What are issues selling eBay internationally?

[jltwdw]

I've just recently started selling on eBay and based on things I've read here on Dis I listed everything as only U.S. buyers. I've now got a ? on a listing asking how much to ship to Canada. Just curious, what are the issues w/ international shipping to Canada? I can simply point out to this buyer that the listing states US only, but now I'm wondering why?

 

[rflorek]

I've just recently started selling on eBay and based on things I've read here on Dis I listed everything as only U.S. buyers. I've now got a ? on a listing asking how much to ship to Canada. Just curious, what are the issues w/ international shipping to Canada? I can simply point out to this buyer that the listing states US only, but now I'm wondering why?

You can calculate postage on the USPS website, so that should not be a problem if you know that size and weight of your package.

If you are accepting Pyapl payments, you must get delivery confirmation to get the seller protection that they offer. Many times on smaller or less expensive items, the shipping costs to Canada for a method that includes tracking are quite expensive.

You also have customs forms to complete. Many buyers will ask you to mark the form as a gift so that they do not have to pay taxes on their purchase. I understand that if you ship UPS, the tax charges are RIDICULOUS! Alos, mark the value for the final auction price NOT including shipping.

Otherwise, it's the same as shipping within the US.

Good luck!

 

[AnninIowa]

I am a full-time Ebay seller, and a huge portion of my business is international. I think a lot of people are intimitated by the customs form, but once you do a few, it's easy as can be. The only "issue" I have is the time - I take all of my international shipments to the Post Office (rather than using carrier pickup) so they can double-check my customs form and I can pay exact postage.

 

[Robinrs]

Recently more than half of my customers are from the UK, Europe and Australia. I agree with AnninIowa my biggest pet peeve is having to go to the Post Office!! All of my American packages I can ship from my home or office but the others are a bear because my Post office is ALWAYS busy.

 

[Mandilyn]

The biggest risk is not having any proof of delivery if they pay by paypal. If they file with paypal, they will win because you can't proove it was delivered. That being said, I've been on ebay for about 8 years and have never had a problem with my international bidders. HTH!

 

[hipchickie]

I started allowing canadian bidders but stopped - for me it was a time suck! I can't ever get the paypal/USPS site to work to pay for shipping, which means I have to go to the post office - no carrier pick up. Plus I like to pay for postage right out of my paypal which I can't do if it won't let me buy the label!
ugh.

 

[rflorek]

I started allowing canadian bidders but stopped - for me it was a time suck! I can't ever get the paypal/USPS site to work to pay for shipping, which means I have to go to the post office - no carrier pick up. Plus I like to pay for postage right out of my paypal which I can't do if it won't let me buy the label!
ugh.

I've never had trouble shipping to Canada with the Paypal/USPS site.

ANd you could still use your Paypal money to pay for your postage at the Post Office - just get the Paypal debit card. It links to your Paypal account.

 

[Crazy Hakim]

I caution all international buyers that I cannot guarantee that the item I mail will ever arrive at their address. I will provide irrefutable proof that the item was mailed, but once it leaves the USA, there are very few tracking options.
That said, in over 6 years of ebay selling, only two international items never arrived.

 

[abirdd]

As a Canadian who needs to buy from eBay (you'd be surprised at the amount of items we can't get up here) - I am VERY appreciative of everyone who takes the time to ship up North!

Basically, from what I've heard from sellers in the past - it's really a question of completing the customs form and then taking the package to a post office. I *always* request the most cost effective method of shipping - as a recent example a BluRay disc $3.76 for regular mail or $23.60 for the 6-10 day guarantee. In return for the cheapest method, I'm clear in my messages that I will assume responsibility should the parcel go missing. If anyone tries to file against you with PayPal, all you need to do is show this confirmation from the seller

I never bid if the seller is only to ship UPS (they are crooks, visit the Canadian board if you want recent insight), and am cautious if it's Fedex and even DHL.

