Item Location Policy - Enforced?

[DigiDollaz]

Is eBay actively enforcing their Item Location Zip Code policy?

Did they enact this policy specifically to catch Retail Arbitrage sellers?

Or are they just concerned with "shipping charges and delivery times" like they state in the policy?

I've heard that bots automatically check your tracking number origin and compare that information with the zip code associated with your listings.

I've also heard eBay may be not care if you are shipping from different locations as long as it's within the US.

I use a US supplier which provides me FedEx tracking numbers, however they have multiple warehouses spread throughout the US and will ship from different locations often.

I want to follow policy as best I can and manage my risk.

[murdered_by_ebay]

ebay do not care about this if the country of location matches the actual item location , the item location policy mostly targets people who misrepresent the country

[agent006140]

is the name of your supplier start with W as in Walmart?

[DigiDollaz]

Originally Posted by agent006140

is the name of your supplier start with W as in Walmart?

No - I use a more obscure retail supplier located in the US.

I do not use any of the major popular suppliers like Amazon, Walmart or Home Depot.

[DigiDollaz]

Originally Posted by murdered_by_ebay

ebay do not care about this if the country of location matches the actual item location , the item location policy mostly targets people who misrepresent the country

I see... good to know.

I want to absolutely avoid the dreaded "dropshipping" email eBay will send when they flag your account and classify you as a dropshipper.

Here's a breakdown of where my shipments originate:
~60% South Carolina
~35% California
~5% Illinois

Hypothetically I would put the South Carolina zip code as my item location zip for all my listings.

35-40% of the time my items will originate elsewhere, but I would still upload the applicable tracking info, even though location mismatches.

Would this be a safe scenario?

[murdered_by_ebay]

you could only get problems with drop shipping if the shippers add invoices that show you bought from them at a certain price which is lower than your buyer's price otherwise ebay do not see domestic US shipments as drop shipping

the drop shipping policy is mostly against shipping from southeast asia

only exception is retail arbitrage between marketplaces like buying on amazon and selling on ebay and vice versa - they hate that

[DigiDollaz]

Originally Posted by murdered_by_ebay

you could only get problems with drop shipping if the shippers add invoices that show you bought from them at a certain price which is lower than your buyer's price otherwise ebay do not see domestic US shipments as drop shipping

the drop shipping policy is mostly against shipping from southeast asia

only exception is retail arbitrage between marketplaces like buying on amazon and selling on ebay and vice versa - they hate that

Let me provide more clarity as I left out some details...

I am not using any other Marketplace as my supplier.

My supplier is a privately owned retailer with a chain of physical retail stores, as well as an e-commerce website where I can purchase items and have them dropshipped directly to my customers.

I'm assuming this is considered retail arbitrage?

And yes my supplier does include invoices with each package but I have never had a customer complain or even mention it.

[murdered_by_ebay]

if invoices are not a problem it should be fine

[rsot]

Originally Posted by DigiDollaz

Let me provide more clarity as I left out some details...

I am not using any other Marketplace as my supplier.

My supplier is a privately owned retailer with a chain of physical retail stores, as well as an e-commerce website where I can purchase items and have them dropshipped directly to my customers.

I'm assuming this is considered retail arbitrage?

And yes my supplier does include invoices with each package but I have never had a customer complain or even mention it.

I use accounts based in US various states and ship from other places (including Canada) and have not had issue - although I ship myself and not from a secondary retailer.

If you're retailer is in the USA and no complaints have been coming in, you should be fine.

[SaiJin]

I have had some issues with item location and zip code before.

I try to match the zip code with item location nowadays. When they nabbed me on the phone I told them that I have several locations in the country and I matched the location of the items / warehouse.

[DigiDollaz]

I'm starting to diversify and use many different suppliers now - this of course means I will have shipments originating all over the US from various different states.

In this case, is it safer to put "Multiple Locations" as the item location for all my listings?

Or should I instead use the dominant zip code where the majority of my shipments originate?

I have read that not using a zip code may lower listings' ranking with the 'Best Match' algorithm, however safety still remains my primary concern.

I am trying to avoid item location misrepresentation.

Which practice is better?

[agent006140]

My supplier is a privately owned retailer with a chain of physical retail stores, as well as an e-commerce website where I can purchase items and have them dropshipped directly to my customers.

