Mail Forwarding Vs Using The Ebay Hub

[3.75ips]

I recently sold an item to someone from a foreign country that uses a mail forwarding company located in Delaware, USA.  After the sale they sent me a message to package well as the forwarding company does not repackage for international shipping.   My understanding is that I am only responsible for the package until it arrives in DE.   Does anyone know the buying advantage of using mail forwarding vs the Ebay hub in Illinois?  Or does mail forwarding give them more of a chance to later ask for a refund or worse end in a scam.  Appreciate any thoughts.       

[fbusoni · Accepted solution]

@3.75ips 

The eBay hub in Illinois is part of the eBay International Shipping program (eIS) in to which one must be invited to participate.  If you've not been invited, you cannot use it.  (I assume those who are invited get the invitation because of an immaculate selling record... no INADS, no late deliveries, etc..)

My understanding is that those buyers who use freight forwarders do not enjoy the protection of the 30-day money back guarantee offered by eBay.  (I've seen some discussion here that this policy is not always enforced by eBay.)

In practice, what that means is that a buyer could ask for a refund, but you will not be on the hook to pay for return shipping, which could end up being too expensive for the buyer to afford anyway.  

However, the buyer could mail you back a piece of paper... but I am not sure whether tracking would show it delivered to you if it comes from overseas, and thus whether eBay would ever know that the "item" was ever returned to you.

The buyer -- any buyer, in fact, regardless of location -- also could do a credit card chargeback, which opens a  completely different can of worms.

I use eIS but before being invited to do so, I used to be a bit concerned about all these ambiguities and restricted my overseas shipping destinations to just a handful of countries.  

When I did use freight forwarders, I never did encounter a problem.  Same with shipping internationally myself.  

A good outcome often depends on the merchandise you are shipping... some categories are far more vulnerable to scams and theft than others.

Maybe someone else here with more recent experience can offer more definitive insights about freight forwarders.

[go-bad-chicken]

@3.75ips 

"After the sale they sent me a message to package well as the forwarding company does not repackage for international shipping. "

You are very fortunate. Your customer just gave you a nice gift. By proclaiming via eBay messages that they are indeed having the package forwarded, they will loose eBay's Buyer Protections, once your package is delivered to the forwarder. As it should be.

Package the item, so it will survive a couple 8 foot drop tests, and then just ship it to the forwarder, upload your tracking number, and then thank your customer for their purchase. 

[pennpicker]

Agree with the previous posts--no problems using mail forwarders.

You didn't mention them asking but when sending to forwarders who do not repackage, I'm usually requested to write the eBay item  number on the package somewhere near the address. If they don't need it, they can always cross it out. Makes it easier for them to identify packages and hopefully helps ensure a problem free transaction.

[luckythewinner]

Does anyone know the buying advantage of using mail forwarding vs the Ebay hub in Illinois?  

It's probably a lot cheaper.

Or does mail forwarding give them more of a chance to later ask for a refund or worse end in a scam

Anyone can ask for a refund. But I would assume the freight forwarder makes it harder for the buyer to return the item, since the return shipping label you send will be from DE.

[slippinjimmy]

Many or even most International buyers only buy via EIS as a last resort, it's a slow service and relatively expensive.

Other advantages include that when using a forwarder buyers can combine orders from many different sources and have them all shipped to them in one package, this can dramatically reduce shipping costs for buyers.

[ittybitnot]

My understanding is that those buyers who use freight forwarders do not enjoy the protection of the 30-day money back guarantee offered by eBay.  (I've seen some discussion here that this policy is not always enforced by eBay.)

@fbusoni 

Actually, in the early stages it is NEVER enforced by eBay, only INR claims.  It is true that for SNAD reasons a claim should not be allowed or  granted.  eBay used to require "proof that the item was actually forwarded" but that is no longer the case. 

From a reply I posted earlier today: 

A buyer that uses a Freight Forwarder gives up the option of benefitting from a "not as described" claim.  Unfortunately, eBay processes them like any other sale and it is up to the SELLER to take care of the issue and get the claim dismissed (hopefully PRIOR to sending the return label).   

With more complete details found in message #7 in this discussion: 

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/New-Castle-Delaware-Package-Forwarding/m-p/35030153#M2549793

eBay is NOT going to tell a seller that a freight forwarder is used.  The eBay bot will process it like any other sale, and hope the seller doesn't know any better. Luckily our OP @3.75ips  does know that a F.Fowarder was used, and if things start to "go south" they will be prepared to take care of the problem immediately, and hopefully avoid the typical fake tracking return scam that often ensues when a scam is involved.  

[toysaver]

It's not freight forwarders I worry about regarding repackaging, it's customs agents.  If a buyer uses a freight forwarding address, it's possible they'll buy something not allowed into their country.  In some instances it may be an attempt to thwart customs.  

[3.75ips]

I appreciate all the feedback.  My main disconnect or learning is that the Ebay Hub (EIS) in Illinois is by invitation only for international buyers.   I assumed incorrectly that ALL my international sales would be processed through the Hub.  

[mam98031]

@3.75ips 

It is usually cheaper for the buyer.  They can have a few things shipped to the Freight Forwarder and then they can put them all together and ship off to the buyer.

Scam is such an over used word on this site.  The vast majority of these transactions go through without any issue.  There are some, just like any other transaction that becomes problematic.

You are correct, you are responsible to the address you ship to on the buyer's payment.

[simply-the-best-for-you]

A buyer has no way to use "the eBay hub in Illinois" , the eBay hub, which is a part of using the EIS program is a seller's choice.  I doubt most buyer's even know the hub exists or how it works.   

I've never had a problem with a FF purchase & yes, you are responsible to get it to the FF & that's it.  I don't understand the comment about they don't repackage, that's literally how their business works.  While they may not repackage your pkg, the certainly can & do aggregate them all into one big parcel, which is how they save the buyer money. 

I believe anyone in good standing can use the EIS program now.  You had to be invited early on, but pretty sure it's been open to all sellers for a long time now.   

Basically think of it as FF is the buyer's choice & EIS is the seller's choice.  Both are fine options.