Block or not?

[honeybadgerposter]

This is a posting ID. Several weeks ago I had an antique necklace (not something I usually sell) up for auction at $100. I was contacted by someone offering $70. I responded that I'd let the auction run its course, and also noticed that clicking on the potential buyer's name (new to ebay as of this March) indicated she was in Europe. So I felt I had had a heads up moment to not accept any offers from her later fearing an accepted offer would override my "ships only to US" settings -- I'd accept $70 eventually, but not from her if it meant I'd be shipping to a foreign country. The item didn't sell so I did another 10 day auction at $80. Didn't sell again, dropped price to $75 fixed price and sold it to another buyer a day later.

I still have several antique brooches for sale fixed price (after they did not sell at auction) that are similar design and same semiprecious stones as the necklace. Now Ms. Europe is back making offers on several -- $25 for a $45 item, $10 for $20 & $30 items.  So three new messages received. I again told her my price is my price until I lower it myself, and besides I don't ship to foreign addresses. Then she's "foreign?" in one message and "I am in Southern City" in another. I replied "when I click on your user name it says you are in Europe, I don't ship out of US".  Another message regarding she has a friend in "Southern City" who she sends things to, and I'm thinking "lady you have 11 feedback and have been a member since March, doesn't sound to me like this is something you do all the time". I answered   "as I stated, I don't accept offers". Now I have another message again saying she wants to pay me $45 for items listed for about $95.

At that I went right to the BB list (where it has been probably 6 years since I added anyone), but I paused to come here. I'd actually happily make a special listing with three pieces for say $70ish and ship it to "Southern City". But she's been so pushy, and didn't keep watch when the original necklace was within $5 of her offer price, so I'm also thinking she's sort of flaky.

[myboardid]

I'd block her in a heartbeat.  She could be having her purchases shipped to a friend in the US, or she could be using a freight forwarder to have them shipped to her - that is quite common.  But you have made it clear that you are not interested in accepting offers. Since she is continuing to send them anyway, blocking is the right approach. 

[city*satins]

Are her offers in messages or as actual MAKE OFFER?   

If you have your settings done correctly so that buyers with non-US shipping addresses are blocked from making offers, then this particular buyer's offer can't go through.

If your settings are correct and you get an offer, then her address is in the US.

If your settings aren't correct, then correct them.

[city*satins]

For future, when communicating with a potential buyer, it's generally not polite to call their address 'foreign'  (as in ... and besides I don't ship to foreign addresses.)

A simpler way to express things is to tell the person (I only ship to US addresses. Do you have a US shipping address? )

To prevent buyers with non-US shipping addresses from bidding or buying or making offers, you need to use the BUYER PREFERENCES settings. Not just the settings in your individual listing.

[honeybadgerposter]

---

@city*satins wrote:

Are her offers in messages or as actual MAKE OFFER?   

If you have your settings done correctly so that buyers with non-US shipping addresses are blocked from making offers, then this particular buyer's offer can't go through.

If your settings are correct and you get an offer, then her address is in the US.

If your settings aren't correct, then correct them.

---

Messages. My blocks are set as far as country, and currencies. Was just unclear if there was anything I could do that would override my settings when I hadn't intended to.

[city*satins]

---

@honeybadgerposter wrote:

---

@city*satins wrote:

Are her offers in messages or as actual MAKE OFFER?   

If you have your settings done correctly so that buyers with non-US shipping addresses are blocked from making offers, then this particular buyer's offer can't go through.

If your settings are correct and you get an offer, then her address is in the US.

If your settings aren't correct, then correct them.

---

Messages. My blocks are set as far as country, and currencies. Was just unclear if there was anything I could do that would override my settings when I hadn't intended to.

---

Currencies  - that would be a Paypal setting not an eBay setting.

For blocking by country - that would have to be an eBay setting  BUYER REQUIREMENTS  - block members with shipping addresses in countries I don't ship to  (I'm paraphrasing that)

The listing ship to countries alone don't block the member - the Buyer Requirements setting has to be turned on too.  If you've done that then you're fine - it can't be bypassed unless the buyer adds a shipping address in a country you do ship to and then they won't be blocked from bidding, buying or making an offer.

You know where that is, yes? And have activated it?  

[voguevintage]

When it doubt, block. I block in a heart beat. I don't even flinch. My rule is this: what do you lose from blocking? Return business? I mean, do you really WANT them to buy from you again?

[femmefan1946]

When you say "Southern city" are you vaguebooking for Doral or Miami FL ? There are several freight forwarders in that area, and in my opinion, freight forwarders are the second safest addresses we can ship to.

