keziak
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posted on September 28, 2000 02:42:21 AM new
HI all - for the second time in a few months, I've had a European customer balk at the quote I've provided to ship a book Air Mail to them. I'm not making these prices up. I get them off the USPS web site. I find that typically I can ship a 1-2 lb book for a reasonable fee for surface book rate, but the Air Mail is pricey. And that makes sense, they ARE pretty far away!
The buyers claim that someone else mailed them books from the states for a lot less. I believe last time it was a bidder asking me before the auction closed and he never made a bid. This time it's my winner. The book is only $3 but I'm not going to absorb several dollars in shipping costs because he doesn't like it.
I said I'd double-check. Right now the International part of the USPS site is down, but when it's up I plan to copy the pertinent info to mail to him.
Keziak
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twelvepole
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posted on September 28, 2000 04:34:12 AM new
This seems to becoming a common occurance for international bidders, if they don't want to pay, then neg'em and move on. It's too bad they don't understand that shipping to them is more costly.
Ain't Life Grand... 
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Glenda
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posted on September 28, 2000 05:11:39 AM new
Keziak: I'd send him the URL to the page on the USPS website that has the information ...
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mballai
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posted on September 28, 2000 05:43:58 AM new
Let him go surface to save bucks. I hate sending stuff that way cause it's real slow, but if dollars are an issue it works out. Either Plan A or Plan B
The suggestion to neg someone is not a good idea. The guy might be on a budget and the price wasn't necessarily spelled out beforehand. Work out the best method. If he doesn't agree move to number two or relist and collect your fee.
Maybe you can add TOS to say International bidders should contact you for a price quote before bidding.
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llama_lady
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posted on September 28, 2000 06:46:50 AM new
When I have an international buyer, I cut and paste the entire section of rates from the usps site onto my shipping fees email. I then give them their choice. The price of mailing almost everything out of country is fairly pricey. I have had a couple of international people take the neg than pay for the shipping, but for the most part 98% of my international shippers, pay right up. A couple of weeks ago I sent a 15$ piece of glass to Japan and they paid 32$ for shipping. They must have wanted it in a hurry. 
[ edited by llama_lady on Sep 28, 2000 06:47 AM ]
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keziak
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posted on September 28, 2000 08:04:31 AM new
We went back and forth, including an email in which I pasted the rates off the USPS site and gave him the URL to check himself. Finally he said he'd misunderstood, thought the TOTAL (clearly labelled as such) I gave him was for the postage only, not for the whole deal. So now he's fine with the price quote.
Doesn't really wash with me. He kept saying all these other folks had mailed him books for a lot less, but his FB is 0. [of course, he could have a new account, I guess]. Also, the item was only a few dollars, so he's still paying more for Air Mail than he indicated he was willing to.
I don't think he was trying to intimidate me...exactly.
Anyway, the proof of the pudding will be his payment in my mailbox, right?
Keziak
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mzalez
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posted on September 28, 2000 08:49:17 AM new
I've had several international customers confuse the Grand Total (Bid price + Shipping) for shipping alone. They respond the same flabbergasted way your customer did. Maybe for internationals we need to spell it out more clearly...for example:
Item bid price $5.00
Shipping $4.50
------
Grand Total $9.50
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mark090
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posted on September 28, 2000 11:46:40 AM new
Are you quoting him AirMail or Special Standard-Air(Bookrate Air)?
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keziak
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posted on September 28, 2000 12:02:07 PM new
Mark -
The book rate Air Mail.
Keziak
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kleavitt
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posted on September 29, 2000 05:16:14 PM new
I have many international buyers. I typically quote 1.5 - 2 times what the actual cost is. My standard terms are they must email me for rates before I ship. If they don't want to pay, move on. I like international buyers and send a lot of items overseas. But, I take a hard line on shipping costs as I have to take extra precautions in packing, fill out customs form, etc. If they want the item, they pay. If not, hasta la vista muchachos!!!
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Bluecat25
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posted on September 30, 2000 03:37:10 AM new
I specify that I only ship within the US. Recently my high bidder was from Malaysia. I called the post office for rates. On a 2 lb. package, airmail and express, cost was $30.00. He was willing, problem was none of the payment services would take his credit card from Malaysia. Ended up cancelling.
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cdnbooks
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posted on September 30, 2000 06:23:16 AM new
...invite the buyer to pick it up....
Bill
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macandjan
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posted on September 30, 2000 08:04:08 AM new
Bluecat25 - Propay will let you take it - but be aware you have a much bigger chance of fraud with a foreign buyer. If you know he is OK do it, but a charge back is $30.00
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labbie1
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posted on September 30, 2000 08:11:47 AM new
Malaysia is listed on Energyflow as well.
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countryfolks
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posted on September 30, 2000 06:20:21 PM new
The next time they say someone had sent them a book from the USA ask for the emails of the sender so you can check with them on the low rate they received from the USPS. two bit against a dollar they won't.
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eastwest
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posted on September 30, 2000 06:32:17 PM new
I can ship anywere in the U.S and i am from canada any size for 3.50 by air....check my feedback on ebay and you will be inpresses nick on ebay is canada-kicks-but
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