posted on March 18, 2002 08:29:53 AM
Would like to hear from all of you about your shipping policies. When I first started selling, I stated I would only ship within the U.S. because I really wasn't educated enough on what was involoved with international shipping. Occasionally I would end up with an international winning bidder anyway and would do whatever it took to assit the buyer with the purchase and ship to the designated country. On those occasions, however, I found I was receiving different answers to fundamental questions at the Post Office. Questions such as:
Can this package be insured? Have been given both answers for packages to Canada and both answers to packages to England as an example. If so, and a claim would need to be filed, how are international claims handled?
Is different packing required? Again, once they let me use my Priority packing and another they made me change it.
What customs documentation is required?
Can this package be tracked?
Add to this confusion, the absense of any seller protection for international transactions, and I am just wondering if it is really worth it. I don't want to lose business or bids by not offering international shipping, and am hoping I am just needing to be educated. What payment options to you allow for international bidders (BidPay only as an example)? What type of TOS should be in place?
posted on March 18, 2002 08:44:23 AM
As an aside, I wanted to add that I rarely prepare packages for shipping prior to the auction end because I generally have at least four or five winners who have won multiple auctions and I like to combine these items for them to reduce shipping costs. This means that I have a difficult time being able to quote shipping costs ahead of time. How do you handle this situation ?
posted on March 18, 2002 08:56:04 AM
Shipping internationally is simple. Pick up the custom forms at the PO which takes a few seconds to fill out. I'm pretty sure you can't insure international packages at USPS, the other shipping companies may be different. You can't use regular Priority Mail boxes but requires Global Priority. Global Priority is much more expensive than shipping it Air and takes the same amount of time, so use your own packaging. Package can't be tracked.
I've shipped to several countries and it is just as easy as shipping to the U.S.
posted on March 18, 2002 09:09:36 AM
Thanks Quickdraw, do you mind if I ask about your payment options for international bidders? Also, do you recommend ONLY using the Post Office for international packages? Thanks for your help.
posted on March 18, 2002 09:36:49 AM
International buyers tend to be savvy, they probably buy a lot from the U.S.
Some have U.S. bank accounts and can write you a check. My policy is paypal or Postal Money order, or check with U.S. bank routing number. My bank only accepts one foreign money order a month before they charge me. I could take all money orders, but some months I get several and I'd hate to have them wait a month before I cash it and send their item. (postal Money orders can be cashed at the PO.)
The international buyers are quick payers too, and very nice. I've had a couple deadbeats, sometimes it is due to sticker shock because some places shipping is very high.
I use USPS for international. I had two books that were going to Canada. USPS was $25, so I looked up Fedex which was ony $16. I told the buyer I'm sending it Fedex, and he said, no send it USPS because USPS there is no broker fee because USPS acts as their own customs. Fedex requires a broker and that costs a lot more.
[ edited by quickdraw29 on Mar 18, 2002 09:47 AM ]
posted on March 18, 2002 03:35:42 PM
I dont get the Canada issue though. Ive shipped to Canada via USPS the same I ship to US. No forms or anything.
MEOW
posted on March 18, 2002 03:54:13 PM
As for insuring internationally shipped packages by the USPS go to the USPS international postage calculator.
You will find the following message at the USPS website about a one pound package shipped to Australia by Global Express Mail if you inquire about insurance. "You can buy up to a total of $5,000.00 insurance for your merchandise. $500 merchandise insurance is included in the price of International Express Mail.
$(Maximum indemnity is $5,000.00)"
That is from the USPS web site. The weight and destination was picked at random.
posted on March 18, 2002 04:16:53 PM
While trying to research this topic myself, I came across someone mentioning on another board that items shipped internationally via a third party such as FedEx or UPS cannot directly ship internationally without a customs broker which assesses a brokerage fee. The USPS is already designated to act as such. I don't really understand all of the issues either, but have always used USPS to ship internationally so it never came up and therefore I was unaware of any of this.
