eBay

linus.hux72fe · ‎02-05-2020

I'd appreciate a bit of advice from someone, please.

I had a large doll listed. Buyer made an offer. I accepted.

Buyer sent message asking if doll was in good shape. I replied yes with details from listing.

Buyer waited a day and sent a message saying could she make payments. No.

Buyer sent message asking if I took ebay gift cards. No.

Buyer sent message saying to cancel. I canceled.

Buyer sent message asking if I still had doll. Yes.

Buyer sent message asking me to relist. No. Placed on BBL because she was annoying.

3 more messages telling me she loved the doll and didn't want to lose it so I needed to relist it. Said she made the account just to buy the doll.

Another message from another account but linked to the first asking me what account she supposedly made the offer with. (Accounts linked because the message string from the first account transferred to the second.) One long continuous string in other words.

I replied with account name and told her I keep all messages so Ebay can review.

I didn't hear from her for 2 days. All previous messages were clearly not English as her first language. Today, another message, in crisp clear English language asking me to relist the doll and that she had spoken to Ebay and was now willing to pay all fees if I told her how much fees will be.

I have no idea to what she is referring. Doll is 36" and she is in Canada so it will be shipped via the GSP. So I'd think all prices are spelled out because I have no idea what shipping cost is for an oversize box through GSP from a small town in Illinois to the northern part of Alberta Canada.

So, I'm wondering what to do. She seems a bit odd and doesn't seem to understand what she's doing. For me, the doll is expensive as is shipping. So I dont want to be bothered with wasting a listing again and or getting a return or I dont know what. Frankly, she's giving me a darned headache. But I dont want to be a mean seller if it's a language problem or ?

If you all have time, could you offer me a bit of advice. I dont usually put people on my bbl and try to work everything out but this one is just rubbing my fur the wrong way.

Thank you for your time and any help.

mtgraves7984 · ‎02-05-2020

I've always felt that God gave us that 'unsettled feeling' for a reason. Trust it.

sd-redneck · ‎02-05-2020

Go with your gut. If things are this problematic prior to a sale, then.......

inhawaii · ‎02-05-2020

I would have done exactly what you did (but not be so nice about it).

Long Train Runnin' - The Doobie Brothers

wastingtime101 · ‎02-05-2020

@linus.hux72fe wrote:
Buyer sent message asking if I took ebay gift cards. No.

The answer to that one should have been yes. Technically eBay accepts them on your behalf and they give you funds to cover the gift card amount.

A 36" doll would cost a pretty penny to ship. Go with your gut.

GLORIOUS!

linus.hux72fe · ‎02-05-2020

I'm sorry I should have been clearer about the gift cards. She wanted to send them to me and I cash them in so the doll would be a gift I think for customs? She seemed to think I could just use the numbers off them or she could pay with gift cards over time.

Would you all then just recommend that I ignore her messages?

Thank you all much for your help.

nkmipgolf · ‎02-05-2020

She prepays all Govt taxes with GSP. No tax when it arrives.

wastingtime101 · ‎02-05-2020

Yes, ignore and wait a while to relist it. You might even want to remove GSP from that listing and sell domestic only next time.

GLORIOUS!

mtgraves7984 · ‎02-05-2020

"Would you all then just recommend that I ignore her messages?"

YES. Perhaps WE were unclear on that point. Add the buyer to your BBL and IGNORE MESSAGES. As an afterthought, change your buyer requirement settings to not allow messages from names on your BBL.

femmefan1946 · ‎02-05-2020

Just a note that Canada's population is about 26% foreign born, and about 13% of our population is "pure laine" francophone.

So it is not surprising that she wrote with an accent.

And while northern Alberta looks isolated and empty, it is actually surprisingly high income due to the oil industry and other mining. So high that coffee shops in Fort Macmurray are paying workers $20 an hour.

And the buyer pays for shipping. Although you can't see how much from your own account, check in as a guest and give your postal code as T9H 2K4 (city hall in Fort Mac.) You should be able to see your customer's approximate shipping and the GSP import fees.

And the GSP is a very safe way to sell internationally, like any freight forwarder. GSP is very good about damage claims too.

All of that aside, I'd be out at "sent a message saying could she make payments. "

pburn · ‎02-05-2020

@femmefan1946 wrote:
And while northern Alberta looks isolated and empty, it is actually surprisingly high income due to the oil industry and other mining. So high that coffee shops in Fort Macmurray are paying workers $20 an hour.

I'm glad to hear this, because I'm about ten minutes away from emigrating, and working in a coffee shop for $20 an hour sounds just fine to me.

parkersparrow · ‎02-05-2020

I agree with relisting and taking off the GPS fro the listing. I feel like to many things can go wrong with such a large and expensive item. Keep that buyer blocked to much drama.

a_c_green · ‎02-05-2020

@linus.hux72fe wrote:
I'm sorry I should have been clearer about the gift cards. She wanted to send them to me and I cash them in so the doll would be a gift I think for customs? She seemed to think I could just use the numbers off them or she could pay with gift cards over time.

Her payment method would have no effect on whether you could declare the item as a gift when shipping it. (No.)

This buyer is... operating in a different reality. Just stop responding, and also consider the others' advice here about listing it as domestic only, and maybe waiting a while before relisting.

epowerbargains · ‎02-05-2020

Others have provided you with excellent advice. I echo their words strongly!

Go with your gut - she is giving you a headache ........you don't need that stress

This is full of big ole RED flags

Place on Block List

Save messages

Consider taking the doll off your Global listings - I would take it down for 30 days or so for both Global and US to avoid a potential new account opened by the same buyer done to circumvent your block

Stop all communication with this individual

My radar goes red at the mention of "gift cards"

When someone cancels - I take them at their word - I cancel and am done.

Your time is valuable - this is wasting your energy and time

Protect your account - shipping a large item takes time to wrap, time to ship and is expensive & when someone sends up signals that they are problematic I would be careful.

Many buyers speak many languages - actions speak louder than words. This actions here are as I mentioned red flags.

You sound like a considerate and compassionate seller - don't let yourself get taken advantage of by people who are taking up your time for no good reason.

fashunu4eeuh · ‎02-05-2020

Hi, @linus.hux72fe I have a different take on the situation. This is a brand new international buyer on eBay whose first language apparently isn't English. She is struggling with the purchase and the platform, and needs additional help and hand-holding. Despite her many questions, i would not have placed her on the block list at this point.

My philosophy of e-commerce directs me this way: 1) I am here to make money with sales, so 2) I do not act preemptively to block, or 3) do not expect problems with a transaction. My block list is for the rare incidence of troubled souls who have acted inappropriately or egregiously. The main reason I try not to anticipate future problems with a buyer is because that fear can take a toll, creates needless worry, and can hinder the sales process.

When balancing the desire for a sale against the possibility of future issues with a buyer, I come down on the side of the sale. I would not hinder this buyer's ability to buy from me because my risk tolerance is fairly high. Is there risk in this scenario? Certainly, and there is risk in every transaction on eBay. It is good to listen to one's gut, I just feel there is a lot of blocking that goes on out of fear, and wanted to give you an alternate viewpoint.

This buyer has not behaved in an egregious way. They could just be so unfamiliar with the eBay process that it requires extra time to deal with them. So I would not ignore her messages. I would not ignore any buyer's messages. That's not good for business. If they were profane and threatening, then yes, I would block and delete. But they want to buy your item. I would give them the chance to do so.

PS- a buyer can use eBay gift certificates with any transaction. (or was she saying she wanted to send them to you? That is an entirely different animal if so.)