Freight Forwarding Service - Need guidance from other sellers

[ph_electronics]

Hello fellow eBay sellers. I have a conundrum and need some guidance from other sellers. I primarily sell computer components here on eBay. I've been having a rash of recent issues with selling graphics cards on here and having the items bought by buyers who say they are located in the US, but when I google their shipping address, it turns out to be a freight forwarding service. It's gotten so prevalent that I now add a disclaimer to any of my listings that I do not ship to international shippers, even those with US based address (i.e. freight forwarding services). I have an item that just sold and, sure enough, it's a seller that says they're based in the US, but the shipping address is an international shipping service based in Oregon (Shipito).

For context, I sold a graphics card last year and shipped it out to a US based address (which turned out to be an international forwarding service). A day after I shipped it, I received notification through eBay that the transaction was cancelled due to a fraudulent buyer activity, so I had to scramble to intercept the package. Luckily I was able to retrieve my item. I realize this is an isolated incident and I'm sure there are plenty of legitimate buyers out there that aren't scammers, but I have been very wary of selling computer components since and always check the address now before shipping.

I've seen plenty of posts on here with comments saying that it's perfectly fine as my responsibility ends once I have delivery confirmation to the US based address. My concern is that the items I sell here on eBay are high dollar value/demand and have a high potential for scams/fraudulent activity. I've contacted eBay Customer Service and have received conflicting responses. Some tell me it's ok to cancel the transaction and use the issue with buyer's address option, others tell me I'm opening myself up to receiving a defect if I do this.

Are there other sellers out there that are selling similar items and running into the same issues? If so, how do you handle them? I've been selling on eBay for quite awhile and have only recently run into these types of situations, so any advice/guidance fellow sellers can provide would be most welcome. Thanks in advance!

[american-photography]

I had a similar situation to yours but I don't sell graphic cards just collectibles.

In my case, the buyer from Japan wanted to purchase a $130.00 framed vintage picture but without the frame and just ship the picture for $100.00 to their "friend" in Oregon.

When I required that their "friend" in Oregon must pay for it and have it shipped to their address or the buyer must have it shipped directly to them in Japan, I never heard back from them again.

I suspected this was a freight forwarder and I added the buyer to my blocked buyer list.

Ask questions and if in doubt, don't sell it and block them permanently to protect yourself.

[stainlessenginecovers]

I don't sell those items but I know they are highly scammed items. Best to simply cancel the sale (and refund if they paid) using 'something wrong with address'; then add that buyer to your blocked list. 

[bbravo65]

...I used to sell Chanel perfume and occasionally high-end women bags as Michael Kors, Patricia Nash, Coach...the highest price tags was up to $300...I had shipped my orders to buyers whom signed up with US base but used freight forwarding mostly from Miami and Dora, Florida...I strongly confirmed that I never had any problems with these places or their buyers...

...but that was up until last year for expensive items, my listings now are lower price...I still shipped those buyers once in awhile...

...the reason I'm no longer selling high dollar value of Chanel is the US base buyers with US addresses whom falsely filed INAD cases and swapped my authentic Chanel with counterfeit goods...

...you have good and bad peoples everywhere you go, every businesses you deal, every events you meet...

...I wish you the best of the best in you endeavour...

...oh I don't think you would get a ding from eBay if you use "problem with address" when cancelling a sale...that's the only tool to get out of a bad, self-predict ill-fate business...it's better than "out of stock"...and whom will suffer most of the lost but you, the seller, not eBay...besides how much will eBay protect you from any falsely claims...?...it could be none, nothing, nadda...

....btw, I don't sell to international buyers...

[ph_electronics]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. Sounds like I shouldn't sweat it too much and simply cancel the transaction. I just wish there was some way to automatically block these types of buyers. The same scenario has happened with my last few listings, where it's an international buyer w/ a forwarding service as their address and I just am getting so frustrated, but also don't want to risk jeopardizing my rating here on eBay.  Thanks for the guidance everyone!

[klhmdg]

Canceling for "problem with buyers address" does not give the seller a service ding BUT the buyer can report the seller to eBay and also leave negative FB.

Also your disclaimer about shipping wont matter.

It can not be enforced and eBay wont stand behind it.

I dont know what to recommend but all your options can lead to issues on these sales.

[stainlessenginecovers]

A cancelled order does not allow a buyer to leave feedback. They are refunded and therefore there is no transaction.

Where did you get that from? 

[dbfolks166mt]

     I often run into what you describe and while some may be legit the majority probably are not. The international scammers register with a US account and use freight forwarders to get around US sellers who do not wish to sell internationally or limit where they sell internationally. If they have a US account and are using a freight forwarder to me that is a huge red flag. If you are indeed living in the US you should have no need for a freight forwarder. 

     Even when the buyers account happens to be registered in a foreign country when they use a freight forwarder it will allow them to override the settings in your listing. I.E. you don't sell internationally or you don't sell to particular countries. The current eBay code uses the shipping address, not the sellers account information to compare against the listing. 

     I always google the shipping address prior to shipping an item to see if it is a freight forwarding business/company. I also look at the buyers account information to see what country their account is setup in. I sell internationally but to limited countries and I have canceled more than one order using problem with the buyers address when the buyer has attempted to circumvent the listing restrictions.