Getting fed up with the game of international bidders and sellers

[nationalpawnshop]

Last year we had several incidents (four, actually) where we sold an item to someone located outside the US, but with a "re-shipper" address in the US. Until these we really didn't care where anyone was located. Our only restriction was on not shipping overseas because dealing with customs declarations was more time consuming than it was worth.

These four incidents followed the same scenario. We sold an item and shipped it. A couple of weeks later we received a message from the buyer that they wanted to do a return but that we would need to send them additional funds to cover return postage from their home country. Obviously we didn't comply and under the circumstances we were not required to by eBay. And while none of them resulted in a return each incident was an aggravating waste of our time and we thus decided that we would not sell or ship to anyone located overseas, regardless of their shipping address. This morning, out of 9 auctions with winning bids, I found one based in the Ukraine and another based in Columbia. While cancelling bids may be a fairly simple procedure we feel that we shouldn't have to bother. If we can restrict our listed shipping preference to the US only why can't we do so for buyers location?

Buying something should also be straightforward but, apparently, isn't. If we're looking for a particular item and run a general search we can filter Item Location to US Only. But, why not, Seller Location? How many times have we ordered something where the item location was California or New Jersey and then it turns out the seller is located in Hong Kong?

If eBay is trying to force us to sell to anyone, anywhere, regardless of our preferences, then why bother being able to filter the search to US Only? Why should the item location matter? Why should the buyers location matter? Why should we be allowed shipping restrictions but not selling restrictions? Why shouldn't we have the option of choice all the way instead of just selectively?

We're not trying to be xenophobic; we're just trying to avoid time wasting and aggravation.

[castlemagicmemories]

2. As regards customs declaration. It's not just a matter of the additional steps to take and, maybe this too has changed over time, but we got weary of the requests that we lie to customs and declare an item as an "unsolicited gift" so that

the buyer could avoid duties. 

I applaud your integrity.  Sincerely.

[castlemagicmemories]

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@pjcdn2005 wrote:

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

 Our only restriction was on not shipping overseas because dealing with customs declarations was more time consuming than it was worth.

You might consider using the ebay GSP.  You ship to the Hub in KY, they take over from there.  You are only responsible for getting the item intact to KY.

Pitney Bowes assumes responsibility thereafter.

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The seller is still responsible for return shipping if the item is  not as described and it is considered to be the sellers responsibility.

That is correct, thank you for additional info there.  However, my post was in response to the statement in the OP, as shown in my post, that they felt "dealing with customs declarations was more time consuming than it was worth".  Thus my suggestion to use GSP referred to the fact that they handle the customs declarations.

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[little.font.lord.leroy]

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@nationalpawnshop wrote:

A couple of brief clarifications.

 1. We've been in retail since 1945 and on eBay since 1999 (a couple of weeks shy of our 20th anniversay!)...

 ...We are a brick and mortar retail business and ... I have to take time away from other responsibilities to cancel the transaction.

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I wrote "If you are so easily bothered, perhaps retail sales is not for you. " I wasn't trying to be flippant. It is important to monitor our career to determine if we are fulfilled and reasonably happy. Are we burnt out? Do we need to drop the most annoying part of our duties, like selling on eBay? Just a thought.

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@nationalpawnshop wrote:

All I'm asking is why, if I can restrict our shipping preferences to the US I can't restrict sales to those located overseas?

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That is a reasonable question. None of us here are qualified to answer it, perhaps on the weekly sellers Q&A with eBay you will find a ready response.

All I was saying is that under the current system you are at no loss to sell to a foreigner who uses a US relay shipper, and that having to "deal with" the requests to pay for returns should be considered a part of doing business here. If you don't like that... you have options.

[mam98031]

@nationalpawnshop 

All I'm asking is why, if I can restrict our shipping preferences to the US I can't restrict sales to those located overseas?

