Lorelei2004
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posted on April 15, 2004 09:37:08 AM
Anyone had any experience with shipping overseas? I have requested in my ads that overseas buyers email me prior to close of auction to see about what their shipping/packaging charges will be and have made a standard policy of adding between $1-$3 to my US shipping ( $4.00 ) to cover only the time it takes to stop, handwrite an address label, handwrite a customs form, weigh the package, print out postage, drive to the post office and stand in line ( for what seems like hours at times ). It seemed reasonable to me 
I had a buyer from Germany write to me giving me a lengthy explanation, after the auction closed, why he didn't feel that the additional money was fair. (I had charged him $3 extra because of the increased postage to Germany based on the weight of the items). He took great pains to tell me what it "should" have cost me and that he felt it shouldn't even "take me anymore time".
Anyone else have these kind of people that write after the fact and try to rewrite sellers policies?
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OhMsLucy
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posted on April 15, 2004 09:58:43 AM
Was he high bidder or just complaining?
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trai
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posted on April 15, 2004 10:00:27 AM
My advice to you is not to waste anymore time on this bidder. Lay it on the line what your S/H charge is and if they do not like it just file for your fees and move on.
Make sure that you put this "winner" on your block list.
Anyone else have these kind of people that write after the fact and try to rewrite sellers policies?
Oh yes, you can get this kind of bidder right here at home where they want to tell you what the shipping should be.
The future has taken root in the present.
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Lorelei2004
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posted on April 15, 2004 10:01:10 AM
He bought two items - one at an opening bid price and then went into my store and bought another on fixed pricing. Then he emailed asking what the additonal charges for shipping the items would be. I sent out a new invoice thru eBay combining the shipping and discounting it.
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Lorelei2004
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posted on April 15, 2004 10:03:40 AM
thanks trai! I think you're right~
Life is tooo short to deal with his 4 page eMails. 
...geez I'm getting the hang of these smiley people!
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fenix03
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posted on April 15, 2004 10:05:43 AM
Right now I have a bin of about 40 items siitting beside me waiting for the post office run. Every one of them is going overseas and not one of them took me longer to package than something being sent domestically. I'm just curious as to how you normally adddress packages that now having to do it manually is something you feel you deserve hazard pay for and why you cannot use that same method for an international shipment. Also - do you not weigh domestic packages? If you weigh the package before you fill out the customs form, you may find you don't need it. (I'm about to get spanked by the resident arm of the customs department for that one - this should be fun......  )
As for people who try to dictate terms... everyone has them. I usually get more of them when dealing with the US buyers than the foreign but I have one woman who is just livid that I keep sending her reminders and have started the NPB process against her because she decided to ignore the two statements made in my auctions about not accepting personal checks and insists that is the only way she can pay. (Before someone says money is money - accept it! - It is a personal foreign check and I have a lovely collection of worthless ones already). There will always be people that think they are exempt.
Personally - as weak as the dollar is right now, I would be currying favor among overseas bidders. They can afford to bid high on USD items considering the exchange rates they are getting.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by fenix03 on Apr 15, 2004 10:10 AM ]
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stopwhining
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posted on April 15, 2004 10:10:44 AM
overseas buyers are not familiar with usps shipping charges,unless they have experience from the past buying similar items .
just like i cant figure why it takes 55 euro dollars to ship one figurine from germany to here?? unless this is one way to discourage US bidders.
the more you explain like i will have to pack and ship and write labels and stand in line,the more likely they will challenge you on your extra fee.
is he using paypal??discount rate is higher in japan,germany etc,so if he uses paypal,it will cost you more.
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
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Lorelei2004
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posted on April 15, 2004 10:20:00 AM
geez fenix - I actually didn't think of it as "hazard pay"... LOL I use Stamps.com ( do I get a residual for posting that? ) and yes, it does take me longer. I do not handprinting on ANY of my items save for those that get shipped overseas. Which means I have to have STOP my process, handwrite a label & customs form ( not sure about the "no form with a certain weight" as my friendly postal person told me that we need to put customs forms on ALL overseas items now - Homeland Security!! ) and then - I drive to the Post Office, get out, and stand in line! Which I do NOT do for my other packages. All are small and I simply set them out front and my friendly postmaster takes them away when he arrives. So, in fact it takes me ALOT longer than my current process.
I guess it all seems to boil down the the simple fact that many buyers think they
#1. Don't have to Read
#2. Can run your business better than you
can!
Good advice about personal foreign checks. I'm not taking any at the current time. Any thoughts on PayPal from overseas buyers? Any problems with that?
I actually have given consideration to the exchange rates overseas - and knowing that I thought Mr. Germany was getting an INCREDIBLE Deal since my opening bid was incredibly low and he bought one of them at that price. Even my BIN on that item is exceptionally low.
