Hmm... someone from the US 'won' an item

[Ireallyhavenoidea]

Hi

I am new to all this. I thought I set up to only sell in the UK and the listing only has postage to UK addresses (£4.20) but it has been 'won' by some from the States.

How do I proceed from here? It is a snowsuit which she is buying for £7.

As long as there is no chance of it being dodgy (not sure how but... ) it makes no odds to me whether I sent it within the UK or abroad. Obviously though the postage will be a lot more (£12.60)

Do I message the buyer first or just raise an invoice with the revised postage?

Thanks in advance

Oh, actually I see that the buyer has requested the total so I guess they are expecting UK shipping charges.

Anything I need to be aware of?

Raise an invoice with the US shipping charges, that may well.ve why she has requested a total rather than paying straight away.

Thanks BikeRunSki. I have read so much about scams etc. I feel better she asked for a total.

As far as I can see, sending it by Royal Mail is £12.60 (Airsure Small Packet). Does anyone know if that sounds right? I am still really unsure about postage charges. It's a snowsuit so weighs 350g in a medium sized jiffy bag.

Measure the parcel, I think there are size limits too.

Why on earth would someone from the US want to buy a snowsuit from the UK when the postage will be more than the cost of the item? Is it a particularly unusual/designer one?

I would be half-expecting the next message to be something about can the buyer pay by bank transfer or cheque, and there will be an overpayment which you will have to return, and then the cheque will bounce etc (ie scam). I had people attempt to do that when I was selling some low-value children's items (not on ebay) a few years ago. But I guess if they pay by paypal and you make it clear that there are no returns, or if they return it the cost of postage both ways is there responsibility, then you should be safe enough.

bank transfer is perfectly safe for the right amount - plus no paypal fees or risk of a chargeback

I posted something to germany recently. Go to the post office and find out first how much and then invoice seller then you won't get caught out.

should be fine as long as they pay by paypal.

Hi All

Sorry, I didn't see I had further replies.

Well, the snowsuit was a Disney one. Each to their own and all that...

She paid by PayPal, I sent it by Special Delivery to the US (she paid £12.60 postage) along with the PayPal payment.

Haven't heard anything yet (will maybe track it myself)

there is nothing dodgy about her request at all
you did not block foreign bidders so she bid and won ,
correctly asked for invoice as you had not already set postage for USA you quoted the correct postage she paid you sent
you can track online to USA i would expect it to arrive in 7-10 days

as tracked if it did not arrive RM will cough up ( have to wait 25 working days ie 5 weeks) but USA postage is good though slow very little disappears certainly not signed for stuff don't worry sounds fine

Personally I do not send abroad as things have a tendency to go missing (in which case you have to refund the buyer) I use an ipad or iPhone for selling and even though you select UK only it still allows foreign bids (its different if you do it on a pc)

Now I always write in the description "UK buyers only"

if you use your PC to set up bidder requirements they will be remembered when you use your ipad, set up a templete once it takes time then vary it for each item

things sent abroad from my experience as business seller to do not go missing more than UK if signed for/tracked

sending unsigned for goods to china etc is asking for trouble is signed for and does not arrive in 5 weeks( 25 working days) royal mail will payout

writing UK bidders only unless you block select" block bidders from countries I do not post to" is meaningless just like writing no returns