why would an eBay buyer...

.... Ask a significant question, but then bid before receiving the
answer?

If the item was something you desperately needed and the auction was
just about to end, then maybe, but not 4 days before the end, surely?

In this case, for an auction that I've got as local pick up only, the
question was "will you ship to Italy?".

<sigh>

 

Because they're fuckwitted, probably.

Oh, dear. Isn't Italy somewhere on the blacklist, although below
Nigeria and India? I've seen several online traders that specifically
refuse to ship to Italy (amongst others) and there's only one reason
for that sort of thing.

 

Well, my response was that I wasn't going to ship to Italy, but I was
happy to let them arrange for it to be collected & shipped.

Part of me thinks that should suffice, part of me thinks I should cancel
their bid.

 

Italian PO are renowned for 'losing' parcels .. Whether the IPO actually
lose them or not is a matter of conjecture ..

I'd pull the bid ..

 

I was thinking that my responsibility would end when their agent
collected it, though with paypal's "buyer is always right even when
they're wrong" approach I'm not so sure.

 

I'd cancel and block, if in doubt. Where are petrolcan and TOG, when
you want them, eh?

 

I think you're right, but I'd still rather not have the argument.

 

See, I've never had any problems with the IPO, Spain and Portugal seems to be a
big black hole though.

Exactly what I would do. Whilst you are at it set up your buyer requirements
page, tick the following boxes:

Buyers in countries to which I don't post
Buyers without a PayPal account
Buyers with no credit card on file

http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?BuyerBlockPreferences

No more scammers or foreign buyers without prior approval.

I do post abroad but I only allow buyers that have contacted me first, it
really does weed out the dross.

If the buyer sorts their own courier how would you prove to paypal that the
item was delivered in the event of an item not received claim?

<waves to Pip>

 

So would I. I was getting so many fucking silly questions from the same
bidder on different items (he was Spic, not Wop), I did just that. The
silence is lovely and peaceful.

Coo. That doesn't happen often.

 

Good to see you can both still respond on those rare occasions when you
will come in handy, though.

 

If you can change the terms of sale to "Ex Works (my house)" then you
are only legally responsible for packing and handing over to the agent
specified by the buyer at the place specified (my house).

 

Legally maybe but paypal certainly woudn't see it like that.

 

On an auction that clearly states 'collection only'? They'd have no
choice and you wouldn't even need a lawyer to get them to cave in if
they tried it on.

 

**** off smartarse!

</mumbles>
must read OP correctly

 

We won't ship anything to Italy at work, their postal service is
abysmal and nothing we've sent so far has reached its destination. When
we get Italian buyers we cancel their transaction and relist the item.


--
Lozzo
Versys 650 Tourer, CBR600F-W racebike in the making, TS250C, RD400F
(somewhere)
BMW E46 318iSE (it's a car, not one of those 2-wheeled pieces of shite
they churn out)

 

Well, the auction says collection only; I've reminded the chap (via
e-bay messaging for paypal traceability) of that and advised that I'm
happy for him to arrange to have it collected, but it is entirely his
responsibility from that point and it will be considered accepted by him
as soon as his agent has collected it.

I've told him if he's not happy with that to let me know and I'll cancel
hius bid.

As I see it, he's ordered a fair amount of stuff for his Harley from
abroad and had 100% +ve feedback; it doesn't really feel any dodgier
than someone in the UK paying by paypal then sending a mate to pick it
up and UR it. There's nothing to stop them saying it's not arrived either.