Ukraine

[alexis*27]

For some reason a buyer from Ukraine has won my auction. It was supposed

to be UK only so no idea how anyone from abroad could have bid. Their feedback shows purchases from the USA and Germany, so they're getting their goods somehow.

They haven't paid after 24 hours and no contact, but I don't want to have to wait another 3 days and then file a non-payment. Is there no way to cancel the sale without penalty because if I suddenly receive the money I'm stuck?

[**peaseblossom** · Accepted solution]

Check with them first in case they a UK address.   If not you can cancel right away using "problem with buyer's address".

[1956glyn]

Just to add they may be using a forward shipping company in the Uk...........that would get around your UK only blocks

[therenewalworkshopltd]

Surely if they were using a forwarding company in the UK, then the address on the order would be the company in the UK.
So it wouldn't be addressed to someone in the Ukraine.

But if they have a Ukraine address on the order, you cannot alter it to a UK address.

Or then they can claim none delivery to the address on the order and get a refund.

In which case, it should be cancelled.

[alexis*27]

Thanks, I cancelled with "problem with buyer's address".

I can't see their address because they haven't paid, but they have a Ukrainian name and they have Ukraine down as their location. 

I have sympathy with them if they're legit, but I'm not risking sending something worth £200 no matter what set up they have in place. They should also have paid by now anyway.

[vinylscot]

If the buyer complains to eBay, you may end up with a defect, and negative feedback.

You can't really claim "problem with buyer's address" when you haven't yet seen the address it was to be posted to. It was most likely a forwarding address in the UK, otherwise, he couldn't have bid. If it later became clear that it was to be sent to Ukraine, THEN you could have cancelled for that reason.

You are using Simple Delivery, so would have been covered by eBay - your only responsibility would have been to send it to the address given, using the label provided.

Having said all that, bearing in mind how much it sold for, you may have saved yourself some hassle later on, as there's a fair chance your buyer hasn't fully understood the condition of the item. Although your photos and text are quite clear, it's amazing how many buyers just jump in without taking proper notice of either.

[**peaseblossom**]

If they haven't paid that suggests they couldn't because they're outside the UK so you've done the right thing.

[snowylilliput-2]

Has no one consider the buyer may have original lived in the Ukraine , please remember when the war broke out there was many Ukraining came to the UK which means they would have had a UK address . Giving a buyer only 24 hours to pay really does give them a fair chance . Not everybody bids last minute and pays straight away . If there decide to leave a negative feedback I am afraid the chances off you getting it removed would be very small . The buyer would only been able to provide a prepaid label only if they had a UK address . 

[snowylilliput-2]

How can you say because they had not paid within 24 hours they would not be able to . If the buyer had a address outside off the UK the seller would have been able to see it . Giving someone just 24 hours to pay seems very unfair , that is why you are not able to open a non payment request until after 4 days . 

[1956glyn]

The OP said they had not paid.      Under Simple delivery i cannot even see a buyers address until they have paid.    The Op at the time did not say they could see any address.

[bzmotman]

Might they have not paid or contacted you because Russian missile strikes mean that they are currently without power or be without internet? Presumably if someone in Scotland loses their power in the current weather you would cancel their purchase.

I have sold to a number of Ukrainians and never had a problem. They have always had an address in the UK or sometimes Germany. I have never been asked to send to Ukraine.

Really don't understand why waiting the 4 days that Ebay mandate was such a problem. By the sounds of it they have not been a problem with others purchases. Don't see how you could cancel "Problem with address" when you have no idea where it was to go.

[neovass0]

   Just to mention, my listings are UK only too. Obviously, with 'Buy it Now' listings it means buyers from abroad are unable to click on purchase or 'add to basket'. The buttons are simply unresponsive. However, I have found when it comes to auctions, buyers from abroad can still actually bid on your item and they can win. However, they cannot then pay for their items, they are simply unable to, again the payment steps are not active. So, it must be equally frustrating / confusing for them and furthermore, I don't think they can message you either, due to restrictions by the 'UK only' listings settings, lol.

[wycombe1]

I have had many buyers from Ukraine in the past and had no problems with any of my transactions - this includes some large wholesale purchases. The Post Office is accepting mail to all areas except those under Russian occupation - both ordinary airmail and International signed for items. Because of the war situation deliveries are taking longer than before the war started which is understandable.

If you had your settings set to exclude Ukraine just tell your buyer your listing stated you do not ship there and cancel it - unless you want to ship the item once it is paid for if it can be paid for of course.

[papso22]

You need to do two things to stop overseas buyers if you don't want them.

Having no overseas postage stops them paying, but you also have to exclude buyers from countries you don't post to, from bidding.

That keeps them away from auctions.

[alexis*27]

The only address I've been show by eBay is "Ukraine". There is a problem with the address - it's in a war zone - and I've been given the option to cancel because of it.

Two things have come up from

 searching -  buyers complaining that the address problem is a get out a jail free card. And the problems people have had with items not arriving and not getting refunds from eBay from using Simple Delivery.

We all know eBay side with the buyer most of the time. Knowing them I'd get nothing if it went wrong.

[fribblecollectables]

You really can’t take much from the “registered in / location” shown on the buyer’s profile.

That can be old, generic, or simply where they originally set the account up – it doesn’t tell you where the item will actually be sent.

What matters is the delivery address that appears on the order at checkout, i.e. the address that eBay prints on the label.

Buyers can also use UK parcel forwarders/exporters, so someone “in Ukraine” on their profile may still check out using an exporter/forwarder’s UK address on the transaction. I have one buyer who lives in the street next to Independence Square in Kyiv who does this.

Another buyer moved from France back to the country she was born in and still has family in (which is currently on eBay’s banned list) — so she has to use an exporter now because of the address she moved to — but she keeps the same eBay account throughout. That’s why the profile location isn’t a reliable indicator of where parcels will actually be sent.

[alexis*27]

A lot of moral judgments on here.

I said I had sympathy. But I have more sympathy in avoiding losing an iPad and £200. 

I asked if there was a legitimate option. There was. I used it.

End of.

[zobth92]

We've had a Ukrainian refugee living with us for three years now. Her eBay location probably still shows as Ukraine, but she regularly has items delivered from various websites to our address.

As for "not understanding the condition of the item", last week she passed her final exam to become a chartered accountant, so I think her basic English is pretty much OK.

[vinylscot]

You have over-reacted, without knowing the full facts.

Your buyer, almost certainly, has a UK address, which was allowed in your listing.

The "problem with address" reason should not be a get-out-of-jail-free card - you are misusing it. You can't have a problem with an address when you don't even know what that address is.

Also, you allowed only 24 hours for payment for an auction listing, when eBay allows four days, before cancellation due to non-payment.

So, while I can understand you being relieved to have managed to extricate yourself from this transaction, you will 100% deserve any defects and/or negative feedback coming your way.

[c_of_e84]

Even if its unpaid you get to see a partial address.