posted on April 22, 2013 12:19:32 PM new
I have a buyer in Australia that has requested shipping to a Global Logistics forwarding center in California.
After purchasing the item he began making special requests (of course). He wanted the box not to have any food advertising on it due to fines. Our boxes are purchased from a local company that sells used and misprint boxes, so most of them have info on them. I had a box in mind, but it is an Almond box... so that won't work.
We had to make a box that is larger than what we would normally use. They didn't request any size limitations, and I don't know what the policies are for these forwarding services, but I do know Australia has one of the most stingy dimension requirements out there.
posted on April 22, 2013 01:53:56 PM new
Any shipment entering this country should not reuse any box which has been used to store fruit,for fear of carrying bugs which could infest orchards of this country.
So I can understand Australia has the same concern.
Why dont you call the forwarding service and ask what are the requirements?
posted on April 22, 2013 02:38:00 PM new
That is not my responsibility. I didn't choose them, he did. If this was done through Global Shipping this would not be an issue.
The printing on the box isn't a major deal as we found a box in our inventory that will work, but my responsibility is to get it to the eBay confirmed mailing address listed as the ship to address. I'm not sure what my responsibility is after it arrives there.
posted on April 22, 2013 04:05:10 PM new
You mean you are going to use the almond box and ship it to California and let the forwarding service figures what to do?
posted on April 22, 2013 07:03:52 PM new
Sorry that wasn't too clear. I meant that it was a big deal, we found a box without printing on it. It is just a large box.
I went to USPS to check their dimensions. After entering the dimensions for a "perfect" size box that gives exactly 2 inches extra on each side, the box would still be too large to ship via USPS without it costing a fortune for Global Express.
I checked their history and see they are a seller in Australia, so I don't think there is much of a problem.
posted on April 22, 2013 08:41:10 PM new
so whose address is the confirmed address/
I have sold many small items to Australian buyers,not a problem until one item took 30 days to arrive.
I dont recall anyone not getting his package.
posted on April 23, 2013 11:13:11 AM new
so all you have to do is to ship to the company address in California.
But if you reuse a fruit carton or box and it gets rejected by Aussie customs,you get a neg not the forwarder.
Buyer cannot neg his shipper,but he can neg the seller.
posted on April 23, 2013 12:21:03 PM new
So you use a box that is acceptable to AU customs how difficult is that. If the good old USA had the same rules we wouldn't become a breeding ground for giant snails, bugs that kill our trees, predator fish and plants ruining lakes and streams,and a bunch of other large and small critters that have no natural enemies.
posted on April 23, 2013 06:48:05 PM new
The only issue I had with the box request was that they were circumventing our system that we have set up and that costs us money and time.
I have a larger handling fee for International shipping to cover our additional costs to handle it. We keep many boxes in stock for shipping, however since 95% of it is within the USA we can use misprints or even good used boxes that cost us much less money.
Generally, a special box request costs us quite a bit of money and time to accomodate. A misprint box may cost us $3-5, while a new/unprinted box like this will cost $15 because of its unusual size and need to be double walled for safer delivery.
This buyer saw that we offered "free" shipping within the USA. We offer free shipping within the USA knowing that we can ship an item for a certain price using boxes we have in stock, not having to spend an hour to get a box and pay more for it to boot.
Get it???
The biggest concern I had was the package dimensions. Shipping via USPS to Australia has very limited dimensions and this item in the ideal box size still exceeds those dimensions.
I am shipping this within the USA, so I don't have those strict dimensions to follow, however I do not know if those dimensions are of concern to get it from this forwarding service to the buyer.
posted on April 24, 2013 04:24:47 AM new
got it the 1st time. Lost leaves himself(maybe herself) open for a bit of sarcastic chain pulling I will attempt to resist.
posted on April 24, 2013 09:28:51 AM new
Shag,
I understand your frustration,I feel the same way sometimes when I have to ship overseas,as a seller selling from home,I just dont have the RESOURCES of a big seller with a shipping dept.
Sometimes I have to drive into the city just so the buyer in Calgary,Canada or Alaska USA or China can get their items on time and still make some money for myself.
And such round trip can be 35 miles ,you figure how much is gas.
At least you have perfect feedback score,my last neg comes from an UK buyer who bought 3 items from me,I upgraded her shipping from first class to USPS priority which comes to 24.95 plus private insurance.
She left me 3 negs as I did not offer her a refund with combined shipping,the sad part is there is no refund,24,95 plus 3.00 insurance plus paypal and ebay fee come to more than what she paid for.
I faxed her the post office receipt,I explained to her the fees involved and no response,of course I am in no liberty to remove her feedback and I gave up asking Ebay to help remove the negs
I am not trying to be sarcastic or pulling your chain,but thought you may want to know the new mentality of some of these buyers,they are no longer the same nice buyers who appreciate the special efforts you put in but just want something for nothing.
Ebay what's his face wants us all to email and write the Congress to protest internet tax as we are small sellers who lack the resources to take on more chores of collecting sales tax,boy,I am glad he just wake up and realise we sellers dont have the same resounces, whatever resources we can spare ,we have spent it already on free shipping,free and easy,upload tracking within 24 hours,leaving feedback,14 days return,1000 pixels picture etc etc.
[ edited by lostmymojo on Apr 24, 2013 09:29 AM ]
[ edited by lostmymojo on Apr 24, 2013 09:35 AM ]
[ edited by lostmymojo on Apr 24, 2013 09:36 AM ]
posted on April 24, 2013 09:37:21 AM new
Negative feedback seems to always loom just around the corner.
I have one DSR rating out of 495 that is all 1's and yet, I have no idea what the item is because there is no feedback left that gives any dissatisfaction. Either the 1's were left erroneously, the buyer thinking 1's are good or the person didn't leave feedback.
I'm starting to look for a job because I am just sick of the changes. eBay has intruded into how we manage our business so much that I feel like I work for them, not for us... and they don't give me any health insurance, 401K, or stock options. Seriously, why bother? I'd rather do this as a hobby than a business anymore.
[ edited by shagmidmod on Apr 24, 2013 10:49 AM ]
