Buying in the States was Re: HP analyzer probes

From: Hans B PUFAL <hansp_at_citem.org>
Date: Sat Jul 3 07:22:26 2004

Patrick Finnegan wrote:

>On Wednesday 30 June 2004 06:14, Joe R. wrote:
>
>
>>I sell on E-bay and I send about half
>>the stuff that I sell over seas. The one problem that I've had is
>>that many over seas buyers never pay. Perhaps they bid then find out
>>the high shipping costs and costs of making payments via Western
>>Union or whoever and then just back out without saying anything. I'm
>>been waiting 6 weeks for payment on some DEC parts right now. As far
>>as the shippers go, I've found many of them to be incredibly lazy and
>>greedy! A lot of them want $35 or sometimes even $50 handling charge
>>for the smallest item. My opinion is that packing and handling is
>>part of the cost of doing business unless it's something extra
>>ordinary.
>>
>>
>
>I'd completely agree with Joe's assessment. The only reason I'm
>hesitant to send things internationally is because payment for the
>items ends up being difficult sometimes. I now have listed in my
>auctions that I only accept paypal internationally, but if prodded, I'd
>accept cheques from Canada (as I've had good success with that before)
>or Western Union as one guy used that to send me payment before.
>
>
I understand the issues of difficulty of payment. I have bank accounts
in three countries and two continents
so I can usually pay in a currency local to the seller. Asking to be
paid in the currency local to the seller is IMHO
quite acceptable. As to international buyers not paying, apply the
normal rules : payment within 10 days or
negative feedback! I see no reason to give an international buyer any
slack other than (at their request) a few
days grace to allow for the extra time for the mailed check or whatever
to reach you.

I have a blemish free ebay record and most of my transactions are
international in one way or another.
My most frustrating experience was having my last minute winning bid
canceled by a seller because I
was not in the US (AFAIR they did not specify US only buyers). I was
frustrated at not getting
something I really wanted, he lost out by accepting a lower bid price.

  -- HansP
Received on Sat Jul 03 2004 - 07:22:26 BST