Ahhhh ... Spain. Does eBay automatically convert Spanish to English?

[dragonimpact]

Hey,

I sure hope that eBay has some goofy system of trying to convert one language into another otherwise this customer of mine needs to polish up his english writting skills (not that I'm much better mind you).

An item was purchased and shipped to Spain via Canada Post surface delivery as per my eBay ad. I give the option of airmail but at significant increased cost but much, much faster. Of course the customer opted for surface delivery and now some 4 weeks later is complaining. Here's how eBay's 'Item Not Received' commincation looks like :

Customer files Item Not Received on Dec 11th:
Artículo no recibido

My response on Dec 12th :
The item has been shipped.
Shipping Company: Canada Post
Shipping Date: 07-Nov-2006
Tracking Number: ***
Additional Details: This item was shipped via Canada Post International Parcel.
As stated in the eBay ad in the 'PLEASE
READ CAREFULLY' under 'OVERSEAS & S. AMERICAN DELIVERY', deliveries can take anywhere from 3 weeks
to 3 months. We ask in each eBay ad that the customer be aware of this lengthy shipping time and that
if they require faster delivery to inquire prior to purchasing. Alex.

From Customer Dec 13th :
The article tape-worm that to be late between 4 and 6 weeks, Nothing of 3 months And already it does
mas of 6 weeks that page for the article and even I do not come at all

????

Tape worm?


Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.


Oooooooooooook.

Well. I'm gonna give the guy a refund in 2 weeks time. By then he'll probably get the item and may forget the whole thing. Canada Post can't track it (naturally) just gives me a time when I dropped the package off, and, when it happens, the date he receives the package.

So? Does eBay convert one language to another automatically?

Alex.

[zarzuella]

No, I think you need to try one of the services like babelfish (do a google search for translation services) Also try posting this on the .com PS board and ask for help from a spanish-speaking fellow PS.

Sorry to hear about your buyer. Unfortunately you are probably SOL - Paypal will find in the buyer's favour if you cannot provide tracking. I got so tired of the 'where is it' emails - especially from Australia - that I no longer offer surface shipping. Less overseas sales, but less headache too.

Ann

[funkywatch]

That "automatic translation" you refer to is probably the buyer's English or he used one of those automatic online translators to send you a message. Find a Spanish-speaking friend to ciommunicate with him and clear it out.

In Spaine, the postal system is fairly efficient in the larger cities, but in the smaller villages it sucks, particularly in the South.

Talk to the guy and it should be OK. I have shipped a lot of watches there and they can take from 2 to 6 to 8 weeks to be delivered.

Eric