eBay question - international bidder

[jyl]

I listed a plastic model on eBay, it sold for $36 + shipping, turns out the buyer is in Lebanon.

My auction gave a shipping price for the US, the buyer said he isn't able to make a PayPal payment because when entering it, his address is not in the US. He asked me to change the auction to permit international shipping and let him nkow how much to pay. It will cost about $25 to ship a 2 lb standard first class parcel to Lebanon and $65 to ship by Priority Mail. There's no tracking or insurance to Lebanon. Seems like a nice guy, we've emailed back and forth about the model.

Should I (1) make the change to the auction (how do I do that?) and have him pay $36 + $25 and send it first class with the risk of loss in transit being all on him, (2) tell him no, cancel the auction (do do I do that?) and re-list, specifying clearly in the auction description that I'll only ship to domestically? (3) tell him no, and give the #2 bidder a "second chance offer" (he bid $35 and is in the US).

I've bought internationally on eBay but never sold internationally. The hassle to go to the post office is the same no matter where I ship it; the odds of a parcel never arriving in Lebanon, the buyer making trouble, and me being out $61 is what worries me.

[id10t]

He has no family or friend here in the states that could recieve it from you and ship it to him?

[jyl]

Some web searching indicates PayPal is not operating in Lebanon. But I know plenty of Lebanese have accounts elsewhere.

His feedback is +100% positive as a buyer. His purchases have all been from sellers of plastic models in Japan, Hong Kong, and Germany. So I think he is legit.

[RANDY P]

refund him. Start over. Too much hassle.

[jyl]

He hasn't paid yet. eBay won't let me send him an invoice. Apparently because my "shipping policy" doesn't include international shipping. I've tried to edit that but can't figure out how to. PITA.

[MBAtarga]

If the auction is over, I don't believe it's possible to change anything associated with it on ebay. How is he going to pay you if not with Paypal? Just have him add in the extra shipping costs either with the auction amount or with another transaction. Just don't ship until he has made the full payment.

[jyl]

Thanks, all.

I am clearing out a bunch of stuff and have started with small, easy stuff like plastic models, to learn my way around eBay selling. Going to do the bike parts and other stuff later when I know what I'm doing and have more seller feedback. May try selling in activity-specific forums instead of eBay, as the eBay fees and technology are proving rather irritating.

[dennis in se pa]

Moneygram? Western Union? Get the money first. Get it in writing that delivery is not guaranteed.

[herr_oberst]

Strangely, another post about model cars and Lebanon on the 'bird!

Nice Little toy Car Collection

[javadog]

I ship stuff all over the world. It's no big deal and I always use the USPS and put insurance on the package. I'd just check the USPS restrictions for Lebanon.

A guy recently paid me by email. I'd never heard of it before but there are options other than Paypal.

I'd suggest you sell it to him as planned. Have him pay you for the bid+shipping (give him his options and let him decide how to ship it) and then mail it. Mark it paid and shipped, on eBay. Done.

JR

[GWN7]

Have him send the money to your paypal address as a gift instead of being tied to a auction. You get your money, he gets his model. With the understanding that there is no tracking to Lebanon and your proof of shipping is the insurance claim from the Post Office.

[steve911]

John--
I sell a lot on ebay. They have made selling overseas a lot easier IMO. When you set up your auction(s), in the shipping section there's a check box for using their Global Shipping Program option.

International shipping
Sell globally, ship domestically using the Global Shipping Program
Send it to the US shipping center, and the rest will be taken care of for you

Basically you ship to their drop shipment depot in KY and they take care of the rest. The price for shipping (to you) is whatever you set for domestic shipping.

Don't know how/if you can change this on the auction you're having the issue with, but other auctions can be edited to incorporate the Global Shipping option and make it easy-peasy.

[jyl]

I refunded the bidder's money on PayPal and relisted the item. My new listing is for US/Canada only.

Not sure why, but I couldn't get in touch w/ him to confirm his shipping address. There was an address listed for him on eBay but I wanted to hear the correct address from him. Two messages sent and no answer. After a couple weeks I didn't feel right holding his money without shipping the model.