Should I allow a person with zero feedback to bid on a higher priced item?

[skinnyfarmhouse]

Wondering if I should allow a person with zero feedback score to bid on a higher priced jacket i have up right now...this person also is in Switzerland...and I am in Canada.  I am planning to ship this jacket with a tracking number and insurance...but i'm kind of nervous that she will say it doesn't fit or something and somehow i'll loose my money and jacket too.  Anyone had any experience with this? 

[momcqueen]

Well, you could always contact the new member now to say something like, "Thank you for your bid. May I take this opportunity to answer any questions about the item that you may have?" 

Every ebay member begins with zero feedback. While it is somewhat unusual to go from brand-new to bidding on pricey items, it doesn't necessarily mean it's a scam. Or that it will end badly. You can, however, change your buyer settings to block anyone without a paypal account, which might screen some of the thrill-bidders.

Good luck with your auction. 

[maggiebvintage2010]

That particular listing does not specify a shipping cost to Switzerland.  I would not worry about the zero feedback, but would worry about not having international shipping set up correctly.  Now that there is a bid, you cannot revise the shipping.  If I were you, I would contact the bidder and advise them of the shipping cost, and ask if they still want their bid to stand.  If the buyer requests through eBay Messages that their bid be cancelled, you can cancel the bid and the listing.  If you cancel the bid, you may have to pay final value fees - you are allowed one bid cancellation per calendar year without paying a final value fee penalty.

As far as the fit, you do have good details about sizing, and not fitting is not a Not As Described reason, but a buyer's remorse, in which case the buyer has to pay return shipping.  You do have no returns accepted, which puts you at risk in a Not As Described case, of being forced to refund and not having the item returned from the buyer - that is how you would lose both money and item.

[tobyshitzu]

" You do have no returns accepted, which puts you at risk in a Not As Described case, of being forced to refund and not having the item returned from the buyer - that is how you would lose both money and item.'

Having "no returns" does not change any risk nor how any claim will be handled at all.  It just means the seller is not offerring returns.   A SNAD or INR claim is not affected by not offerring returns  

[momcqueen]

Yes, of course, you are correct BUT if a buyer fells backed into a corner over an item that does not fit, for example, and is unable to open a straightforward Return for reasons of remorse, he or she may be tempted to concoct another reason they don't want to keep it. One that puts the seller in a more tenuous position. No returns does not equal no refunds. 

I've always offered Returns, and nothing has ever come back to me unless it was something where the address provided to me was incorrect, or in one case, the UK buyer balked at paying their import fees. 

[maggiebvintage2010]

There have been many posts on these boards from sellers (who did not offer returns in their listing) who were forced to refund and did not receive their items back.  I agree that in many cases it will work out, but a lot of sellers do not have the knowledge and experience to try to follow eBay's convoluted system of providing a return shipping label or funds (especially internationally).  They don't understand that they have to follow-up through the Resolution Centre.  They end up getting a bot-driven decision, they call and get to speak to a poorly trained CS rep who doesn't know that eBay Canada is not in the USA, they get no help and don't know how to proceed from there.

Some apparently do get some satisfaction after receiving advice here and placing numerous phone calls.  Others - not.  Stating that a SNAD claim is not affected by not offering returns is a moot point.

At this point, I stand by my comment that not offering returns does put a seller at risk of losing both money and item in a SNAD claim.  The risk may be associated with literacy, knowledge, experience, poorly written policies, poor customer service, etc., but it is still a risk.

An INR claim is obviously not going to be affected by not offering returns, since presumably nothing was received in the first place.

[tobyshitzu]

Don't recall seeing any where someone was affected in that manner by saying no returns.  I have seen many many *claims* that it will happe,n which I belive goes back to many years ago when the .com boards errupted over someone claiming that it happened, before they later admitted they themself had selected "provide  a refund without return"

[ricarmic]

I've sold a lot of stuff to "0" feedback buyers.

My favorite is now at about 32 and all of them are from me! I would have missed 32 sales if I'd not accepted the first one!

Generally I, as you are doing, take a look at the relative risk etc of a transaction. A zero feedback buyer probably presents higher risk. I know that  I often will send tracking on higher priced items (I would in this case) to a zero feedback buyer. 

[mr.elmwood]

I have a very high % of (0) buyers. Many sign-up to buy just the one thing and maybe never use eBay again.

Um? Have you researched how much this is going to cost to mail to Switzerland? I'm getting $138. Then the buyer is paying any duty and taxes on top of everything?

[pjcdn2005]

At this point, I stand by my comment that not offering returns does put a seller at risk of losing both money and item in a SNAD claim.  The risk may be associated with literacy, knowledge, experience, poorly written policies, poor customer service, etc., but it is still a risk.

Sorry but on this issue, I have to disagree.  If a seller accepts returns, has a nad case and does not handle the return correctly, then chances are just as great as having to refund without a return. The risk may be associated with literacy, knowledge etc....but that risk is still there even if the seller does accept returns. 

[pjcdn2005]

Is this for the Bottega jacket? I don't have a problem with 0 feedback buyers but I admit that I would be a bit uncomfortable with selling a US$700+ item overseas because some countries are not reliable about getting  a signature even for the higher cost services.

The shipping cost on the listing for Switzerland is about C$90. I don't know what a man's jacket weighs but that sounds a bit lower than what I would expect.

[mr.elmwood]

Switzerland has, I think from my searching, an 8% VAT on top of the declared value.

So, jacket price, plus 8% plus $100 for shipping? Sticker shock much?

[skinnyfarmhouse]

No, its for the Desigual jacket...I have informed the bidder of the cost already...we will have to wait and see what happens I guess! 

[skinnyfarmhouse]

Thanks for your reply, I thought it was a bit risky also. I quoted her a price for shipping with tracking and insurance. Perhaps she may change her mind...we shall see!

[skinnyfarmhouse]

The bidder already got a shipping quote from me.

[musicyouneed]

Do let us know what happens on this item.  Did the person win the auction, receive the item and are happy with it.  I would be interested in hearing. 

[momcqueen]

Yes, do let us know how this turns out in the end. I sell to a great many first-timers on eBay and I consider it quite an honour that they chose me to buy from first.

[skinnyfarmhouse]

I will update you all!....it will be interesting to see for sure 🙂  Happy Ebaying!

[skinnyfarmhouse]

Update on this....person paid for jacket and expensive shipping...I sent it International Expresspost with insurance and a signature. The package got there on June 20, but she hasnt picked it up yet!?

[ricarmic]

Have you looked at the update from the destination country site? Often their sites are much more detailed and up to date than CP is. I recently sent a big box to the UK and the number of stops it had whilst going through customs and getting the duties paid before it was released were interesting to watch. Apparently there they won't deliver it to the destination PO till the customs stuff has been paid.... the updates on CP during this were just "on hold".....