My first problem w/ ebay came up... needs your advices

From: Lawrence Walker <lgwalker_at_look.ca>
Date: Tue Apr 24 09:23:20 2001

> > What's the problem with International shipping???? The World's a big
>
> I have always shipped anything anyplace the person needs it, but shipping
> is just ONE tip of the international sales iceberg. Here is my short list
> of troubles.
>
> Payment
> About half the time I get cash, fortunately nothing lost in transit, but I
> know that will happen. The rest of the time averages about 4 emails back
> and forth settling on what to send. Please, just use a postal money order
> in US funds.
>
 I've had the reverse problem several times. Altho I clearly state payment by
international M.O. the M.O. arrives with "only negotiable in the US or
possessions". Many americans forget that there is indeed a border there and
that Uncle Sam wants to know if money is going out of the country.

> Wrong item
> Computers can be confusing, but sorting it out and educating a person over
> a $7 cable gets old.
>
> Cultur clash
> Item listed as "as is" untested, but with 1 year left on 5 year warranty. I get
> a series of gripe emails back, first because its old (duh 1 year left out of 5
> does kind of mean its 4 years old), then (I love this) "I bid too much". This
> person made a mistake, and they want me to make it all better, not a little
> better mind you, but all better, ie refund purchase price and shipping both
> ways. They don't think about how unreasonable their request is, only what their
> own personal problem is.
>
 That is true of any epay transaction and not specifically international.

> Shipping
> With $4 USPS priority mail I am provided free shipping materials, boxes,
> tape, mailing labels and I get 2 to 3 day delivery with online
> confirmation. International shipping is in general totally unpredictable,
> ie the mouse that took 4 months to arrive in Germany, and costs keep moving so I
> have to "check shipping costs" for every transaction since I am such a small
> time seller. Global Priority mail is OK, but expensive if it can't be stuffed in
> one of two fairly small envelopes. Everytime I ship I KNOW I am rolling the
> dice regarding some problem coming up.
>
 Well since the buyer pays that shouldn't be your problem. I have a small
program that gives me shipping cost based on weight and region. I was
under the impression that the US postal service also charges according to
weight and distance. Why do US sellers ask for your ZIP code ?

> Dishonest
> This is nothing to do with international specifically, in fact most of my
> international customers are the best.
>
> Screw ups
> Ugh, this is the one that drives me nuts. People who are screw ups, ie
> don't tape the box closed, don't pack the item. Worst, I ship a guy
> priority a keyboard he just has to have immediately, so I don't even wait
> for a check to arrive. A week later I get a package, my same box loosely
> taped closed with the keyboard loose on top of the packing materials. I get
> stiffed for the auction price, the shipping, AND the moron tried plugging my DEC
> LK401 into some Wang/Wyse and blames me that it didn't work and now he looks
> dumb to his wife.
>
>
 Again this is something not related to International sales. Jerks are
everywhere.

 One of the problems related to US sellers is that in some of the auction
programs, the default entry is "we ship only within the continental US"
 In many cases I've found that they will indeed ship to Canada but just
unthinkingly accepted the default. Some have responded insultingly "can't
you read" and others have not responded at all. I think in some cases it's
just the ignorance of not knowing the process of shipping internationally.
 To my mind they're missing out, since there's a market of 30 million in
Canada alone.

 One of my big beefs are the guys that ask a big shipping and handling
charge. I sometimes wonder if that is how they really make their money.
 I've passed on many desired things due to that rip-off.

larry
 



Reply to:
lgwalker_at_look.ca
Received on Tue Apr 24 2001 - 09:23:20 BST

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