I'm assuming this is considered retail arbitrage?
--------------
Per Ebay policy,retail arbitrage is taking Ebay buyer money and then go to another RETAILER and use his money to buy the item and ask the retailer to ship to him.
Retail arbitrage is not illegal,it is just Ebay policy,if it suspects you are engaging in such,it will ask for a vendor invoice (not retail receipt) stating the item,price,quantity and freight.
AMZN saves a list of these vendors and may even call to verify,
Dunno what Ebay does,but your buyer may snitch and report you to Ebay,sometimes Ebay could have someone buying from you .
I dont know how well a job Ebay is doing,there are zillions of these arbitragers on EBAY.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by DigiDollaz

I'm starting to diversify and use many different suppliers now - this of course means I will have shipments originating all over the US from various different states.

In this case, is it safer to put "Multiple Locations" as the item location for all my listings?

Or should I instead use the dominant zip code where the majority of my shipments originate?

I have read that not using a zip code may lower listings' ranking with the 'Best Match' algorithm, however safety still remains my primary concern.

I am trying to avoid item location misrepresentation.

Which practice is better?

I like the "Multiple Locations" for the item location

[agent006140]

if Ebay finds out you are a small time seller and has too many locations to ship from,it could ask you for vendor invoice,not retail receipt,

[DigiDollaz]

Originally Posted by agent006140

My supplier is a privately owned retailer with a chain of physical retail stores, as well as an e-commerce website where I can purchase items and have them dropshipped directly to my customers.

I'm assuming this is considered retail arbitrage?
--------------
Per Ebay policy,retail arbitrage is taking Ebay buyer money and then go to another RETAILER and use his money to buy the item and ask the retailer to ship to him.
Retail arbitrage is not illegal,it is just Ebay policy,if it suspects you are engaging in such,it will ask for a vendor invoice (not retail receipt) stating the item,price,quantity and freight.
AMZN saves a list of these vendors and may even call to verify,
Dunno what Ebay does,but your buyer may snitch and report you to Ebay,sometimes Ebay could have someone buying from you .
I dont know how well a job Ebay is doing,there are zillions of these arbitragers on EBAY.

Thanks for all the information.

Any tips to avoid detection as an arbitrage seller?

[agent006140]

Any tips to avoid detection as an arbitrage seller?
-----------
stock up

[JamesNorth101]

Originally Posted by DigiDollaz

Thanks for all the information.

Any tips to avoid detection as an arbitrage seller?

There isnt really a short fire way to avoid that

A lot of the time its if a customer buys an item and then reaches out to eBay if the item has turned up in say an Amazon box

being proactive and sending a message to all buyers when an item is posted asking them to reach out to you if there is an issue can help to curb this

[agent006140]

customers who report to Ebay is not going to reach out to the seller,they just want to punish the seller .
You can say you are using AMZN Fullfillment service if they believe you,or use a wholesale supplier who is willing to do business with you .

[SaiJin]

Originally Posted by DigiDollaz

I'm starting to diversify and use many different suppliers now - this of course means I will have shipments originating all over the US from various different states.

In this case, is it safer to put "Multiple Locations" as the item location for all my listings?

Or should I instead use the dominant zip code where the majority of my shipments originate?

I have read that not using a zip code may lower listings' ranking with the 'Best Match' algorithm, however safety still remains my primary concern.

I am trying to avoid item location misrepresentation.

Which practice is better?

Best practice that has worked for me is to NEVER drop ship.
Even though I have more than 1 location, those are actually MY warehouses.

So it'd different than dropshipping.

If you have your own inventory and you consistently ship from the same zip code it'll be best.

[franci]

Originally Posted by DigiDollaz

Let me provide more clarity as I left out some details...

I am not using any other Marketplace as my supplier.

My supplier is a privately owned retailer with a chain of physical retail stores, as well as an e-commerce website where I can purchase items and have them dropshipped directly to my customers.

I'm assuming this is considered retail arbitrage?

And yes my supplier does include invoices with each package but I have never had a customer complain or even mention it.

Any suggestions on how I can find retail suppliers in the USA?

[agent006140]

Originally Posted by franci

Any suggestions on how I can find retail suppliers in the USA?

but you can
-ask US consul/embassy in your country where you can get a list of US wholesalers,exporters
-attend trade shows,usually held in large cities,Milan ??
The largest antique show is held outside London,jewelry and gemstones in Tuscon,AZ,if you are into jade,Burma has one for you where many Chinese dealers attend,Frankfurt Germany has gift show.
Where in Italy are you?
Look for a wholesale district close to you ,I bet you can find many things which are imported from China.

[SaiJin]

Originally Posted by franci

Any suggestions on how I can find retail suppliers in the USA?

retail supplier you mean like distributors or wholesalers?

Just type those into google and you'll find some.