Maybe if we understood a bit better as to why you are against selling to an international buyer with a US ship to address we could better help.  What are the reasons that this type of sale concerns you?  What is it that you don't like about it>

[castlemagicmemories]

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@nationalpawnshop wrote:

Last year we had several incidents (four, actually) where we sold an item to someone located outside the US, but with a "re-shipper" address in the US. Until these we really didn't care where anyone was located. Our only restriction was on not shipping overseas because dealing with customs declarations was more time consuming than it was worth.

These four incidents followed the same scenario. We sold an item and shipped it. A couple of weeks later we received a message from the buyer that they wanted to do a return but that we would need to send them additional funds to cover return postage from their home country. Obviously we didn't comply and under the circumstances we were not required to by eBay. And while none of them resulted in a return each incident was an aggravating waste of our time and we thus decided that we would not sell or ship to anyone located overseas, regardless of their shipping address. This morning, out of 9 auctions with winning bids, I found one based in the Ukraine and another based in Columbia. While cancelling bids may be a fairly simple procedure we feel that we shouldn't have to bother. If we can restrict our listed shipping preference to the US only why can't we do so for buyers location?

Buying something should also be straightforward but, apparently, isn't. If we're looking for a particular item and run a general search we can filter Item Location to US Only. But, why not, Seller Location? How many times have we ordered something where the item location was California or New Jersey and then it turns out the seller is located in Hong Kong?

If eBay is trying to force us to sell to anyone, anywhere, regardless of our preferences, then why bother being able to filter the search to US Only? Why should the item location matter? Why should the buyers location matter? Why should we be allowed shipping restrictions but not selling restrictions? Why shouldn't we have the option of choice all the way instead of just selectively?

We're not trying to be xenophobic; we're just trying to avoid time wasting and aggravation.

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Great post, OP, you clearly enunciated your reasons for being against this.  I have bolded each point and reiterate them for you here.

To recap,  you are not interested in international sales because:

1.  Of the paperwork and request to lie.

2.  The possibility of a return.

3.  A waste of time.

And the of course, your summation at the end:

You are just trying to avoid wasting time and aggravation.

[mam98031]

Thank you for recapping what the OP said.  However with that said, it does not answer my question to the OP which you were attempting to answer for them.  But I appreciate your efforts.

1.  Of the paperwork and request to lie.

Custom forms are NOT required on shipments to US addresses.  So there is no paperwork in which a buyer may ask the seller to "lie" on.

2.  The possibility of a return.

Returns can happen on any transaction.  Sellers are responsible for their shipments to the address in which they ship to.  It doesn't matter where the buyer's primary account is set up.  It is the shipping address that matters to the seller.  This is further covered in the MBG.  If the concern is that the package may end up in another country, once it is reshipped, MBG is void for the buyer.  Besides there are lots of International buyers that are here on extended vacas, living here for work purposes and more.  Not all shipments get reshipped to another country, many stay right here in the good old USA.

3.  A waste of time.

I have no idea why making a sale is a "waste of time".  It is why all sellers are here.  To sell stuff.  It's what we do.

And the of course, your summation at the end:

You are just trying to avoid wasting time and aggravation.

How is the seller wasting time?  I honestly don't understand.

[castlemagicmemories]

OP, I understand and respect your wish to have the right to decide whom you wish to sell to.

Some sellers report having had many transactions go successfully through re- shippers; others have had issues as can be clearly seen on these Boards.

There was good advice about blocks.  As it has been said, not all sales are worth having.  These seem to be a risk you are comfortable taking.  And I can see the wasted time and aggravation you reference in those trying to get to return.

All in all, sellers have different comfort levels and I certainly understand yours.  If you are not comfortable, I doubt you are alone.  

I'm sorry you have had to go through this.  

No response necessary.

[castlemagicmemories]

These seem to be a risk you are comfortable taking.

That should be, these seem to be a risk you are NOT comfortable taking.

[fashunu4eeuh]

It sounds to me like your sales are so brisk, that you are running to keep up. In fact, you are doing so well, you can afford to turn away business. Perhaps the issue is not overseas sales, but rather time management. Maybe it is time to evaluate what your manpower needs are in an ever-changing market.