Shipping to a Third Party

[packy190]

Hi:

A buyer has requested that I ship a purchased item to a third party. Will eBay release the funds if the shipping address is someone other than the buyer?  Thanks!

[richard1rst · Accepted solution]

Strongly recommend that you do not do it.

eBay will only protect you if you have confirmed delivery to the address on your eBay screen.

In fairness, it depends on the value of the item. It if is the proverbial "nickle and dime" item there is not a lot of risk. But as the value of the item increases you run the rick of losing both the item and your money.

As hungry as you may be for that sale if the item has any value the risk is too great.

In a case like this I would tell the buyer

Sorry, but eBay's policy is that the item must be sent to the address on our eBay screen. The only options would be to cancel the sale and then re-enter the order BUT when you do change the ship to address before you pay for it. Please advise.

[soh.maryl]

You, the seller, are required, by eBay's rules, to ship a purchased item to the address you see when that buyer pays.

That buyer sees that address on his final invoice.  If he wants the address changed, he has to do it then and there.  Sometimes the shipping may need to be recalculated.

If this request has come AFTER the buyer paid, feel free to explain this to the buyer.  The only safe solution would be for the listing to be cancelled, you would relist, buyer would input the right address when paying.

There are some occasions when someone, not even the actual buyer, will make this request, hoping the seller is a newbie or dumb enough to follow his instruction.  You appear to be a seasoned seller, so we know you wouldn't fall for such a scheme.  

[fashunu4eeuh]

No, never send an item to any address other than the one eBay gives you. Sending to an alternate address would void your seller protection.

[lakefor94]

If it is one of those expensive books you sold, I would cancel with problem with buyer's address and make the buyer repurchase with the correct shipping address.  It is easy for the buyer to do that.

[toysaver]

It looks like the sale hasn't happened yet?   If the buyer and only the buyer fills the alternate shipping address in before the sale all should be good.  If they try to change after cancel citing something is wrong with the buyers address and make them try again.  You will not ever be protected if you ship to an address other than what is provided by eBay on their shipping label or in the transaction details.  It's a common scam to try to change the shipping address after the sale.  The buyer can then get their money back as there is no proof of delivery.  I recommend shipping Priority not Media Mail for such nice books.  

[pjcdn2005]

As others mentioned, it is fine to ship to the address that ebay gives you AFTER the buyer has paid.  But if the buyer has already paid  and they want you to ship it to an address other than what is showing as the payment address, cancel the transaction using problem with address.

[rugerskick]

Scam.  Even if not, you aren't protected shipping to a non-ebay address.

No upside for you to do this.