[R-390] Bad Overseas EBay Experience

[paolo gramigna]

Hi all,
Well, I'm from Italy; I have a 100% positive feedback of about 360 on eBay,
both as a seller and a buyer; my eBay ID is pgram. I use paypal, I did use
bidpay (now closed) and I have a corporate UPS account for shipping. 
I also had a few chances to deal with serlet4446, both directly and on eBay;
and my experience was always positive, even with delicate and expensive
instruments.
The problem is, sh**t happens. Once upon a while, I have sent a
registered-mail remittance to a very estimated seller in UK, and the content
was stolen; I have been sent postal money orders that I was unable to cash,
for complicated reasons... It happens, both in real life and in the
"virtual" market.
The language barrier is indeed a factor; but if you feel uncomfortable with
the seller's English, don't bid. If it does not answer properly to your
emails, don't bid. If a bidder has less-than-optimal feedbacks, don't sell;
you have the right to refuse bids, say it in the description and simply do
it.
Several times I was able to convince the seller, initially not willing to
sell overseas, to accept my bid; a few times I even phoned him (if you use
Skype, then the intercontinental call will cost as a local one) and having
somebody at the phone clears most of the muddle...
Then there are sellers like Radio Mart. When I read one of his descriptions,
I recall those Snake-Oil sellers, trumpeting from a wagon at the Market
Square times. Even if it's American, he sells here and there like a
windmill; and for every flame exploding in the list, there are a dozen of
fools buying that "Extremely Sought And Rare R-390A, Designed By Art
Collins", where "All The Tubes Have Been Replaced IF AVAILABLE...."

Cheers,
IK4YNG Paolo from Italy

P.s. English is not my maiden language.... Please be sympathetic for my
mistakes...