anyone ever bought anything from a foreign eBay (Italian)

[masraum]

Anyone ever bought anything from a foreign ebay or foreign ebay seller, especially from Italy?

Is there anything that you do or can do to help confirm that you don't get screwed?

[look 171]

Bought a NOS bicycle part off someone from Slovena without issues. It was about 150 bucks. For a small amount, I took a chance plus, it was through ebay with a credit card thinking there's some protection there? Other then that, I haven't bought much from overseas.

[varmint]

I buy Ural parts from shady Russian dudes all the time. Quicker than going through the dealership.

[sc_rufctr]

I bought a complete bicycle from a seller in Italy about two years ago (Paid for using PayPal).
I was expecting trouble but the transaction went through without a hitch. The bike was delivered in a massive cardboard box.

This is a photo from the original listing.

[juanbenae]

my wife. she has no tan lines...

[rwest]

I bought several NOS Campagnolo chainrings last year without any problems. They were on the US eBay site, so that may be a bit different?

[WPOZZZ]

Bought a bunch of watches from Japan, and a few steering wheels from Lithuania. No problems. Just check the sellers ratings and make sure their sales are current.

[stevej37]

Two years ago, I bought a framed hand made leather map from the Ukraine off Ebay.

Turned out great...no problems at all.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

Bought a bunch of watches from Japan, and a few steering wheels from Lithuania. No problems. Just check the sellers ratings and make sure their sales are current.

My experience is ancient, but Ebay seller ratings are not reliable. Years ago a high volume seller with 100% positive feedback listed an amp which I purchased and it was a misrepresented POS. I did get my $$$ back via Paypal and flagged the seller .... he was a con. I monitored him to see if he would relist the potentially hazardous amp, and in a few months his rating was back to 100% positive feedback. Total BS....

Use a CC to protect your purchase and do it with "eyes wide open" .... Ebay is full of scammers and they cover their tracks .... jmho.

[berettafan]

Bought a tube of gun grease from UK ebay. Got the wrong thing, emailed the seller and they sent the right thing immediately. Not sure how i'd feel about spending real $$ though.

Worth noting i now see a lot of stuff from Japan on US Ebay. Camera lenses in particular. The shipping is surprisingly cheap.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Before I hit the "buy it now", I ask..."If it never makes it here, will it be a big deal?"

If you buy it, don't sit there and obsess over the shipping updates. Some things seem to make fast progress, other things will sit for weeks at a sorting location. If you get weary, google the customs station it is stuck at. More than likely, you will see a lot of other customers who had to be patient.

I've Bought stuff from Russia*, Ukraine*, Lithuania, Poland, Italy, Japan, China, etc.

*Not lately.

Never a problem (yet). Some of the shipping times get long depending on what customs it goes through.

Check feedback for English responses, things like "quick shipping, product A+++" and high feedback numbers. It also gives me confidence when the seller has good feedback regarding other items similar to what you are buying (Other happy p-car parts buyers if I'm buying P-car parts, or bike parts buyers if I'm buying bike stuff).

Just to share, last year I was researching bib/shorts cycling jerseys. One result was for used spandex from Ukraine. This strikes me as interesting for two reasons- One, who the heck orders used spandex? and two, how can someone be running a used spandex ebay store in an active war zone? there was this guy selling used spandex shorts from near the Dnipro river. He was getting quick shipping out of the country, even with the invasion (this was around last march/april).

And, no, I didn't order any used spandex.
EDIT- I think I did order a NOS mavic rear rim from Italy. No problems.

[Superman]

In the last year, I bought a pair of replacement reflectors for my H4 headlights from someone in Austria. No problems, though it took around a month for them to arrive. They even have the small bulb socket for those cool "city lights."

[540964]

I bought a seat for a BMW R100 from a ebayer in Italy, no problem at all

[masraum]

Thanks everyone. Lots of good feedback.

[cstreit]

Yes. Ebay protection is pretty good - and if you use a cc you're doubly protected.

[Rick Lee]

I've done it lots of times and never had an issue. The issues tend to happen when the seller lists it as located in the US, but you only find out it's not when you get tracking info from China or Japan.

[stevej37]

A few years back I bought a De Marchi cycling jacket on Ebay. It stated it was brand new and being shipped from Italy.

It arrived looking great and I was very happy. After about the 3rd bike ride, I felt something hard in the small upper chest pocket. I stopped to check it out because I knew I hadn't used that pocket at all.

I unzipped it and found a house key.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I've done it lots of times and never had an issue. The issues tend to happen when the seller lists it as located in the US, but you only find out it's not when you get tracking info from China or Japan.

This... We have so called Australian sellers and their junk ships from main land China.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

This... We have so called Australian sellers and their junk ships from main land China.

I ordered some parts from an Australia eBay seller. Sobs never shipped and took 30 days to get a refund. If one waits after 30 days from the transaction, eBay doesn't offer any buyer protections.


Back ot. I ordered an air filter from Belgium last month. Took 3 weeks to come and about a week of that was in US customs.

[2.7RS]

Interesting to read all the positive experiences.

I was just reading the DrPorsche thread from the crook in Canada with good ratings and plenty of good transactions. But plenty of disappointments

I guess thieves always are going to be thieves