Foreign Sellers Posing As US Sellers
Summary: beauregardpsch expresses concern about sellers from foreign countries listing items as being in the US, finding it deceptive and impacting trust. luckythewinner explains that sellers claim a US location by selecting it during listing, which may not always be accurate. Discussion participants suggest vigilance, such as checking feedback and 'about' pages, to determine the actual origin. squinkercat59 notes similar issues on Etsy with mass-produced items, and bonanza125 advises due diligence until stricter enforcement is in place by platforms. There is consensus that misleading listings are problematic, urging for better transparency.
How can sellers from foreign countries list the items as being in US ? I think this is deceptive as later I looked on their about on feedback page and see based in China, Israel etc. AKA no one I would deal with period! On LISTING they should say country they are based in shipping from warehouse and then put the state in USA Many of us are sick of foreign people posing as being in US.
shado-x
·Aug 16, 2026 at 4:00 PM · EditedWe get Foreign Buyers posed as US Buyers, from which Sellers get charged an International Fee (usually from currency conversion). That fee should be imposed on the buyer at check out (like a Bureau de Change), but it is not since sellers don't know the buyer is International.
mam98031
·Aug 15, 2026 at 11:37 PMTo know where the seller has their account originally set up, it will show on their Feedback Page.
Per the Ebay rules, the location in the listing must be the location they are shipping from. Not necessarily where the seller is registered. These locations can and often are different. Not just for international sellers but of domestic sellers too.
While this certainly does get abused, there is no doubt of that, buyers need to report these sellers that abuse this policy each and every time it happens. That is the ONLY way Ebay can track them and sanction them as needed if there are enough complaints.
But there are sellers, both US and international, that ship from various US locations. Some have warehouses around the country other may ship their inventory to a company that offers storage and fulfillment services.
bonanza125
·Aug 15, 2026 at 5:15 PMUntil Ebay gets must stricter in regards to this issue it is recommend to do exactly what you have been doing which is click on profile and "about." If the location is international such as China then you will be risking a long delivery time or even getting the package at all. It's on the buyer to review feedback and location "about" before makin purchases.
bennotbill
·Aug 15, 2026 at 4:20 PMIt's much the same in the UK. When I see the Union Jack flag plastered over an ad I know that it's most likely a Chinese seller.
I've gotten used to double checking location details. But the question is why should I?
beauregardpsch
OPAug 16, 2026 at 1:09 PMI know Ebay UK is the same and have bought from many UK sellers who were great. Same on Etsy love my Brit fav sellers. Yes nowdays you have to be vigilant all the time which is quite sad. Back in my day you could trust a person being legit now it is a crap shoot. Thnaks for your out of US input. Warm regards across the pond to you!
mozartbach1971
·Aug 15, 2026 at 3:20 PMI assume they do this because they can get more view and sales.
toomuchstuffagain35
·Aug 15, 2026 at 3:17 PMI usually avoid any seller who has a gallery pic with US Seller and the American flag plastered on it. IME they're usually offshore sellers.
beauregardpsch
OPAug 15, 2026 at 3:57 PMI don't think this last one had an US logos etc. Yeah I know some have locations in US drop shipping from but they still should be required per any listing where it shows locationsay based in Israel, China, India etc. ships from US. Some people do not want to buy esp. from those countries. You never see UK, or EU, AU, CA etc. doing it. I am not fond of deception at all. Thanks for your input!!!!
frugalmarketplace
·Aug 15, 2026 at 4:33 PMYes and there are buyers who specifically do not want to buy from Amazon.
beauregardpsch
OPAug 16, 2026 at 12:55 PMI agree and many are from other big box stores like Walmart. I am not on Amazon never have been.
dhbookds
·Aug 15, 2026 at 2:40 PMIt's possible and entirely "legal" for a foreign seller to base his products in the US and ship from those US locations...... Feedback shows place of registration.....it doesn't mean that that is where the seller is shipping from.
