Foreign high bidder and I have international shipping disabled. Options?

[jlar1345]

I Just messaged the highest bidder on my camera lens auction that I don't ship internationally (in this case Paraguay). I have no international shipping select on my listing.I haven't heard back. I was also approached on Ebay mail by a buyer who wanted to deal outside Ebay (I blocked that buyer).   What are my options if the bidder from Paraguay continues to be high bidder?  I understand a foreign bidder can use a USA address and **bleep** to forward the package to their international location. I read on the forum most south and central American **bleep** are in FL.  Is there any penalty to remove the bid and block the buyer if I don't hear back?  Can I just remove the buyer's bid and relieve my "scam" anxiety?

[jlar1345]

He is no longer bidding and we discussed it. And you're right, I was one of the victims in a scam earlier this year with a different foreign reseller  with a fast forwarder. It's complicated and starts with an Ebay email shortly after the auction starts from a (0) who wants to make a deal outside Ebay (in both cases, they wanted me to end the auction in their favor).  I picked up on the "Tell" early this time and sure enough, up pops an out-of-country reseller bidder just like the previous problematic auction. A shill, usually a (0-1 or2), was also involved in both auctions as best I can tell. It's troubling but Ebay backs the buyer in all cases so it's up to  the  seller to beware.  I get it now.  

[jlar1345]

You are correct. Feedback was okay, what there was. Track record looked good, in fact, and  (with prodding) he finally responded to my concerns.  He is no longer bidding. Sellers need to be proactive about this stuff. Monitor who bids on your items. Ebay always backs the buyer so sellers need to super be diligent, to say the least. I was victimized earlier this year in exact same scenario as this auction started out. I picked up on it this time and watched for the "Tells" of a potential brewing scam. This out-of-country resale bidder may have been legitimate but I'm not willling to take the chance after what happened earlier this year.   

[dbfolks166mt]

He does live in Paraguay and he does have a freight forwarder in Miami.  I discussed it all with the bidder. I had a problem earlier the year with the same scenario. He is no longer bidding.

     Nice that the bidder got back to you. Since the individual finally got back to you and has stopped bidding that should resolve the issue with this item. I would still be tempted to add the individual to my BBL to prevent any potential repeats. 

[mam98031]

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@mam98031 wrote:

That can happen on most any transaction.  It is not only on **bleep**.

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I was shocked when I saw my post with a **bleep** on it as I don't cuss on the boards.  I'm do cuss in life, just not on the board.  I think what happened is I often refer to Freight Forwards just using the initial of the two words and I concerned a Bot.  LOL

[mam98031]

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@jlar1345 wrote:

Don't lecture me, thank you. I don't care if "you" never had a problem. I have.   He is an out of  country reseller with a freight forwarder in Miami with a shill bidder (suspected).  I had a terrible experience with another out-of-country reseller  earlier this year - exact same scenario as this (shill bidder and all) - that also included a freight forwarder. That incident cost me $600 earlier this year .   I won't go into the details but would rather not chance another problem.  I discussed my intentions with the buyer and he was okay with it.  End of story.   

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I'm not sure of your use of "shill bidder" in this particular case.  I understand and respect you've had some serious issues.  I'm only saying I don't think Shill Bidder is what you think it means.

"A shill bid is an illegal practice where a seller or their associates place bids on an item to artificially increase its price, desirability, or search standing. Shill bidding can create an unfair advantage for the seller and cause other bidders to pay more than they should. "

I am sincerely sorry you are having so much trouble with some transactions.  I hope things work out.  There is some good information for you on the thread.

[mam98031]

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@jlar1345 wrote:

He does live in Paraguay and he does have a freight forwarder in Miami.  I discussed it all with the bidder. I had a problem earlier the year with the same scenario. He is no longer bidding.

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The buyer is hiring a Freight Forwarder in Miami.  Freight Forwards exist all over the USA that are available to be hired by someone to forward shipments outside the country.  The ones I've mostly dealt with are in Miami, Texas, Oregon, California and someplace else on the East coast, but I can't think of it right now.  I'm sure there are others too.

[mam98031]

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@jlar1345 wrote:

He is no longer bidding and we discussed it. And you're right, I was one of the victims in a scam earlier this year with a different foreign reseller  with a fast forwarder. It's complicated and starts with an Ebay email shortly after the auction starts from a (0) who wants to make a deal outside Ebay (in both cases, they wanted me to end the auction in their favor).  I picked up on the "Tell" early this time and sure enough, up pops an out-of-country reseller bidder just like the previous problematic auction. A shill, usually a (0-1 or2), was also involved in both auctions as best I can tell. It's troubling but Ebay backs the buyer in all cases so it's up to  the  seller to beware.  I get it now.  

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I am so glad this worked out for you.

The other transaction you talk about is a bit different.  Taking a transaction off Ebay is ALWAYS a BIG NO.  No mater if the buyer is in the US or elsewhere.  If Ebay suspects a seller has done this, it is likely receives the harshest punishment from Ebay, so it is never worth the risk.

You seem very aware of what is going on.  Keep up the good work.  Take good care of those good buyers and keep them coming back.  Those are the ones we all want!!!

[brightlightbookseller]

You're not entirely wrong, it just sometimes takes the seller being proactive to prove that was the case and the buyer has forfeited the MBG.

[brightlightbookseller]

Yeah, it doesn't like the plural abbreviation for Freight Forwarders because it could be a slang abbreviation for another phrase. A little over the top for the automoderation in my opinion, but just in case anyone was wondering why it would be censored.

[mam98031]

It just threw me, I don't get those beeps on my posts.  I first thought I had messed up my post.  Then I remember that I often use FF for freight forwarders.  It just was a little jarring to see it.  Not a big deal really.  It just caught my eye.