Blocking Selected States or Zip Codes from Buying

[pf9000]

Is it possible to block some of the States or specific zip codes? For example, there are a few States where people have a different culture, and will be problem buyers. They don't understand what someone in California wrote in the description. Or they thought the words had said something different. They are not happy with the transaction, and now they want to return the item. Another example would be a fragile item, and the further away it ships, the greater the risk of damage. And also the weather is sometimes an issue. I don't want to sell to someone in the middle of a storm or blizzard with road closings and evacuations. So I would like to be able to block those states or areas from buying, during those events. Is there a way to do that?

[pf9000]

Maybe you’re right. Telling it like it is, can sound offensive. I gave the buyer a full refund, even though he was not entitled to it. It just wouldn’t be worth it to send it back. I didn't want to risk my reputation as a seller and get negative feedback. If you look at the correspondence he sent me, you can just tell what he was trying to do. He took advantage of the situation, because he wanted something for nothing. He tried to make it look as though there was some sort of injustice or wrong doing on my part. The description and pictures did in fact provide an accurate representation of the merchandise which he received in the condition described. To demand a refund under those circumstances is dishonest. I don’t want any more sales from that bad neighborhood. Also I would like to be able to limit how far something is shipped.

[pf9000]

I would like to be able to exclude bad neighborhoods based upon zip codes. Also since I am in California, I would like some of my sales to be limited to California. The large items, the expensive to ship items, are cheaper to ship locally, and there is also the possibility of having the buyer come pick it up.The farther you ship an item, the greater the risk of something bad happening along the way. So for fragile items that are expensive to ship, I would like the option to select how far it is shipped.

[theteamsetguy]

@pf9000 ,

That would be better know as redlining. Google it if you don't know the meaning.  

[vintagepl]

funny post, Thank You! Maybe we could also separate Red States vs. Blue States😅

[vintagepl]

Why???

[theteamsetguy]

@vintagepl ,

I don't care what state they are in. Red, Blue, purple, or polka dot. I ship to them all. The green spends the same.

[vintagepl]

Agree!!

[rustydalmatian]

Why limit it to states.  I suggest you require prospective buyers to send a picture of themselves and block anyone with 8 or more missing teeth. 

[firefreak54]

One of the reasons people sell on eBay is because of the world wide customer base. If you want to stay on eBay but want to sell in Ca. only, then offer free local pickup only. Otherwise try some of the other venues such as Craigslist, Facebook, Mercari, or OfferUp, to name just a few, that offer non shipping sales.

As for myself, I’ll stick with eBay. I’ve been on here for over 20 years without a problem, other than the ones I created myself, either by posting insufficient descriptions or careless packaging. But, we learn from our mistakes.

[discoun-34]

NO YOU CANNOT BLOCK BUY STATE BUT YOU CAN CANCEL ORDER AND JUST CLICK ON SOMTHING WRONG WITH BUYERS ADDRESS AND YOU CAN ALSO PUT IN YOUR DESCRIPTION THAT YOU DONT SHIP TO CERTAIN STATES

[evry1nositswindy]

Did you report the buyer if feedback extortion was involved?

[pf9000]

A seller sometimes let's a buyer keep the merchandise because it would cost too much money to return it.  There was a recent sale where a dishonest buyer demanded a return even though the description matched what the buyer received. All he has to do is read the words and look at the pictures. If the pictures and words match what the buyer receives, than he should not be demanding a return. I  felt coerced into issuing him a full refund, rather than risking negative feedback, and damaging my reputation as a seller.

[pf9000]

I find it interesting that you mentioned those 4 States. Some States do in fact cause more trouble. Some zip codes do in fact cause more problems. Double boxing sometimes costs a lot more money and the item will not sell if the cost of shipping is exorbitant. Add just one inch to each dimension of the box and the cost of shipping turned out to be more than double. So in order to make the item more attractive to buyers, the smallest box possible is utilized to keep the shipping costs as low as possible.

[monroe67]

"Some States do in fact cause more trouble. Some zip codes do in fact cause more problems." 

Your posts in this thread keep repeating these ideas.  They sound kind of narrow-minded to me. 

As for my selling ID, in about 12 years of selling, I can't say I have identified any specific state as troublesome.  I've sold to buyers in NYC, LA and suburbs, Hawaii, Alaska, a few who were located in Ukraine (pre-war), and one in Australia.  Not a single one of those locations was the source of a problem for me.  

From a slightly earlier post to this thread: "Also since I am in California, I would like some of my sales to be limited to California. The large items, the expensive to ship items, are cheaper to ship locally, and there is also the possibility of having the buyer come pick it up."  Yes, indeed, there is "the possibility of having the buyer come pick it up."  

eBay very creatively decided to call that possibility -- "Local Pick Up." 
You can create your listings with Local Pick Up as the ONLY delivery method OR you can add local pickup as an option to US Postal Service or FedEx or UPS. 

BTW, you, as the seller, are entitled to choose the place for the local pickup.  This is helpful if you don't really want strangers coming to your home.  Some local police stations in various cities around the nation even have a designated area in the front of their buildings as a safe hand-over spot.  

[yuzuha]

---

@the_og_surplus wrote:

---

---

If your items get damaged when shipped more than a short distance, that's 100% your fault. Learn how to pack a box. I ship hundreds of items a week with less than 1% damage, shipping all over the world.

---

Heck, I've shipped blown glass Christmas ornaments internationally and all of them got to their destinations just fine. Pack properly and you won't have an issue.