posted on December 6, 2005 03:34:10 PM new
Sold a plate for $150 to buyer in Italy - ship it letter post no insurance. Doesn't show up - buyer files for non-receipt w/ Paypal. I had no tracking # so I took pics of USPS receipt and send to buyer & Paypal. Problem compounded w/ buyer not speaking English and Ebay's crappy translation.
I get an email from him saying "Customs, pay?" which I translate to mean I received the plate it had been held up in customs. Paypal says the item received notification has to come right from him - I request it from him, he doesn't understand the request.
So even though he received his plate, Paypal ruled in his favor!!! I send him a request for payment, and yes, there are honest people in the world - he paid.
Paypal really stinks sometimes - I do this so I can be self-employed, I do not like working for anyone else. But, guess what - I work for Paypal and Ebay. They are the bosses. They can fire you via a suspension at the drop of a hat.
Sorry for the rant - but I wish they weren't the only game in town.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
posted on December 6, 2005 05:26:14 PM new
I like the babelfish translator as well - unfortunately I think Ebay does the translation when communicating through different countries - you can well imagine how it comes out on the other end!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
posted on December 6, 2005 06:10:32 PM new
ITALY - the black hole of postal services. Worst place you can send any thing paid for with PayPal (even with tracking). Make them do an BIC + IBAN transfer in Euros to your account - it's usually free if you have a Euros account anywhere in the EU.
posted on December 8, 2005 12:17:08 AM new
I myself require insurance on all international shipment's. It's stated in the listing's in multiple places so they know they have to pay for it. I also list the USPS insurance rates in my standard text block under a section for international shipping. At least when the USPS shipping gremlin eat's a package there is at least a final recourse to get the buyers payment for the item back. It does not cost that much and if the buyer does not like it then it's simple, they don't bid. Just like to cover my butt because febay doesn't seem to care.
posted on December 8, 2005 01:27:21 AM new
Insurance is not available to Italy - I sold some high $ (for me) postcards a while back and the most coverage I could get was $40 when sending registered mail.
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posted on December 8, 2005 01:57:07 AM new
neglus. i am fairly certain that DSI. will insure. you dont have to have registered mail. but it will certainly make it easier for you.
posted on December 8, 2005 02:25:45 AM new
Neglus I'm not sure who told you Insurance from the USPS was not available to Italy but I asure you it is. I have the current IMM (International Mail Manual) Issue 31, May 2005 setting in front of me and on page 581 is the section for Italy. Insurance is available to Italy on Airmail Parcel Post for a maximum insured amount of $5,000, Economy Parcel Post for a maximum insured amount of $2,200. However there are some very strict import prohibitions for Italy. One that may concern you is Prohibited "Albums of any kind(of photographs, postcards, postage stamps, etc.)." However this restriction is for ALBUMS, not on single items. So you would be safe exporting to Italy any number of post cards as long as they were not in a album collection.
Biggest suggestion I can make to anyone who ships international (in any quantity) is to subscribe to the USPS IMM or International Mail Manual. Subscription cost is only $36.00 per year. It's probably the best $36 I have spent in years and it has made my international shipping much easier and I no longer have to bug the local post master about shipping questions. I have the same rule book he does. I also subscribed to the DMM or Domestic Mail Manual and it also comes in handy from time to time for me. You can get the subscription form at any post office. Just ask them to photo copy the form in the front of their IMM manual, fill it out and mail it in with payment. You can also call the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office at 202-512-1800 to subscribe over the phone.
Trust me, it's worth the $36 fee. Saves me on some major headache's and unneeded trips to the post office. In fact, I can safley say I now know more about international shipping than anyone at my local post office. I seem to get in disputes with them from time to time over postal regulations until I quote a regulation number out of their book and when they look it up I just get the dumb look of Ohhh, I didn't know that. Not that I have problems with my local post office, I rather like all 3 people that work there and know them all on a first name basis. It's just amuzing that I know more in some cases about their job than they do (not sure that's a good thing or not).
Another suggestion would be to ask your local post master to save his old copy of the IMM manual for you when the new issue comes in (which will be soon). If your local post office is of any size they probably have numerous copies laying around. Just get them to tape a note on the cover to save for **** when new copy arrives. That's how I got my first copy. Rules and regulations do not change that much from year to year, usually just the rate's and fee's so most of what you would need would still be correct and current.
Just reread your comment. I see you mailed Registered. Ok, now it get's tricky. Registered Mail to Italy has a maximum indemnity amount of $43.93. Registered Mail option is only available to Italy on Letter Post Mail, including post/postal cards, aerogrammes, and matter for the blind. Fee $7.50. If you want to ship to Italy with some type of security or tracking your options would have been:
1. Surface or Airmail letter post with options of Registered Mail (but would only cover indemnity to $43.93). Aftermarket insurance to cover over the $43.93.
2. Economy (surface) Parcel Post with options of Return Receipt and insurance.
3. Global Express Guaranteed (ungodly expensive) and includes insurance up to $100 with option to purchase insurance above that. Is a very fast service and is a partner service with FedEx.
4. Global Express Mail (mid priced, but still rather expensive) with option of insurance. Does provide tracking of shipment .
[ edited by mikes4x4andtruckrepair on Dec 8, 2005 02:52 AM ]
Caroline 