Is there any way to really block groups of buyers?

[gimmegadgets]

So I have had a few issues with shipping internationally, packages just dissappearing, buyers refusing to pick them up once they realize they have to pay customs fees etc. So as a result I specify in all my auctions now :NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING, I also have the ebay blocks set in place to not allow bidders/buyers from countries I do not ship to, and of course I have the US as the only country selected that I offer shipping to. Yet it is still allowing foreign buyers to buy my items using buy it now and best offer. This has happened 2 times in the last couple months now. This last time I got completely screwed on shipping, I offered free shipping in my auction, which in the US would have only cost me 4.95, however it allowed an italian buyer to purchase my item and she refused to pay any shipping because my auction clearly stated free shipping. I told her that my auction also clearly stated NO international shipping, I contacted ebay live help and ask them if I was obligated to sell to her, (I tried to do a cancel transaction and she declined saying I had to sell to her ebay purchases are a contract etc... (did I mention she is kinda a witch?)) more or less they told me yes, even though I explained that I had all the appropriate blocks in place to prevent international buyers and she was an unwelcome bidder. nothing they more or less just gave me these canned answers. SO I went ahead and sent it to her, because she threatened a negative if I didnt, I ended up being out 29.50 in shipping. And now to top it off the money is being held by paypal which is not unusual since this acct is less than a yr old they do hold any payment over $50 or so I have found, she has had the item like 2 weeks now and won't leave feedback so that I can access the money. I even sent her a nice email saying that I had left feedback for her and would appreciate the same and explained to her about the hold, she has just ignored it. So is there ANY WAY to really block groups of buyers? I do not wanna go through this again.

[AmourCouture]

Wow, What a nightmare.

I think you have taken all of the steps you could to prevent it. I would just say offer free shipping to the US, add international shipping at cost, only ship w/ USPS Express international (insured) or Global express guaranteed and put a notice in your listings that "Buyer is responsible for customs. Package will be declared at value of final sale."
If anyone dings your feedback b/c of customs eBay will usually remove it.

I'm sorry you got a canned response too. They should be protecting you as a seller and they aren't!

[mydogsfriend]

I admit I've never created a listing using ebay tools but if I'm not mistaken, you can specify free shipping for US and use a calculated rule for all international buyers. Yes, the free shipping logo will appear in you listing (good!) but when an international buyer bids or checks out, the amount will automatically be added.

And we shoudl never be surprised by ebay's canned answers - that's all they know how to do. In my experiences, no one you can talk to would ever be allowed to interfere with strict policy and they will not allow you to talk with anyone who can so all you get is a cs rep who reads the rules without regard for circumstances. :(

[pippaWA]

Put it in your listing that only the US shipping is free, and that shipping out of the country is $100 or some other amount high enough to buy an overnight express service for the item thru FedEx. This should deter the international buyers.

p-WA

[gimmegadgets]

Well now this PITA buyer is being even more of a PITA, she has had the item for well over a week now (sig confirmation, her sig), she emails me today and says she has just now recieved it today and that she has noticed it is damaged, doesnt specify how. But wants to know what I will do to make this right! I havent responded back yet cause I dont know what to say to her, I want to say "well you screwed me outta 29.00 in shipping costs so what are you gonna do to make that right?"

I also have discovered how she has been getting around my block on international bidders, on her ebay message it says her location is NY, which is a lie she is in Italy so she has provided fake info to ebay so she can get around blocks, if I report this will ebay do anything?

[flowerbobon]

OMG this is really a nightmare!i'm sorry this happened to you and i hope it will be settled a.s.a.p.the buyer is nonsense!

[northerndancer]

I can't believe that ebay required you to complete the transaction when you clearly specified "no international". Maybe if you had spoken to a supervisor..... . That this buyer circumvented the blocks and then expected free shipping is unbelievably nervy. If she pushes back and files a SNAD, she will probably win - there haven't been a lot of examples of winning sellers lately. You should report what she is doing to ebay. If you do end up accepting a r/r I fear you will be out your shipping cost but, at a minimum, she should have to pay the return shipping.

[gimmegadgets]

I think she is gonna try to get a partial refund or some such nonsense, which isnt going to work. I'm not sure what game she is playing by telling me she just got it today when she signed for it over a week ago.

[alij78]

Yes she must be doing something like that to be able to bid because as an international buyer ( but a good one who is happy to pay shipping etc) there are many times I see US only auctions where the seller has set will ship only to US and I cannot therefore bid, those settings are enough to be able to stop me from being able to bid
OP sorry you have had such bad experiences but I promise we are not all bad!!! I have had 100s of successful purchases with US sellers!

