is this common?

kansalliskala · Expire: 2016-12-30

The item is in Portsmouth.

but the seller is in China.

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7554 Location: Hong Kong

My experience tells me somes seller who located in China will put "HK" the locational information. This is to make the buyer feel more comfortable about the seller. When I buy from these seller, I will realize the seller is not located in HK immediately if I do not get the item few days after it is marked posted.

Check the feedback of the seller. Sometimes, you may able to get the real location here. Not 100% trust-able but it will be a good reference. Wink

http://feedback.ebay.com.hk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&ftab=AllFeedback&userid=camera-acc&iid=-1&de=off&page=1&items=25&interval=365&which=neutral&convFdkId=863686577018&convShow=true#863686577018

GeorgeSalt · Joined: 09 Feb 2013 Posts: 336 Location: Norfolk, UK

I'm sure that claiming the item is in the UK (not HK) when it is actually in China is a no-no in the Ebay rules.

philslizzy · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 4748 Location: Cheshire, England

I've had experience of these, in my case (twice) the accessory has come very quickly, sooner than from China.

I dont have a problem buying from China its more reliable than Europe and you get instant refunds if theres ANY problem.

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9097 Location: Houston, Texas

Here in the US I've seen it a variety of ways. I've seen Chinese sellers indicate they were located in China, and when I ordered from them it usually takes two weeks to a month for the item to arrive. I've seen Chinese sellers indicate they were located in the states, although they had identical merchandise at identical prices as the Chinese sellers, and when I order from them, the items arrive quickly. And I've seen where they claim they were from the states, but the item came from China, with its two week to one month wait. Fortunately I haven't run into many of the latter.

I think that, in the middle case, the seller has set up a shipping conduit with somebody here in the US. The seller ships inventory to the US location, but handles the money and bookkeeping in China. The entity in the US receives shipping orders from the Chinese seller, and ships the item to the US buyer.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

I bought a NEX adapter a few weeks ago that was supposed to be shipped from the UK but came from China, and that wasn't through ebay, it was direct from the company web site - I can't remember which company at the moment.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Several Chinese seller has UK stock and ship from UK.

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7554 Location: Hong Kong

I remember I bought a adapter from a seller who mentioned it is located in China. Later, I got the adapter later and discover it was sent from Singapore! Sometime, you really do not know where will the item coming.

David · Expire: 2013-01-25

We have this in the U.S. I believe it's a Chinese seller who rents space in a warehouse of a nephew's basement and someone in the U.S. ships it after it's bought. Prices are good, shipping is a buck or two more, wait is 70% shorter.