Why do sellers say 'CONUS only' ? - Page 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by krmathis 

Same story here
The national market is way to small, so I have not option than to sell/buy internationally. Otherwise I would seriously have considered "Norway only"...

I laughed, then I felt bad. Sorry

*shhh* they don't have to know you're not in the US

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anaxilus 

Lol!  Have you seen out tax forms?  Our country is made up of 2 kinds of people; lawyers and victims.

nope, most people in the UK never see a UK tax form either.  its all PAYE (pay as you earn) for employed people here, your employer calculates and pays it all for you. 

I suppose it is a matter of risk versus return. Now for the most part I'm pretty trusting of head-fi after meeting many of it's members in person at last year's omaha met as well as this year's canjam, but it's one of those things I'd probably prefer to do also. Less chance for the item to break in transit, less chance you will get ripped off (more chance you can hold a person accountible), and honestly, I don't know under what circumstances I'd be more comfortable selling outside US.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiriuslyCold 

*shhh* they don't have to know you're not in the US

Unless you're in a country so wild and obscure that even Borderlinx won't ship there like, say, New Zealand for example...

Quote:

Originally Posted by fraseyboy 

Unless you're in a country so wild and obscure that even Borderlinx won't ship there like, say, New Zealand for example...

If they don't somebody else will. I'm sure there are a few other US-based service providers shipping to NZ

check out this thread

Because they're too lazy to fill out the USPS customs form, easy as that. It's not even that hard, seriously.

Quote:

Originally Posted by reiserFS 

Because they're too lazy to fill out the USPS customs form, easy as that. It's not even that hard, seriously.

I'm so glad you are able to speak for the entire US population.  For me, it's the stress of waiting for the package to arrive safely to it's destination.  When dealing within the US, this wait is typically 3 - 4 days.  When dealing internationally, it is at least a week and a half.  I have dealt with folks internationally and never had a problem (knock on wood) but the whole experience was much more stressful than dealing within the US.  If this makes me lazy as some of you have stated, then so be it.  It's my choice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by reiserFS 

Because they're too lazy to fill out the USPS customs form, easy as that. It's not even that hard, seriously.

And yet what you love to neglect to mention is that post offices are often only open during work hours and that during hours that might otherwise work, like the lunch hour, the post office peaks in traffic which can oftentimes mean a wasted lunch hour.  Couple that with the fact that insurance is tied to declared value, which complicates the whole "please under declare for me so I don't have to pay the tax/duty/whatever".  Given how Paypal is extremely buyer oriented, that can easily cause too much risk for sellers.

Anyways, this is yet another one of those threads that's been done beyond to death...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asr 

International shipping (via USPS):

- Requires a customs form

- Filling out said customs form means waiting in a line (and not everyone has time to wait in line - lines at USPS offices are always long during lunch breaks and at the end of the day when people get out of work)

- Customs forms require a "declaration of value" of the contents and the amount entered affects the customs fees the buyer will have to pay (issue of seller-buyer ethics and potential legal & shipping consequences)

- Actual cost of international shipping may cause the buyer to flake (it can cost more than you think)

- Packages sent outside the USA have a higher chance of getting mis-tracked, lost, or stolen

- FedEx/UPS: brokerage fees assessed on the buyer at point of destination country's customs

 

USA domestic shipping:

- USPS: can pay for small packages via an automated machine 24/7 and put them into a drop-box (much shorter wait time at USPS office, if any at all)

- FedEx/UPS/USPS: more reliable and cheaper shipping options that will arrive at the destination sooner without a need for customs (plus FedEx and UPS include tracking on all domestic shipping methods)

- Higher chance of packages actually arriving at the destination

Just out of curiousity (I'm not the USA anyways...); is non-continental or territory-status USA destinations not applicable to the domestic policy you've outlined here (except for things like cost, etc; I'm sure they'd be higher)?  Now, I'm sure there aren't that many head-fier's in places such as Hawaii, Guam or Puerto Rico anyways, but just wondering since "continental" part always seems emphasized.

As a Canadian I'm somewhat fortunate with this since many sellers that initially says they prefer CONUS sale can usually be convinced to ship to Canada, from my experience.  Helps being in the same continent for sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by K_19 

 

As a Canadian I'm somewhat fortunate with this since many sellers that initially says they prefer CONUS sale can usually be convinced to ship to Canada, from my experience.  Helps being in the same continent for sure.

I have been shot down multiple times! Once even from New York... Which is only a few hours away.

It's funny as we don't seem to have to fill out any fancy forms. When I sold my DT770s, it took a couple of minutes to input the package information online and print out the shipping information which was scanned and shipped in seconds once at the post office.

I used to be fine with shipping internationally.  But everytime I would guess at how much it would cost, or the buyer would tell me how much it would be, it always wound up costing more, and I would eat that cost.  I got sick of it, so now I only want to ship in the US. 

I don't have a scale, nor do I really want to measure the box and mess with postage calculators to try to figure out how much shipping will cost.  I also don't box items up until they're sold, so I don't know what size box I'll find to use. 

Shipping in the US is very dependable in terms of cost.  Send it Priority and it will be 10 bucks or less. 

Lucky you guys!

...who have such a large national market.  **envious**
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by reiserFS 

Because they're too lazy to fill out the USPS customs form, easy as that. It's not even that hard, seriously.

So you've been to the post offices near me? A few days ago I was FORCED to mail a certified letter. I tried the post office in the morning. The line was nearly out the door because the ONE employee working the counter at the time couldn't keep up. That’s not to mention the composition of the line:  Two dozen breeding age mommies trying to send money orders to pay for their cell phone bills 'cause they don't have any credit -- each breeder with a litter of feral piglets off their leashes, running around with whooping cough and tuberculosis.  An atomized mist of virus loaded snot saturated the air. I was like a freakin’ cloud forest in hell. You want me to deal with that so you can suck on cheap skullcandy? Mon Dieu!

Later in the day I tried again. Surprise! Same solo worker at the counter! Same line, but this time it was mostly drunks mailing off Marlboro miles and first timers that didn’t realize you need to put you items in a box BEFORE you get to post office so you can send it off to your incarcerated loved one.  Yes, there was one dingbat who wanted to send books to Hunt Correctional Facility… boxless.  One of the books looked to be the The Turner Diaries, too. Classy lady! Poop on the Post Office.

Fedex is a lovely place. It’s clean, there’s not a line, and children under 15 aren’t allowed in.  I know the all the counter people and they are always happy to see me. We exchange meaningful smiles.  Like rhythmdevils, I am not looking to turn my home into a weigh station.  I just guess the weight of a box at home and the wonderful people at FedEx correct it through my account if I’m over or under.  It’s like a carnival game we play!