frugalmarketplace
·Aug 15, 2026 at 3:23 PMCome on..in theory yes…in reality “highly unlikely”
beauregardpsch
OPAug 15, 2026 at 3:59 PMYes I agree , Thanks for your input
frugalmarketplace
·Aug 15, 2026 at 4:38 PMJust do a search and there are multiple sites where a “a seller” can set up dropshipping from Amazon…
beauregardpsch
OPAug 16, 2026 at 12:57 PMSeeing that quite a bit myself. thanks
beauregardpsch
OPAug 16, 2026 at 12:56 PMYes I have learned my lesson now check about on their feedback shows where they actually live. Thanks.
squinkercat59
·Aug 15, 2026 at 2:13 PMThey are probably drop shippers, especially the Chinese.
beauregardpsch
OPAug 15, 2026 at 4:00 PMYes sometimes it is the case. Thank you for your input!
luckythewinner
·Aug 15, 2026 at 1:24 PM · EditedIt's very easy, actually.
When they list the item, they simply choose "USA" as the item location. Many perfectly legitimate sellers ship from multiple warehouses, and eBay has no way to determine which ones are being deceptive.
IMHO eBay expects the feedback, BBE, and dispute processes to weed them out over the long run.
beauregardpsch
OPAug 15, 2026 at 1:30 PMIt has definitely changed my views on how Ebay handles things. Why I go to Etsy but for essential every day items Ebay is one of the few options out there. I think theey should enforce them being upfront on actual listing saying based in Israel shipping from warehouse in and then the state it is coming from. That way IF they get caught it was in writing and they suffer the blowback
squinkercat59
·Aug 15, 2026 at 5:08 PMEven Etsy has plenty of mass-produced things now, it's not all handmade or vintage as it started out. One has to watch what they are buying. I noticed some Chinese-made stuff when I was researching prices on some things I bought.
chapeau-noir
·Aug 15, 2026 at 5:11 PMEtsy is full of Temu and Aliexpress stuff - the last CEO opened the door to mass manufacture and drop shipping.
squinkercat59
·Aug 15, 2026 at 5:26 PMI didn't know that. How unfortunate for them. I guess there's no escaping it any more.
chapeau-noir
·Aug 16, 2026 at 5:40 AM · EditedI just got done with somebody who claimed to be in Perth, Australia, drop shipped for New Jersey and it was stuff sold on Temu and Aliexpress - his whole 'shop' is like that. Terrible CS, too. You have to be really careful - there are still great sellers on there (some in China), often in Eastern Europe and of course domestically, but one has to be careful now. Too bad - I sold and bought there for years and used to love that site.
ETA: Maybe the new CEO will refine things a little.
beauregardpsch
OPAug 16, 2026 at 1:02 PMI have been lucky and only once needed to get Etsy involved I had and instant refund so go lucky it sounds like. Thank you. P.S. I know many sellers pulled out due to high fees tho.
beauregardpsch
OPAug 16, 2026 at 12:59 PMI have not found at least in the type of ooak pieces I buy on etsy that issue. but am sure the more common thing like rugs, blankets etc. are from places you mention. My fav sellers really make unique pieces of art. Thanks for the heads up!
bonanza125
·Aug 15, 2026 at 5:16 PMYou will run into the same issue on every selling platform.
beauregardpsch
OPAug 16, 2026 at 1:03 PMHave learned now to buy essentials from Home Depot and they arrive same day from my local store free delivery. They are great. Thank you.
deltilogical
·Aug 16, 2026 at 2:40 PMThanks for supporting your local transnational corporation!
beauregardpsch
OPAug 16, 2026 at 3:06 PMYes I know most things are made overseas at any retail store. Has been since I was younger even tho now impossible to find 100% US made anything which is sad. IF you can find a US made item, appliance etc. it will cost you a big $$$$. The companies that were US are no longer owned by US. I googled not long ago how many 100% US made products/ companies exist here and was very few. Same with vehicles some have parts made here in them but lots of plants in Mexico and other places. Foreign countries pay unlivable wages to workers. We could not survive on those wages here esp,. now. So not much choice where it is made. Just not wanting to buy from foreign sellers posing as being in US. Support people living and working here at least.