I have done quite a bit of business with China (also Hong Kong and Taiwan) via Ebay, nearly every time with quite satisfactory results. Language can often be a problem, so when I am communicating with a vendor with whom I have not had a relationship in the past, I send any E-mail in both Chinese and English, with the English being very straightforward with short, simple, rather formal sentences - the kind of English they might have studied in high school - not full of idioms, slang, or other very colloquial language. (The sorts of written English commonly used in this list make for a fun, almost intimate exchange, but could be totally baffling for most non-native speakers.) I also try to use as many different ways as possible to reach the vendors - frequently they have multiple E-mail address, so I will use all of them, along with the "ask Seller a Question" function on E-bay.
With China there are sometimes problems using PayPal, even when the auction says PayPal is accepted. I do not think this is the fault of the vendors.
Occasionally, it has taken a while to get responses to E-mails, but in almost every case I have ended up receiving what I wanted eventually. It does pay to be careful in selecting vendors, however, as would be the case from anywhere.
Christopher Crocoll
Reston, VA
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2007 18:22:59 -0500
From: "philip bailey" <bailey.philip@gmail.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Communicating to Chinese vendors on Ebay
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If I bought product on ebay from Chinese vendor who asks my address and
gives feedback as only one-way communications, how do I confirm which of my
addresses he sent to?
I have a non USPS residence and PO Box address, so was wondering why he
asked my address; since didn't think parcel service would deliver from
China, and ebay has my USPS PO box listed. So I sent him both addresses back
with brief explanations, and then followed up with an inquiry as to which
shipping method and what address he sent to. No response.
But he has already given me feedback so evidently 2 copy and pastes and he
is done(!), no more, no less.
>From all the ebay experts on this site, thought someone may have tips on
how
to communicate in Chinese. But with no response at all, don' know if he is
ignoring email, can't read English, or refuses to work over 2 copy and
pastes per sell. Also have tried ebay help, but that may be harder than
speaking Chinese to get any one to email me back before the package arrives
somewhere and is sent back to China stamped 'UNDELIVERABLE'.
Thanks!
Phil Bailey
Sarastoa, FL