Should I sell to first-time new buyer with address in an industrial park?

[glarry4819]

I sell a few odds and ends I uncover now and then. Recently, I found an old piece of PC software that only works on Windows 7 or earlier. It's a sealed retail box. I got a few views but no offers. Then I got a question from outside the US; I don't sell to International addresses. I replied politely I do not sell outside continental US. Then a few days later, I get 2 watchers. Than I lower the price a buck or two and I get a sale. It is from someone who joined Ebay on the day of the order. And the shipping address appears to be a building in an industrial park in Texas (based on Google photos and maps). It's less than $50, but I have 100% positive feedback. Should I ship it , or refund and apologize for not being able to find it? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

G Larry

[lamber9347]

@glarry4819  You are asking for thoughts so here are mine. You listed that item to sell because you don't want it. It's not a high dollar item, not going to pay your rent/mortgage with this sale. You have a buyer who has purchased and by listing your item for sale you agreed to sell it to the person who purchased it. So, go ahead and ship it. 

If you cancel it for item not available you will receive a demerit on your selling account, plus buyer can still leave you a negative comment for canceling the order. 

I have always sold to new buyers, everyone has to start somewhere, and never once have I had an issue with a zero feedback buyer. Try to remain positive that all will be fine and complete your sale. You wanted to sell it and now you have. Best of luck to you....

[jscar59]

You could use "something wrong with buyers address"

[nobody*s_perfect]

You should ship it.  

The buyer with the Texas address might be unrelated to the earlier inquiries. The location might be a forwarding service. Or somebody's workplace where they get their packages because it's safer than leaving the package on their front porch all day while they're at work. Or  the potential overseas buyer took you at your word and is having a friend or relative purchase it and send it to him.

[jayjaspersgarage]

We are here to source, list, sell & ship.   I have sold many items to buyers with zero or very low feedback.

Sometimes I add signature required if a buyer has feedback lower than (10).  Only once in ten years have I cancelled on a freight forwarder because they asked too many pushy questions before ordering.  I think you have a new customer in Texas you should ship to.  Some industrial parks have living units attached to warehouses.  That's not unheard of.

[stainlessenginecovers]

An obsolete $50 item is not even worth contemplating. You listed it; anyone can buy it. Someone did. You should ship it. 

The biggest reason someone just joined and bought is because they were perusing ebay, found something they've been looking for, so joined and purchased. Nothing nefarious with an old $50 item. 

[fashunu4eeuh]

If you are concerned about your feedback, then ship it rather than disappoint a paying customer. New account doesn't mean problem account. One cannot tell a scammer from just a feedback number. More info is needed. 

Consider that this is not a high dollar, in-demand item in a category prone to fraud. I would ship without a second thought. 

[jayjaspersgarage]

"

An obsolete $50 item is not even worth contemplating. You listed it; anyone can buy it. Someone did. You should ship it. 

The biggest reason someone just joined and bought is because they were perusing ebay, found something they've been looking for, so joined and purchased. Nothing nefarious with an old $50 item. "

People can buy on ebay without joining too.  They buy as a guest.  

[dirk12955]

Tagging on:

I worked in a factory for years, that was in an industrial park.    We employees took advantage of the fact 

 that the business was shipping many items via UPS.    Many of us shipped items ourselves and had items shipped 

to us at this safe,  secure,  always somebody home,  location.

Question:     What purpose does it serve to Google the address of a buyer?

Question:    What purpose does it serve to invent a reason out of thin air to not ship?

I don't understand either of those actions.

[slippinjimmy]

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@jscar59 wrote:

You could use "something wrong with buyers address"

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That would be a lie!!!!!

[gracieallen01]

Ummmm, how many feedback did you have when you started on ebay?  😃

We all started with zero.

[itsjustasprain]

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@dirk12955 wrote:

Question:     What purpose does it serve to Google the address of a buyer?

I have wondered this too - even a scammer wants to actually get your merchandise. I always assume the address is good until the USPS tells me otherwise.

As for the buyer signing up on the day of their first purchase - I did too. Didnt you? Before that I had no reason to sign up. The guest buyer concept is relatively new and I think most people assume that they should sign up on Ebay before purchasing - so they do.

[jayjaspersgarage]

"

We are here to source, list, sell & ship.   I have sold many items to buyers with zero or very low feedback.

Sometimes I add signature required if a buyer has feedback lower than (10).  Only once in ten years have I cancelled on a freight forwarder because they asked too many pushy questions before ordering.  I think you have a new customer in Texas you should ship to.  Some industrial parks have living units attached to warehouses.  That's not unheard of."

Additionally, I just sold something to a freight forwarder less than an hour ago.  SLS&S!

That's my mantra for 2022.  Source, List, Sell & Ship

[chapeau-noir]

Sealed Win 7 software?  Somebody undoubtedly joined to purchase it as they probably can't find it locally - go ahead and ship and be glad that it's out of the house. A lot of the older tech I sell goes to small businesses and facilities, and plenty of businesses are in industrial parks.  A lot of people want to just keep their equipment going.

[janet9988]

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@jscar59 wrote:

You could use "something wrong with buyers address"

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You are telling a member to violate ebay policy.

You are now violating policy for encouraging him to do so.

There is  NO reason to cancel this sale.