How can I accept Best Offer if I can't find out where I'll be shipping to?

[sandandtone]

I sell quite a bit of golf clubs- sets and bags- sometimes even shoes. If I list with a best offer there is now no way to find the approximate location of the potential buyer to know whether shipping cost will kill me or not! This feature has been removed and I have been on hold- as has been the case for the past several weeks- for over an hour to get what should be a simple question answered. Additionally when listing an item the forms change and add details. Besides all that when I do list some items the details will populate with different sleeve lengths- brand and sizes. It's getting harder and harder to deal with eBay. If it ain't broke tell your IT people to go away and quit screwing things up. I lost pictures for 2 dozen items a couple weeks ago and rather than re-take pictures and re-list them I put them in a neighbors yard sale.   

[sam9876]

A smart seller would have already added in a zone 8 shipping cost, so it wouldn't matter where the buyer is.

[sandandtone]

It did not a couple hours ago and just tried again and it did. Weird things are going on with selling these days.

[sandandtone]

Are you sure? Why would anyone offer to pay return shipping cost then? Also if it's new with tags we use to be able to make a return condition "Tags Still Attached" but that option is now gone.

[missjen831]

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@sam9876 wrote:

A smart seller would have already added in a zone 8 shipping cost, so it wouldn't matter where the buyer is.

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Of course it matters and a smart seller knows that. 

[sandandtone]

**bleep**! I never look at those e-mails

[sam9876]

Forgot to mention...  Best Offer is the same as shooting yourself in the foot.

[hioctane62]

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@sam9876 wrote:

A smart seller would have already added in a zone 8 shipping cost, so it wouldn't matter where the buyer is.

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Did you not see the "best offer" part of this post?

When considering a best offer, it does matter if it is shipping to zone 8-9 or within the same state. I might consider an offer from a closer zone that I might reject going to a further zone. Shipping can be a deal killer to further zones, particularly for large or heavy items.

[hioctane62]

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@sam9876 wrote:

Forgot to mention...  Best Offer is the same as shooting yourself in the foot.

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Try doing both, just once. Then come back and tell us if you still believe this.

[sam9876]

 Wouldn't it be smarter for the seller to set a fixed price and see what happens?  Then lower the price of the item if it doesn't sell at the appropriate velocity.

(I understand if you don't get it.  This is a slightly complicated economics theory.)

[hioctane62]

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@sam9876 wrote:

 Wouldn't it be smarter for the seller to set a fixed price and see what happens?  Then lower the price of the item if it doesn't sell at the appropriate velocity.

(I understand if you don't get it.  This is a slightly complicated economics theory.)

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OR... you could add best offer after it doesn't sell after a period of time. Sure, you may get some lowball offers, but it still could sell for the higher price. Slightly less complicated than your theory that only you are smart enough to understand (insert sarcasm emoji here). There are a number of different ways to do things, not just the ways you approve of.

[kh-gary]

Hello everyone,

This thread is getting a bit heated.  Please remember that it’s fine to disagree with others, but discussion should always remain courteous and respectful.

Thank you for your cooperation.

[Anonymous]

@sandandtone- even though you have visibility to the buyer's registered location, that doesn't mean it's where they will have the item shipped.

You can accept an offer assuming the highest shipping cost to be safe, or you can send a message to the buyer and ask the city/state where the item will be shipped for a more accurate cost.

One of the eBay reps on this board said that while a zip code or an address may trigger an off-eBay communication warning, a city/state would not.

[pj895]

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@sam9876 wrote:

A smart seller would have already added in a zone 8 shipping cost, so it wouldn't matter where the buyer is.

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Not always.

On heavier items (things that do not go flat rate/same rate to all) some smart sellers list the item with calculated shipping to attract buyers that are closer to the seller.   Using zone 8/9 shipping rates can increase the chances that the item will not sell.  Detering sales is not the best(smartest) idea when selling.

[sam9876]

Over 96% of my listings sell every month with free shipping calculated to zone 8.

[coolections]

If you are going to use best offer you need to either stop using free shipping, or absorb the cost. If you say free shipping the location has no bearing on where it is actually going. Use calculated shipping or stop doing best offers.