Problem with buying off ebay US

Dustin_80 · 10-06-2011, 09:15 PM

If you want something badly off ebay US but the buyer posts to US only what are your options?

I have tried messaging the seller but he seems to have disabled incoming messages of all kinds because it wont let me.

And unfortunately I dont know any Americans I can count on to bid on my behalf then forward the goods on to me.

MO · 10-06-2011, 09:38 PM

Then I think your out of luck.

JG65TE · 10-06-2011, 09:41 PM

wack a post up in the pub or summin, lots of yanks on here, maybe one is willin to do ya a favour, i have done it before

Kryton · 10-06-2011, 10:38 PM

http://www.viaddress.com/ and theres many more just like it - have a look around and see which one suits your needs.
Either that or shop with another seller.

sudszy · 10-06-2011, 11:17 PM

You could bid on the item and then if you win it Im sure the seller may be forced to communicate with you, if they still wont send to Aus or demand an outrageous sum then you could just refuse to pay.

My experience with non paying ebay bidders is nothing much seems to happen to the bidder and this case the seller might just decide that its worth posting it to you rather than do all the ridiculous time wasting "resolution' that ebay puts one of those disputes through.

More often than not, people simply dont send overseas because they think its too hard, but really its no more difficult then looking up a their local post website punching in the weight and address and getting a price to post.

Ive never tried it on as Ive suggested, however, I have contacted plenty of sellers to see if they will post to aus and so far I have had a 100% success rate in people agreeing. They realise that for anyone to bother asking, they have to be keen. Likewise Ive had plenty of overseas enquires for items when i only made them available to aus and the overseas bidder has come through.

FgNewbie · 11-06-2011, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudszy

You could bid on the item and then if you win it Im sure the seller may be forced to communicate with you, if they still wont send to Aus or demand an outrageous sum then you could just refuse to pay.

Unless the system has changed, if the listing doesn't offer shipping to Aus (or which ever country) and they haven't blocked you in their settings, when you win, the seller doesn't need to communicate with you. When they start an unpaid item dispute (what ever it's called now) there used to be option specifically for this.

Non payers used to get a strike too, don't know if they still do. If they buyer got 3 strikes they may have been suspended. Average type buyers would normally rant and rave and have a strike removed but repeat offenders would eventually be dealt with.

With changes made to the the unpaid item dispute a few years ago, it was widely known that a non payer could type any gibberish in response to a dispute to avoid a strike. No idea if that still works.

IMO (as that of many eBay friends), eBay will generally take whatever path makes the most revenue for them and willingly screw anyone in the process. It means either bad buyers remain longer than they should or shonky sellers are allowed to continue trading longer than they should. (Discussing that is a can of worms too).

There have been a couple of cases that I vaguely remember where eBay has been alerted to scams and taken no action for excessive periods. On one occassion, they claimed while the seller was paying his statement they had no reason to believe there was a problem. I remember one guy disappeared overseas with about 200k in sales not being supplied (possibly pre paypal protection policies... good luck with them too).

J_Putz · 29-07-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davway

http://www.viaddress.com/

Never ever use these idiots.
Insanely expensive to have just pocket sized items shipped to you.
They charge up to the next kilo or something. So I bought two other items to bring it closer to the minimum weight and the price doubled?
Rip off.
Avoid.

Road_Warrior · 10-06-2011, 11:24 PM

Freight forwarder.

Dave_Obsession · 11-06-2011, 12:06 AM

www.myus.com

Jim Goose · 11-06-2011, 07:21 AM

I seem to have found a lot of US ebayers unwilling to sell stuff to go overseas because they are unsure of what to do! They dont seem to realise you just go to post office and fill out a form.

If the seller has only US buyers on his item, then your really out of luck.
If you bid and win and he doesnt sell it to you, then eBay will probably side with the seller, especially if he has in the item description, "only sells to US residents " or something like that...

I cant see how he can disable incoming messages..

Dustin_80 · 11-06-2011, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

I cant see how he can disable incoming messages..

..

TURBOTAXI · 11-06-2011, 07:47 AM

www.comgateway.com

The Yeti · 11-06-2011, 08:01 AM

in terms of getting it here I dont have any thing to add to the above posts, but I gotta say if the seller wont accept messages I think would give this one a miss

creative · 11-06-2011, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Yeti

in terms of getting it here I dont have any thing to add to the above posts, but I gotta say if the seller wont accept messages I think would give this one a miss

you can block messages from outside your country. AFAIK

I had the same with a UK seller. I changed my primary address to my UK one and my messages were sent through. I explained I wanted postage to a uk address but I was in Oz, hence the randomness.

worked a treat. Could a US member see if he can receive messages on your behalf perhaps?

302 XC · 11-06-2011, 05:37 PM

If the seller doesnt want to post OS
Buy from somewhere else
I had an add on evilbay for a "Pick up only" on a set of rims
(I honestly couldnt be bothered mucking around with frieght/postage or whatever,ya know time = money)
Anywho
A bloke from the other side of brissie bought the rims
Paid for the rims
Guess what ,"Can u organise frieght" ???
I sent him local courier Ph Nos,email addys
Needless to say theyre still here after 12 months

Franco Cozzo · 11-06-2011, 08:15 PM

www.priceusa.com.au

Person who runs the business lives in Bendigo and has partners who live in the USA who buy what you want, it gets shipped to them, they ship it to you here in Australia.

I've used their service before, I'd give them 10/10 for service and you are always in the loop.

gencer · 29-07-2011, 10:23 PM

i brought many things of ebay US it just a matter of finding out how much postage cost and in your case i think the buyers has blocked the country only us

ELGT4me · 30-07-2011, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dustin_80

If you want something badly off ebay US but the buyer posts to US only what are your options?

I have tried messaging the seller but he seems to have disabled incoming messages of all kinds because it wont let me.

And unfortunately I dont know any Americans I can count on to bid on my behalf then forward the goods on to me.

I am importing engine parts while the dollar is strong

, I have never had a problem with Fed Ex, USPS, or the pick & pay system. I make it clear to the seller, if he is willing to ship, or obtain shipping costs & quotes ,I am more than happy to send the extra monies to him. I have also imported hand tools & clothing, no drama's whatsoever. If this guy does not respond, well you know what to do.