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Lorelei2004
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posted on April 15, 2004 10:21:53 AM
stopwhinnng ~
didn't realize ( So new here ) that we pay more from certain countries if they utilize PayPal? Hmmm...he really did get a good deal.
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trai
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posted on April 15, 2004 10:29:58 AM
Any thoughts on PayPal from overseas buyers? Any problems with that?
I take a chance on P.P. for overseas sales if its a small dollar amount. Anything over $20.00 its bidpay only as I just do not trust P.P. payments over that amount.
Find the $$$amount you feel you can live with if it goes south and go from there.
The future has taken root in the present.
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stopwhining
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posted on April 15, 2004 10:39:40 AM
you can visit paypal site,they have a table of discount rates by country .
as a seller,you do not get seller protection for overseas transaction.
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on April 15, 2004 10:41:51 AM
fenix: What do you do about DC and PayPal chargebacks by foreign buyers?
--
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stopwhining
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posted on April 15, 2004 10:44:10 AM
see ,the more you explain the mundane tasks of shipping and packing,the more ammunition you give them to nickpick.
see fenxi is doing it already.
i guess the next time you want to add that you may have to empty your bladder before you leave the house so you can stand inline longer at the post office,eat a nutrtitious meal early so you can be more alert driving thru traffic,make your morning cup of coffee stronger,call your mother to get her blessing,etc etc
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
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Lorelei2004
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posted on April 15, 2004 10:49:21 AM
Tx stopwhining! Didn't know that ~ guess I have more reading to do
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Lorelei2004
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posted on April 15, 2004 11:05:15 AM
stopwhining~
<i>i guess the next time you want to add that you may have to empty your bladder before you leave the house so you can stand inline longer at the post office,eat a nutrtitious meal early so you can be more alert driving thru traffic,make your morning cup of coffee stronger,call your mother to get her blessing,etc etc</i>
hee hee hee ... I could utilize a hidden catheter, minimize the time in line by taking along my secretary and dictating while in line and then, if we still had time ( as is usually the case in our local postal outlet ) I could always have her run for Starbucks....but then everyone in line would want one, and frankly the extra trip to the post office that morning would break me....and I wouldn't have enough for 27 other postal-line poachers.
Conclusion -> better not sell overseas or in PR. ....or perhaps I could secure hazard insurance.
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fenix03
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posted on April 15, 2004 11:54:30 AM
Lorelie - if the item is under 16oz you do not have to affix a customs form or submit to a clerk. My local PO has three new clerks, none of which believed me when I told them that and all of whom were told I was correct when asked. I have never had a package returned because of lack of a customs form and no one that I have sent one to has ever been charged customs.
Fluff - I don't use DC- you really can't without paying a smal fortune. Last month I had over $4000 in UK sales and $12 in chargebacks so I'm not really worried (especially since 1 of those two chargebacks was my own fault)
I am trying to find a merchant account that allows for multiple currencies, right now I am comparison shopping between a couple but until I come to a decision I am sticking with PayPal. I really need to find one though since I am building a site aimed directly at UK sales.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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Lorelei2004
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posted on April 15, 2004 12:09:56 PM
fenix~
what a lifesaver fenix - "under 16 oz" is just about my entire inventory. I've never shipped anything over that!
And for what we pay our postal service workers you'd think they'd get better operational training. But you are right, I was told three different things by three different clerks about customs forms and then they conferred together when I said "hey, can we get a consensus here?". So that's what the head clerk said - I think he was erring on the side of caution with me. That would mean that I didn't have to declare ONE of my packages.
Are there other restrictions to certain countries? In terms of what you cannot ship?
And what is a "chargeback" as it relates to PP?
Tx again~!
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stopwhining
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posted on April 15, 2004 12:21:33 PM
USPS dc does not work with overseas packages,the foreign post office is not going to scan the usps dc.
you have to use either fed exp or ups for tracking or with usps,registered or certified mail.
anyway,whatever tracking you use,it does not matter when it comes to chargeback from overseas buyer using paypal,it will just take the money away from you plus slap you with a 10 dollars chargeback fee.
note-with domestic chargeback,you will know within 3 months,intl can be up to 6-9 months.
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
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fenix03
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posted on April 15, 2004 12:27:51 PM
Stop - the chargeback fee applies ONLY if the chargeback is done thru the credit card company. If the chargeback is done thru PayPal directly there is no fee.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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fenix03
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posted on April 15, 2004 12:32:58 PM
Lore - PayPal chargebacks are when a customer informs PayPal they did not recieve the item and want a refund. Each country has different restrictions on what can and cannot be sent but I swear that many are just plain silly and never enforced - I stay aware from anything that will leak, explode, or break into 6 dozen pieces and just run with it.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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stopwhining
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posted on April 15, 2004 12:36:25 PM
this is true,if he used his paypal fund,there is no chargeback fee.it is not considered a chargeback,it is a paypal complaint and paypal rules in his favor.
but if you have a business or premier account,there is no way to know whether he is using his own fund or using a credit card.