[shinymagpie]

Originally Posted by gimmegadgets

So I have had a few issues with shipping internationally, packages just dissappearing, buyers refusing to pick them up once they realize they have to pay customs fees etc. So as a result I specify in all my auctions now :NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING, I also have the ebay blocks set in place to not allow bidders/buyers from countries I do not ship to, and of course I have the US as the only country selected that I offer shipping to. Yet it is still allowing foreign buyers to buy my items using buy it now and best offer. This has happened 2 times in the last couple months now. This last time I got completely screwed on shipping, I offered free shipping in my auction, which in the US would have only cost me 4.95, however it allowed an italian buyer to purchase my item and she refused to pay any shipping because my auction clearly stated free shipping. I told her that my auction also clearly stated NO international shipping, I contacted ebay live help and ask them if I was obligated to sell to her, (I tried to do a cancel transaction and she declined saying I had to sell to her ebay purchases are a contract etc... (did I mention she is kinda a witch?)) more or less they told me yes, even though I explained that I had all the appropriate blocks in place to prevent international buyers and she was an unwelcome bidder. nothing they more or less just gave me these canned answers. SO I went ahead and sent it to her, because she threatened a negative if I didnt, I ended up being out 29.50 in shipping. And now to top it off the money is being held by paypal which is not unusual since this acct is less than a yr old they do hold any payment over $50 or so I have found, she has had the item like 2 weeks now and won't leave feedback so that I can access the money. I even sent her a nice email saying that I had left feedback for her and would appreciate the same and explained to her about the hold, she has just ignored it. So is there ANY WAY to really block groups of buyers? I do not wanna go through this again.

Go into

1. my account tab
2. site preferences
3. shipping preferences
4. Exclude locations from your listings
5. Select the countries you want to exclude. I have only had problems with Italy and UK personally (sorry lovely people in Italy and UK who are a pleasure to deal with but some of your fellow nationals are really impossible to deal with over customs duty & leave nasty scores for something that is not my problem).
6. Select OK

This will filter out those buyers from those countries because they either won't see your listings or they won't be able to bid. Just choosing postage in the listing form is not enough.
Note: Don't cut off your possible market unless you really need to, when times are tough.


Step 2 is

1. Go back to Site Preferences Page.
2. Buyer Requirements
3. Click on Show
4. Click on edit
5. Click on block buyers from countries to which I don't ship. (While you are there... put in the NPB option for people with 2 strikes in 12 months, no PayPal etc... Really improves your quality of life no end as a seller.)
6. Click on the box to "Apply these to current and future listings"

You're done.

Hope this helps.

[northerndancer]

^^^ I think OP had already done this but the buyer circumvented the blocks by using a NY address on her ebay profile even though she lives overseas.

[shinymagpie]

Originally Posted by northerndancer

^^^ I think OP had already done this but the buyer circumvented the blocks by using a NY address on her ebay profile even though she lives overseas.

Sorry yes good pickup! No accounting for rule breakers.

However, I discovered myself that you need to do this in at least two ways for it to take effect. Because I locked out UK deliberately once, and woke up to find a UK buyer leading the charge on my items. I only blocked via the listing, not via the second setting.

OP obviously got stuck with a low experience customer service operator. You have to get lucky and get the low experience person who doesn't mind asking a question up the line, rather than the person who just says "the computer says no..."

[gimmegadgets]

So I have heard nothing else out of this buyer after she claimed the item was damaged and wanted to know how I was gonna make it right, I have asked her to explain the damage she is speaking of, photos etc. Nothing, I even emailed her again and very politely ask her to let me know what it was she wanted to do about this. Still nothing, no responses, no feedback left for me, no nothing. So she has had this item coming up on a month now, I would very much like to use the $200 or so that is sitting in paypal from this sale but I'm afraid that as soon as I do she is gonna file a dispute or the item will just show up in my mailbox unannounced and her screaming refund. How long do you guys think I should wait before using the money?

[mmmsc]

Originally Posted by gimmegadgets

So I have heard nothing else out of this buyer after she claimed the item was damaged and wanted to know how I was gonna make it right, I have asked her to explain the damage she is speaking of, photos etc. Nothing, I even emailed her again and very politely ask her to let me know what it was she wanted to do about this. Still nothing, no responses, no feedback left for me, no nothing. So she has had this item coming up on a month now, I would very much like to use the $200 or so that is sitting in paypal from this sale but I'm afraid that as soon as I do she is gonna file a dispute or the item will just show up in my mailbox unannounced and her screaming refund. How long do you guys think I should wait before using the money?

Gimmegadgets: Doesn't she have 45 days? Hope this stinky whacko doesn't pull a chargeback on you. Keep us posted. By the way, did you guys ever find out who broke into your store or recover any of the stuff? I know there was another thread about that here.