Another international collector here - Dutch, living in Spain.
1) You're excluded from good purchases
True. Most offers are US territory, which is fair because we are dealing with a primarily American product based on an American sport with mostly American players. Most of those US sellers, I'd say about 70%, don't ship internationally. I can understand it because mail does get lost more frequently on international shipments and additionally this has been an excuse used by scammers. It's a price we the honest collectors pay for those who abused the system.
That said, there are many Asian sellers on eBay that have great items. We non-Americans have somewhat of an advantage on those American collectors who prefer to stay away from international transactions. Let me add I have dealt with quite a few of them and have never had an issue.
2) Shipping costs
Shipping costs are a bummer and something no-one can really do anything about.
What does annoy me is when I'm charged excessively much (US$ 10 for one card). That is simply unfair and at some stage becomes illegal. It's a bummer when I pay 8, 9 bucks for a shipping from the US when a guy in Hong Kong gets it to me for 3 dollars.
The new eBay system is great - except for that SPAIN IS NOT INCLUDED! This is effing Europe, helloooo!!
5) NO LCS
It's a curse and a blessing. If there were any LCS's here I would probably have spent so much I'd be living under a bridge by now.
And if it comforts you somewhat, many American collectors don't have an LCS either.
1) You're excluded from good purchases
True. Most offers are US territory, which is fair because we are dealing with a primarily American product based on an American sport with mostly American players. Most of those US sellers, I'd say about 70%, don't ship internationally. I can understand it because mail does get lost more frequently on international shipments and additionally this has been an excuse used by scammers. It's a price we the honest collectors pay for those who abused the system.
That said, there are many Asian sellers on eBay that have great items. We non-Americans have somewhat of an advantage on those American collectors who prefer to stay away from international transactions. Let me add I have dealt with quite a few of them and have never had an issue.
2) Shipping costs
Shipping costs are a bummer and something no-one can really do anything about.
What does annoy me is when I'm charged excessively much (US$ 10 for one card). That is simply unfair and at some stage becomes illegal. It's a bummer when I pay 8, 9 bucks for a shipping from the US when a guy in Hong Kong gets it to me for 3 dollars.
The new eBay system is great - except for that SPAIN IS NOT INCLUDED! This is effing Europe, helloooo!!
5) NO LCS
It's a curse and a blessing. If there were any LCS's here I would probably have spent so much I'd be living under a bridge by now.
And if it comforts you somewhat, many American collectors don't have an LCS either.