I am also curious to know if the ability to add insurance is contingent upon the country of destination. IOW, some countries allow you to insure the package and some don't? If so, isn't this adding confusion and time to the EOA notice?
I am also wondering if you all think one form of payment protects you better than another when shipping internationally?
posted on March 18, 2002 04:57:15 PM
Books going to Canada, at least the last time I checked, were not subject to duty fees. About the only country I know of that's the case.
posted on March 18, 2002 05:15:58 PM
If you are getting conflicting definitions from counter staff then clearly there is some misrepresentation.
Insurance companies (in some cases), God knows how often, profit from ignorant or unethical sales staff misrepresenting their product. When time comes to claim the insurer will refer you to the policy, throw up their hands and plead innocence and blame the misrepresentation on the agent/servant/employee.
I believe that I am unable to charge and 'self insure', you need to be a licensed insurer; but I can charge a brokerage fee.
I know my customers are safe, are yours?
To follow is a standard response I send to all customers and potentials when they inquire about insurance.
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to express your concerns regarding my insurance cover.
Our goods are generally insured with the carrier we employ to deliver the goods; under the terms and conditions offered by their policy.
We have invested considerable resources into analysis of insurance cover for goods in transit and found that most companies have limitations and definitions in regards to value and exclusions, which we believe, would generally be considered unacceptable by the average lay person.
In some instances the amount of claim can be limited to the supplier's cost price and not the buyers.
Some insurance policies exclude claims for breakage to goods that are deemed to be fragile.
Some insurance policies exclude claims for breakage to goods which are deemed to not have been or could not been adequately packaged.
A proportion of the insurance premium you have been charged will be retained as a brokerage fee and in the event of the carrier's underwriter denying a claim by reason of:
The definition of value.
{It will be limited to your purchase price not ours.}
The fragile nature of the goods.
{If we are wiling to ship it then you can reasonably expect it to survive delivery.}
Standard of packaging.
{If we package the goods then you can reasonably expect the goods to survive delivery.}
we guarantee that you will be able to rely on our opinion in as far as determining the suitability of the policy chosen by us to cover your goods.
ie. We guarantee that the definitions {in brackets}, above, of "value" "fragile nature" "standard of packaging" can be relied upon by being interpreted as we have expressed.
If you are uncertain of the insurance cover provided by a carrier then please take the time to read and understand their conditions. You may not be able to relly on the opinion of the delivery driver or the counter clerk, you will find an exclusion in most standard policies denying any liability for misrepresentations made by staff agents, servants, or others.
DHL: shipment/airway bill
"No employee of DHL or anyone else has any authority to change any of our terms or conditions, or make any promises on our behalf"
Aust Post:
Have a similar disclaimer on their web site.
DHL: shipment/airway bill
"The actual value of a parcel cannot be more than the original cost to you plus 10%"
In this case "you" would be the sender.
Aust Post: form C233
"EXCLUSIONS"
"8. Any parcel lost or damaged in course of post by the fault or negligence of the sender such as failure to provide adequate packing having regard to the nature of the contents.
9. Any damage to an exceptionally fragile item which from it's nature can not reasonably be expected to travel by post, eg. fine bone china; clay figure; alabaster model; a vacuum flask and so on."
Before making an opinion as to the value and suitability of a specific insurance for your needs, I urge you to take the time to read and understand the policy.
If you ask someone at your post office counter for an opinion, ask them to put it in writing, that way if the post office is not legally liable they will be. As we have done.
(FOR ALL HERE ON AW
Some of the information contained in this message is my opinion and although to the best of my knowledge is correct, it can not be relied upon.)
BUYING INSURANCE????
-!-!caveat emptor(let the buyer beware)
[ edited by austbounty on Mar 18, 2002 05:21 PM ]
[ edited by austbounty on Mar 18, 2002 05:22 PM ]
