posted on June 5, 2001 10:04:54 AM
Is selling to taiwan any more/less risky than selling in the u.s.?? He wants to pay by billpoint, which I had kinda stopped offering, but I don't mind making an exception every now and then.
This potential customer has the email addy
bli.gov.tw Is this an official government email or a phony??
Also, how does one mail something to Taiwan?? Never have sent anything to anywhere but Canada. Took some tricks getting around customs to Canada...how are customs to Taiwan??
posted on June 5, 2001 10:12:46 AM
Hi Redskinsfan,
I've shipped to Taiwan several times with no problems. Just ship it the same way you would to Canada. You fill out the customs form with the Taiwan address, and you're all set. No different than shipping anywhere else outside of the US, really.
posted on June 5, 2001 10:21:14 AM
I've never filled out a customs form before. I've sold ballcards to Canada and wrapped them in a toploader inside of paper like it was a letter and marked the envelope "do not bend" and "pictures" and they just sent them like a normal letter.
posted on June 5, 2001 10:31:52 AM
Oh, well it's still not difficult to ship outside of the US.
Is this a large or small item?
You can get free Global Priority boxes & envelopes through the Post office and if it will fit in a Global Priority package, it's easiest to mail it that way.
The only real difference for me, is for all US shipments, I use a Priority box. For most international packages (if it won't fit in a Global Priority package) I just pack the item in my own box, and tape it VERY well (I basically waterproof the box with tape!) and fill out a little green customs form (for parcel post packages you need the white form). On the customs form you basically just fill out your name, the customer's name, name the item inside the package, and it's value. And sign it. Very easy.
Oh, and if your package is under 1 lb, you don't need to fill out a customs form at all.
Edited to add:
Here is a link so you can figure out shipping charges to anywhere outside of the US:
Most of my packages go Airmail Letter Post or Global Priority. I wouldn't really suggest shipping by Economy because it could take 4-6 weeks to arrive, and sometimes much longer.
[ edited by ExecutiveGirl on Jun 5, 2001 10:36 AM ]
posted on June 5, 2001 12:38:17 PM
Ok, if I send this card to him regular style with no tracking, etc it'll only cost $2.30, but if I want something with tracking it'll cost around $12. How should I go about this?? I looked this guy up and he has a lot of positives from different sellers...but he frequents these different sellers so if the card gets there, he'll probably be a repeat customer. Should I give him the cheap one and pray the post office gods don't lose it? Or should I do the tracking thing? He'd be paying via cc with billpoint. I have no doubt the potential buyer is honest, so no problem there. My questions are about the reliability of overseas mail. The mail usually gets there??? or is there a lot of problems?? Help????
posted on June 5, 2001 12:41:32 PM
I ship international packages on a weekly basis. I've not yet ever had an international package get lost or damaged during shipping.
I would choose a couple of the shipping methods & options and ask him which he prefers. Tell him which can be tracked, which ones can't, and that it's up to him to decide which way he wants to go. If he buys items from the U.S. frequently then he probably has a certain preference and trusts a certain method.
I guess I've discovered another long lost "relative" and I need to send him a "picture" lol
