Eastern Europe - worth the risk?

payless

Sold an item yesterday

was expecting £400-£430 got a bit more but bidder was from Poland with only 1 feedback,
( in auction I stated non UK bidders must have a 10+ , plus must contact me before a certain time ( I was going out an hour before auction end)

This chap did email me - much much later - 10 min before end

He even phoned me - he's really keen on paypal

But I'm not keen as appears no sellers protection - I've done it before to other Europe , but higher feedback/ less value items

Unfortunately 2nd best bid purchased somewhere esle in meantime

Can I just cancel ... claim fees as not meeting conditions , and accept neg if it comes

soolin

A closed auction with a winning bid cannot be cancelled, all you can do is get your FVfs back if the buyer does not meet your criteria and that depends on what your auction terms say.

The bit about 10+ feedback isn't binding, so you need to ignore that. If you didn't offer paypal as an option then the buyer can't insist on using it but can use any other option you chose in your listing, bank cheques or postal orders or whatever. If the buyer refuses to pay by anything other than paypal and you don't accept that as an option then you can start the NPB process from day 7. However if you did tick the I accept paypal box then the buyer can refuse to pay by any other means and can file a non performing seller complaint against you.

Poland is a problem as their paypal system only works outwards and not inwards, so they can't reclaim funds from you nor can you refund them. I recently had a parcel to Poland go astray and the buyer claimed this happened all the time to her..I had no way at all of refunding her though which was a major concern.

Soo

payless

These items are popular in Germany / Italy

I ticked paypal but in ad I wrote :-

PREFER UK BIDDERS - I might be prepared to post to Europe ( £30) or US - ( £35) but only to long standing ebayers ( expect 10+ feedback) with a traceable home and email address ( not hotmail style)- + telephone . International buyers -Bid before 10am UK time ( so I can see your history) then email me- if I'm not happy I'll just cancel your bid

Missing parcerls ... Also my international postage costs reflected Royal Mail airmail + sign+ insurance + a little to cover exchange fees.. He does not seem keen on postal service, wants/ will pay for DHL , although he thinks that £50, when its really £80 by the time you add vat, fuel supp and insurance ( and thats without me covering exchange fees- although given sale price I would forgo this

are you saying no claimback possible?

masonic

payless wrote:

are you saying no claimback possible?

I thought that bit would grab your attention.

I think you are obliged to accept paypal in this instance, but going on what Soo has said, it looks as though the buyer can still file a dispute, but would not get a refund if they did. If that is correct, then they are very unlikely to make a claim unfairly as they don't stand to gain anything for it.

I would give him a proper quote for DHL and see what he comes back with.

payless

If some pays me from abroad via paypal will I get full amount (less normal fees, - notice it mentions a 2.5% exchange fee - is this deducted also ?)

bleugh

DONT ACCEPT PAYPAL WHATEVER YOU DO

you're right to be suspicious.

unfortunatley, there's NO way of getting your item back or your money

and dont listen to the others, the CHARGEBACK thing only is true if they use a LEGIT credit card.

there's a very good chance they'll use a STOLEN card or account, and the money is withdrawn by payapl

go with your gut, £400 is a LOT of money, i don't entrust anything over £30 with paypal to UK bidders, let alone anyone from slightly dodgy eastern block conuntries

payless

just when I of thinking of agreeing to it .....

masonic

The thought of a credit card chargeback had completely escaped me. Yes, I think I will have to defer to bleugh's sage words on the matter. Insist on alternative payment, or take a NPS strike on the chin. £400+ is too much to lose however slight the risk.

Agutka

As someone who is Polish I have to say I am feeling a little offended by some of the comments here. Just FYI.

The buyer sounds keen on the goods and has even phoned you, so you're dealing with a person - how did they sound? I say quote him for postal service you're happy with and wait for the money to roll in. As for being keen on PayPal I didn't think there was another way of paying people in another country without incurring horrendous fees.

bleugh

Sorry you're offended Agutka

The guy may well be honest, BUT, statistically speaking, and for the amounts involved, it isnt worth the risk of the seller, there's a fair chance he isn't :-(

he could always post cash - by recorded delivery and well wrapped and hidden in a small parcel.

OR, maybe the seller payless, could offer to pay half the bank charges, he'd have probably paid more in paypal fees anyway, so it's a good gesture of trust on both sides

Agutka

But from the buyer's point of view, he would have no comback then. I personally would never pay these kind of amounts without being sure what I was paying for. Not that payless is dodgy or anything :think: but if it was the buyer asking questions on here you'd be telling him to pay ONLY via PayPal and make sure it's via a credit card.

If the items are popular in Europe as the OP mentioned, then the highest bidders will be from abroad. Along with all the risks that entails...