Shipping internation from FS forum. Thoughts?

Hi

I feel the same way, although not so much about the shipping cost if the buyer is okay with paying it. But the waiting for things to arrive the other end is pretty nerve racking. Our main services are Airsure and Royal Mail International Signed For, but they're only trackable until they leave the UK. Then it's up to the other country's carrier to update the details once it gets there - but lots of people don't know who their carrier is for Royal Mail, and then they panic because they can't track the parcel.

I normally end up calling Royal Mail and find out who it is to avoid anyone having a breakdown ... but it's always a bit stressful until the goods actually arrive. Also, our delivery dates are just an estimate, so shipping to Europe for example, with an 'estimated' 3 to 5 working day arrival - can actually take 7 to 10 days. Buyers quite often think delivery times are down to the sender

It is a PITA and can be expensive, even to Canada. Definitely I would prefer to sell CONUS, but if the offered price is good and a buyer is willing to pay shipping, why not.

Still, I know I've told non-CONUS buyers I would prefer to wait a few days to see if a CONUS deal develops...and I think it did.

As long as the buyer understands the potential delays in the shipping, and willing to pay for the price of shipping to them, I have no issues shipping internationally.

I recently got a pair of as-new JVC HA-M750s from the FS forum. The seller hadn't advertised international shipping but he was happy to oblige me when I asked for him to ship them to Ireland. I was more than willing to meet his asking price, and I managed to get them for less than half of the price that they're available to me from the UK. Because of this, I appreciate those willing to make the extra effort for international shipping ... and to me, outside the US, it's nice to be able to avoid being ripped off for once.

For reference, the cheapest I can find M750s in the UK (not a chance of finding them in Ireland...) is £66 ($105). They are $45 in the USA. Without the generosity of ourfpshero, I would never have had the chance to try the JVCs because of their prohibitive price here.

I've shipped internationally with little problems, but it can be riskier (and more expensive) than selling locally. I actually hate the wait, since I'm afraid something happened to the shipment during travel. I no longer do the buy/sell thing much, so I generally prefer North American buyers at the moment.

Sometimes when I read: "For sale .... CONUS only", it makes me think of Terminator or War of the Worlds, with some poor American out in a barren deserted town with lots of tumbleweed and the post office manned by an elderly woman in a thick drawl who might have posted about 2 packages outside of CONUS in 10 years, and can't remember the protocol

Two weeks is nuffin' - but CONUS sellers, need to realise, that UPS and FedEx can level incredible charges, on top of standard customs/clearance charges. Universally, USPS is the most reliable system for international post to the UK I've found. Unfortunately some people or companies, insist on using FedEx or UPS which will charge US$50 to send a 50gram letter, and still try and level extra charges for 'collection' in the UK.

In England, it's as easy to post international as it is to post local. I understand in the USA, there is a lot more paperwork per parcel, but it isn't that difficult....is it?!

Most of us overseas don't object to CONUS posts: I guess I feel sorry for the seller who has too much of a protectionist mindset. He must've had some bad shipping experiences or something.

So far every CONUS seller here has been gracious enough to sell me stuff which I just can't get over here. If I wasn't so squeamish about using s/h headphones, I'd get a pair here rather than on the internet elsewhere. The extra postage cost doesn't bother me. It's only sensible to charge extra postage for international shipping, otherwise you'd make a loss on selling. Most of us don't object, especially on second-hand items but do be careful not to try to force would-be buyers to accept UPS or FedEx. The shipping costs can be unreasonably 100% the cost of the item this way.

USPS all the way.

I have had a package arrive from Ireland to Canada in 7 days. Not much of a wait. I have had a package from California take 6 days, one from Minnesota 3 weeks. When I purchase items to be shipped at the least expensive option, I resign myself to the fact that it could be a while. And if it comes sooner I am pleasently surprised!!! This is a global forum and I feel enlightened to have all you terrific people share this with me.

ps: Merry Christmas!!!!

