I'm Set Up To Only Sell In UK, Buyer In USA Wants Shipping Information.

CosmicDaisy

Hello, as the title really. I only sell in the UK on eBay and my account is set up as such but I've had a private message from a buyer in America asking me for shipping information for one of my listings. Should I tell them I don't ship overseas or am I able to do so? I'm worried this may be against the rules because I'm not set up to ship overseas. What should I be aware of and what are the downfalls please?

Pollycat

CosmicDaisy said:

Hello, as the title really. I only sell in the UK on eBay and my account is set up as such but I've had a private message from a buyer in America asking me for shipping information for one of my listings. Should I tell them I don't ship overseas or am I able to do so? I'm worried this may be against the rules because I'm not set up to ship overseas. What should I be aware of and what are the downfalls please?

I'd just do a 'sorry, I only ship within the uk' response of you don't want to sort out overseas shipping.

noitsnotme

You can switch on the Global Shipping Program on your listings.  If it then sells to an overseas buyer, ebay deal with sending it to them.  You just have to send it to a UK address where they handle the onward overseas shipping.

You just need to make the buyer aware that ebay set the overseas shipping costs.  You just set your item price and UK postage price as normal.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/global-shipping-programme/default/global-shipping-programme?id=4646

soolin

I get that a fair bit even though I have GSP enabled . I usually just send a polite message along the lines of 'I'm sorry but I only ship within the UK, for overseas purchases my items go through the ebay global shipping programme'.

I stopped selling overseas a few years back, I was having nothing but issues with ebay wanting to refund on an INR when my items couldn't possibly have had time to arrive.

One tip though, make sure your seller preferences are set properly to exclude overseas sales as the default is to allow them and that causes issues with trying to sort out a cancellation, or even worse the postage defaulting to the UK amount.

CosmicDaisy

soolin said:

I get that a fair bit even though I have GSP enabled . I usually just send a polite message along the lines of 'I'm sorry but I only ship within the UK, for overseas purchases my items go through the ebay global shipping programme'.

I stopped selling overseas a few years back, I was having nothing but issues with ebay wanting to refund on an INR when my items couldn't possibly have had time to arrive.

One tip though, make sure your seller preferences are set properly to exclude overseas sales as the default is to allow them and that causes issues with trying to sort out a cancellation, or even worse the postage defaulting to the UK amount.

That's the thing, I'm already set to exclude overseas shipping and he contacted me privately asking for the fees to ship to America. I just foresee massive headaches.

soolin

CosmicDaisy said:

soolin said:

I get that a fair bit even though I have GSP enabled . I usually just send a polite message along the lines of 'I'm sorry but I only ship within the UK, for overseas purchases my items go through the ebay global shipping programme'.

I stopped selling overseas a few years back, I was having nothing but issues with ebay wanting to refund on an INR when my items couldn't possibly have had time to arrive.

One tip though, make sure your seller preferences are set properly to exclude overseas sales as the default is to allow them and that causes issues with trying to sort out a cancellation, or even worse the postage defaulting to the UK amount.

That's the thing, I'm already set to exclude overseas shipping and he contacted me privately asking for the fees to ship to America. I just foresee massive headaches.

Just decline politely, don't let them hassle you into feeling guilty.  

CosmicDaisy

soolin said:

CosmicDaisy said:

soolin said:

I get that a fair bit even though I have GSP enabled . I usually just send a polite message along the lines of 'I'm sorry but I only ship within the UK, for overseas purchases my items go through the ebay global shipping programme'.

I stopped selling overseas a few years back, I was having nothing but issues with ebay wanting to refund on an INR when my items couldn't possibly have had time to arrive.

One tip though, make sure your seller preferences are set properly to exclude overseas sales as the default is to allow them and that causes issues with trying to sort out a cancellation, or even worse the postage defaulting to the UK amount.

That's the thing, I'm already set to exclude overseas shipping and he contacted me privately asking for the fees to ship to America. I just foresee massive headaches.

Just decline politely, don't let them hassle you into feeling guilty.  

Thank you, I'll do that. 

martindow

But there is nothing to stop you adding GSP to your listings and let eBay have any hassle involved once you have posted to the UK address.

CosmicDaisy

martindow said:

But there is nothing to stop you adding GSP to your listings and let eBay have any hassle involved once you have posted to the UK address.

Potentially they can still open an item not received claim and will be refunded, I then lose the item and the money. 

Spoonie_Turtle

CosmicDaisy said:

martindow said:

But there is nothing to stop you adding GSP to your listings and let eBay have any hassle involved once you have posted to the UK address.

Potentially they can still open an item not received claim and will be refunded, I then lose the item and the money. 

I think* by using the GSP as long as you have proof of delivery to the UK hub, you are covered.  eBay takes on the responsibility for the postage after that.

(*Would need someone more knowledgeable to confirm)


However you're not obliged to offer international postage, you can just politely explain to the enquirer you only post within the UK.

soolin

CosmicDaisy said:

martindow said:

But there is nothing to stop you adding GSP to your listings and let eBay have any hassle involved once you have posted to the UK address.

Potentially they can still open an item not received claim and will be refunded, I then lose the item and the money. 

Spoonie_Turtle is correct, your obligations finish as soon as it shows as delivered to the ebay hub. It's exactly the same as shipping to anyone in the UK- just send it tracked and insured as necessary . If you don't want to ship it within the UK then best to find another in person venue, depending on the item perhaps a bricks and mortar auction house or local dealer?

I love GSP and I get a lot of buyers that way. Risky countries like Italy often get turned off as even ebay won't send there. My last lost item was Italy on one of the periods where ebay were prepared to send, INR case opened, I phoned ebay and spoke to them and 4 days later it was closed - ebay refunded the buyer themselves.