Newbie Seller Needs Help To Complete An Transaction

almacoj
Community Member

I sold a few things that I no longer need recently and it's my first time selling on eBay. One of the items is bought by a Russian bidder. The price is around $220 and the shipping is $90. I sent him an invoice (through eBay) for $310 but he paid me (by PayPal) only $220 (why did eBay or PayPal allow that?). He then sent me an e-mail asking me to confirm the shipping charge and how he can pay me. He gave me an e-mail address and asked me to communicate with him using this e-mail address. Before he bid, he did send me a request for shipping cost estimation and I told him $90. So I am not sure why he is doing this.

 

What should I do now? Should I refund him (though I don't know how to) and ask him to pay again the full amount? And what happen if I refund him and he withdraw what he paid me? Is that possible and will I lose the money? Or should I ask him to PayPal me the shipping cost?

 

I tried searching but I could not find something useful. Any help would be appreciated.

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Newbie Seller Needs Help To Complete An Transaction

Given that you are a new seller, and that overseas selling is somewhat riskier than North American, and that this is a relatively high value sale, repeat to yourself: some sales are not worth having.

Take a deep breath. This may or may not work out. It's a learning experience.

Yes. Refund the short payment and re-invoice the buyer with the shipping fee included. If he pays, ship using Air Mail service only. Given the value , including the shipping fee, you should also be paying for Confirmation of Delivery. That would be ExpressPost International*, which is expensive, but your buyer is paying for it not you.

Air Mail means it will arrive relatively quickly. You won't have an unhappy, honest customer getting a refund because the item does not arrive within 45 days.

Delivery Confirmation means that you can prove that a dishonest complaining customer did in fact receive the item and Paypal will not refund him.

What if he doesn't pay the new invoice?

Well, everything being considered, this is a risky first sale. You may be better off without it. You can't open an Unpaid Item Dispute since he did in fact pay.

Hmmm- did you originally have a shipping fee for Russia? Did you have blocks against any countries, like Russia? It may be possible to end the transaction and get your selling fees back by reporting the bidder as an Unwanted Buyer.

 

BTW, did you know that although you are required to ship within 7 days of payment (complete payment), PP will hold that payment in escrow for 21 days against your good performance. They do pay out, but the delay drives some new sellers nuts.

 

 

 

 

*The new Tracked Parcel, if it is available for Russian delivery, may be somewhat cheaper. My books are cheap so it isn't something I have personal experience with.

 

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Newbie Seller Needs Help To Complete An Transaction

Whatever email address he asked you to use, you are safer to use either Contact Buyer on the listing page or the email addy attached to his Paypal payment.

You could cc the other address, just in case he is honest and that is the account he uses most often. But keep eBay communication within eBay/PP.

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Newbie Seller Needs Help To Complete An Transaction

almacoj
Community Member

Thank you femmefan! I really appreciate your help!

 

We had exchanged messages on the shipping cost before he bidded. That is why I wonder why he was not paying the full invoice amount. Anyway, I followed your suggestion and sent him a message suggesting a refund and asking him to pay again for the total payment & shipping value in one payment.

 

Thanks again!

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