#1

I hate the post office. I avoid it. The people in it are horrendous. The patrons, mostly.

#2

This is how it will go down when you sell an item abroad. For argument's sake, let's assume you're selling a $300 item.

Now what to do? I don't live in an ivory tower, so let's ignore that fact that's it is postal fraud. I've done it, so let's move on from that. The package gets on a truck out of town and 50 miles out it jack jackknives, splits open like a piñata, then burns up el fuego bandito. Your package is among the dead. The buyer never receives it, and you have no idea what happened.

Under normal circumstance, I'd refund the buyer and make a claim with the post office to recover my losses. So tell me, how do I insure a package for the correct value ($300), send it abroad with twenty bucks listed as its declared value and expect this all to work out when the post office goes over the insurance claim I file?

I'll ship internationally under certain circumstances. The buyer must agree that if the package goes missing or is damaged that HE OR SHE is responsible. There are no refunds from me in the case it was requested that I devalue the item on a customs form. In that case, how can I logically insure the value for what it's worth in the first place?

What is the point of insurance if you claim it's worth $20 on a customs form.

GOOD. EXCELLENT. Please report meddling posts like that. People are NOT OWED anything form sellers except the item they paid for. If you don't like the terms of a FS thread, move on. Throw your hissy fits somewhere else.

International shipping is a hassle, I won't do it on any future sales. I understand why the buyer sees no problem in it, they don't have to do anything extra, other than wait and often they expect the seller to absorb some of the extra costs. . . . . Thanks, but no thanks.

- augustwest

Wow. You've really had some bad experiences.

I hope I never cause anyone hypertension just by asking if they'll ship to England
Lol - I quite like post offices like that. Our post offices are like large queue factories which make even longer queues. This is because a lot of smaller post offices were closed down to save money, which was wasted elsewhere.

You know....nothing I've bought from the States ever goes missing (touch wood!) Most people are honest, but sometimes miscommunication/expectations make it hard. I don't mind things being 2-4 weeks in the post. We have had postal strikes most of this year, so delays are pretty normal for us....

Don't know about IE8 - I'm oooh soooo superior: I use an Apple Mac

in my experience posting inside the uk and outside it is identical practically. they give you a label that asks for what the item is (earphones) and the value.

must take me all of 3 seconds more

oh and its notable that no other countrys so freekishly uptight about posting to another country. the very fact there is such a phrase as CONUS speaks volumes about those who write it. either blatant xenophobia or the US has the worst post offices on earth

This is my experience in every time I'm forced to go to my local post office, and it's no exaggeration:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/3009588-post65.html
My count is three for international shipping. Two lost by USPS and one by FedEx for a $3000+ item. FedEx offered to pay the claim at the end of 5 working days. They eventually found the package tied up in customs, even though both parties had FedEx accounts and duties were supposed to be automatically levied to the recipient's account. Also USPS Global Express Guaranteed only offers insurance up to $2499 to most countries. Would anyone consider shipping an item worth more that that without insurance?

Are you guys that buy internationally willing to give up your right to a refund in the case of a lost or damaged item if you demand that a item be devalued on a customs form to save you from taxes and duties? That requires a leap of faith on your part, that the seller will ship and he won't ship you a damaged item. Or, would you rather risk paying taxes and duties and have an insured guarantee?

This actually did happen outside of Baton Rouge sevearl weeks ago. I passed the truck on the opposite side of the Hwy. It was carnage.

I have no problem with people asking if I will ship internationally. As long as you're are willing accept all responsibility for lost or damaged packages, I'll do it if it's worth it to me. I've given this options to several people on different forums and have not had any takers so far.

I think you pretty much covered all the pros/cons in your post. In my case, I prefer to sell CONUS because I leave any monies paid me in my Paypal account until I know for sure the item sold has arrived safely and the buyer is satisfied with my description of the item sold.

It sucks to have the money sitting in the account for weeks on out until the item slowly makes its way across the pond, through customs, and finally to the buyer.