posted on November 24, 2000 12:04:21 PM new
I have been thinking about expanding my buying audience to international. Do you have to charge more other than shipping fees? Is it more of a hassle to fill out the papers at the usps? Thanks for any advice you can offer.
posted on November 24, 2000 12:52:13 PM new
I started selling internationally because the buyers didn't give me a choice, all my old auctions used to be for us bidders only, but international bidders would bid anyway. SO I started accepting international bids, but charging them a $5 handling fee. It makes the hassle worth it. As far as forms you just need to fill out one form depending on the size of the package. As far as shipping it does get expensive, but the international bidders realize this and they will pay it. I had one package that cost $50 to go to japan and the buyer didn't even blink.
posted on November 24, 2000 01:03:39 PM new
So far, I have sold to Canada, Japan, Holland and France. In my ad, I indicate shipping charges and then make a special notation that international shipping will be higher, but actual shipping. They all know this. Payment has to be asked for in US dollars. For credit card people I offer BIDPAY for my international buyers. I never charge a handling fee as the form you fill out at the post office is no worse than the insurance form. (You indicate what is inside, your address and the sender's address.) I always pack in a box and then wrap it with plain brown wrapping paper. I usually just cut open a grocery sack and use that.
I have had no trouble with international money orders. A lot of international buyers send US cash. Try it with a few auctions and see how it works.
Ziggie (but not on Ebay)
posted on November 24, 2000 01:36:46 PM new
I have sold to Canada, Japan and Belgium. Seems like there is another country but can't think of it right now.
Never have had any bad experiences only have heard the stories.
Myself I offer no handling or material charges for all bidders. In my opinion according to my experience to ship internationally is no different than domestically.
To me the custom forms are not a problem. It is similar to filling out the mailing label. Matter of fact I had the "green" form all filled out but found out I had a package over 4# to Canada so there at the counter I had to fill out the "white" form while the clerk was doing my payment -didn't hold up the line. I was shipping one item so it took me under 30 seconds to fill it out. I just wished I had carried my return address stamp with me (I did think about it before I left for the post office).
Since I have lived abroad, I am happy to offer shipment to all countries available.
posted on November 24, 2000 01:55:45 PM new
I would highly recommend doing it! I've found that just about every auction that I've had where I was astounded & ecstatic at the final bid price, there was an international customer as high bidder. Also there have been some weeks where my only sales were to non-US customers.
Some things to be aware of: It is my opinion that you are better off limiting the areas you will sell to to the same areas that the 3rd party payment services like bidpay & billpoint cater to- those with "safe" postal services. At this time I sell to Canada, all European countries, Japan, & Australia. I might make an exception for someone somewhere else but it would involve a change in terms. For example, if I were to sell to Mexico/South America/Central America I would definitely only do so using a courier service like DHL or UPS since the post offices in those countries are notoriously corrupt.
Also, make sure you understand what payment types your bank will accept- and what fees your bank will charge to cash what. Not all money orders can be cashed free of charge at all banks, even if the money orders are in US dollars. I've found that for our bank anyway the money order has to be sent for collections through a US bank or else we get charged fees.
International Postal money orders are a safe bet- many banks charge fees to cash those, but you can cash them free of charge at the post office. Lots of international customers send cash. I LOVE cash!
To me the biggest pain about int'l transactions is always trekking back & forth to figure out exact shipping charges. But the extra money I get from int'l sales is well worth it, I feel, so I gladly do it.
posted on November 24, 2000 03:37:34 PM new
I would go for it I use to be scared to death to sell internationally but in all honesty most these buyer are great shipping is out ragious on some item but these buyer dont seem to mind paying it.
I have had International buyer pay two and three times there bid for shipping pluss the $5 for a bidpay money order have it take up to a month or more for there item to make it through shipping and never blink over the whole thing willing to buy more.
I have had US buyers haggle over shipping rates neither of us have much control over and even once we agree on a rate still sometimes I end up paying 50% of the shipping and they still complain it was to much in the end.
just becarefull which countrys you take credit card payments from recomend bidpay to them on the list of countrys to beware of international buyer are great people willing to pay the price to get what they want from US sellers. http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
posted on November 24, 2000 08:01:13 PM new
I just put up two new listings that I said I would sell outside the US. Just to Europe, Asia, Australia, & Canada. I stated that I would accept Billpoint or Bidpay only. I'll see how it goes.
I have had two winning bidders outside US, one from Canada and one from Austria. I did send the item to Canada but refused the Austria. Recently I had a winner from Israel but she had an address in the US that I could send it to and it would be forwarded from there by friends.
Thanks for all the great advice guys!
