Ebay Grief

[Rob 3,152]

The wife listed a few things on eBay, but someone contacted her from the US saying they couldn't bid from the US because she wouldn't sell to the US (which is crap). She has had US bidders on her items before and they have been able to bid and pay ok. Presumably this is eBay throwing a wobbler because you can sell books but not bog-roll to the US, or vice-versa if the book is a bible. However, I can't rule out the person asking the question being the problem and trying to get it delisted, so they can buy the item off eBay on the cheap. (I can always sell things via the website when eBay becomes dysfunctional if all else fails).

Hopefully someone who sells on Ebay has a few ideas given eBay's dedicated policy of not doing customer service. Ta.

[TomGoodheart 403]

Mmm .. not sure. When you view the listing does it have international postage options? It may be as simple as that, assuming she wants to sell to this guy?

She should be able to adjust the listing to include post to the USA if it's not already there. But without it ebay may take it she doesn't want to sell abroad?

[Rob 3,152]

Mmm .. not sure. When you view the listing does it have international postage options? It may be as simple as that, assuming she wants to sell to this guy?

She should be able to adjust the listing to include post to the USA if it's not already there. But without it ebay may take it she doesn't want to sell abroad?

Not sure. I've tried searching for her items from ebay US and ebay Canada. Neither show her items in the listings which could be ebay assuming she doesn't want to sell abroad, but then someone has bid on it from Canada, so he must be able to both see and bid on it. Confused! Ebay's option of either collection in person, or a flat postage rate to all buyers means that you are either going to price postage too high for a uk buyer, or ship abroad at a loss. Neither of these is palatable for one or the other. Sorry, eBay is too complicated and S**T

[Rob 3,152]

This is seriously pissing me off. Because someone has bid on the item in question, I don't appear to be able to edit the description or item at all. I was going to add the ongoing conversation to the bottom which would have allowed people to see the relevant email address and also convey the information that it was available off ebay. If you can't see a listed item, it is hardly depriving eBay of business, so they could have no reason for getting uptight. It might come to removing the listings and giving up with ebay for good. If all this is because I haven't ticked a box saying I want to sell the item I have listed, they don't deserve any business.

As Tom earlier suggested, it says she doesn't allow international postage - according to the revise item link when looking further down the listing, but why? It doesn't give me a box to tick in the international section. I can't allow what ebay don't offer.

[Coinery 1,157]

You won't find your items by using eBay US (.com) as you, believe it or not, have to pay an extra fee for your items to appear on the US/Canada sites! Good, ain't it!

Revising is a real pain now, as once someone has bid, you're pretty much reduced to putting an add-on, which appears if you can be bothered to scroll to the very bottom of your page! If you've got a lot of info. (description, terms & C's, etc.), you're pretty screwed, as your description 'update' is always missed! Pretty pointless I reckon!

[TomGoodheart 403]

How daft. And odd, as I've just sold something to someone in the US. Ebay appear to think he lives in Scotland, but how he got to view the listing in the first place I'm not sure as I certainly didn't pay anything over the basic listing fee.

You'd have thought they'd want to make it easier to buy and sell widely, not more complicated!

[Coinery 1,157]

There's nothing to stop US buyers from searching .co.uk, or vice versa...I've also noticed in the past that, depending on how eBay are feeling, or whatever statistical research they are trying to fathom, they'll chuck your listing onto US, or US items onto UK, presumably to see what happens!

I paid the US fee for 3 months, when I had around 50 items regularly listed, and found no difference in sales! I'm guessing the US, like us, have the common sense to search .co.uk when looking for UK coins, as we would for US items?

[Rob 3,152]

Still doesn't explain why someone in Canada is allowed to bid on an item that is not permitted in the US. It can't be the not allowing international postage thing that's to blame as there is no box to tick and Canada is (and always has been) an international destination. Additionally, she successfully sold to a US buyer a month ago.

I know why I can't be ar*ed with eBay any more.

[Coinery 1,157]

I grant you it's a whole lot better to buy than sell on eBay, there's a serious imbalance!

Even if eBay get things wrong, whichever way the pendulum swings, they still get millions...bar stewards that they are!

[Paulus 1,975]

I grant you it's a whole lot better to buy than sell on eBay, there's a serious imbalance!

Even if eBay get things wrong, whichever way the pendulum swings, they still get millions...bar stewards that they are!

[Rob 3,152]

I think the situation might have resolved itself. A bid has been placed by the person who was unable to do so in the past. I suspect it was possible all along as I haven't been able to change anything yet.

[bagerap 706]

There are two sections that have to be completed for US/Canada visibility.

Firstly you have to list a specific postal rate for certain countries ( from memory: US, Canada, Australia, Japan and probably a few others). Failure to do so means that your item will remain invisible. Just listing postage as: Europe £x.xx and Rest of the World £x.xx does not work.

In addition there is a tick box for Visibility in US and Canada, which must be checked or, you've guessed it, your auction gets no US/Canada exposure. That box is chargeable, but it's no use ticking it if you haven't detailed specific US/Canada postage rates.

[Rob 3,152]

Thanks. I will experiment for the future.

[azda 979]

International buyers can search .co.uk and bid. I've had this recently with a proof set i sold, a Chinese buyer won it yet i had'nt listed it on.com which would give it international visibility. It was taken to the PO where my friend was informed that currency was not permitted to be shipped to China. My guess is that of the ebayer has 2 or 3 postal addresses and 1 might be based in the UK but they live elsewhere then they will be permitted to bid and have the item delivered to the UK address.

Just as a heads up, you cannot edit an auction that has been bidded on, you can add details about the item but not a full on edit, its just Basic info you can change, but not things like where you post to, start price etc, for this, you'll need to end the auction, change the Details and then relist, but then of course, ebay get another listing fee from you.

Edited December 30, 2013 by azda

[Rob 3,152]

She wouldn't dream of giving eBay listing fees. Free listings only for the missus with all expenses covered by the minimum acceptable price. Now, if it was possible to align eBay fees with the customer service provided by bypassing FVF and Paypoo fees.............