First SELL on E-Bay - Rifle Scope

[larryinnewyork]

Good morning everyone.

Yesterday I listed an Item on E-Bay.
This is my first time selling anything there.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/272552716264?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/272552725181?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

I did not want to get into shipping International as this was my first Sale.

I just received an e-mail from someone who says they will buy both my Scopes if I ship to Canada.

QUESTION: Could this be some kind of SCAM ? ? ?

There are a lot of Scopes listed like mine.
I find it strange someone would Message me about buying both.

 

[wwillson]

Larry,

I've run into this situation before. I agreed to ship to Canada if they won the auction. They won the auction and I shipped to Canada, buyer paid actual shipping expense. For some reason it took a couple weeks for the package to be delivered, so the buyer gave me negative feedback, it was the only negative feedback I've ever gotten. It felt like a slap in the face to do someone a favor, then get feedback like that. Not that it will happen to you, but I'd let them know that the shipping interval could take a while.

 

[zzyzzx]

You would think that someone in Canada would know that it takes that long to get there!
I just think you got a bad Canadian! For the most part, if you are going to sell to someplace outside the US, Canada is the next best place and filling out the customs form is not that hard. I would sell stuff and ship to Canada if they are willing to pay the postage.

 

[DBMaster]

You can sell to anyone in the world. eBay has a service that ships to the international destination for you. All you are responsible for is getting the item to their shipping center in Erlanger, KY. I sold a camera to someone in Canada and a set of computer speakers to someone in Australia this way. One thing I have noticed, though, after being an eBay member for almost nineteen years, is that there is a greater frequency of auction winners NOT paying. Of course, you don't ship until they pay, but it's annoying to have to wait the appropriate amount of time, try to contact the buyer, and then re-list the item. This is apparently becoming rampant and some long-term sellers will only list items as "buy it now" at this point. I had non-paying buyers twice in the last three months and I rarely sell items.

 

[QuietPortage]

Use the Buy It Now feature, and require immediate payment through PayPal.

EBay's international service that's mentioned above will take care of everything for you.

 

[JMJNet]

IMO, I would not allow a sale of what you are selling to anything international including Canada.

That is part of a gun type sales although it is not the gun itself.

If it is just a simple digital camera or computer parts, that is fine.

That is just me. You can do whatever you want to do.

 

[Leo99]

I don't sell internationally. It's just another potential headache I don't need.

 

[DoubleWasp]

I would not ship anything having to do with a firearm over any international border. I would not even discuss it.

There are a lot of wacky import and export laws that change everyday, enforced by agencies that have little mercy for being unaware of what those laws are.

I am no way insulting Canada at all, because they have a right to run their nation as they see fit, but they are not known to be terribly gun friendly. You would not likely be committing any sort of transgression by shipping something as harmless as a scope, but you never know.

I can tell you for a fact that the American ATF makes quite a hobby of trolling around trying to get firearms owners in serious trouble, so take it for whatever it is worth.

 

[JustinH]

Ebay will get you, that sounds like a scam.

If the buyer files a claim against you, you need to file PROOF that you sent the item, and tracking number that they received it.

If they tell you to send it to some address not in paypal's system, you will lose your money, and your product.

You must send to the address they have listed with paypal.

I just lost my first ebay claim in 15 years. I sold a 4 year old samsung tablet, some kid bought it and put a root on it, and rendered it useless, breaking the firmware. He then filed claim against me for selling him a broken item.

Ebay came in to negotiate, and I accepted no fault, but they said I had to refund 50 percent of the money, and he keeps the item.

 

[Pablo]

Optics?

SOME optics are ITAR limited for export. I would check that out at the very least. Follow your instinct. Stay domestic.

sickbikeparts.com ships everywhere on earth. I can tell you Canadian customs can be REALLY slow. And Canadians expect since coming from USA the shipping will be significantly cheaper than free and are angry about it. Again, price it right. Sell in the USA and get seller protection.

 

[DBMaster]

I'm not advising you to make the international sale, but you ship to the Kentucky shipping center with Priority Mail, First Class Mail, Fedex, UPS, etc. You will have proof of delivery to that location. From there, the buyer pays and eBay is responsible to get it to him.

Since scopes can be used on air rifles and crossbows I doubt very seriously selling cross border is an issue. But, you need to do what makes you comfortable.

Even with the protections eBay has in place (which tend to favor the buyer) you can't guard against all contingencies. Some people are simply scum.

 

[i_hate_autofraud]

Here's how to decide:

Look at their profile, (click on their screen ID) how many buys did they do?

Look at their "feedback as a buyer" then "feedback left for others"

If they get good feedbacks and they don't complain a lot or leave snarky comments, then they are likely OK.

If you see problems, then block them from buying.

Also revise your listing with "shipping to USA and Canada only - Canada takes 3 weeks" etc,

 

[larryinnewyork]

OP here,

After reconcideration, I contacted E-Bay and asked.
E-Bay said, because someone has already bid, I can't revise.
But they did give me a link - to exclude 'alot' of Countries.

Thanks everyone for the advise.
The bidder did have all good reviews for himself, but I'll play it safe.
NO shipping across Canadian border !
I believe I'll be ok.

 

[i_hate_autofraud]

Yup, always check the reviews they give others, that's the feedback that affects you.

Even if you only sell in the US, an unreasonable buyer still hurts your rating.

 

[The_Jeff]

I got the same query about selling a police scanner (radio) to Canada. I did a quick query to see if they were legal up there and felt satisfied, but wierded out.

On the customs form I wrote "radio" and the actual price paid, minus shipping. Buyer wanted me to call it a gift. I told him no dice, before he bid. He won. He really wanted that scanner.

You get to pick when you write a listing where you want to sell it to. Why second guess yourself later?