How do I contact a seller if I keep getting an error message?

[jennowabe]

I am Canadian, trying to purchase an item listed by an American seller, who states in their ad "Contact me if you are a Canadian buyer and we'll figure out the shipping costs as it will be different than the below."

Every time I try, I get "We're sorry we couldn't find an answer for you. Unfortunately, this seller is not able to respond to your question. We suggest reviewing the item again to see if your answer is in the seller's listing."

I can't bid or I get "Sorry, this item cannot be shipped to Canada."

HELP please. What can I do?

[ggsale27]

Sounds to me like this seller doesn't know how to just put " ships to US only " in his ads. I would give up and look elsewhere for whatever it is you want to buy.

[rose-dee]

I can't bid or I get "Sorry, this item cannot be shipped to Canada."

It sounds to me as if the seller forgot to remove her restrictions on "ship to" countries before putting the contact request for Canadians in her listing.  At the top of the listing, under the price area, does it say "Ships to United States"?  This means only the United States.  It could also be the other way around, i.e. that the seller left the contact request in the listing in error after restricting shipping to the U.S.  Either way, you won't be able to contact the seller through the item link.

Try instead clicking on the seller's eBay ID at her main selling page ("Home" page if a store, otherwise top right on any item).  In other words, don't use "Ask Seller a Question" in the item itself.  The seller's ID should take you to the seller's "My World" page, where there should be a "contact seller" link.  Try that and see if you can get through. 

If you're really desperate to get the item, you could try contacting eBay, point out the contradiction in the listing, and ask if they would contact the seller to clarify (or correct her listing, if applicable).

[jennowabe]

The item actually is old photographs from a great uncle's side of the family, so it's not something I'm willing to just walk away from. And unfortunately, I do not know the seller personally.

I'm assuming since it says Ships to: United States that this seller forgot to remove restrictions to Canada. Odd since at the end of their listing information blurb is "No international shipments other than to Canada.  Please do not bid if you are not in the US or Canada!"

I'm bummed, as I can't figure out how to contact eBay itself, without actually calling, to ask for assistance. Contact seller under the seller's My World page brings me back to the Find answers page which doesn't work. 

[rose-dee]

I'm bummed, as I can't figure out how to contact eBay itself, without actually calling, to ask for assistance. Contact seller under the seller's My World page brings me back to the Find answers page which doesn't work. 

I think you will have to call eBay to get through to the seller (use Customer Support to get a toll-free #, but bypass their generic "subjects" -- type in your own).   

It does sound as if the seller intended to allow shipments to Canada but forgot to change her "ship to" locations when listing the item.  EBay may be able to ask the seller if he/she is willing to revise the listing to include Canada as a ship-to location if that was the seller's intention.  Or you may be able to ask eBay to forward your question directly to the seller.  Be sure to point out to eBay that the seller indicates "no international shipments other than to Canada" in the listing.

It sounds as if this item is well worth pursuing.  Be persistent and it may work out for you.