Buying Far Away

Buying Far Away
With all those foreign auctions available, you can find something you
want if you can navigate the auctions. Or, you can find something to
import for sale in your retail business.
You might be able to find some interesting, even exotic, merchandise
on eBay’s foreign auctions. They present a unique opportunity to
shop abroad without ever leaving your home. You have five serious
considerations, however, that might make foreign shopping difficult.
Language
First, you must be able to search and find items. Then you must be
able to pick out items in which you are interested. Finally, you must be
able to read the auction ad. If you can’t speak German, this is going to
be almost impossible to do on eBay’s auction in Germany.
Communication
Once you want to bid, or are a winning bidder, you will have to communicate
with the seller. Unlike most foreign buyers who buy on eBay
US, you cannot count on the foreign sellers speaking English. You will
most often have to speak the local language.
Currency
The eBay auctions in other countries use the local currency. You will
have to make arrangements to pay for the items you purchase in the
currency of the auction. Some sellers may agree to take payment in US
dollars, but it’s not something you can count on. Some sellers may
accept US credit cards. Some may accept PayPal, which has a built-in
currency exchanger you can use. But it’s up to you to find a practical
means of paying that is acceptable to the seller.