posted on January 12, 2001 10:16:55 PM
Auction winner just replied asking me to ship to Japan in spite of my auction saying I do not ship internationally. My refusal to ship internationally was because I was new and there was a lot to learn and I thought I'd put "interntional" aside for awhile. I'm willing to try it now, if there's not too much hassle involved. Anybody have an opinion? If you all say it takes a lot of extra time and effort and is not worth the bother, I won't do the research.
posted on January 12, 2001 10:24:38 PM
I've found Japanese customers marvelous. What is the item? You'll be in a learning stage with all of us, with the new postal rates and rules.
posted on January 12, 2001 10:34:51 PM
It always amazes why some sellers refuse to ship outside of the US. It really doesn't take much extra effort, contrary to popular belief. Not only that, you appeal to more potential buyers, which could mean more money.
As a seller, from Canada, I send about 90% of my items to the US, the remainder within Canada, or Europe, Australia, etc. All I usually have to do is fill out the the item name and value on a little green sticker. Occasionally for larger or more expensive items I have to fill out a form, which takes about one minute or so.
Packages I receive from the US usually have the little green sticker only, like I have to do to almost all my items I send. It's no big deal.
However, if you clearly stated "US only" then you have a right to uphold that. It may land you negative feedback, even though you have every right not to accept it, they did't follow your TOS.
On another note, I often find something I really want, but the seller's ad says "US only" and I email them to ask if they would consider shipping to Canada if I paid extra for postage and explain the customs stickers aren't much hassle.
I get everything from rude, unpleasant remarks, to some who say "the paperwork is a nightmare" (probably never even tried it, just assuming), to some that will make an exception.
So, it's up to you. You don't have to accept it, but I would, just next time, make it VERY clear that you refuse to ship outside the US. But, if you do that, you're cheating yourself out of potential profits. Take it from me, it's not much trouble. Most bidders live in the US anyways.
posted on January 12, 2001 10:46:20 PM
Customers in Japan (and many other countries) are definitely worth it. It's just a tiny little customs form that is easy to fill out.
Shipping to Japan is high, but the customers there understand that. My advice is to take the item and the packaging (unsealed, of course) to the post office and ask the clerk to tell you how much it will cost for shipping to Japan via the different methods: Global Priority, surface, air, etc.
Then e-mail the buyer, who will likely approve the charge.
and do not miss the opportunity to do business with the Japanese. There may be some grammatical unfamiliarities, but through it all, they generally come through as some of the most warm, friendly, and enthusiastic customers that you will have.
They also spread the word about happy experiences in ebay and they will bid high for something that they want.
I love to see that .jp at the end of an auction!
Use happy words and exclamation points with them. They respond to it, and want to have you as an overseas friend.
posted on January 13, 2001 04:00:02 AM
Some of our best customers come from Japan and we LOVE to see them bidding in our auctions (check for email addresses that end in .jp). We give them the choice of surface or air mail telling them both prices - then let them choose - they clearly know how long each will take. The customs declaration is EASY to fill out and the Japanese mail system is on par with ours and with European systems in that you don't have to worry too much about theft or breakage.
They are polite and considerate as buyers, bid high, always leave feedback and are patient waiting for their things to arrive. What more could you want when all it takes from you is filling out a little customs form that takes less than 5 minutes?
Most of them use BidPay (although they can now use Billpoint and PayPal). BTW, don't worry about fragile items - I have shipped eggshell fragile Noritake china sets to Japan and ALL of it has made it there intact without a mark on it!
posted on January 13, 2001 04:12:48 AM
The most important consideration when deciding to ship international is the time required for reimbursement, should an insured package be lost or damaged. We ship 3 to 5 orders a week overseas, and so far only one lost package. But here is the timeline of the insurance claim:
Mailed package December 10th, 1999 (insured for $485)
Issued refund to customer and filed insurance claim with USPS on January 28th, 2000
Received a letter from the USPS acknowledging claim and stating that they were investigating in May 2000.
Received a letter from the USPS in August 2000 stating that the UK post office had no record of the package and they were processing the insurance payment.
Received check from Postal Service on Jan 8, 2001.
During the process we made over 25 phone calls, sent letters and faxes, and spoke to people at several different post offices. The only thing they agreed on was that it takes 6 months or more to get your money back.
posted on January 13, 2001 06:48:15 AM
Thank you all sooo much!! Special thanks to krs for practical tips. I will proceed happily. The item is three pillowcases. That will be an easy start - not breakable and easy to pack. Appreciate your replies
and will be glad to have more exposure.
Also, she said she would PayPal. (I know there's a lot of animosity out there toward PayPal, but I've had no problems -- so far).
