Customer wants item shipped to different address...

Enigma · #1 12-08-2009

So I guess during this time of the year, customers want the items sent as gifts. I had a customer wanting me to send it to an address that wasn't his confirmed address on paypal. He lives in canada, but he wants me to send it to the US. I'm sure it's a gift, so what do you guys do when the customer wants you to send it to an unconfirmed address? I know that sellers are only protected by paypal if you send to a confirm address, never had to do this before...

**TGMT²** · #2 12-08-2009

Main factor would be the price of item. Low priced item...go for it.

Myself, I would just call the customer and get a sense of their personality. And depending on how the brief conversation went I would decide.

**aspkin** · #3 12-08-2009

I agree, call them and make sure they are in Canada. If they're in Canada you'll be fine.. if in the US.. you have a scammer on your hands.

GreenBean · #4 12-08-2009

At this time of year, there's a fine line between making a dollar AND being ripped off. Be careful with any transactions. Most certainly do as aspkin & TGMT suggest. 'Analyze carefully

It's a good way to earn brownie points with the buyer IF they are on the level.
Say something along the times of your concerns about the item getting there, adequate cover...all that.

Enigma · #5 12-09-2009

Thanks for the help guys! I just emailed him and asked for his phone #. I will update tomorrow. Thanks again!

**TGMT²** · #6 12-09-2009

Or get the phone number yourself with "Find contact information", that way you will know it is the number on file with eBay.

eBay Search: Advanced Search <------eBay Link

Enigma · #7 12-11-2009

Called the buyer, he indeed lives in Canada....Seemed like a nice guy, item shipped...Thanks again!

NZT · #8 12-11-2009

Most of the time people ask you to mark it as gift because then then avoid extra charges.

I have done this hundreds of times and had no problems. In my opinion asking an item to be marked as "gift" is not the modus operandi of a scammer.

This would be pointless and have no bearing on any potential claims. As long as you send the item recorded service then whether it is marked as gift or not makes no difference.

I see it as good customer service to do this for all items. I know how frustrating it is to receive an item NOT marked as gift and be stung for extra charges.

If a buyer gets extra charges because an item is NOT marked as gift then they would be reasonable to consider this when leaving feedback.

My advice is mark everything as gift, why allow the state to claw anything back?