The easy way to check an eBay seller's REAL location

Clear on 14/01/2018 - 12:43

Frequently I see people complaining on OzBargain about purchasing from eBay sellers who have Australia as the Item Location in their listings but the items actually ship from China or Hong Kong. Since sellers can put any location in their listings there is one simple trick that hasn't failed me yet.

On the desktop site, click on the seller's profile and it'll say their location under feedback.

For example - This listing says it ships from Australia, but if you click on their Profile it says China under Feedback.

And that's how you do it. Simple!

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Comments

  • teacherer on 14/01/2018 - 12:45
    +19

    That's great thanks for sharing

  • [Deactivated] on 14/01/2018 - 13:01
    +30

    Finally, a useful post :P

    • ronnknee on 14/01/2018 - 13:07
      +24

      Unlike the typical "Someone crashed my car. They don't have insurance. Help", "Found someone's wallet. No finders fee" or "Ripped off by corner store for charging me 20 cents card surcharge" posts.

    • Clear on 14/01/2018 - 13:11
      +10

      Part of the reason is because I got sick of people negging me saying "they can put anything in the item location" when I'm actually referring to their profile.

  • CyberMurning on 14/01/2018 - 13:04
    +10

    Can't be more clear than that!

  • marquise on 14/01/2018 - 13:19
    +2

    +1 thanks!

  • MathNerd on 14/01/2018 - 13:45
    +4

    That's as clear as you can get.

    Username checks out OP.

    • muncan on 14/01/2018 - 17:27
      +1

      Username checks out commenter.

  • Ocker on 14/01/2018 - 13:49
    +4

    In the vast majority of cases Chinese sellers will misrepresent the item location. Generally they use "Darwin" or "Regents Park, Sydney.

    Another tell-tale sign is if they offer free postage, when in fact the AusPost charge is greater than the item's selling price. To wit, a product we sell and which costs a minimum of $7.95 to send, is being sold by a Chinese seller on EBay for $0.99 with free postage. (Yes, the item is counterfeit!)

    BY the way, that postage difference between what China Post charge the shipper and the Australian rate is subsised by the Aussie taxpayer.

    • whooah1979 on 14/01/2018 - 14:35

      "Regents Park, Sydney.

      3pl bulk ship from regents park. the same goes for strathfield, enfield, kingsgrove, etc.

      • Third_Gear on 14/01/2018 - 17:01

        This and packages are labeled with Australia Post shipping labels for standard delivery while in China and thrown in a huge pile to be flown over to Australia. Once they arrive here they are just put into the AU post network.

        http://www.ubismartparcel.com/en/china-%E2%80%93-australia-s…

        • Kangal on 14/01/2018 - 19:05
          +1

          Another favourite is Dandelion, Melbourne…. yeah, here it says Shenzhen, China on the posted box.

        • Bok on 17/01/2018 - 17:56

          @Kangal: Dandelion made me LOL in the office

  • whooah1979 on 14/01/2018 - 14:28
    +2

    And that's how you do it. Simple!

    wow. bookmarked. lol

  • FireRunner on 14/01/2018 - 14:56
    +5

    I've seen this but couldn't some be actually shipping from Australia (like a local distribution centre) even though the main company is based overseas?

    • Clear on 14/01/2018 - 14:57
      +4

      That's entirely possible. This trick just reduces the risk.

      • Kangal on 14/01/2018 - 19:07

        I say they are guilty unless proven innocent.
        If they say "Australia" but the profile is "China"… I would bet my Bitcoins that its really China.

        • Clear on 14/01/2018 - 21:00

          Agreed. I do know of some big sellers that have their location as Australia but have some listings as China and actually say they're shipping from there.

    • lazyevenings on 15/01/2018 - 08:39

      Or 3PL. There are many sellers sitting in Australia in their pyjama's making 50 cents profit per item (listed as located in Australia) but really the item is being dropshipped from China.

  • doweyy on 14/01/2018 - 14:58
    +3

    Absolute legend, I knew about this trick but thanks for sharing for others!

  • Cheapascents on 14/01/2018 - 16:12
    +1

    thanks mate

  • ranap on 14/01/2018 - 17:24
    +4

    This new knowledge know makes me sceptical of all Ebay Postings with pictures like AU seller/Sydney stock Etc.

    See this one for Eg: image says Sydney Stock.
    https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/u3cAAOSwrFtZ6BZz/s-l1600.jpg
    But Seller profile says the person is in China
    https://www.ebay.com.au/usr/taolushen2017?_trksid=p2047675.l…

    I always prefer to buy from local sellers and was counting on the Item Location Filters and descriptions which said AU stock etc. Dammit, You cant trust anything/anyone these days. What would it take to bring back some honesty in labelling and in life.

