A word of warning to those using 'that' online auction site

[Troglodyte]

The problem isn't selling on eBay, it's shipping through eBay's Global Shipping Program.

If you set up your listing to reflect your willingness to ship internationally, international bidders will be able to compete for your item. If they win, use whatever carrier you prefer, and invoice the international bidder for the cost of packing and shipping.

You might have to fill out a customs form, or maybe just a little customs sticker, either of which won't cost you five minutes. Easy peasy.

When you choose (it's optional!) to use eBay's Global Shipping Program, you stick your buyer with an inappropriately high shipping bill, a looooong shipping delay, and the risk of your item being confiscated by the eBay package inspectors.

eBay obviously unpacks/repacks at least some of the items, else we'd not have these confiscation issues, as they're confiscating items they already permitted you to sell internationally.

I hope a competitor to eBay will emerge, but until it does, just use your own shipper and avoid the annoyance.

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[waco16]

The problem isn't selling on eBay, it's shipping through eBay's Global Shipping Program.

Absolutely correct!
After the same thing happening with another item (1980s Swift Spotting Scope) I spent an age trying to find a way to actually talk to an ebay represntitive, I ended up with an 'online chat' with a lady based in India!

After trying to explain to her that me retaining the payment for the item, and the buyer getting a refund wasn't the point - I explained there was no restriction on shipping these items, and that in some instances they were extrememly difficult to replace.

She told me there was a sight chance of getting the item back, and if that were the case, I could ship to the original buyer using a different method
Proving that its their non sensical, idiotic policy

If you sell on ebay DO NOT USE THEIR GLOBAL SHIPPING OPTION