posted on July 24, 2005 09:29:25 PM new
I've always had some sales to international customers but this week was unusual...I had buyers from Finland, Sweden, Australia and England! Anyone else had a similiar result? I'm delighted as I've always had great success with the international folks...only one NPB over the years.
posted on July 24, 2005 09:57:04 PM new
I didn't list anything the past 10 days but congratulations to you. I too like international buyes a lot. Some nights it's like a little United Nations around my computer, I swear.
posted on July 25, 2005 03:16:22 AM new
I was thinking of taking international sales and was wondering what kind of payments you take for out of the US. That has always been the problem for me.
posted on July 25, 2005 06:44:20 AM new
send them to www.auctionpayment.com,they can use their credit card to send you a western union money order,limits apply.
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posted on July 25, 2005 09:34:05 AM new
Hi Parkman...For most of my international sales (generally less than $25.00), I accept PayPal. Of over 75 sales so far, I've never had a problem. There are several vocal dissenters on this board about accepting international PayPal but, so far, I've had 100% success. For high dollar sales, though, I take only BidPay...the Western Union money order folks. From what I understand, it's a pretty simple procedure and doesn't cost too much. I love my international customers...especially the ones from Australia (who are simply delightful) and Japan (who are super courteous and prompt with payment).
posted on July 25, 2005 10:22:17 AM new
I too love international buyers fast pay no problems. Yes you take a bigger hit with PayPal but it would cost me more if I didn't get the international biz.
The problem is that PayPal won't let you set your account to accept international under, say, $25. You either accept it or you don't (or you can accept International Confirmed Addresses only (UK and Canada)).
If I could set it with a limit, I might well consider accepting it for inexpensive items. However, I got really tired of the refund/email/anger/more-email cycle when my account accepts a payment and then I have to say NO.
posted on July 25, 2005 12:15:47 PM new
I always have many international buyers especially when I list vintage victorian clothing, those buyers are usually from Japan and a pleasure to work with.
I've been shipping international for 5 years now and have never had any problems.
I prefer Bidpay but do take Paypal or international money orders.
Only thing I don't like is now I print my postage from Paypal and I don't think we can use that for international shipping unless they have changed it lately so I have to go to post office.
posted on July 25, 2005 01:02:08 PM new
Hi Cash...What I do when I have a high-dollar sale to an international customer is tell them in my end-of-auction notice that I accept only BidPay because PayPal doesn't offer seller protections. So far, all have understood completely and paid with BidPay. I've found that international bidders tend to be pretty savvy with the ins and outs of e-trade...but perhaps I've been lucky too?
posted on July 25, 2005 01:14:36 PM new
Will ebay allow you to put a notice in your auctions that you will take paypal for sales up to 25.00 but over must be paid with bidpay?
posted on July 25, 2005 01:23:48 PM new
Maybe it is just that my buyers read less than most, but I haven't had much luck with them sticking to the terms of sale. I used to have to chase after them, explain the Seller Protection issue, etc., so I now just set up my account to only accept what I am willing to accept.
Generally, it seems to me that shipping inexpensive items internationally (other than Canada, maybe) doesn't make that much sense, in that shipping then is a huge percentage of the item's value, even without gouging.
Regarding whether my customers read or not, I am having a dispute with a customer right now. I counted 4 places in the auction, and 1 in my winning bidder notification, where I indicate that I will be shipping to the address on the PayPal payment notification. Ms. Attorney Z ignores all that, puts an address into Vendio, and now wants me to pay $25 for shipping her package from FL to CT because I made a "mistake" in shipping to FL. Sends me an imperious letter, on letterhead with her name as a partner, demanding that I pay or "she will see what eBay has to say about it." I told her that I await eBay's decision with bated breath.
I spoke with Vendio about this, and they will (sometime) have a setting that doesn't allow entry of an address if payment is by PP; uncheck it if you don't care about confirmed address, check it if you don't want to make someone enter an address that you're going to ignore anyway.
posted on July 25, 2005 04:28:20 PM new
Parkman...I don't know if there's such a setting on eBay/Vendio but I doubt it. I stick to pretty "basic" computer tasks because everything works well now and I'm afraid of screwing something up. Anyway...as I said, I've never had any problems with my international customers. As far as the expense of shipping internationally, those folks know how much it costs to ship items to them and pay accordingly...I've found the International Priority envelopes (flat rate) to be very handy, useful and reasonably priced shipping...I use them a lot for my international sales. They can't be insured but, again, I've never had problems. If a customer does want to have an insured shipment, he has to pay the big bucks...but it's his choice. I once shipped an iron teapot to a customer in Taiwan...cost him over $50 to ship but he was absolutely delighted with the item!
posted on July 25, 2005 04:43:16 PM new
I've shipped a lot internationally, including some large and heavy items that cost $100 - $250 just in shipping charges. People don't mind paying, I agree. However, those were items that were expensive in their own right.
Maybe I'm a cheapskate, but I don't want to lose $100 or more when I could have sold the same item to someone in the US for perhaps $5 less. It is rare that the combined item + shipping for me internationally (other than Canada) is less than $100; the only exception I can think of is some stemware and perfume compacts that I shipped to the UK and Australia, but even those were $50+ when shipping was included.
Maybe I'd feel differently if a lot of my stuff fit inside USPS envelopes. I use envelopes less than 1% of the time, because I very seldom sell things that fit.
I accept PayPal from confirmed UK and Canadian addresses now.
posted on July 25, 2005 07:01:53 PM new
I haven't noticed an increase in international buyers - but Southern buyers right and left for me - Especially Florida and Louisiana - must be the heat keeping them inside and bidding - they made my week though, about 7 out of 20 packages went to those two states and sales were actually decent.
posted on July 25, 2005 09:01:01 PM new
The week that the hurricane went through Florida, I had 3 buyers from Florida! I was really surprised as I didn't expect any bidders from that part of the country!
