posted on October 9, 2004 03:04:00 PM
Can you all tell me what the pros and cons of shipping worldwide would be? I have been shipping only to the US and just opened up to worldwide.
Thanks a bunch!
Teri
posted on October 9, 2004 03:10:45 PM
I ship dozens of package worldwide, and can not imagine not shipping worldwide. Some issues you have to deal with
1) Payment - I accept paypal and do so from international buyers, but most of my items are under $50 so chargebacks aren't as big of a deal for me (I have not had any though) - If I were selling $500 items, I would modify how I receive payment. I have many sending cash, many sending paypal - Some sending bidpay. It is an issue since personal checks are not an option.
2) Language - Because ebay appears in their language, they may think you are selling in their language. It hasn't been that big of an issue for me, but sometimes it is hard to communicate, or customs are different. One guy in Italy purchased an item, and did not pay. I went through the NPB process, and he got angry at me because August was a holiday month in Italy, and how could I expect him to make payment during a holiday? We worked things out.
3) Customs - You need to fill out a customs form. No big deal, except people in countries that pay extra taxes don't seem to want to pay them. Funny that they will argue all day how great universal health care is, or cradle to grave entitlement is great, but send a $20 package and they want you to mark it as a gift! You should set a policy on that, and stick with it. I won't mark an item as a gift, and rather they not bid if they expect that to happen. They often don't ask til after the bidding ends
I don't want to scare you away, but those are 3 issues you deal with. I think it is worth it, and 99% of my overseas customers are great. It is that 1 that can be a real pain in the you know what, but then again domestic customers can be annoying too! That is universal!!
Friends don't let Friends say stupid things like Friends don't let friends vote Republican!
posted on October 9, 2004 03:29:44 PM
Another thing to consider is that you can not track the package and have no way to prove it got there. And sometimes the item will get hung up in customs and the buyer expects you to replace it or send a refund.
I sent a Christmas Ornament to Australia that had two teenie tiny artificial pine cones on it. Customs would not let it go through. They wanted $40 to fumigate it and said there was a possibility that the item would be destroyed. Or they could sent it back for about $40. The item cost $7.50. I personally think that the people in customs have a great way to obtain some really neat things for free.
Here is what I put in all my auctions. It may not be worth anything, but if not I hope my bidders don't know that. Feel free to use some or all of it if you like. If you have any better suggestions let me know.
****INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS****
Please e-mail with address for postage. Payment will be returned if correct postage is not included. The BUYER is responsible for any and all duties, tariffs, taxes and customs fees imposed by Customs. Because I can not track international packages, I will not be responsible for packages that are not delivered or held up in Customs. I will send you proof of mailing in such cases.
Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own secret battles.
...Author Unknown
posted on October 9, 2004 07:05:08 PM
This is why bidpay is the only way to go for overseas sales. You the seller get a money order in U.S.funds and no worry about chargebacks.
posted on October 9, 2004 07:22:56 PM
I prefer bidpay from international bidders, but I don't limit myself. Again, it depends what they are buying. I have no problem sending low ticket items overseas, but if I had a $500 item, I would not accept paypal...for that amount, I would prefer another payment method for domestic deliveries too!
Friends don't let Friends say stupid things like Friends don't let friends vote Republican!
posted on October 9, 2004 09:22:04 PM
I sell directly overseas. This past week I shipped over 150 packages internationally. That's about norm for me. Since I sell new items I purposely select items that can either be shipped without a customs or items with a large enough profit margin to justify the time involved in filling out customs forms.
This is going to drive half the posters on this board straight out of their minds but, I usually mark items that do require customs due to weight as commercial samples or at their wholesale value (why not - most of my asian suppliers mark their shipments to me as commercial samples or as parts with no value). Anything under 11oz gets no customs form, makes things very simple.
The vast majority of my customers pay via PayPal. I cvan count charge backs this year on one hand.
The amazing thing I notice is that many of the people that will tell you that international transactions are troublesome are those that do not have a volume of qualifying sales that would enable them to give a true assessment.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by fenix03 on Oct 9, 2004 09:23 PM ]
posted on October 9, 2004 09:57:01 PM
I also have a disclaimer in my auctions that states postage costs are for US SHIPPING and that international customers should e-mail for rates BEFORE paying. I've had a few international folks pay with PayPal using the US rates. They've all eventually paid the international rates but extra time with communication, explanations, etc. was needed. By the way, I LOVE my international customers who are almost always courteous, quick paying and delighted with what they bought!
posted on October 9, 2004 10:31:31 PM
I put a customs form on all my foreign packages because although it is not trackable the PO does scan the customs form number and then it shows up on your receipt. That will show your buyer that you did ship it, but that is all. The PO does keep the other half of your customs forms for a month then they dispose of them. I have a stack at home and I use address labels instead of printing so all I need to do is sign and the amount. Saves a little time.
Global Priority Mail (GPM) items, airmail letter-post items, and economy letter-post items that:
Weigh less than 16 ounces and do not have potentially dutiable contents.
Required Form - NONE
You just "fudge" a little on the dutiable part.
I have been shipping at about the same volume for a year now with no problems. You do have to go to the window because they do need to be hand canceled even if they are metered.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by fenix03 on Oct 9, 2004 10:35 PM ]
posted on October 9, 2004 10:39:59 PM
GTottie, this is from usps.com:
A customs form is not required on the following categories of mail:
Non-dutiable letter-post items that weigh less than 16 ounces.
Non-dutiable letter-post items that weigh 16 ounces or more when they are tendered by a known mailer (tenders volume mailings through a Business Mail Entry Unit or other bulk mail acceptance location; completes a statement of mailing at the time of entry; pays postage through an advance deposit account; and utilizes a permit imprint as an indication of postage payment. International Surface Air Lift and International Priority Airmail customers and federal, state, and local government entities are considered to be "known mailers" for this purpose).
Global Priority Mail®, Letter-post, M-bags, Matter for the Blind
If the value of the contents is less than $400.00, affix Customs Form - PS Form 2976 to the exterior of the mailpiece. -If the value of the contents is $400.00 or more, affix the upper portion of the green customs label Customs Form - PS Form 2976 to the exterior of the mailpiece and place a completed Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note - PS Form 2976-A inside the package.
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.
Non-dutiable letter-post items that weigh 16 ounces or more when they are tendered by a known mailer (tenders volume mailings through a Business Mail Entry Unit or other bulk mail acceptance location; completes a statement of mailing at the time of entry; pays postage through an advance deposit account; and utilizes a permit imprint as an indication of postage payment. International Surface Air Lift and International Priority Airmail customers and federal, state, and local government entities are considered to be "known mailers" for this purpose).
Global Express Mail™ Shipments
The customs form requirement for EMS shipments varies by country. Use PS Form 2976 Customs Form or PS Form 2976-A Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note as specified by the country. Consult your local Post Office for additional details.
Consult your local Post Office or the online International Mail Manual for additional information about customs requirements in your destination country.
A customs form is not required on the following categories of mail:
Global Express Mail™ (EMS) shipments (to certain destination countries) that weigh less than 16 ounces and that contain documents, business papers, or commercial papers.
Parcel Post
Regardless of value or contents, every parcel post package - whether airmail or economy (surface) - must bear a completed PS Form 2976-A Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note that is inserted into Envelope for PS Form 2976-E.
____________________
"Bad temper is its own scourge. Few things are more bitter than to feel bitter. A man's venom poisons himself more than his victim." --Charles Buxton
