Changing Auction Shipping Constraint

[jeherre-56]

I am a new seller.  I listed an item and following eBays suggestion by selecting the fixed shipping cost option (I used the max. cost for shipping to the US).  I did not think about an international buyer.  Now I have bids on my item from foreign buyers for which shipping costs will be multiples of my fixed cost.

The auction is still open.   Can I edit the shipping destination constraint, ie US only, after the auction has begun.  If not how can I avoid the penalty of an international sale?

[mr_lincoln]

@jeherre-56   When an Auction receives one or more bids it can not be Edited or Revised.  You have  the option to Cancel all the bids but fees may apply.  Keep in mind that the Fixed rate shipping was entered in your Domestic shipping section correct?  If you did NOT have International shipping turned on then those Foreign Buyers would have to be using US based Forwarding companies in order to complete the purchase.  This happens at times.  You would only ship to the US address, the Buyer would pay the Forwarding company to ship it to their country.

Here is a link to cancelling bids, you will need each Buyer's ID and the item number off the listing.

https://www.ebay.com/bfl/cancelbid

[friskya]

There are several things you can't change once the first bid has been received and I believe the shipping (any aspect of it) is one of them. Don't quote me on that – if I'm wrong, guaranteed someone else will correct me eventually.

Many international buyers use freight forwarders to get around the "no international sales" restriction, so their "ship to address" will be in the U.S., but eBay will collect their international sales fee anyway, based on the registered location of the buyer. No way around that, no matter what restrictions you place on your items. The only bright spot to that is, you are only obligated to get it to the freight forwarder. The buyer forfeits the ability to use the MBG to force a refund. 

[toysaver]

I

'listed an item and following eBays suggestion by selecting the fixed shipping cost option'

I've been selling for years and years and have never had eBay make any suggestions on shipping.  The first option is usually called a default but by no means is a suggestion or should be given any preference.  It's the seller's responsibility to understand the listing form and not work with haste.

[dhbookds]

Just a suggestion..........always use exact weight and dimensions when you list the shipping.  It's very easy to be really skunked if you try to use flat rate if you don't know what you are doing (not being insulting).  I'm sure ebay is using an "average" to suggest the flat rate.....but if your item is oversized or heavier than average you will end up paying more.  You have to quote the weight and dimensions when you mail the item, so may as well do it at the beginning when you list. 

To figure shipping get a box and actually pack the item, and then do the weight and dimensions.  If you don't have a scale.......get one, or take to the PO and they will weigh it for you.

[luckythewinner]

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I listed an item and following eBays suggestion by selecting the fixed shipping cost option

eBay certainly offers a fixed shipping cost option. But I don't ever recall this being the "recommended" option. Can you point is to that recommendation?

Can I edit the shipping destination constraint, ie US only, after the auction has begun. 

It should be obvious that a seller cannot change the terms of an auction after people have already bid, without canceling all the bids first. That would be an open invitation for seller to defaud buyers. ("Edit: please note the stone in this ring is not actually a diamond"). 

If not how can I avoid the penalty of an international sale?

You can avoid the penalty of an intenrational sale by canceling all the bids on the item and ending it. But you will incur the penalty of paying a final value fee on the highest bid it received before it was canceled. 

[jeherre-56]

Thank you for the reply.

So if I have simply used fixed rate shipping, I must pay the total cost of the shipping to a foreign country offset by my fixed amount.  Unless of course, I elect to accept the penalty of cancelling the listing.

[caldreamer]

Your auction item is listing as USA only.   If you are getting bids from "outside USA" they must be going through a freight forwarder.   When customer buys item...you ship to their freight forwarder location in USA.   You must pay additional "international fee" if customer is located in another country.   

You mentioned you just picked "shipping prices out of the air", why?   Bread Maker Machine shows shipping of $105 and your Hors d'oeuve Tray has shipping of $210 to CALIFORNIA (that crazy). 

Before you list item...you are supposed to get exact weight & measures of box.   Nobody will pay those shipping charges.

Also remember when your item sells....EBAY fees based on (purchase price + shipping costs + sales tax) plus 30 cent handling charge.   Additional fees to International Shipments.

[pjcdn2005]

There is no need to edit the auction as you already specify the US only.  If the person who wins wants you to ship it internationally you can cancel the sale but then you would have to list the item again.  I would not ship that laptop internationally.

As someone else mentioned, the bidder might also plan on using a freight forwarder which in itself isn't usually a problem.  However, there are some buyers who have been using freight forwarders to buy computers, video games and cell phones and then make s claim that there is a problem with the item. 

I don't usually suggest that international bids be cancelled, especially as i'm considered an international buyer but considering you are selling a high risk expensive item and that you have 0 feedback which tends to attract dishonest buyers.....you might want to cancel bids from international buyers and then block those ID's.

I would also suggest selling some lower cost items first before listing a higher priced item so that you can understand how things work here.

If you decide to cancel...

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/listings/selling-auctions/canceling-bid?id=4140&st=3&pos=1&query=C...

If you decide to block...

https://www.ebay.com/bmgt/BuyerBlock?

[dryophelia]

@jeherre-56 

How is it $210 to ship those 3 hors d'oeuvers trays? I think you would be better off using the calculated shipping feature for your listings.

I noticed you listing says 

Item will be shipped on Wednesday following confirmation from PayPal payment has been received.

• If you are waiting that long to ship, you should set it up so that the listings always end on a weekend.  As it is, the listing ends on a Wednesday, if a buyer doesn't pay until Thursday, it won't ship until next Wednesday. Buyers don't want to wait that long.
• In Managed Payments, you no longer look to PayPal for confirmation of payment. 

[donsdetour]

The odds are against you selling this an not getting ripped off. Very very very very  much liky for a ripped off.

New user,  a high target for scammers item, yep you got a lot against you at the moment.....

Hmm advice would be to cancel all bids, and end listing.

Wait until you learn more to relist it,

[jeherre-56]

Thanks, I will do that.

[jeherre-56]

I sold a Snurfer this week.  EBay says they have the money, and I am ready to ship.  If this is a scam, how, is it accomplished.  I thought with the eBays payment system the scammers were under control.

I also have sold a bow, eBay says they have the money.  Again, where is the risk of fraud in such a sale.

Thanks for any assistance.

Jerry

[asset_liquidators]

I don't mean for this to come across as rude but if you thought scammers were under control on ebay then you are in for a rude awakening. It has gotten worse on here, not better and as others have pointed out, you are a new seller, selling a high scam target item.

When you said you were a new seller and had foreign bidders I knew before looking that you were selling either a phone or laptop. You need to protect yourself. 

[jeherre-56]

Protect myself how?

I do not use a phone, but do use a laptop as I spend half my time at two locations.  Have antivirus, will not ship until Ebay confirms they have the money from the buyer for the sale, require foreign buyers to have a US "ship to" location, etc.

Thanks for your interest, however, I need more information on actions that you recommend for protection.

I have a quite number of other personal items to sell over the next few months.