I don't often buy on eBay but recently made an offer on a coin which had failed to sell. The offer was accepted. He relisted the coin for me at the agreed upon price and I bought it. Both listings stated that the coin's location was United States, which for me would mean domestic shipping via USPS. A week later I received a shipping notice and the coin was coming by registered mail from Israel. That means it will be a month or so from time of purchase before receiving the coin. While I'm really not in a rush to receive it, this is leaving me feeling a bit disgruntled. I did contact the seller after receiving the shipping notice, asking why the listing said the coin was physically located in the US. "My partner is in the US", he replied. Okaaaay, but the coin wasn't, and the listing said it was. I suggested that they check their listings to ensure accurate representation of each item's location. I'm not going to ding them on feedback but I am wondering if this is a common or acceptable practice.
It pretty common but more so with very common goods than collectables. I'd say a couple of weeks was more likely. The Israelis will have it in NY in a couple of days, then it may take a couple of weeks to clear customs, unless it is a pretty small packet. I am convinced they leave larger ones in a shed in a field somewhere to see if they explode. Then it should proceed to you as routine first class mail as the USPS does not recognise other countries registered mail as anything special. This is fair enough as it works the same in reverse.
Not quite your point, but I think you'll find that Israeli mail-handling is every bit as good as the USPS. As it should be, for a country slightly smaller (without the Occupied Territories) than Massachusetts.
Israel's postal system may be top-notch but to reach me from outside the US packages have to pass through US Customs twice and that can take anywhere from half a week to a month, plus the usual transit time (I don't live in the US but the primary mail carrier is USPS).
I've had that happen a few times. Once I got the coin in hand and liked it I stopped caring where it was shipped from. I suppose if you had to return the coin it would matter a great deal though.
The OP's question had too much detail. Let me strip it down to its essentials. A) eBay B) misrepresented C) common? Answer: ummm, yes. It's not eBay's fault. Online selling is a scam artist's dream world. You need to establish trust relationships. Until you do, expect people to try to take advantage.
It's really wierd sometimes, I ordered a coin that came from Ireland, two weeks before Chistmas, and got it in 3 days. Ordered one from the state next to mine and it took nearly 2 weeks to get here.
I can get a letter to my friend in Wales from Mass. in 5 days and it takes over a week to get one to my friend in Fla. Go figure.
Well here where I live they are a little more "professional". I have had to sign for every overseas registered package that has been delivered to me.
