Posting to US PO Box

[global-coins-collectables]

Hi forum

Just received a large (for me) purchase (AUD $270) from a Florida based business (ebay states they live in Russia)??

The posting address is a PO Box in Florida

They have 117 (100%) pos feedback (all purchases) with many repeated consecutive comments for those items purchased.

Should I be suspicious?

My gut feeling is they are legit

I am working out a combined postage for the items so payment has not concluded

Any advice before I contact buyer would be greatfully accepted

Many thanks

Neil

[oldworldlady]

There are a lot of forwarding services in Florida, for people who for some reason cannot have items posted directly. Some are legit.

I would be very cautious. See what others think.

[bsal6160]

Wait till you get FULL payment for items and postage, then send. Tracked of course.

Or just cancel transaction and wait for paypal to contact you about a non-performing seller and explain that posting to florida for a person living in Russia was too suspicious for you to allow it to go ahead. I think they would agree with you.

[taraleeshoesaust]

As long as they pay with paypal you should be covered by paypal sellers protection, as long as you send it to USA via trackible and get a signature. Once paid by paypal, then give paypal a call to see if this purchase and account has not had any issues and get if straight from them prefer in writing 🙂

[taraleeshoesaust]

oh paypal account address must be the same as ebay one to cover you with paypal.

[global-coins-collectables]

Wow

I have sent a combined post (which is trackable)  to them.

I'll wait and see how they make payment and check their addresses match.

Thanks for the help

Cheers

Neil

[lemmayj]

If the total (price plus postage) is above US$250 you need a service which supplies online signature confirmation for protection against ebay.com buyer claims. This means express courier international, unfortunately.

[global-coins-collectables]

Hi Lemmayj, Taralee and Oldworld lady

Thanks for your assistance!

My customer has contacted me with:

"Actually I live and work in Russia. Can you please send all coins to Russia, Saint-Petersburg? Thanks! Anatoly"

Has anyone sent to Russia and does the US $250 apply to everywhere or just  the US?

Many Thanks

Neil

[lemmayj]

The US$250 is dependent on the site that the buyer was logged into when he bought your coins. If he was logged into ebay.com.au, you just need proof of postage and registered post international would be OK (though it only includes $100 insurance). If he was logged into ebay.com, you need the signature confirmation.

Have you already sent an invoice, and do you have a copy of it in your mailbox? If so, have a close look -

There should be a line at near the very bottom  like

eBay sent this email to you at sellerebayemail about your account registered on www.ebayXX

Now, if the buyer bought on ebay.com.au, the ebayXX will be ebay.com.au, if they bought via .com it will be ebay.com, via ebay russia it will be ebay.ru etc. (Actually, if they bought via ebay.ru it will be really obvious, as there'll be loads of Russian text in the invoice. However, if your post-to locations don't include russia, he won't have bought it via the Russian site).

Given the buyer's location and the initial US address, I would say it's most likely that he bought via ebay US, and you need signature confirmation, which will be expensive. (eg express courier international with insurance is about $86 for 750g). 

I've posted cheapish items to Russia (less than $100) - the buyers all asked me to post registered/signed for and they did arrive - I got the impression that unregistered mail was less reliable.

I would be phoning AP on 13 13 18 to double check whether ECI will actually get an online record of signature if sent to Russia. Also, ask them whether registered post international is trackable at the Russian end, as (if you trust the buyer) it might be cheaper to post in two separate parcels (with two separate payments both under $250).

Have a hard  look at the buyer's feedback. In particular, how long has he been registered and buying goods? 

Remember, he needs to enter the St Petersberg address in checkout when he pays, you only post to the address given in the paypal payment.

As another aside, are you coins being bought by collectors, or by speculators?  If the latter then you need to be extra careful about fulfilling all the ebay/paypal requirements for seller protection.

Good luck

[global-coins-collectables]

Hi Lemmayj,

I sent a note informing him of postage with a question regarding Russian registered and US delivery (as opposed to an invoice)

I will need to look into Russia post

His buyers feed back is 124 and growing quickly, registered 17- Feb -2012.

Many multiple purchases with identical feedback response

Contacted the most recent seller (to him) to ask how the deal went, he has replied but is confused as to the question I'm asking (replied to him this morning).

My Aust Post Lady isn't really up on the international postage so getting reliable information is challenging.

I don't want to dismiss this out of hand. I'm imagining myself in his shoes,  legit and had to us the system he has adopted to get product (I think he must be a retailer)

Cheers again for your help

Neil