Shipping to a different address per buyers request

[anjie234]

Looking for advice. This should be an easy one!

I have a repeat buyer from OR who wants to make another purchase.

She asked if I would ship to her daughter's address (it's a gift).

It's funny...  in all the years I've been selling, I've never had someone

ask me that. I think it's a reasonable request.  However...

I see that I CAN change the address, but there's a message regarding

risk with 'eBay Seller Protection'.

My question is... Would you do it?

I would like to, cuz she's nice... but I just thought I'd check as I don't want to be getting myself

in a pickle for something I maybe haven't thought of. As always, thank-you so much!

Anj

[justafemster]

For a $10 sale, sure.  For a $100 sale, nope.  

It's up to you, but know that you lose seller protection if you change the shipping address.  

Ultimately, how much are you willing to lose if it goes south?

[toysaver]

If this is for the Muffy stuff I'd say only if the buyer changes the address before the sale.  If they've already purchased you can cancel so they can add the correct address.   

I had a bad experience with a Muffy buyer from California once, claimed a bear in a new sealed box had no arms.  

[inhawaii]

The correct way to do it:

Cancel the transaction. Reason: Problem with buyers address.

Instruct the buyer to change  the address to where ever she wants it shipped and re-purchase the item.

The wrong way to do it:

Just change the address and ship it.

By  doing this, you will lose in a INR (item not received) case.

Only do this if...

A) You know or trust the buyer.

B) It's a inexpensive item.

[fern*wood]

The op stated the buyer wants to make a purchase, so to me that means they haven’t purchased or paid yet.  So all the buyer needs to do is pay using the ship to address of their daughter and the purchase is covered.

[anjie234]

Yes, that makes sense.  Thanks!

[calntom]

Depends on the value of the item.  Buyer has a track record. I normally vet the buyer a tad.

Many recommend not changing address. I have done it a dozen times with no problem. Sent to the secondary address as requested by the buyer.

I have also cancelled an order a dozen times and told them to repurchase with the correct address.

[a_c_green]

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@anjie234 wrote:

Yes, that makes sense.  Thanks!

---

I agree, but at the same time, since the buyer (apparently) hasn't paid yet, I would at least explain to them how to change the Ship-To: address themselves right there on the payment form; they don't need seller permission to do that, as it's not any kind of favor that has to be asked of the seller. They're free to have it shipped to another address; they just need to provide that address with the payment. 

Turn it into a Learning Experience, and all that... 😁

[anjie234]

@fern*wood   (& others who basically made this same suggestion!)

"All you have to do is tell your buyer to use the daughter's name/address as the ship to address when she pays.  I do this all the time when I purchase something and have it sent to my dad."

------------------------

Of course!!!   The BUYER should change the ship address.  (Silly me!)

Thank-you!

[anjie234]

Yesssss...   Thank-you!

[anjie234]

@fern*wood 

Yes, that's exactly right.  

AND... of course that's how it should go because then they are paying the

correct shipping cost.  Duh! (to me, I mean!) I didn't even think of that right away. Sheesh!

In this case, buyer is in OR and her 'ship to' is 30 miles from me here in PA.  She would 

have way overpaid in shipping (if I had just changed the address before shipping).

Anywhooo,  This worked out great.

     ... and I thank you again ... very much!

[anjie234]

@a_c_green 

since the buyer (apparently) hasn't paid yet, I would at least explain to them how to change the Ship-To: address themselves right there on the payment form; they don't need seller permission to do that, as it's not any kind of favor that has to be asked of the seller. They're free to have it shipped to another address; they just need to provide that address with the payment. 

Turn it into a Learning Experience, and all that...    

_________________________

Yes, a learning experience!

And, yes... you are exactly right.

Ya know, I mustn't have had my thinking cap on the other day...

          (I guess I misplaced it again! darnit!)

... but, I realized that the buyer has to change it so that they pay

the correct ship cost, too.   (oh yeah!)

Thanks much for your input.

[johnrj1226]

You actually  need to instruct the  buyer to change the  ship to address first, then pay.

In the my early years of selling (sold my first item in January, 2010 I had less than a hand full of the same requests of changing the ship to address after they paid.  The buyers   sent the request via eBay messages.  I contacted eBay Customer Service via tele. & talked to a representative on this side of the pond.  The reps  advised as long as I had an eBay messages confirming the request I was good to go.  Sounded like a  nice "customer 1st approach" to me.   But requested a ticket # of our conversation for a "belt and suspenders" approach. Had no issues with an Item Not Received case..  These items were in the $50 - 75 each + shipping..

Fast forward, with eBays increased "robo driven"  system of  communications and venue management - don't know if I would feel comfortable in doing the same to day if I were still selling.  Just  have to put the buyer thru the grinder of having to request an order cancellation, refunding, change the ship to address and re-buy. plus the listing would have to be relisted.  On a OOAK item another buyer  could possibly  sneak in a buy before they reacted. - seems  clunky to me.  But what do I know.

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