International buyer asked to mark item as "gift"

[solefoodbk]

I'm on a roll with threads this month haha.

As the title states I had a buyer request for me to mark the item as a "gift" so he could avoid custom fees. The buyer had 2 feedback and bought something that would lead me to believe could cause issues down the line. The only two other purchases he has are from 2 sellers with negatives on their account. Negatives saying "seller is selling ⊗⊗⊗⊗" "counterfeit seller" which is very odd and leads me to think this is a scammer.

I'm not selling f*ke items but if he claimed I was I couldn't really do anything because I would have already broken eBays policy, at least that's my thought process at the moment.

My question is have any of you followed threw with such request before?

My international sales have increased dramatically ever since I put a flat shipping cost and ship worldwide. They amount to around 20% of my overall sales across all my accounts and I've yet to have this question come up.

Look forward to your responses...

[GreenBean]

Never EVER. No buyer is going to endanger my business with Customs of any country to satisfy their wallet.

Now one of our items are over $800. I simply will not amend the business plan for a cheap a$$ buyer.

The End.

[jeffweico]

I totally agree with Greenbean. What the buyer is asking you to do is illegal. It used to be done all the time, in fact sellers used to advertise it, but not any more.

[MM78]

Reason #10,983 I don't sell internationally.

[dealagreeproceed]

Originally Posted by MM78

Reason #10,983 I don't sell internationally.

^^^

[solefoodbk]

Originally Posted by jeffweico

I totally agree with Greenbean. What the buyer is asking you to do is illegal. It used to be done all the time, in fact sellers used to advertise it, but not any more.

Yep I mean I know the chances aren't high that I'd be "caught" but like Greenbean said its not worth the risk, even if its a small chance.

I suppose its sorta like accepting a payment outside of eBay. Its a risk not worth taking.

I like shipping international, its just you have to be smart when doing it. I obviously took the right action and the buyer already accepted the cancellation with no negative so all is good.



I know my first negative will probably be from a international buyer, the chances are always greater but thus far ALL my international sales have been great. Most buyers actually are more grateful and my feedback % is always greater from a international sales compared to USA.

I suppose it really depends on what your selling to. Theres another thread where a guy shipped a watch and has a problem.

Some items just aren't meant for international sales, at least on eBay.

My sales only are increasing internationally and I hope that continues.

[MM78]

Wish you the best of luck solefoodbk, give them hell!

[rsot]

I agree with the above posters but I have actually done it for buyers with solid feedback after I speak to them on the phone.

Your buyer's feedback is not conducive to complying with the request.

[GreenBean]

Originally Posted by rsot

I agree with the above posters but I have actually done it for buyers with solid feedback after I speak to them on the phone.

Your buyer's feedback is not conducive to complying with the request.

Broke the law and you act cool?

[webcreator]

I think its a good idea to ship item as gift if you are selling high risk item.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by GreenBean

Broke the law and you act cool?

Yes I used my discretion based on the case. I do my checks and balances before I make an action but yes, law was broken

[rsot]

Originally Posted by webcreator

I think its a good idea to ship item as gift if you are selling high risk item.

Incorrect...very much incorrect to work with as a general principle.

[james13v]

Originally Posted by GreenBean

Broke the law and you act cool?

Every human being on this planet breaks at least one law a day :D no need to sweat it.

As Stalin’s notorious chief of secret police famously said. " Show me the man and I will find the crime."

[jjohnson777]

I read article stated how long our law code is and the regulation pages even longer. So you are correct I bet you break law more often than once a day.

[james13v]

Originally Posted by jjohnson777

I read article stated how long our law code is and the regulation pages even longer. So you are correct I bet you break law more often than once a day.

17,000 pages of laws, to the point where the government LITERALLY doesn't know how many laws there are. Not even counting all the regulations. Or the contract laws of the various entities we deal with. Ignorance sure as hell SHOULD be considered an excuse.

[GreenBean]

Originally Posted by james13v

Every human being on this planet breaks at least one law a day :D no need to sweat it.

As Stalin’s notorious chief of secret police famously said. " Show me the man and I will find the crime."

I know.

But I am not going to have my info on any Customs data base with a black mark against it.

Think clearly about what laws you might or might NOT choose to bend.

[solefoodbk]

Originally Posted by GreenBean

I know.

But I am not going to have my info on any Customs data base with a black mark against it.

Think clearly about what laws you might or might NOT choose to bend.

Yep I 100% agree.

It pointless to even risk it. If its a good account why jeopardize it to a stranger to save THEM money. If you add up all the time you spent on a "good" ebay account its really not worth the amount the item costs.

In my case it was 80 bucks.

I'm not stupid I know I break the law we all do but its the ones like Greenbean said you choose to bend. This one really is not worth it.

To each is own.

Its really just like accepting a payment outside of eBay. Yes it may work but it might not. When you break eBays policy they CAN and WILL ban you if they find out. If the buyer which is most likely a scammer in my case decided to open up a case saying I sold him "⊗⊗⊗⊗ jeans" I could do nothing but refund him the money and hope he closes the case before its reviewed by eBay. Because if they review it and see I accepted to send the jeans as a gift ......

[solefoodbk]

I made the correct decision before starting the thread. I only made this thread for others to read and learn about what NOT to do. Because when I got the message I had no idea that marking items as "gifts" was against eBay policy and was considered a crime. Regardless of what you may think it is. Its at least nice to know what is and what isn't before following threw with something...

My general rule for all my TRS or GOOD accounts is to follow ALL eBay/paypal policies. Can't argue with RSOT as every situation is a case by case basis but as a general rule I don't.

[Dufus]

Chinese sellers do it all the time.

[solefoodbk]

Originally Posted by Dufus

Chinese sellers do it all the time.

And?

If someone jumps off a bridge will you?

[MM78]

Originally Posted by Dufus

Chinese sellers do it all the time.

And a lot of them sell junk that isn't worth $1.....Anyone selling something high value should also treat the item like a $1 item? I wonder about people sometimes!

[jrandleww]

Originally Posted by solefoodbk

And?

If someone jumps off a bridge will you?

You may dislike Chinese products and seller but the Chinese know what are doing. They of all people understand Customs.