Ozcards forum US address ebay ID

[ace e]

Just a thought but would it be worthwhile to set up a US ebay ID for members to use to bid on US only Auctions. There are a lot of things that would need to be worked out (postal address, mods changing password per use etc) but i think this would be a great help to members who buy from the US.
From what i can work out we would require:

A US postal address
A paypal account
An email address
A US resident who can on-send cards at a fixed fee (or a US PO Box service funded by members)
A mod/designated member to control access etc

How it would work (i am sure i will miss something but here goes)
I want to buy a card from a US only auction.
I send a PM to the controlling member for the current password.
I bid, i win (i hope ).
I deposit $ into the paypal account via a transfer from my paypal account and the controlling member pays for the card (i also pay the US member if that method is chosen).
Password is changed daily once i finish bidding.
Card gets sent to the PO Box then sent to controlling member or
Card is sent to US member who then sends it to me.

Members who would like to use the service subscribe for a certain period (trial for 3 months) would pay for its up keep (if PO Box is used). Also maybe a little something for the member who controls it all.

Some problems i can foresee.

Lost postage and paypal claims etc.
Member buying card and not paying. (this would somehow need to be strict condition of member subscription).

I am sure there are things that i have missed but it may be worth it if enough members agree and it is strictly controlled.

 

[ryawil0]

Sounds very involved ace - is it really viable? Shawn Bradley Fan seems to be very helpful with US auctions. He's agreed to help me out with one just now.

Others may think its a great idea - just my 2 cents

Ryan

 

[ace e]

Sounds very involved ace - is it really viable? Shawn Bradley Fan seems to be very helpful with US auctions. He's agreed to help me out with one just now.

Others may think its a great idea - just my 2 cents

Ryan

It is involved but its just an idea (SBF is helping me too - he is a legend and not taking anything away from him ) but i feel like he is doing a lot for us when we probably should try and find a permanent solution and not just rely on him (what do we do if he ceases to be an active member). If it gets going and enough members subscribe for it then it will benefit those who use it.

 

[ace e]

Also worth noting that as the AUD continues to go up (some banks are forecasting $1AUD = $1USD if not better) there will be more buying from members as it will be cheaper.

 

[chadjaja]

Great idea, would it work though? I doubt it very much.

I would expect a HUGE influx of members wanting to use such a service and judging by the amounts of maildays and specifically the amount of cards we see these days in maildays.

The member/s in the US would have to be compensated well for their time as it would be a fair bit of work on their end. It also doesn't get around paying with an un confirmed address no matter where it gets sent to. Some sellers may still refuse payment. I've had this problem myself over the years when trying to bid/pay and send cards to mates in the US.

Cards couldn't be sent to a Aus post box straight out. They would have to be sent to a US location. Doubt sellers wouldn't pick up on US auctions being sent to Aus just coz the account is US held.

And how do you pick who uses the service at any particular time as you mention you change the password when finished? So one person at a time uses it?

If so then how do you choose who uses it of the members that have paid up to do so and probably think their card is as important to win as the next members?

 

[ace e]

Great idea, would it work though? I doubt it very much.

I would expect a HUGE influx of members wanting to use such a service and judging by the amounts of maildays and specifically the amount of cards we see these days in maildays.

The member/s in the US would have to be compensated well for their time as it would be a fair bit of work on their end. It also doesn't get around paying with an un confirmed address no matter where it gets sent to. Some sellers may still refuse payment. I've had this problem myself over the years when trying to bid/pay and send cards to mates in the US.

Cards couldn't be sent to a Aus post box straight out. They would have to be sent to a US location. Doubt sellers wouldn't pick up on US auctions being sent to Aus just coz the account is US held.

And how do you pick who uses the service at any particular time as you mention you change the password when finished? So one person at a time uses it?

If so then how do you choose who uses it of the members that have paid up to do so and probably think their card is as important to win as the next members?

I think it has potential to work even without a US members help. A US post box might be less involved. Mutiple people can use the log in on the same day (i have never tried logging in to ebay twice but it shouldnt be a problem).
If we could arrange to have the US post box cleared and sent out every fortnight and then the control member receives and posts to members.
I am not 100% sure but cant the paypal address would be confimed via a PO box (in the US)?

 

[Lippo]

You could have one member in the US collect and send everything to one member in AUS who then distributes to each person who won the auctions. This would save on mass postage for the US member.

That way, one AUS/US member could just control the eBay account and snipe/bid as requested by members wanting to use the service.

Obviously the US and AUS member would have to be compensated for their time and postage.

 

[nenjabin]

I think this makes everything harder rather than easier. We are already able to bid on US eBay auctions, and 99% of sellers that state 'USA shipping' will ship to Australia if asked nicely. For the other 1% of sellers whom say no there is always kind souls like Matt whom are dually compensated for every auction they win for us (I always send extra) for the couple of times we might need them. This US postal box just presents issues that you're going to have to get it checked by a US member anyway, which will likely be Matt anyhow, so why not just send it to his house? And then you have the issue of who is paying the postage to this member for their cards to be sent to Aus (how are you going to spilt that between X amount of auctions won by different people?)

