International customers unable to buy though I am enrolled?
Summary: kingsriverboy reported issues with international shipping on eBay, where customers from London and Argentina couldn't purchase items despite their enrollment in eBay's international shipping program. tobaccocardyahoo suggested the issue might be due to legal restrictions eBay follows, especially with toys and safety regulations. tobaccocardyahoo further advised kingsriverboy to test the listings under different countries, which helped resolve the issue with Argentina. dryophelia clarified that responses were from eBay users, not AI, and emphasized that regulatory blocks protect sellers. theartofserver and ryry-jj shared similar concerns about shipping limitations and listing requirements, emphasizing the importance of proper categorization and compliance with safety standards.
Hello I have long been enrolled in ebay international shipping. A few days ago a person in London could not buy some vintage eyeglasses. Today someone in Argentina cannot buy some vintage toys. In my shipping preferences it says I am enrolled. Further down the page it says I have one country excluded but does not say which one. I don't recall cutting any countries off but this still would not explain the two countries mentioned above. Any suggestions appreciated. Customers are standing by. Thanks
ryry-jj
·2 weeks ago · EditedThe specific items may not be allowed to ship to those countries or if the item can, they may not be listed correctly. For example, vintage toys to some countries need to be stated as adult collectables, not a toy that implies a child could play with them. Another example would be vintage lead soldiers, those fall under another classification that needs to be stated in both the listing and shipping...could be hazmat.
In the EU, toys for children not in packages that are marked with their safety standards will be blocked too...a loose Lego mini figure can be blocked today going to the UK if listed in the toy category and shipped eIS
mudshark61369
·2 weeks ago@kingsriverboy ,
As others have written the items may not be able to be shipped to the buyers because of their countries proscriptions on certain items. Wording in your item titles may also prevent them from making purchases. However, maybe it is your own Buyer Requirements that is preventing them from making the purchases.
I have a question for you. Why is it that you will ship to many countries around the world, but block sales to Hawaii and Alaska, which are U.S. states and serviced by the USPS shipping services you offer? Buyers from those states know there can be delays and usually allow for them as long as tracking shows acceptance and in route to next facility scans.
kingsriverboy
OP2 weeks agoYes, that's what I was suggesting and wondering about, things which could be a mistake on my part such as title. Would be nice to know when it is something along that line so I can either edit or tell customer no dice and why. Several years ago when entering this online market universe I read and heard other sellers who did not offer shipping to HI AK for a number a reasons. Mostly cost and yes delayed times in delivery. If we sellers can be algoed down because post office takes too long, I'.m not willing to take that risk when others suggest the risk is high and just not worth it. Plus our fees go up the more a shipment costs, disincentive.
theartofserver
·2 weeks agothis response won't help you, so my apologies for that. but just wanted to let you know you're not alone. EIS has become completely useless to me now, as posted here:
https://community.ebay.com/forum/shipping-57923/topic/what-is-going-on-with-eis-ebay-international-shipping-476453/
Every week, i have customers from all over the world asking me why I no longer ship to them. :-(
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 weeks agoIf EIS thinks that shipping a product to a specific country will violate US law or that country's laws, it will block sales to that country.
Toys are frequently blocked because of safety certification regulations. Most toys will not be available to the UK, for example.
EIS offers sellers great value by not requiring us to know the regulations in all of the countries it covers, but Ebay is going to do what is necessary to protect itself from losses which would come from legal violations.
kingsriverboy
OP2 weeks agoOkay thank you. Is this an ai reply? Since I don't know who or what is answering me and I have customers waiting to buy and I do not know if ebay int'l is saying no or if it is me or something I don't know about... I would like to know a specific answer before I cast aside some customers. If not possible due to customs of course that's possible and no error of my own, I can relax. I just like to know and be able to say.
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 weeks ago · EditedTest the listing. Next to the shipping is a link which says See details.
Enter several foreign countries and see whether EIS is an option. (one country at a time).
If you can ship anywhere, and you have not blocked a country, it is not your problem.
kingsriverboy
OP2 weeks agoThank you very much. I've been looking for a click trick like that for years. Oddly I first clicked on and it said no Argentina. Later clicked and it said yes. Made the sale. Thanks agian
dryophelia
·2 weeks ago@kingsriverboy
The responses here are not A1. We are fellow eBay users who hang out here seeing if our lived eBay experiences can help folks like you.
This is a great place for eBay users to visit, even if you don’t have a pending issue.
There will be items that can’t ship to certain locations. As mentioned up thread, UK is very strict about what toys can be brought in.
Even though you are willing to ship, eBay will block the purchase. It is a good thing for sellers (and buyers too).
kingsriverboy
OP2 weeks agoThanks, yes I've sought help and advice here many times. Just to clarify it was London who could not buy an old pair of gold filled glasses spectacles. And I totally understand the nightmare of ever shifting data EIS must constantly manage and appreciate it all. I just like giving my customers an explanation and knowing myself if that or something else is the reason why. The gentleman, not ai, thank gawd for humans, gave me the key to data above.