Risks of selling to a person in France on ebay

[AndrewNYC]

I have received a request from someone from France to sell a lens. Is there anything to be concerned about if it is a paypal confirmed address? (note: this is not because it is France, but because it is foreign and I've enver shipped or sold anything to anyone in another country). Are there any risks to me if I receive the funds using paypal?

 

[tlitody]

I have received a request from someone from France to sell a lens. Is there anything to be concerned about if it is a paypal confirmed address? (note: this is not because it is France, but because it is foreign and I've enver shipped or sold anything to anyone in another country). Are there any risks to me if I receive the funds using paypal?

depends, have they any feedback? When did they sign up?
I sold a scanner a while back. There was a mini bidding frenzy and the eventual buyer had signed up the day he made the purchase and used a credit card to pay. Ebay slapped a 21 day hold on the funds for my protection so they told me. i.e. I have to ship the goods but they won't let me have the money. Doesn't sound like that's protecting me at all. As it turned out everything was OK. So if they just signed up and have no feedback then hold onto goods until potential for chargeback has passed. But if its a low value item then you stand to lose little and should get your money back from ebay anyway ( in theory ).

And ebay will be make exorbitant charges for selling overseas.

 

[AndrewNYC]

What is the max time that Ebay has to make a charge back?

 

[AndrewNYC]

By the way, they've been a member since 2008. They have 23 positive feedbacks but the most recent transaction is from August 2010.

 

[AndrewNYC]

LOL. Now they are "wait, my address isn't verified, I have no idea why." Hmmm.....hijacked account anyone?

 

[fergus]

The confirmed address thing in paypal is not offered in most countries outside the USA.

 

[B.J.Scharp]

The confirmed address thing in paypal is not offered in most countries outside the USA.

Exactly. I'd look at feedback first.

 

[TaoPhoto]

To me, the bigger risk is the mail system in International sales. US international mail, International Priority Mail and the like, are all trackable and reliable in the U.S, but once they leave here, it's up to the local post office to make the delivery. In France, the UK, Germany and many other EU countries, the mail system is equal to our own in efficiency, and you can track a package door to door. However, in Spain, Greece, most of Asia, Africa and South America, packages can get hung up in customs for weeks, then disappear without a trace. Delivery can't be confirmed or denied, which leaves the buyer free to file a "package did not arrive" complaint with PayPal and get their money back from you.

Some unscrupulous people use this fact to get a lot of "free" stuff from eBay.

Alternatives like UPS, FedEx and DHL are trackable door to door, and very fast, but also cost an arm and a leg.

Just be careful when shipping internationally. With France, you should have no problems at all.

 

[capito]

I can verify that, TaoPhoto. Last time I thinned out the collection, I sent various stuff to other countries (I'm in Germany). Never had any problems sending to Italy, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland etc...
But I had issues with buyers in Korea and China. I was especially upset with the chinese buyer who bought a Minolta 7SII - he claimed he didn't receive it, I claimed I sent it, and nobody could prove anything. And of course he got the money back. :bang:

 

[kknox]

Have them send you a Western Union payment. Then ship the item. You have no recourse with ebay or paypal. If they dont like it for any reason or delivery delays pay pal will charge you back first. Then they have your item & money.

 

[AndrewNYC]

Luckily, someone from Maryland bought it first 🙂