German bidder won my UK only auction?

enya_ntfc

I have just sold an item on ebay, I set up the listing as UK only (blocking overseas bidders) and wrote on my listing as UK only - yet someone has won it from Germany??

They only have 4 feedback and haven't even bothered sending me a message asking about postage, just requested a total.

I'm really not happy about posting out of the UK - even more so when I set up the listing to stop this.

What can I do? Do I have to ahead and post it or what?

techspec

If you blocked correctly - then buyer might have set up using Ebay UK to get around it.

Don't sell to them if you dont want to - and complain to ebay via report buyer.

But ive never had a problem sending to Germany - and the only difference is the airmail sticker.

If you wanted to send tracked/signed for though - the difference in price becomes huge.

enya_ntfc

The item wont cost much to post to Germany as its really light, its more the fact I blocked international bidders. I have posted to France once, but the buyer was English (which is why she could bid on my stuff as she had a UK address listed on ebay) and I had no problems.

mgdavid

as said above - Don't sell to them if you dont want to.
But I'm puzzled as to why one would want to ignore a potentially enormous customer base such as the rest of the EU?

oldone_2

I think this may be another e-Bay glitch.

I set my preferences very tightly, and one of the few countries I block is the USA . Recently one of my auctions was won by someone in America.. As far as I can see, they have no connection of any sort with this country or U.K e-bay/PayPal.

Two days ago I had an Australian ask why they could not bid, and yet I allow Australian bids. My activity log says they are in a country I don't post to, and yet my preferences are set to allow them.

I wish e-bay would stop fiddling with the design and layout of the site, and get the 'nuts and bolts' foolproof.

catmiaow

I don't like sending abroad as international signed for takes forever and also it costs a lot more. I have blocked the Channel Islands as well because they charge European prices.

theonlywayisup

catmiaow wrote: »

I don't like sending abroad as international signed for takes forever and also it costs a lot more. I have blocked the Channel Islands as well because they charge European prices.

CI is the same price as the UK for up to 2kg via Royal Mail first and second class, it isn't European prices.

mgdavid

catmiaow wrote: »

I don't like sending abroad as international signed for takes forever and also it costs a lot more. I have blocked the Channel Islands as well because they charge European prices.

... surely that is your buyer's issue, not yours. If the delivery time and costs are made clear then what's the problem? I've found overseas buyers nice to deal with, polite, with good comms; they are usually keen to buy something they cannot easily get in their country and so are more co-operative and helpful, and give excellent feedback too. Give it a try, you may be surprised :-)

techspec

mgdavid wrote: »

... surely that is your buyer's issue, not yours. If the delivery time and costs are made clear then what's the problem? I've found overseas buyers nice to deal with, polite, with good comms; they are usually keen to buy something they cannot easily get in their country and so are more co-operative and helpful, and give excellent feedback too. Give it a try, you may be surprised :-)

I tend to prefer EU to worldwide - but that depends on the item. It certainly helps push the price up.

Ive had a few problems - but i like to learn from my own experience - and then block if i think its necessary. Eg - i've never had a problem with Italy - many on here have. I have had quite a few problems with France.

But i can say that my best overseas customers live in Germany. Always polite, and always very grateful for good service - with quick feedback left.