    • muncan on 14/01/2018 - 17:29
      +1

      Also if you see the word "genuine" used in a listing you can bet your sweet [that thing next to you] that it's not genuine.

      • Hayo on 12/01/2019 - 17:57

        That's not true. I put the word "genuine" in my listings to let people know that my product is Genuine. Some of my competitors sells the same product at the price that is much lower than my wholesales cost, which is impossible for Genuine items.

  • Geryatric on 14/01/2018 - 17:28
    +3

    Many overseas sellers have local warehouses. It's an indication of where the seller is based, not where the item is shipping from.

    • Clear on 14/01/2018 - 17:50

      Yes that was addressed above. It gives you a much higher chance of not having your stuff coming from China if you want local.

  • Third_Gear on 14/01/2018 - 19:17
    +1

    Should be able to sort user ID location rather item location…. I have had many chats with eBay (not the general help line people but higher ups) and the vibe I have gotten is "Meh".

    Even fake stuff is a massive issue. Look up joking hazard on eBay. They are ALL counterfeit but even after multiple complaints nothing is done…. Ebay just doesn't give a crap as long as they are getting paid.

  • Luke88 on 15/01/2018 - 07:36

    Great tip. I prefer to buy from Aus seller for faster shipping and alway wondered how to get the real location of the seller.

  • thord on 15/01/2018 - 10:00
    +3

    I look at the postage time.

    If it says 2 weeks to 8 weeks. Well, it's certainly not in Australia no matter what is written.

    If they say a postage time of 3-5 days and it actually is in China, either I get it quickly anyway, or I could possibly claim a refund due to not recieving the item in the time specified.

    • HeWhoKnows on 15/01/2018 - 14:56

      I have ordered items that say Location - China with the 2-4 weeks delivery time but arrived within a week or so because the seller had stock in Australia. So that is not necessarily conclusive.
      Pls be advised that eBay sets the postage times - not the seller

  • moar bargains on 15/01/2018 - 13:29

    New OzB slogan from this seller? 🖤Save Money, Save Life!🖤

  • HeWhoKnows on 15/01/2018 - 13:36

    an eBay seller can be based anywhere and hold stock anywhere.
    And yes, some Chinese ebay sellers have stock in Australia and ship from Australia where it says so.
    In fact every item that I ordered that had Australia as the lcocation was indeed shipped within Australia. Of course if the seller runs out of Australian stoick the next best thing is to ship directly from China. Thats just good business and nothing more.
    You only need to check the package when it arrives to see where it came from - so easy.

    So coming from a big eBay user I can say that hence OP's conclusion is totally incorrect! Sorry OP.

    • Clear on 15/01/2018 - 13:54

      Pretty much covered that above. Entirely possible for them to be in China with local stock and vice versa. Depends what you're buying and who from.

      As a big eBay user myself you're totally incorrect for saying I'm incorrect. Sorry.

      • HeWhoKnows on 15/01/2018 - 14:05
        -1

        Nope. Wrong. And you did not read what I said.
        My post challenges yours.
        Under the seller Profile it says where the seller is BASED. NOT the item location!
        And to prove my point the item listing and location is one thing - totally separate to a sellers profile and where they are based.

        • Clear on 15/01/2018 - 14:10
          +1

          Under the seller rofile it says where the seller is based. NOT the item location!

          Correct. That's what I said.

          And to prove my point the item listing and location is one thing - totally separate to a sellers profile and where they are based.

          Thank you for reinforcing my point. Most people don't know where to check a seller's location. They assume it's where the Item Location is specified.

        • HeWhoKnows on 15/01/2018 - 14:12

          @Clear: OK we agree but your post doesn't exacly convey that message. A bit confusing my friend.

        • Clear on 15/01/2018 - 14:13
          +1

          @Amayzingone: I made the mistake of assuming people were smarter and covered it in the comments.

        • nocure on 15/01/2018 - 16:46

          @Clear:
          His dad upvoted him…

        • Clear on 15/01/2018 - 16:51

          @nocure: …and got binned.

        • nocure on 15/01/2018 - 16:52

          @Clear:
          Must be rough when you need to start another account just to get an upvote..

        • Clear on 15/01/2018 - 16:54

          @nocure: I know right! Considering my title even mentions seller's location.

  • ninetyNineCents on 16/01/2018 - 23:08

    Pretty pathetic taht ebay allows sellers to say a products location is one country when their profile gives another. At the very least it should add a big icon on the item location when this mismatch occurs.

  • mikezillakind on 16/01/2018 - 23:23

    Cheers OP

  • Magicbee on 23/09/2018 - 22:27

    Thank you so much OP, You are a life saver!
    I have been a victim of this false item location on Ebay countless times!
    This problem on ebay seems like have gotten from bad to worse now.
    Alot of forum members including myself had reported this to Ebay but it seems like Ebay is not taking action. Sigh…

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