More hassle than anything else this idea. More work for Matt, more worry/thought/work for you here. What's so hard about asking to ship to you?

 

[ace e]

I think this makes everything harder rather than easier. We are already able to bid on US eBay auctions, and 99% of sellers that state 'USA shipping' will ship to Australia if asked nicely. For the other 1% of sellers whom say no there is always kind souls like Matt whom are dually compensated for every auction they win for us (I always send extra) for the couple of times we might need them. This US postal box just presents issues that you're going to have to get it checked by a US member anyway, which will likely be Matt anyhow, so why not just send it to his house? And then you have the issue of who is paying the postage to this member for their cards to be sent to Aus (how are you going to spilt that between X amount of auctions won by different people?)

More hassle than anything else this idea. More work for Matt, more worry/thought/work for you here. What's so hard about asking to ship to you?

What if Matt is unavailable or ceases to be part of the forum - then what (not that he is)?
With the PO box idea, i was going to see if the post office would just pack it the contents and post to Australia (fee to be split by how many envelopes) ie no US members help required. The controlling member then receives and on-posts.

 

[nenjabin]

What if Matt is unavailable or ceases to be part of the forum - then what (not that he is)?
With the PO box idea, i was going to see if the post office would just pack it the contents and post to Australia (fee to be split by how many envelopes) ie no US members help required. The controlling member then receives and on-posts.

There's other members, US card friends, etc. Not sure about you, but with how badly postal services treat things anyway, as well as how many things tend to go missing, I wouldn't like to put my faith entirely on the postal outlet of choice to come through with the goods to someone whom is not even in their country!

 

[chadjaja]

These exist already from companies in the US already but are more expensive than using a member of course.

https://www.usa2me.com/signup/pgeRatePlans.aspx

 

[ace e]

There's other members, US card friends, etc. Not sure about you, but with how badly postal services treat things anyway, as well as how many things tend to go missing, I wouldn't like to put my faith entirely on the postal outlet of choice to come through with the goods to someone whom is not even in their country!

I have no US friends . The read the idea for the Po box on here (but i cant remember the thread exactly). Personally for me, i dont like relying too much on anyone (even when i pay them extra) as i feel like i am burdening them (SBF is still a legend for helping ) but i would like to control my bids etc. Anyway its just a seed idea atm, the more input the better. USPS have boxes starting from $10 for 6 months (obviously a small box).

 

[graham]

What if Matt is unavailable or ceases to be part of the forum - then what (not that he is)?
With the PO box idea, i was going to see if the post office would just pack it the contents and post to Australia (fee to be split by how many envelopes) ie no US members help required. The controlling member then receives and on-posts.

I for one would not be comfortable with it. Who is responsible if cards go missing? Who would put their name to an ebay account or paypal account to be used by everyone? I wouldnt if everyone had access.
If it was going to work, it would need a person to run it and place bids, pay, arrange delivery and onforwarding. Payment or at least a deposit would need to be in advance (what if the person who wants it backs out after the auction is won). You would need to pay a fee to the person running it, an ongoing fee for the upkeep of the service, a fee to the person in the us or the postal service, fee for paypal. Add postage to the us addy, postage to au to the central person then postage to you. Add insurance because no way someone would do it with paypal and accept responsibility for anything getting lost.
Expensive enough yet?
Great idea, logistically a nightmare and costly.
Regarding if matt decided he was leaving or that he simply decides he no longer wanted to help, then if you couldnt find someone else to help then you miss out.

 

[ace e]

I for one would not be comfortable with it. Who is responsible if cards go missing? Who would put their name to an ebay account or paypal account to be used by everyone? I wouldnt if everyone had access.
If it was going to work, it would need a person to run it and place bids, pay, arrange delivery and onforwarding. Payment or at least a deposit would need to be in advance (what if the person who wants it backs out after the auction is won). You would need to pay a fee to the person running it, an ongoing fee for the upkeep of the service, a fee to the person in the us or the postal service, fee for paypal. Add postage to the us addy, postage to au to the central person then postage to you. Add insurance because no way someone would do it with paypal and accept responsibility for anything getting lost.
Expensive enough yet?
Great idea, logistically a nightmare and costly.
Regarding if matt decided he was leaving or that he simply decides he no longer wanted to help, then if you couldnt find someone else to help then you miss out.

Fair enough, at least it was a great idea

 

[WoobieZarz]

Way too many loop holes in this one.

Just like the Suns, on paper they look good, but.....

 

[Shawn Bradley Fan]

I really don't mind helping you guys out. If for some reason in the future I'm not able to do it anymore I would surely let you guys know and give you a couple weeks notice. But I don't see that happening anytime soon.

I think you have a nice idea, but theres just too many loop holes like was said earlier.

 

[adhunt99]

Yep, nice idea, too difficult in practice.