnam, in Portland, OR. No name, just letters & numbers. Talk about irony.... 

[pikabo-icu]

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@oldcoin007 wrote:

Hi slippin - I just now checked the address of the winning bidder, who has not paid, & it appears to be a business that ships things to Vietnam, in Portland, OR. No name, just letters & numbers. Talk about irony.... 

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Yes that is a well known reshipper/freight forwarder.

Buyers pay a fee to these companies to allow them to purchase items that are not shipped internationally.

So if you only sell to the US and a buyer in Japan wants an item, they can use that service to buy from you and have the time forwarded to them. 

It used to be a good deal for both buyer & seller but there have been a few issues recently.. 

[oldcoin007]

Hi ms*havisham - I spoke at length to an ebay selling specialist. I was told that ebay "site problems" were the reason that I was unable use the Exclude Shipping Locations page. That page states that- "When you apply your shipping exclusions, we'll block bidders whose primary address is in a location you don't ship to." Thus ebay did not block these bidders. 

[pikabo-icu]

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@oldcoin007 wrote:

Hi ms*havisham - I spoke at length to an ebay selling specialist. I was told that ebay "site problems" were the reason that I was unable use the Exclude Shipping Locations page. That page states that- "When you apply your shipping exclusions, we'll block bidders whose primary address is in a location you don't ship to." Thus ebay did not block these bidders. 

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@oldcoin007 

There is a huge loophole with reshippers as the one that's listed on your sale.

Sadly, since the address is within the US, a buyer from darn near anywhere can buy your item through the reshipper.

It over-rides our blocks as sellers.

Now, personally, I've had good sales via reshippers but I've read about a lot of them going south- 

There isn't any block for this.. Sorry... 

[oldcoin007]

Hi - You are very correct. However, ebay did not block any bidders. Several from Vietnam, one from American Samoa, one from China. Thanks,  L

[pikabo-icu · Accepted solution]

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@oldcoin007 wrote:

Hi - You are very correct. However, ebay did not block any bidders. Several from Vietnam, one from American Samoa, one from China. Thanks,  L

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@oldcoin007 

Did you tick the box in your buyer requirements?  Just in case I'll link & post a photo..

If you did that, perhaps they are all using reshippers? 

If you did all of that- they are getting through somehow all you can do is cancel with "problem with address"

Sorry.. 

https://www.ebay.com/bmgt/buyerrequirements 

The box above the red box in this case.. 

[oldcoin007]

Hi pikabo - Thank you. L

[7606dennis]

As a Vietnam Vet I can tell you that Zippo® Lighters were very popular over there during the war.

[pikabo-icu]

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@7606dennis wrote:

As a Vietnam Vet I can tell you that Zippo® Lighters were very popular over there during the war.

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@7606dennis 

  As a military wife (he's out) I thank you for your service..