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
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stonecold613
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posted on April 15, 2004 08:22:06 PM
Anyone else have these kind of people that write after the fact and try to rewrite sellers policies?
Most Canadians try to do this. This German must be a Canadian transplant.
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universalexportsllc
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posted on April 15, 2004 10:50:35 PM
A friend of mine e-mailed this to me last week.
You might find it useful to understand some canadians special needs
http://www.swgc.mun.ca/%7Ebrodbeck/can.htm
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whatnot3
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posted on April 16, 2004 10:45:24 AM
Lorelei2004,
How much is the stamps.com fee you pay each month?
Endicia works for international postage too.
If you really don't need to take anything under 16 oz to the post office or put a customs form on it then it would be just as fast as domestic shipping.
I have asked at my post office and they won't take any international packages without a customs form no matter how light it is.
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alaskatreasures
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posted on April 16, 2004 02:32:37 PM
USPS says:
" Letter-post items weighing 16 ounces or more, and all potentially dutiable items regardless of their weight, require the applicable customs forms.
A customs form is not required on the following categories of mail:
Non-dutiable letter-post items that weigh less than 16 ounces. "
So I guess it's a matter of what dutiable?
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Randolph
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posted on April 16, 2004 04:44:49 PM
I found this link interesting. As much as 10% of our sales through ebay is foreign and nearly every country. I have had no problem with paypal, or with money orders from overseas. We don't accept foreign checks as our bank charges $10.00 to process but if they didn't would accept. Have had negligible problems with any overseas shipments and people very considerate to work with. Have had few send domestic shipping instead of asking - just email and thank them for payment and let them know as soon as receive the difference will be able to ship. Usually get immediately.
Rannie Vernon
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fenix03
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posted on April 17, 2004 12:43:06 PM
Update - I got a real jewel in my Uk bidder. I am now apparently arrogant for refusing to accept her offers to pay simply because they are the two that I speciically state I do not accept and she also does not understand why I will not accept her offer to make payment in the form of stamps.
She is reporting me to ebay because I filed a NBPA against her for refusal to abide by terms of auction.
The newest wrinkle is that I should just ignore this because she "bid on the wrong auction" and meant to bid on another one like it. When are people going to learn that a good lie is based in some aspect of truth and this one does not come close since I am the only person selling this item on ebay right now.
I don't know what is is abut Saturdays but I get the best emails on them.
I have another from a woman that is upset that the PayPal invoice that she specially requested and I actually bothered to send 8 days ago, that she ignored until yesterday did not include the item that she won 3 days ago.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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toasted36
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posted on April 17, 2004 01:45:13 PM
I got one today
Dear xxx,
Would you be willing to mail in a small padded envelope for less than the $3 listed in your auction? Thanks. xxx
I haven't answered her yet ...Its jewelry and it's made of glass so I'm putting it in inside a small zip lock baggie that I just bought on ebay(100 for .80) then a pretty black jewelry box with the cotton in the bottom that was also bought on ebay (5 for 1.25) then inside a small bubble mailer(.25)...total cost maybe .85 (cause of shipping on items bought on ebay) but then the .35 to list and small fvf and if she uses paypal you have that fee.Plus it includes delivery confirmation and printing postage through paypal .33 cent for first class.Then gas to the post office , so my time to take pictures and list it comes out to about a extra quarter....I don't think my shipping price is unfair . I guess on her end she doesn't see all that but dang I wish I had the balls to spell it all out to her...lol ok I'm done fussing .Thanks goodness for this board.
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dadofstickboy
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posted on April 17, 2004 01:49:33 PM
Well you had the Balls to tell us!
Just copy & paste in an Email and push:
SEND!
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OhMsLucy
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posted on April 17, 2004 01:55:54 PM
I had an Indonesian guy last week. Two auctions. His total came to $56.65. I charged him registered postage only.
His "suggestion"  was: "I guess $55.00 is better than $56.65 - because it will simply money $ 50.00 and $5.00, also the coins in the mail would be very hard to find in Bank and a big temptation for theft."
My reply... Your total is $56.65, which is your bids of $8.50 and $33.00 plus $15.15 for airmail shipping. Your payment needs to be in U.S. dollars. If you prefer not to send coins, please feel free to send $57.00 in bills. I'll return the change in your package.
Where DO these people come from????
Me
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