Shipping question

[sharonscreativeart]

Hi, I want to exclude international shipping.   I also, want to do a business policy template.  I'm having a time getting a straight answer on setting this up from the various articles.  

Thanks for your help,

Sharon

[comics-scifi-collectibles · Accepted solution]

@sharonscreativeart   I am going to give TWO replies.  The first one is for the International Shipping question.  

I recommend just blocking buyers in locations you do not ship to account settings.  That will take care of making it so buyers from other countries can not purchase unless they provide a US address at checkout. 

 Some foreign buyers do use freight forwarding companies located in the US.  Once the item is delivered to the US location your job as a seller is done.  Reshipping voids the eBay MBG.    There is no way to block this.  

Have you set up your buyer requirements in account settings?

Click this link: https://www.ebay.com/bmgt/buyerrequirements Then block buyers with 2 or more unpaid items in 12 months.

Also block buyers in locations you do not ship to.

When eBay decides to Opt you in to eBay International Shipping Program, it's automatic.    You can Opt out at the top of this page once you are Opted In.... https://www.ebay.com/ship/prf

HOWEVER I don't recommend opting out.  The program has EXCELLENT seller protections and easy to use.    

With the eBay International Shipping Program YOU are not shipping internationally, eBay is. You are enrolled in the eBay International Shipping Program which allows you to reach buyers around the world with ZERO risk to you. I wish that domestic shipments had this same great seller protection.
You just ship to the US forwarding center in Illinois or CA, the address will be on the label when you print it with a code that ties the sale to you and the buyer.

Once the item reaches the US forwarding location safely your job as a seller is done. If a buyer files a refund request for ANY reason the refund comes from eBay and you keep the sale. I wish that eBay had this awesome of seller protections for domestic sales!

Here's more on the eBay International Shipping Program>
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/ebay-international-shippin...

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@sharonscreativeart   Do you wish to set up Business Policies or Listing Templates?  These are two different things.  

Let me know which one you'd like more information about.  I can give you info on both but don't want to overload you.

To use either of these options the first thing you need to do is sign up for Seller Hub on a computer.  

To access Seller Hub:

1. Go to https://www.ebay.com/sh/landing

2. Click Start Using Seller Hub

3. To create a new listing go to your active listings page:

https://www.ebay.com/sh/lst/active and click the blue Create listing button near the top, right-hand side of the page.

[sharonscreativeart]

Wow, thank you so much.  A wealth of info.  I ended up getting someone to call me and they walked me through setting up my business policies. 

But, while I have you.  If I understand you, if I do international shipping, I don't have to mess with customs paperwork?  

So much info, I really appreciate your time,

Sharon

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@sharonscreativeart. Once eBay opts your account into the eBay international shipping program then eBay handles everything. 

I looked at your sold listings and it appears that you are not yet opted in to the eBay international shipping program.   

For now please follow my advice on blocking buyers in locations you don't ship to AND block buyers with 2 or more unpaid item strikes in the last 12 months.  

[sharonscreativeart]

Hi, I'm so new to all the bells and whistles that eBay has now.  How do I go about blocking those without payment and what places should I not ship to?

[sharonscreativeart]

Sorry, I didn't read through the info you have already given me.  My answers are there.  Except places I should not ship to.  I really appreciate your patience with me.   ~S

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@sharonscreativeart   I do not recommend offering ANY international shipping yourself.   It can be risky and a bit complicated when you are directly shipping to a buyer in a different country.

So since you are not going to ship internationally there's no need for an exclusion list.    If/ when eBay Opts you into the international shipping program then you still don't need an exclusion list because YOU will not be shipping internationally, eBay will.  

Go here to buyer requirements and check all of the boxes that are checked in the screen shot:

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

In regards to requiring a payment method before making a bid or offer... I personally do not use these settings because I sometimes like to offer combined shipping which this doesn't allow.     Come back if you ever need help with combined shipping and I can walk you through the set up.   I think we have covered a lot for now.  

[sharonscreativeart]

Got it!  this was extremely helpful.  Thank you.

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@sharonscreativeart. You're welcome.   Glad to help.   Come back if you need more help.  

[sharonscreativeart]

Something strange happened this morning.  I had posted a product on for sale last evening, and someone sent me the same product with an offer to BUY it this morning?   Is that normal? Scam? Why would I want to buy a product I'm selling?  Thanks for being there.  Also, if there is a better place to get these answers please send me a link.  I can never seem to find this group in any of the drop down boxes.

Thx ~S

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@

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@sharonscreativeart wrote:

Something strange happened this morning.  I had posted a product on for sale last evening, and someone sent me the same product with an offer to BUY it this morning?   Is that normal? Scam? Why would I want to buy a product I'm selling?  Thanks for being there.  Also, if there is a better place to get these answers please send me a link.  I can never seem to find this group in any of the drop down boxes.

Thx ~S

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@sharonscreativeart   This is because the offers to buyers feature.   A seller can send an offer to a buyer that has just VIEWED the item.   You probably viewed the sellers listing when doing research to create your own listing. 

You can opt out of offers to buyers in account settings but for me it only seems to block the email messages for this feature, not the eBay messages.    You can give it a try and see what happens. https://commspreferences.ebay.com/commsprefs

Here's more on offers to buyers from the sellers end, I do like to send offers as soon as the option shows.  I sometimes sell the items at full price after sending out offers.  

Offers to buyers can only be sent on Fixed Priced ( Buy It Now) items that qualify. Not Auctions.

You will know if the item qualifies by going to the Active Listings page is Seller Hub> https://www.ebay.com/sh/lst/active
Then click on send offers eligible. You will then see a send offers link to the left of all the items that qualify.

By using the filter you may even find some items that have zero watchers that you can send offers to because they viewed your item.

Here's a link to seller center that has screen shots:

https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/growth/seller-hub-promotions/offers-to-buyers-best-offer/