The safest being Post Office boxes.

Your responsibility for delivery  ends when the forwarder accepts the shipment. Most forwarders make the customer's import fees part of their charge, so you don't get one of those phoney "Not Delivered" disputes before the scammer picks up the shipment and pays the duty and sales tax (after you are forced to refund price and shipping). You are still responsible for the Description, but not for damage after forwarder acceptance, and the buyer can be required to return the item before refunding while, the seller only has to pay return shipping from the forwarder's address. 

Basically, if an overseas customer uses a forwarder, she is not covered by the Money Back Guarantee.

EBay likes forwarders so much, they have their own forwarding program , the Global Shipping Program.

However. You don't want offers. The member continually sends offers.

You can Block her.

You can, now that you recognize her ID, delete her messages without reading.

You can ignore her Best Offers.

There used to be a provision for cancelling purchases from Unwanted Buyers, but I think it is now part to Problem with Address.  Can anyone confirm that?

[city*satins]

---

@voguevintage wrote:

When it doubt, block. I block in a heart beat. I don't even flinch. My rule is this: what do you lose from blocking? Return business? I mean, do you really WANT them to buy from you again?

---

Why would you block this person?  They haven't bought anything yet so there's no 'again'. 

They've not been pushy if they actually have what they say they have, a US shipping address. The seller is acting like they're guilty of something and seems to think they're lying - but if the buyer isn't lying and is trying to explain - seems that's not being pushy - that's being more patient with the seller than most buyers would be.  

The buyer hasn't done anything wrong except offer to buy and explain that they have a US shipping address.  Apparently this is unacceptable going out of the gate because the OP thinks that nobody with such a new ID could possibly have a friend in the US, her being MS EUROPE and all.  Oh and pushy and sort of flaky. But mostly foreign.   A little xenophobia going on maybe?

[simply-the-best-for-you]

Block. The non-US location has nothing to do with anything really. You told her you don't accept offers & she keeps hounding you with offers, I wouldn't give it a second thought. Unless you are entertaining her offers, there's no reason not to block.

Lots of non US buyers use fwding services or ship to a friend in the US, so that's not really an issue for a US only seller.

[city*satins]

---

@simply-the-best-for-you wrote:
Block. The non-US location has nothing to do with anything really. You told her you don't accept offers & she keeps hounding you with offers, I wouldn't give it a second thought. Unless you are entertaining her offers, there's no reason not to block.

Lots of non US buyers use fwding services or ship to a friend in the US, so that's not really an issue for a US only seller.

---

But the OP told us that she would have happily made a package listing for her if she had the US address but that now she won't because she considers her 'pushy' and maybe flaky.

I'm not clear why the OP doesn't want to sell to "Ms Europe"

[inhawaii]

---

@city*satins wrote:

---

@simply-the-best-for-you wrote:
Block. The non-US location has nothing to do with anything really. You told her you don't accept offers & she keeps hounding you with offers, I wouldn't give it a second thought. Unless you are entertaining her offers, there's no reason not to block.

Lots of non US buyers use fwding services or ship to a friend in the US, so that's not really an issue for a US only seller.

---

But the OP told us that she would have happily made a package listing for her if she had the US address but that now she won't because she considers her 'pushy' and maybe flaky.

I'm not clear why the OP doesn't want to sell to "Ms Europe"

---

My boss would say "She's pushy? More so i want to take her money."

[ersatz_sobriquet]

Just block her. What seller wants for a "buyer" somebody who is always trying to cheapen the price, especially on vintage/antique jewelry. Ick. If they want cheap they can go to Walmart where cheap junk is sold. 

I would stop discounting every week. It's attracting types like her. Pick a fair price and stick to it, or at least only have "sales" on a less than weekly basis. Any buyer that sees you practice that discounting system repeatedly knows to never buy that first few weeks from you unless they are truly worried it will be snatched up at full price. 

[simply-the-best-for-you]

So what?  That's her choice to make.  The person IS pushy b/c seller already said she doesn't take offers.   That doesn't make her a "xenophobe".  She prolly just doesn't want to hassle with Int'l Sales, which is 100% her right.   That's OP's choice. 

I didn't sell Int'l for almost the first 20 years of selling here.   I had a 'foreign' buyer the other day & told her pretty much same as OP b/c she was in a country that GSP doesn't even ship to.  When potential buyer told me she ships to a friend in the US, then I allowed the sale.   Totally within my rights.   

Block away OP, many sellers BBL the first time they get an offer on something that doesn't have BO.   You've already put up with more than many sellers would. 

[7606dennis]

I'd probably block her.