Buyer Using False Names and Proxy Addresses to Circumvent No Overseas Shipping

[jorand_8976]

I sold two items to what I thought were two different buyers on the West Coast.  I shipped them promptly. But it turns out it was the same buyer, using different names with different addresses. This buyer is located in China! His game is obvious: use proxy address/shipping service to circumvent no international shipping policy. I messaged him and let him know I was onto his game. I told him when delivered to proxy address, end of transaction. I refuse to be held responsible for anything further. His response didn't even address the issue. It's a game, and the rules don't apply to him.

Why does eBay let this happen? I blocked and reported the guy, but that's locking the barn door after the animals got out. Is there better solution(s) to this? This is a serious issue all sellers potentially face.

[the-hook-and-the-loop]

You won't be held responsible after they reach their domestic destination and you made two sales.

[dentalsales4u]

eBay allows international buyers to use freight forwarders. They lose their money back guarantee though when they have product forwarded to another address.

If the product ships to a US address, that's where your responsibility ends.

If buyer files a claim, you only have to pay for the return shipping from where it shipped to. It's the buyers responsibility to get it to the freight forwarder.

This is something eBay has allowed for quite some time.

[dhbookds]

I presume the buyer were using reshippers to send the items on to a different country.  That is perfectly acceptable to Ebay........  You are responsible for getting the item to the US address......  If he claims not as described, you are only responsible for supplying a return shipping label from the US address............

[chapeau-noir]

Are you talking about freight forwarders?  If so, they're pretty common and many of us have sold to them.

[soh.maryl]

His "game"? You have to be joking.  A buyer who uses a freight forwarder.  There are a lot who use an FF in Oregon.  It's not an "issue" at all.  And, yes, the one true remark in your post:  Once the item is delivered to the FF, you're off the hook.  

[lamber9347]

Why is this a game, many people use freight forwarders and it's not against policy on here. You made two sales and before they were even delivered you messaged the buyer to make accusations. Seems you have inadvertently begun an issue that hasn't arisen yet. Best of luck to you.... 

[katzrul15]

Just using a Freight Forwarder.

No "serious" issue at all.

[albertabrightalberta]

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The buyer(s) did nothing wrong! You don't offer international shipping, they purchased your item, paid for it, provided a domestic shipping address and you are (seemingly) trying to start a fight with them. 

Be happy you made 2 sales while so many other sellers complain about ebay being dead! Sheesh! 

[femmefan1946 · Accepted solution]

Do you mean that a Chinese resident is using a freight forwarder?
Those are the second safest addresses you can ship to.

Not only does your responsibility for delivery end with the forwarder, but most forwarders also handle all customs and sales tax charges for their customers, which blocks one scam involving customs holds.

You remain responsible for Not As Described disputes, but even if you have a No Returns policy, you can still demand the return before refunding.

And eBay has confirmed that the return address is the forwarder not the overseas customer.

I should point out that over 80% of my sales are international, and I Block only four countries.

Conversation with Tyler (former employee of eBay)

FREIGHT FORWARDERS
 
Now -- if the GSP is not involved, but the buyer uses a freight forwarder, does the seller provide Return Shipping from the forwarding address or from the buyer's address?
Oooh this is a good clarification question @femmefan1946! A seller is only required to provide return shipping from the buyer's input address at time of checkout - that goes for any return where a seller provides shipping ('free' returns, etc).
 https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/All-Items-Are-Free/m-p/31966203#M1772511
Message #20 from tyler

BUT
GSP isn't considered a 'freight forwarder' as much as a shipping service a Seller can avail themselves of. 
 
On a GSP transaction the address input by the Buyer at checkout is their address at the final destination. The Erlanger address is inserted into the transaction for the Seller. This means for Not as Described return requests a Seller would still be responsible for return shipping from the final delivery address*.  
https://community.ebay.ca/t5/Buyer-Central/Global-Shipping-program-extremely-low-efficiency/m-p/4746... - tyler Post #13.
 

The last part of his answer involves the GSP which is not part of this question, and is included only for completeness.

[jorand_8976]

Not insensitive or prejudicial at all, but factual. These aren't going to Taiwan, but mainland China. Xi and the CCP will start WW3, if Putin hasn't beat them. 

[heckofagame]

Let me see if I understand this. Because a Chinese buyer sent you money, WW3 is imminent?

[bonjourami]

"Not insensitive or prejudicial at all, but factual. These aren't going to Taiwan, but mainland China. Xi and the CCP will start WW3, if Putin hasn't beat them"

Lordy. 

[1tuna]

heres the way I see it

the buyer is an eager beaver and is going out of the way to get some goods

you on the other hand are trying to put the brakes on selling your wares.

I am sorry if you are a timid seller but thats e commerce for you

sellers need to embrace reshippers for what they are

they are just an entity that is keeping the ball rolling......thats why I sell

@jorand_8976 

[onefootflipper]

I sell cards, freight forwarders used to be a nightmare for card sellers back when things were stamp and envelope because seemingly half those customers would file claims that they hadn't received the card. 

However about 2 months after standard envelope came out those claims dried up entirely and I haven't had a problem with a forwarding service customer since then. The first couple months though, same thing, every card going to a freight forwarder would come with a message or claim a week or two later, but all those claims failed because they had showed delivered. Then it just stopped, it didn't work anymore, and they stopped trying, at least on ebay, they probably still do it on TCGplayer (which is where I first noticed the pattern, I audited the card shops I worked at for TCGplayer claims and noticed that almost all our claims went to forwarders).