Large Scale Central

EBay bidders

General Discussion
#1

The last few days I have been selling LGB items through eBay, listed in my country and the United States. I sold three listings (total of five LGB items) to American bidders. Two bidders refused to pay the shipping cost and the third has sent a possible false address and has so far failed to confirm the address as correct. One bidder said it was my fault because I listed on the eBay site. The guy has been an eBay member for 12 years and has a feedback approaching 1000. He is more a seller than a bidder. Now, in 12 years he has never seen a listing on the U.S. eBay site with a location outside of the United States? Who is he kidding? EBay fully supported him and said not to worry about it. So I have lost a sale to another possible bidder because this person failed to read my listing. Item locations are clearly marked. Yes, I get my final value fee back but lose my insertion fee and the opportunity to sell to someone who can actually read! Am I really pissed off right now? You betcha.

My only option is to not list the U.S. as a shipping location to save myself from further aggravation. I have a lot of really good LGB items that will now not be made available, outside of my domestic market due a few ignorant bidders. Previous American bidders have been extremely polite and co-operative and understanding that while something may be shipped for $10.00 in the mainland U.S., international shippingf is not cheap. My country’s postal charges are far less than those charged by the USPS and only a fraction of rates charged by FedEx, DHL and UPS.

#2

The a-hole to decent people ratio on feebay has gotten exponentially larger in the last few years. Scam artists, jerks, weasels, and right cheap ba----s abound. (I recently had a guy with a winning bid of $25 actually get not so nice with me because he wanted me to ship a 35# flywheel across the country for FREE – instead of him paying the freight as the listing plainly stated. OTOH I had a nursery ebay store send me a $20 dead tree. and never respond.) As long as the nice speculators that bought the place get THEIR fees, they really don’t seem to give a rip.

Report the buyers who backed out. It probably won’t do any good, but you might get your fees back. Perhaps contact the backbidder with a second chance offer.

It’s your choice whether you sell to the US or not. But make a cool, thoroughly thought out decision (based on $$ vs stress), rather than simply reacting in anger. Personally, once they started making more than I was, ebay became the venue of last resort when selling ANYTHING.

#3

Good grief. People.

#4

Ten years ago I purchased a couple of things from a garden railroader in England. He said he was in England and I accepted that. Until he gave up garden railroading and I lost track of him we emailed a lot. It was a great experience.

#5

Tim,

Some of it has to do with the fact that some of the US sellers/listers only ship within the US. And then there’s always the difference between being able to read and actually comprehend (as opposed to “assume”),

#6

Not everyone is bad on Ebay. here is what a guy that I sold something to had to say when Isent him a peice for his Loco that he was missing so that the tender I sold him would work.

"Geoff, The couplet arrived today. Many thanks. I wish all sellers on ebay were as honorable as you are! If there is a way to add to my feedbsack (very favorable), Iwould!

Bruce"

The first thing I look at is what shipping cost on a item are. That tells me if I wish to bid on it or not.

#7

Always a few bad apples in the bunch. Had a couple bidders not pay on my eBay listings. Had a fellow in Hawaii not pay shipping as agreed for the FREE items I sent him. Had a fellow on MLS that listed a couple items as excellent condition, BAH, they were JUNK ! Oh ya ! There are those in Africa that want you to take a phoney money order and their agent will pick up the item and you send the excess money back. Okay bring it on as I ready.

What do you have for me?

All in all, I have had many good dealings and found new friends.

And the road goes on forever -------- Ya! TOF in Lost Wages

#8

Hi Tim,

Suggestion about EBay, the Pay Pal system seems to work to protect the seller as well as the buyer. Keep in mind that Pay Pal is no doubt owned & operated by EBay, another money maker for them. I have usually had no problem selling & buying, it’s certainly cheaper than buying “new” items
in this great hobby.

#9

As was noted by someone else I almost always check the shipping PRICE before I bid. There are folks who want $50 to ship and $5 itme across state and then there are those who want $5 to ship a $50 item across country. The last round of Postal increases about two years ago have put most large scale itmes in the $15 to $25 shipping range thru USPS and UPS and FedEX have followed suit to some extent. It is what it is. Yup most falks cannot read and or do not bother. That’s the chance you take.

Chas

#10

Tim I feel your pain, last year listing an item I used the ebay mailing preferences for “Domestic Delivery Only” meaning I would not ship the item overseas, of course no one reads those so of course the winning bidder was from Poland, I tried to accomodate them and eventually was able to ship the item to a relative here in the US but it was a big PITA. I realized I had to very blunt so now all my posting include a full capital letter disclaimer inside the item description “NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING” seams to have kept the sales domestic but I still get occasional inquiries asking will I ship to Canada, which is also a big PITA.

May I suggest at the top and bottom of your item desciption you add the following:

U.S. BIDDERS: THIS ITEM REQUIRES OVERSEAS SHIPPING FROM AUSTRALIA, BID ACCORDINGLY

Sometimes you have to hit people over the head to get for them to gain some measure of comprehension.

#11

“Evil Bay” “Buyer beware” Oh and Paypal is not a way to be protected always in a sale, that one is from experience a few months ago. Left me hanging out in the rain, and let a person of less than honorable status get away, and to this day is still selling!!