Blocked buyer used alternate account to buy

[gaschmooka]

I was recently contacted by a buyer about an item they wished to purchase. This buyer is out of the country and seems to have a big problem with receiving shipments. Worse, the buyer leaves negative feedback for at least 1/3 of their transactions. I blocked the buyer. The same item (which had been sitting for a long time) has now sold to someone who I know is the same person. (I don't want to be too specific here, please just accept that I know it is the same person.) The shipment is being sent to a USA address - a freight forwarder, not through the international program. Is there any way of protecting myself here? I am expecting to get a complaint of "never delivered", or possibly "INAD", plus negative feedback. I know I have to ship the item. What can I do to avoid the likely negatives?

[dbfolks166mt]

     I don't see any sold items on this account so I am assuming it is a posting account and there is nothing wrong with that. A bit more information may help. What was the item, what is the value and where is the buyer located? 

     EBay does provide some seller protection when the item goes through a freight forwarder once the package is delivered to the forwarder. However, they have waffled on that on occasion and there have been issues with packages going to forwarders in FL. where the delivery scan to the forwarder is never completed. 

     Also so much has become automated that claims for INR, NAD..... are automatically handled since the software has no idea the package went through a freight forwarder. You may have to include specific details if you have to respond to a eBay case/claim and even then you may initially loose the case and have to appeal the decision. I have shipped several things through freight forwarders and fortunately have never had a problem but I don't list high dollar and high target items. 

[go-bad-chicken]

@gaschmooka 

Yes you can take some precautions to better protect yourself when shipping directly to a freight forwarder for an overseas buyer.

You add signature confirmation to the order. A freight forwarders employee will have to sign for the package. This starts the clock on eBays 30 day Money Back Guarantee. Often times and depending on the country where the buyer lives it can take more than 30 days to be shipped from the forwarder, arrive, and then to be delivered to the buyer. While this does not guarantee protection it does help.

I usually message/email the buyer letting them know that their package has been shipped to their freight forwarder and that signature confirmation is required by their forwarders representative/agent.

For me what this generally accomplishes is that it will draw out the buyer in conversation to admit that the item in question is being forwarded onto their actual country of residence. If and when that happens eBay's MBG is null and void. 

This process has generally speaking served me well over the past few years. It doesn't always work as many buyers do go silent once shipping has taken place but more times than not it does work for me to get the buyer to engage in conversation and somewhere state along the way that the item is being forwarded onto them.

Best of luck.