How Can People In Germany See My German Stamps On Ebay?

In the last 24-36 hours, I've listed quite a few German items for sale on ebay, mostly cancels. Because the stamps are most likely to be of interest to a German public, I listed many with German-language headings.

When I logged into ebay.de (German ebay), I did a search using as keywords words I had used in my headings, searching only items listed in the last 24 hours. To my great surprise, not one of my listings appeared in the search results. This was true even when I clicked on 'Weltweit' in the location button to make sure that I wasn't only getting German listings.

This presents me with a major problem. How I can I sell items mainly of interest to German buyers when my listings do not appear on German ebay, even when the German user clicks on 'Weltweit' (which should show him results from all over the world)?

If I were to list my items on German ebay I would, conversely, lose access to the many thousands of people outside Germany who collect German stamps. What I want is to be able to reach potential buyers both in Germany and outside Germany.

Does anyone know if there's a way to rectify a situation like this?

From ebay's help page on international site visibility.

I appreciate that, PostmasterGS, but when the user clicks on 'Weltweit' this should give listings from all over the world.

When I'm logged in to ebay Australia, if I click on the 'Worldwide' button I do (at least usually) get results from all over the world.

I say 'usually' because sometimes I don't - I have no idea why!

Sorry. Just taking a stab in the dark. The last time I sold on ebay was so long ago, the international options didn't exist.

What's the difference between international site visibility and the International Market?

Thanks for the info. I've never heard of the International Market before. I'm going to try to list items this way, but I'm not sure whether I'll be successful as the conditions for participation are extremely onerous and will possibly exclude me.

UPDATE: I just revised a listing following the instructions given on the above webpage. It seemed to be very easy and I had no problems. However, my item does not yet appear in the ebay.de search results. I suppose I need to give it a little more time.

You have to pay for international visibility otherwise its a shot in the dark if your listing will come up under other international listings. Never used to be like this, I used to list on .ca and it always came up on .com and vice a versa . Best bet is list in UK and get the higher lbs instead of dollars and use international button. Think ebay favors their top sellers with all of this process as well.

@nitrolures, I'm not sure what you mean by this: 'Best bet is list in UK and get the higher lbs instead of dollars and use international button. Think ebay favors their top sellers with all of this process as well.'

'use international button'?

My experence selling germany on ebay in USA is that most of the lots ended up getting sent to Germany. Those Germans didn't seem to have a problem going to ebay (US) and looking in the German catagory, probably looking from bargins. That said, some very specialized items I did list directly on the ebay.de site (used horz pairs of Heuss, for example,) but for the most part the widget type stuff I figure I did better listing it on the USA site which only has a couple of thousand auctions at a time instead of getting lost in half a million auctions on the ebay.de site.

san_onofre_collection, thanks for the info.

I've just spent 20 mins chatting with the ebay live help agent and she says that in order for your items to appear in foreign ebay search results you have to set your shipping information up like this:



I'm revising my listings to do this, but she says it will take 24-38 hours to take effect.

Just tried revising an item and what the option says is international site visibility and only offers to list as well in UK for 50 cents extra. That option came up on the second page where you verify and submit the auction. . My other comment was to actually list on .UK which gives you the european visibility as well as you are selling in pounds rather than dollars at $1.60 per US dollar exchange rate.
As others said as well that most will search at least their local and .com so the .com may be just as succesful.

nitro, yes, they charge for UK visibility. Hoever, the option I'm referring to is just a change in shipping information. That's what she told me to do (she took me through the process) and there is no extra charge. I think the idea is that German users will see my listings if they click on 'Weltweit' but not, I think, otherwise.

Whether it works is now the question!

In the tick the box area about who to buy or sell to is very important. Some cultures are just not compatible with our English speaking countries and it is as simple as that. To say any more could be extremely inflammatory or race bashing and in no way am I speaking about anybody that is a member of SCF. There is wisdom in sticking to English speaking countries.If things get tough with a person that does not understand English properly what happens! The out come I will leave to your imagination. I am thinking of restricting
contact to only,Ireland,UK,Canada,USA, Aus and New Zealand. I will wait and see what happens over the next week before I make a final decision. A very serous KGV!

KGV, my worst feedback on ebay came from a Chinese guy who obviously didn't understand sufficient English for us to settle our dispute amicably (a dispute which, almost unbelievably, was over a difference in our postage calculations to the tune of a mere $1). However, he lives in the US!

Thanks jimjamtwo.
That is the reason why I am thinking!
To restrict could be inflammatory and fix nothing.
It could just make thing worse.
Good and bad people are in all races and that is life.
Maybe I need to think this way on ebay.

I sell worldwide. The most trouble I EVER had was with a buyer who lived less than 100kms up the road.

I've sold into many non-English speaking countries, and will continue to do so until someone causes me a loss.

Ticking the right boxes opens up a world (literally) of sales opportunities.

It is nice to report back that once we could
understand each other, we have become good friends in stamping.

How we stress over things at times.
I think it is hard for an Aussie to understand some cultures.
We are so hidden away down here.

Thanks jimjam and Puzzler for your support and opening up the whole area of selling stamps in other countries and cultures.