Question
Speaking of International Buyers....
I got this email last night, after the auction ended. The item is fragile and too large to qualify as Letter Post. In the box, packed for overseas shipping, it weighs 2 pounds, 2 ounces. My auction listing is very specific about the stated shipping being for USA only, that Int'l Buyers should contact me before bidding for rates. He didn't. I sent him an invoice via eBay from the auction listing, using the USPS website info for Croatia.
The USPS website says shipping will be $17.50 for Airmail, $18.25 for Surface. I quoted him $18.00 for Airmail Parcel Post shipping, figuring he wouldn't want Surface (who would?). I figure 50 cents is not too much to ask for the packaging & my time to prepare the customs form, etc.
Here's the email, cut & pasted as I received it:
*******************
Hello!
I am XXXX from Croatia, Europe. If you are wondering where I
am from, Croatia is next to Italy over Adriatic sea
I am glad that I won your kit.
I will pay using BidPay (part of Western union company) money order
drafted in USD. For further details and free of charge membership please
take a look at www.bidpay.com.
Considering postage options, I will choose USPS. Please do not try to
estimate postage rate using USPS web site because you will get
overestimated rate. 18USD seems too much. It has happened to my numerous
USA based sellers. Simply you will have to pack my kit and go to nearest
USPS office. Then you will get accurate rate for surface and air mail
options. Then you will send it to me and I will pay using BidPay money
order. Yes, you will have to walk to USPS office for second time. I am
really sorry for this, but it is not my fault.
Regarding my customs service department, please try not to use customs
declaration form (big white paper). Try to use just small green customs
sticker and declare my kit AS A GIFT FROM PRIVATE PERSON VALUED as it was
closing eBay bid. I hope that you are private person (not hobby shop) so
you will be able to follow my instructions. Otherwise, please do not
hesitate to contact me. Remove any price tag or price sticker
Please write FRAGILE and same in Croatian language LOMLJIVO
Delivery address (AND FORGET BIDPAY INSTRUCTIONS)
xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx
Best regards
xxxxx
*******************
I won't even try to tell you all what my first responses were, they weren't suitable for polite company.
I want to cancel the transaction, I don't even want to do business with him. I can't begin to express how it sets my teeth on edge to have someone tell me what I am going "simply" have to do, and I can just imagine how he will feel about not having his instructions followed to the letter.
Any suggestions? I really need some help being gracious here!
Answer
Maybe I'm just over-reacting? Too touchy? Not enough sleep?
I figured I was doing pretty well, having slept on it before posting about it, but it still fires me up every time I read it.
D'ya ever have buyer who made ya want to just put the item into a plastic baggie and slap a shipping label on it? Do people really think that postage is so cheap, or that you can ship like that and expect to receive a whole item, rather than shards?
Sigh.
Answer
here's what I would send
Thank you for your note, yes we will accept Bidpay...
here is a copy of the invoice, shipping is 18.00 and is non-negotiable
take care
Signed
1 pee'd off seller!!
then go list some stuff and fergidaboutit
our language does not translate well for them, so use little words and short sentences....a korean buyer told me that trick once, said the translating softwares can understand it better....don't know if it is true or not but I have been having less problems since doing it.
Answer
Gabs, you are a life saver. Short, sweet, and right to the point.
Sometimes I wish I had a partner in my little business, to keep me from getting so verbacious and technical in my replys to messages like this.
Oh, I'll also add a little blurb about being a business, I think. And maybe something about ... ack! There I go again!!
Thanks!!!
Answer
The part that caught my attention was when he said to ignore Bidpays instructions for the mailing address. I'd be cautious with that.
Answer
Bidpay says to contact them(kinda hard with their emails being returned) if the buyer asks you to ship to another address. I've only shipped one time to another address, and I was ASKED to do it for his mom's birthday. High feedback, etc. I'd be careful that the cc he's using isn't stolen and can come back to bite you on the butt.
Other than that, stick to your guns and DO NOT SHIP until the m.o. is in your hands.
Originally Posted by cheryl
The part that caught my attention was when he said to ignore Bidpays instructions for the mailing address. I'd be cautious with that.
Answer
naw, we often get that with internaitonal bidpays, that part didn't bother me.....the part about *****in' about the postage bothered me more. ...
but I think the translation software he used made it sound snottier than it really was, at least that is what I want to believe.
how much did he spend on this item, 5 bucks
Answer
It was just over $12.00.
Y'know, I didn't catch the part about the Bidpay & address thing. I noticed that his eBay contact info doesn't match what he told me.
Doesn't eBay have a policy about this? Sigh. I can just see me getting my first negative over this. Oh, did I mention that he has left several negs for sellers that say: "did not follow shipping instructions".
Oh well.
Answer
Here's my response. I haven't sent it yet ... too witchy? I know, it's way too wordy, but maybe y'all can help me pare it down? Whatcha think?
************
Thanks for your message!
I took your package to the Post Office this afternoon to verify the shipping costs. The postal clerk weighed it and here are the rates: USPS International Airmail for this package is $17.50; Economy (by ground and sea) is $18.25.
I'm sorry, but I am not able to oblige you as to the customs form. It is against the law to provide false information on these documents; doing so is a Federal Offense. The form would be marked as "other", with the value stated as $13.50. I use electronic postage with printed labels and include an invoice in all shipments.
Additionally, I'm sorry, but I can not ship to an address that does not match the information provided by Bidpay.
You are also asking me to ship to a name and address that do not match the eBay information on record. Please provide a shipping address that matches your eBay registration.
If you do not supply correct information, I cannot ship this item. Additionally, I cannot ship the item before correct payment is received.
If these terms are unacceptable, please let me know and I will consider this transaction cancelled.
Thank you!
**********
Jeepers, I have over 1200 feedback, you'd think I could handle this by myself, wouldn't you?
Answer
I'd definitely be leery of the BidPay comment. If the address he gave is different than what BidPay supplies, BIG red flag.
You could use econ air shipping for a bit cheaper if you want. I don't understand the buyer's comment aout the website not being accurate; I've found them time after time to be absolutely dead on correct.
The customs form comments also concern me. When I receive comments like those, I respond with:
The customs form is a legal document and I must sign it saying that the information is true and correct. It is against the laws of my country to falsify these documents. Your item is not a gift, and the value must be declared. Please do not ask me to break the laws of my country for you.