Buyer Circumvented Account Block to Purchase and is Going to Neg Me

[1000-cuts-paper-and-ephemera]

I had a overseas buyer in Europe message me to ask if I would take less on  one of my listings. I checked them out, saw that they were in Europe, which I don't ship to and that they left more negative feedback than positive and I blocked them without answering their question. They purchased from me on an alternate account . I realized it was them, but since they purchased I had to ship. They sent me this message after I dropped off the package:

"Ah, I forgot... before leaving you the feedback you deserve for the rudeness you have shown, I would like to understand why you blocked me on my other profile (another member of my family) just for asking you for a discount"

What do I do?

[dhbookds]

I'd explain it to them honestly ...........that you don't ship overseas because of the return problems and you don't cut prices.......and have had trouble with buyers who ask for discounts.....  I'd probably apologize for not answering "upon reflection"....but that previous attempts have ended in arguments. Be as reasonable and non emotional as you can........

[wastingtime101 · Accepted solution]

You report them to eBay, you block the new ID, and you cancel the transaction.

Circumventing the block is a violation and sellers can cancel those sales and report the buyer:

When you report a buyer there is no specific reporting selection for buyers circumventing blocks. I usually select a reason that ties to why I blocked them in the first place, even if it's not an exact match, or go with 'demanding something not included in the listing' since that's most closely related to buyer demanding to make a purchase when their ID is blocked. There are real people reading these reports so it's fine if the reason code is a bit off. Once you drill down and select a reason the comment box will appear where you can explain why you're reporting them.

I put ID [id # 1] on blocked list, buyer attempting to circumvent block with new ID [id #2]. Did not find a specific circumventing a block selection under the report flow so I selected the option that most closely fit the situation.

[isaiah53-57]

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@1000-cuts-paper-and-ephemera wrote:

I had a overseas buyer in Europe message me to ask if I would take less on  one of my listings. I checked them out, saw that they were in Europe, which I don't ship to and that they left more negative feedback than positive and I blocked them without answering their question. They purchased from me on an alternate account . I realized it was them, but since they purchased I had to ship. They sent me this message after I dropped off the package:

"Ah, I forgot... before leaving you the feedback you deserve for the rudeness you have shown, I would like to understand why you blocked me on my other profile (another member of my family) just for asking you for a discount"

What do I do?

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@1000-cuts-paper-and-ephemera 

As per what @wastingtime101  wrote below you should have never shipped to them for circumventing the block -  I personally would have canceled that sale immediately with the "something wrong with buyers address" reason and never shipped.

I also would have sent a message to the buyer when they first corresponded with you letting them know you do not sell to buyers who are overseas - That may have settled the matter right from the start.

Can I ask why you chose to ship after you blocked them and then knew it was them who purchased it?

[wastingtime101]

Oops - I missed the part that said the seller shipped already.

In that case I still recommend reporting the buyer - both IDs.

If you want to try and message them as dhbookds suggested to avoid the neg you can try that.

If not, block the new ID. Note: adding them to your blocked list will also block all incoming messages from them. If a neg comes, request removal based on their policy violation of circumventing your block.

[1000-cuts-paper-and-ephemera]

I already shipped it. I read that you aren't allowed to cancel a sale just because the buyer is overseas and you don't ship internationally. I read that you would receive a defect for doing so, so  I shipped.  Explaining things to them honestly isn't going to work. They have negative feedback left in 4 different languages. You think I should report them immediately or wait until I receive the neg? They probably won't be able to leave it immediately because I'm a top rated seller.

[wastingtime101]

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@1000-cuts-paper-and-ephemera wrote:

 I read that you aren't allowed to cancel a sale just because the buyer is overseas and you don't ship internationally.

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That's correct, but that's not why you'd be cancelling. You'd be cancelling because they circumvented your block.

Report immediately.

[1000-cuts-paper-and-ephemera]

I was thinking of playing dumb like I don't remember the other account to fish for a more explicit feedback threat. Should I do that or just straight up tell them that I blocked them because they are in Europe and I don't ship there? I will be blocking them on the new account and reporting both accounts immediately. I could also probably intercept the package, but that seems like it would just create more problems.

[isaiah53-57]

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@1000-cuts-paper-and-ephemera wrote:

I already shipped it. I read that you aren't allowed to cancel a sale just because the buyer is overseas and you don't ship internationally. I read that you would receive a defect for doing so, so  I shipped.  Explaining things to them honestly isn't going to work. They have negative feedback left in 4 different languages. You think I should report them immediately or wait until I receive the neg? They probably won't be able to leave it immediately because I'm a top rated seller.

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That may be, but I always considered that a gray area - I canceled MANY sales to buyers who were overseas since we had a strict no overseas buyer policy due to problems we had experienced and read about - We even canceled some sales going to freight forwarders that we knew were going to overseas buyers - We used "something wrong with the buyers address" on every occasion - never had a defect for it and I say rightly so - If we weren't going to get the protection we needed, we needed to protect ourselves...

My guess at this point is bad feedback could be the least of your worries considering the buyers state of mind  - Hope it wasn't a pricey item - The main reason we no longer list here is due to fraud and theft...

[1000-cuts-paper-and-ephemera]

It wasn't an expensive item, only $12. I don't sell much that very expensive individually on here. It's not like they could send it back anyways since it's gong through a reship company. My gut instinct when I blocked him the first time was to delist the item and destroy it to avoid complications, but I decided not to.

[isaiah53-57]

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@1000-cuts-paper-and-ephemera wrote:

It wasn't an expensive item, only $12. I don't sell much that very expensive individually on here. It's not like they could send it back anyways since it's gong through a reship company. My gut instinct when I blocked him the first time was to delist the item and destroy it to avoid complications, but I decided not to.

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I wouldn't even worry about it then - Do what DHbooks said below - keep it short sweet and honest and hope for the best - They may appreciate the fact that you knew it was them when you did ship it - Best of luck

[stainlessenginecovers]

How did they buy if you don't ship internationally? Forwarder?

[1000-cuts-paper-and-ephemera]

They used a certain (in)famous reshipper in Sarasota, Florida.

[robbie31415]

Someone asks you a question and you block them. I can understand they being unhappy.

[1000-cuts-paper-and-ephemera]

Anyways, I responded to them politely and truthfully, reported them, and blocked them. It does help to know that next time I can just cancel for problem with address. I actually don't usually mind selling internationally to people using reshippers. The great part of this is that because of how specialized the collectibles I sell are, I am absolutely certain that I will eventually have something this person wants in the future. I'll update when I get my negative and appeal. For what it is worth, I've actually had a negative from an international buyer removed before, just not sure why it was removed. Possibly because they used a holding/reship service.