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eBay was founded in the USA in 1995 and since then
has become a truly international marketplace with sites in Canada, the UK, India, China and across Europe.
Buying internationally on eBay offers you an enormous choice of
goods from all across the globe. You don’t need to register separately on
each eBay country site to be able to buy from overseas. All that you have to
do is select the “see items from international sellers” option when you are searching
or browsing from your “home” site.
But there are some things to be aware of and we recommend you visit the eBay main site
and read their help pages about international trading before making
purchases.
Here are a few tips for buyers who would like to explore the
world of eBay:-
- Finding
Items – it’s as easy to find items from international sellers as from
your local traders. Just select the “international items” option on the various
search facilities. If you just want to browse, it’s probably easier to
visit the individual country sites. You’ll find links to each of these
at the bottom of eBay’s home page.
- Communicating
with Sellers – this is equally important for international transactions
as for trading in your home country. It’s also just as easy, because you
can contact sellers to ask questions before you bid simply by selecting the
“ask seller a question” option on their international listing. The
standard Checkout procedure is also as effective internationally as it
is locally.
- Currency
and Payment – eBay can automatically convert the seller’s currency into
your local currency and although the actual rate may change slightly
when you pay for the item, this is usually minimal. Making international
payments should always be done by PayPal or
through an ESCROW arrangement.
- Customs
and Documentation – many categories of item purchased from the USA carry a hefty import duty into
the EU as well as VAT. If you want your item to be sent from the US by an insured service, the
value of goods will have to be declared by the seller and duty will
become payable by the buyer. Check carefully what the duty and tax will
be as this can make an international “bargain” into a costly mistake.
- Risk
Management – whilst eBay’s PayPal payment
scheme offers financial protection for buyers, there are still risks
associated with trading internationally due to the obvious logistics
(delivery) complications as well as different laws in different
countries. Checking international sellers’ feedback is extremely
important to make sure you are dealing with a reputable source.
International buying on eBay can offer some tremendous
opportunities for real bargains especially from sellers in India and China who can provide high
quality cultural goods at low prices – but remember to check thoroughly on
feedback, customs, duty and shipping before buying!
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