I have sent to Japan 2x with USPS w/o problem but am unsure of how to insure. On previous shipment PO said no insurance was available. The items I ship are medium sized musical instruments. Any help greatly appreciated!
EMS (express mail service) only costs a few dollars more than Global Airmail Parcel, and includes a tracking number and $500 insurance, so I usually go with EMS.
If the customer doesn't mind waiting a month or two, I think insurance is also available for Global Economy Parcel Surface.
posted on January 13, 2001 11:49:31 AM
I just thought of something else. People for other countries who do not have English as their first language speak and comprehend English to various degrees.
Some are very fluent, while others struggle with the basics. I know how difficult it may be, although English is my second language, I know it very fluently, in fact, even better than my first language!
But, having learned two other languages (French and Russian), it is often difficult to understand everything in the early stages. I know what it's like, when you just pick out words here and there. I would often spend hours to write a short letter in a new language, and it would still have many errors.
Now I can whip off the same kind of letter in mere minutes with few or no errors.
So, it;s quite possible your bidder from Japan agonized over reading the description with a dictionary in hand, and was grateful that there were pictures.
Think about how much there is to read on a listing page. If you were just learning English, would you try to read EVERYTHING? Probably not.
Then again, maybe your bidder from Japan knows English very well and just failed to notice your TOS, like many English speaking bidders!
posted on January 13, 2001 06:16:09 PM
I just shipped my first sale to Japan. Pice of cake. The letter air parcel turned out to be the cheapest (has to be under 4 lbs, and certain dimensions. As for international sales in general, at first I was like you, just not ready to deal with it. But I kept getting requests and it got to be more work saying no than doing it. For me it's not just the paperwork, it's looking for the right box, tape, label etc.. that I don't have to do with priority. So now I have in my listing a $2.00 handling fee for International Orders which keeps me from mumbling to myself as I'm doing it and eliminated all those extra e-mails. Now it's actually fun to 'talk' to people all over the world. Oh and U-PIC will insure to Japan.
Jay
posted on January 13, 2001 08:00:48 PM
ONE,,, Don't take the clerks word on overseas
shipping rates.
Log on to usps site, [rint out the info and
take the print outs with you.
You will find that measurements are as important as wgt.
The clerks in most POs don't know squat.
They will overcharge you.
My first outside sale, I took the package
to the P,O, and was quoted a price to ship
3 times what it should have been.
I had one upset canuck who was sure I was
the biggest crook ever known.
posted on January 13, 2001 08:12:42 PM
That's a very good point about postal clerks not knowing what the correct prices are.
I often go to one of the main post offices downtown, where they are quick, courteous, and know what they are doing.
There is a small postal outlet a two minute walk from my house, which is obviously more convenient. However, the clerks are so rude there, and the service is slow. They usually overcharge for shipping.
They pretend to know what they are doing, using a tape measure and weighing the parcels, but they always move up to the next weight or size level. If I ask or say anything, they interrupt and rudely say the prices just went up, and it's becuase the box is so large, etc.
I tell them I send these items several times a week at the main post office for a lot less, and they still won't back down. They don't usually screw up letters, but any oversize envelopes or parcels, forget it.
posted on January 13, 2001 10:37:59 PM
Ditto checking on the online site AND then confirming with postmaster. I shipped a pocketwatch global priority, insured for over $1000 .. it was cheaper (about $35) than what the Post Master had quoted me for a slower service and it arrived in 3 days!!
To make communication easier, use simple sentences and avoid conjunctions, slang and big words when a 'small' one will do. In other words don't say: "I'd recommend opting for payment via postal MO .. they'll cash them at my PO." DO SAY: "I suggest you pay with a Postal Money Order. You can buy it at your Post Office. I can cash it at my Post Office." (You should find out which countries have an 'agreement' with USPS for MO cashing .. I know Japan does).
I had a wonderful series of emails with a Japanese buyer just learning English.
I have a memory like a steel trap .. unfortunately it's rusted shut!
posted on January 13, 2001 10:50:55 PM
That reminds me, something else I did was to make my TOS and EOA as BRIEF and SIMPLE as possible.
I figured most people weren't reading everything, since my auction listings and EOAs both stated no checks, money orders must be international, BidPay only no PayPal (at the time PayPal wasn't available in Canada), etc. I had my address at the end, thinking it would force people to read the whole letter to find my address.
People were doing the exact opposite, and asking for my address.
I now have just the basics, in very clear, basic language:
ie) Payment due within 14 days of auction's end, payable by PayPal, BidPay, cash, or International money order.
I eliminated over half of what I had, and I think it's made a big difference, but there are still people who miss it!
