Buyer With a Strange Oregon Address? Help!

[afrench11]

I had someone buy one of my video games (yay) -- but upon looking at the Shipping - it is a WEIRD Address. Is this a scam? The buyer's "About" page on Ebay says he/she lives in Australia. I've never shipped overseas. Scammer?

6215 NE 92nd Dr C/O AUW-CQBNF
Portland, OR 97253-1776
United States

???

[buyselljack2016]

  "freight forwarder" address for a foreign buyer.

Not uncommon when you do not offer EDIT (direct) international shipping

[afrench11]

I do offer International Shipping 😮

[theteamsetguy · Accepted solution]

@afrench11 ,

Your buyer is using freight forwarder to save money on shipping to their home country. Also, Many freight forwarders are based on Oregon because there is no sales tax.

Just ship it like any other order. Don't worry about all the negative posts about freight forwarders. I've shipped many items to freight forwarders over the years with zero problems. The odds of a transaction going sideways is just likely going to a domestic buyer.

Like they say in poker when you have the nuts. Ship it!!!

[ryry-jj]

Yes, it is a FF.  I have shipped there a least 3 times, no issues at all.  I'd ship there again unless I see  more red flags on the buyer's end

[afrench11]

Thank you, very helpful! Cool~

[buyselljack2016]

OK, some use a FF anyway.

Your shipping is through eIS which can be very costly for international shipping.

[theteamsetguy]

@afrench11 ,

Many foreign buyers use freight forwarders to save on shipping costs. The freight forwarders combine  their purchases and send them to buyer in large containers.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

Look at the buyer's profile. It should say what country they are from. Look at all their feedback. 

Do you see anything that raises a red flag? If so, you might ship with signature required at the F.F. I do this to confirm it was delivered because you will never receive any additional information / tracking when the F.F. sends it off. Only way to know the buyer received is if they take the time to leave feedback.

[dbfolks166mt]

Look at the buyer's profile. It should say what country they are from. Look at all their feedback. 

     Their registered address is not always a good indicator of where the buyer may be at the moment or if they are actually shipping it to themselves. I have shipped a number of items to foreign registered buyers that went to a US shipping address or to another country besides the one the buyer is registered in I know this from getting hit with the international fee.

     Always possible that the buyer is living in the US or they are sending a package to friends and family in another country. 

Do you see anything that raises a red flag? If so, you might ship with signature required at the F.F. I do this to confirm it was delivered because you will never receive any additional information / tracking when the F.F. sends it off. Only way to know the buyer received is if they take the time to leave feedback.

     Even with a questionable buyer what would you suggest the seller do? 

[sextons-sweet-deals]

I already posted what the seller should do / think about. 

What are your suggestions to the seller for a safe / secure transaction?

[keziak]

i haven't had an Oregon freight forwarder, the ones who use me are in Florida. My favorite transaction was not that long ago, a guy bought several oversize games and paid a pretty penny for me to get it to Florida. Said didn''t care how much. Turns out he lives in Columbia. I'd never shipped there before to my knowedge.

I have internationals ask how much to ship to their country and I have to say I do not know but assume it's pricey. I get the EIS orders a lot anyway.

[dbfolks166mt]

I already posted what the seller should do / think about. 

What are your suggestions to the seller for a safe / secure transaction?

     As a seller on eBay there is never a way to absolutely ensure a "safe/secure" transaction unless you are shipping items through the EIS program which has almost unlimited seller protection. While your signature suggestion may help if the seller does not wish to go through with the transaction that is another issue. I was curious what you would recommend in that situation.