eBay Seller questions.....

[AMAZIN HOF COLLECTOR]

Since I started selling my PC off I've ran into a couple of questions about eBay...

1) I stopped selling/shipping to Canada because of the lack of tracking. I had a few bad experiences so I just don't ship to Canada. I checked off I only ship to US. I get a few bidders ask me if I ship anyway. I check their feedback and respond accordingly (good feeback, I would ship). I also raise the s/h accordingly.
Here is the question: I have a winner pay through PayPal and they are from Canada. They never contacted me and paid the US s/h rate. How does eBay allow them to bid if I checked the box US only? I refunded their money and told them about the directions in the auction. I felt bad so I also told them if they pay the raised s/h rates and agreed to no tracking I would send. (I know I leave myself open to a "I didnt receive the card" deal.)

2) My auction details read "PayPal users MUST have a confirmed address". It also reads the same on all my invoices. Yet 20% of my winners are unconfirmed. Either they don't care or can't read. PayPal tells you by shipping to an unconfirmed you do not have seller protection. What do I do? Does Delivery Confirmation cover me?

3) Delivery Confirmation. What does it protect me against? If a buyer says they did not receive an item and DC states it was delivered does PayPal cover me?


* As a side note I also learned about mandatory insurance. I've had some winners win 5-15 of my cards. Now it turns into a $200+ purchase. I charge an additional .25 each item. This does not cover Insurance. So I actually lose money if I insure the entire order. I am now going to put "Order(s) totaling over $100 requires mandatory insurance." I had a guy win 2 cards for $250. I strongly recommended Insurance. He declined. So I had to pay out of pocket to Insure. I guess its the seller's obligation to ensure the item arrives...


Any thoughts or help on selling would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Joe

 

[jeff550]

for shipping to canada i would recomed fedex. its only like 11.00 and you get tracking. for a card it should be less than 11 now that i say that.

 

[Sweetness]

Insurance must be paid by the seller. For sellers it sucks but just add the price of shipping into the shipping and handling fee. Disclaimers saying "insureanse is manditory for purchases over X amount" are meaningless but if the buyer pays hey why not. If a buyer refuses to pay the seller is responsible.

The international buyer problem is pretty easy. Change your shipping options. Just charge 15.00 for international shipping, most international buyers wont buy but if they do you are covered. I think you will have to uncheck the US buyers only box to open up the international shipping rates in your shipping options.

As for the unconfirmed address problem I don't worry about it. For sales of a couple hundred bucks or more I just check their feedback. If the feedback is shady just refuse to ship and inform them about the need for a confirmed address. If the buyer really wants the item they'll get their address confirmed.

 

[f2tornado]

1. I have never had any problems with Canadian buyers. Tracking can be expensive so I just send my stuff first class int'l which is barely more than domestic rates and forgo the protection tracking offers. If I am selling an expensive item then I simply check the U.S. bidder only button and state this in the auction or make note shipping to Canada will be via more expensive express mail with tracking.

2. Delivery confirmation protects you as a seller from buyers winning not received disputes from Paypal. I generally don't bother with DC if I'm shipping a cheap item as there is little incentive for a buyer to claim he didn't receive a $5 card. Packages must be 3/4 inch thick for DC and I don't like dealing with size restrictions. Skipping the add-on USPS services allows me to keep my shipping rates for cheap single cards around $1.20. In theory that smaller shipping rate allows for better bids and higher DSRs (which equate to fee discounts for power sellers).

3. Buyer paid insurance on eBay will be banned very shortly. eBay sent sellers a notice of this policy change recently. If you want your package insured you will have to include the cost in your published shipping rate or pay it out of pocket. Insurance as an add on cost will no longer be an option. I generally only use insurance for $100 items as the cost is relatively high and the USPS has never lost/damaged any of the 1000's of items I've shipped over the last 13 years.

 

[Sweetness]

All those disclaimers saying "manditory insurance" "seller is not responsible for lost damaged of stolen items" are all bs.

I know it sounds like a pain in the rear but on auctions charge enough shipping and handling to insure the highest price you think the items will go, same on bin's. You can also state that any excess shipping charge will be refunded, or you can pocket the diff.

 

[Sly]

I think most stuff has been covered, but I'll throw out what has always been my opinion on Insurance.

Insurance is there to COVER THE SELLER. It protects YOU if something is damaged/not received, especially if a buyer pays via Paypal, because they will ALWAYS side with the buyer.

If you're selling a few cards for a couple hundred bucks, you shelling out an couple extra bucks for insurance shouldn't be that big of a deal.

You can't make it mandatory, as I believe ebay is doing away with that option.

Personally, I only use insurance on anything over $100...sometimes on something over $50 depending what it is.

But it is there for YOU as the seller. Don't worry about it, if you have to sell out an extra $5. I guarantee you in the long run, it's better than being out the $200 from the sale when Paypal sides with a buyer.

 

[AMAZIN HOF COLLECTOR]

Thank you everyone! (I thanked each of your posts! )

The knowledge on these boards is immeasurable!!!
This is why I love these boards!!!

I appreciate all your help!
Joe