buyer changed address

[realjazz-123]

Hi all. Thought I would get your opinion on a problem that just arose. I listed an item with shipping only to US/Canada. To my surprise, the item was bought by someone who is from Japan ebay, but he had a USA shipping address on the PAYPAL invoice, so I billed with shipping cost to USA. He just paid today 5 days after invoice was sent but address for shipping shows Japan not USA. One problem is that  least expensive cost to safely ship to Japan is about double ($25 to $50) so he would owe $25 more. Also, I know that if I had initially listed the item for bidding to Japan , ie.,worldwide, and not just US/Canada, the item likely would have sold with more than the one bidder.  I  emailed  the buyer and told him I that I  refunded all his money and am cancelling transaction. I did not  offer him opportunity to pay shipping difference. This is a new eBay experience for me but I believe I did what was permitted. What do you think?

[recped]

I  emailed  the buyer and told him I that I  refunded all his money and am cancelling transaction.

Why didn't you ask them about the US address first before just going ahead and cancelling? Alternatively, shipping to Japan shouldn't be an issue you just have to let them know they would need to pay more for shipping.

[realjazz-123]

Buyer waited 5 days to pay with no communication during interval. He might or might not reply sooner.   Shifting address did not make me comfortable about shipping to him. Also if I am going to ship to Japan, I would have opened bidding to Japan at start of listing.

[vintagenorth]

Was the US address still showing on the PayPal email? Because that is the address that you ship to, not the one on the ebay email. He could have his Japan address on ebay and have a different ship to address on PayPal.

Or did you mean that he changed his PayPal address after he bid but before he sent the payment?

[realjazz-123]

The address on PAYPAL invoice was USA, but 5 days later when I received payment for shipping to the US address, the new shipping address was in Japan. Time to complete transaction and shifting addresses  has left me confused.

[femmefan1946]

It would make me nervous too, but you should be aware that many Japanese (and South Korean) members use US-based transhipment firms.

Tou ship to a US address and the trans-shipper parcels up all that buyers various purchases and sends them along. It actually works quite well if you are aware that is what's happening.

One reason it does work is that the Japanese (and South Koreans) have a strong sense of honour.

 Oh, I get it! I'm good. Best thing for everyone. I'm right there with ya. - Niska's minion

[realjazz-123]

Hi: Yes, you are right and there would be no problem in shipping to given US address  and let buyer do whatever.  I just need to feel that "safe to ship to this address" as PAYPAL indicates does mean just that.