International Sales Help

[moonbound50]

I'm running into a new set of issues with international sales. I had them available in the past, but I turned it off because of the frequency of problems associated with it and the fallout affect on my metrics. Now, I am getting international sales through freight forwarding services. I've read on here on the subject and it seems the best solution is to Google the buyers address. If it is one of these entities, I can cancel the sale apparently, by siting an issue with the buyers address.

Duly noted. 

So if this is the best solution, do I literally have to Google each shipment that is a coastal (mostly east) location?

Are there any better solutions?  I'm learning some of the red flags. Latest was to not use USPS and ignored any communication afterwards regarding the doubled shipping costs and will they cover them. I wasn't willing to spend $28 on FedEx for a $32 item when USPS was $8ish. So I messaged the buyer before he bought the item, that he received an offer on, so it locked the listing and I couldn't change it to his shipping preference. I described the price difference and said I would use USPS unless he paid the extra. No response. 2 hours later, he buys it and says as a note on the order confirmation, "Remember, don't use USPS. Use FedEx or another service."

He then ghosted me on any communication after. I tried 3 times before I had to send it or I got a late shipment ding on my metrics. 

Now the package is stuck in Florida somewhere for 2 weeks. Only a matter of time before I get a INR case. So, now I know to check addresses.

Or do any of you have something else to try? My metrics have taken a hit lately from a few of these and my sales have slowed WAY down as a result. I'm behind on bills and can't keep having to give back. Especially when they can't ship items back. If they actually get them. But my guess is part of the scam is to not ever let the item show delivered. How? No idea. Just my gut feeling. They get it, don't allow it to show that, and they slap the final destination label on it and send it to the buyer. But that's a rabbit hole I didn't need to enter. I'm just trying to figure out how to protect myself from future negative transactions; Which are more prevalent in this scenario than actual buyers in the US. 

[mam98031]

You should look at Ebay's EIS program for international shipping.  it is a wonderful program and takes away almost all risk.

EIS is a great program. I encourage you to read about it and decide for yourself if it will work for you. It takes almost all the risk for international shipping off the sellers.

Feel free to come back and ask for advice on what to do.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/ebay-international-shippin...

https://pages.ebay.com/internationalshippingprogram/seller/terms/

[krazzykats]

Why would you want to block freight forwarders? 

I've sold items through them several times with no problems. 

People will report when they have a problem, but don't when everything is as it should be. 

Many transactions run through freight forwarders without a hitch.

ᓚᘏᗢ

[krazzykats]

Once the forwarder has it, it's delivered.

ᓚᘏᗢ

[moonbound50]

That's the problem I'm having. Getting it to them. I've had 3 packages that I've had to give a refund for because of them not reaching the destination on 2 of them, and the 3rd was the person dismantled the item saying it didn't work, but he just didn't know how to adjust it properly. Then, he took pictures and said I sent it that way. I asked him to send it back and I'd give him a refund, but he couldn't return it because the freight forwarding company doesn't allow it. The one I described above doesn't make sense to me. Why USPS is a problem,  yet he didn't want to pay for the difference in shipping to endure it got there, is beyond me. Like I said in my original post, I'm not going to pay $28 on a $32 item to ship it the way he wanted. 

I did use eis for a while but it was not a smooth process sometimes. The ratio of cases opened was significantly higher than domestic buyers. 6 1/2 weeks and 2 months was way too long to have to stay on top of the item and answer the questions about when it's going to get there. Rarely was it that I shipped the item, it gets there in the time frame it is supposed to, leave feedback, happy customer, and move on.