International Buyer Request Question

[coolstuff_56]

An international buyer from Portugal  purchased an item from me (hasn't paid yet) and wants me to ship it to some address in my state for the purpose of avoiding import fees. This address isn't tied to his account in any way. I told him that he would need to add an alternative address to his paypal account but he claims it can't be done since it would be switching countries.  He wants me to send a paypal money request to his email.  This sounds very risky. Has anybody had similar requests or have any advice?

(Note this is on a different account).

[jaja02360]

I'm no expert, but it feels the the answer should be a whole lot of NOPE.

[starroute-us]

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@coolstuff_56 wrote:

An international buyer from Portugal  purchased an item from me (hasn't paid yet) and wants me to ship it to some address in my state for the purpose of avoiding import fees. This address isn't tied to his account in any way. I told him that he would need to add an alternative address to his paypal account but he claims it can't be done since it would be switching countries.  He wants me to send a paypal money request to his email.  This sounds very risky. Has anybody had similar requests or have any advice?

(Note this is on a different account).

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He can add or edit a ship to address in his ebay account preferences, then select that ship to address when paying. Not via his PP account.

He can even make the forwarding address primary for ship to.

Then you are not circumventing ebay.

Here is how the set up looks on ebay:

[coolstuff_56]

Thanks, I will tell him, and if he still says he cant then I won't make the sale.

[megadestroyers]

Fresh fish??

Something about the avoidance of import fees just doesn't ring right, first red herring.  If that "local" address he wants you to use is actually a forwarding US shipper, he's paying duties, somehow.  

Address not attached to ebay account and Paypal account?  Many folks have no issues shipping to a US forwarding shipper as a means of completing international sales.  But, the address situation is usually already in place.  Requesting a different one is..............Second red herring.

Address changes can be made to both ebay and Paypal accounts.  Keep in mind, though, unconfirmed (gonna assume on the Paypal account) addresses do present the risk of fraud.  Typically, off-shories will register a US forwarding shipper address as their ebay primary shipping address to get around no international shipping preferences, and most will have that same address as their Paypal shipping address, even though their Paypal account registration (confirmed), is actually off-shore.  It is a good practice to verify Paypal/ebay addresses match.  No matchy, no shippy.  School's in.

And please, do NOT risk any communications with your buyer outside of ebay messaging.  

[papermoneyforme]

If they ever file through Paypal, you are dead and the wonderful Ebay protection means absolutely nothing.

I would just say sorry,  and block to protect yourself

[megadestroyers]

"If they ever file through Paypal....."

Filing would never present itself as an issue unless the buyer actually paid, or even could pay (non US Paypal account block).  Filing would never present itself as an issue if the seller canceled the sale due to a problem with the buyers address.  Both of which I would gladly have in place and/or do.  

And yes.  ebay protection, right out of the horses mouth (right end?), will ALWAYS be subservient to the much bigger brother, that "financial institution".  

[itsjustasprain]

I get foriegn buyers in my selling account all thetime who have their purchase sent to a US address. Its no big deal. The fact that your buyer cannot figure out how to do this is not YOUR problem. Its his - and it is not the rright solution to have you send him a money request. Do not do that.

[starroute-us]

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@coolstuff_56 wrote:
Thanks, I will tell him, and if he still says he cant then I won't make the sale.

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This is how anyone outside of the US adds a shipping service to their account when the seller does not ship directly so they can bid and buy using a forwarder.

Easy peasy and no off ebay stuff, which is against policy.

Just make sure you have US only shipping on that listing so he can't sneak in non US shipping when paying.

[megadestroyers]

"Just make sure you have US only shipping on that listing so he can't sneak in non US shipping when paying."

Simply listing "US only" shipping on your ebay item isn't enough to block a non US Paypal payment.  If you don't wanna do international, set up your non US Paypal account block and US currency only blocks/preferences in Paypal.

Off-shories using US forwarding shipper addresses can actually present some advantages to a seller, getting past the old time scams of some Nigerian heir to the throne nonsense, language barriers, etc, etc.  Actually, INR claims can be shot down simply by providing proof of delivery to US forwarding shipper ONLY.  Sure.  You may have an SNAD claim filed, but some of the requirements of an off-shorie buyer may make it both cost/time prohibitive in terms of actually initiating a return.  

[starroute-us]

I know that, the OP is going to allow the purchase and not block NON US PP payments, he just only wants to ship to the US.
No money request via PP /no off bay sale.:)

So as long as his block for "ship to" locations is correct, and the buyer has added a US primary ship to address on his Ebay account..... the buyer can purchase using a US based ship to addy.

The buyer can not change his primary address in his PP account to a US address, because he is in another country.

[coolstuff_56]

He managed to change the address to the US address (a PO Box) and paid so now it appears to be a normal transaction.

[starroute-us]

Good
He did that via ebay primary ship to address and you do not have non US PP accounts blocked.
You are covered for INR only to the first location that you ship to(address associated with payment)
The rest of the journey is on the shipping service and buyer does not have ebay protection for reshipped items, although PP allows it.:(

[coolstuff_56]

So what you're saying is if the package makes it to the US address then from ebay's point I'm good, but from Paypals point I'm liable? If thats the case I already figure I'm liable no matter what because the buyer can always make up some story and paypal will always refund the buyer.

[megadestroyers]

You are only responsible for delivery to US address, with tracking, with both Paypal and ebay.  You are ONLY protected from an INR claim as the only proof needed is tracking showing delivery to US address.  From there to buyers physical address, you are not responsible.

Buyer can STILL open an SNAD return claim, on both.  Hopefully, for you the seller, they do so on ebay first, though the option of opening one with Paypal at the same time one is opened on ebay will be there.