In terms of the customs form itself - I don't have an issue with parcels being marked "other" or "merchandise" instead of gift. In essence, it is a purchase after all! My pet peeve - if I paid $10 for an item, don't mark it $75.00. We get charged duty/taxes on the amount listed in this box. If it's incorrect, we have to file a request for correction and reimbursement with the Canadian Govt, and it's s...l...o...w

 

[DianeV]

With Paypal its not enough to simply have delivery confirmation (which by the way you can only get with the more expensive options) the address has to be confirmed with Paypal (not many international area) and show it is covered by seller protection

Anything else and you are at the mercy of the post office and an honest buyer

We used to take Paypal for international but after losing our money 2 times it was enough. 2 times doesnt seem like much but its the point with us

Until Paypal decides to cover sellers who ship there no matter what (which they wont since they are stuck on the online proof of delivery thing) I wont ship there with Paypal

 

[grlpwrd]

I have been selling on ebay for 10 years.

I am always truthful on customs forms. People ask me all the time to mark it as a gift, but I don't because it is dishonest. Also, if you do so and there is a claim, then you won't get the entire value considered, just the value as a "gift."

I also never use Western Union. Ever.

Oh, and Puerto Rico is still considered domestic. I hear about confusion all the time. I have a lot of buyers from Puerto Rico, in fact. US Territories pay domestic, including the US Virgin Islands.

The Federated States of Micronesia and also the Republic of Marshall Islands also get domestic rates. They are former trust territories.

I also want to give a shout out for those serving overseas... I encourage people to sell to those with APO/FPO addresses, too. You can pay USPS' Flat Rate or Priority Mail.

 

[hipchickie]

I've never had trouble shipping to Canada with the Paypal/USPS site.

ANd you could still use your Paypal money to pay for your postage at the Post Office - just get the Paypal debit card. It links to your Paypal account.

Well, I have never had success shipping to Canada with the Paypal USPS site
There was always some part of the canada shipping process that would not work, that resulted in me going to the Post Office, which I don't have time to do, it is a 30 minute trip, I don't want to waste gas on it, and I have a job/schedule...the only reason I sell on Ebay is because of the shipping ease (there has to be something good to let myself continually get gouged on the fees)
The best part is wasting time on the USPS/paypal sites, trying to get labels to print, access customs forms, etc, and STILL having to go to the PO anyway.
So I learned my lesson quickly and I don't do it.

 

[rflorek]

The best part is wasting time on the USPS/paypal sites, trying to get labels to print, access customs forms, etc, and STILL having to go to the PO anyway.
So I learned my lesson quickly and I don't do it.

I actually don't have a problem with the forms and ship to Canada often using Paypal/USPS. In fact, you get a small discount printing your forms and customs papers through their site. When I drop off Canadian mail at the Post Office for them to handle the Customs documents, the Postal Employee always comments about the good rate that I got printing online and then tells me how much it would have cost had I paid directly at the Post Office.

 

[hipchickie]

I actually don't have a problem with the forms and ship to Canada often using Paypal/USPS. In fact, you get a small discount printing your forms and customs papers through their site. When I drop off Canadian mail at the Post Office for them to handle the Customs documents, the Postal Employee always comments about the good rate that I got printing online and then tells me how much it would have cost had I paid directly at the Post Office.

I understand that *you* don't have a problem, however that doesn't mean that I don't have problems.
I would love to buy the the postage online and get that great price, but the label Will.Not.Print.

Again, I do not want to have to go to the post office for time and money issues, and if that is an issue for the OP, don't sell to Canada

 

[rflorek]

I understand that *you* don't have a problem, however that doesn't mean that I don't have problems.
I would love to buy the the postage online and get that great price, but the label Will.Not.Print.

Again, I do not want to have to go to the post office for time and money issues, and if that is an issue for the OP, don't sell to Canada

Have you tried printing it through the usps.com site rather than the Paypal site? Again, you could print through usps.com and use the Paypal debit card to pay the postage.

 

[Sleepy]

I also want to give a shout out for those serving overseas... I encourage people to sell to those with APO/FPO addresses, too. You can pay USPS' Flat Rate or Priority Mail.

I could not agree more. We have lived in Italy for almost 4 years. LIfe here can be tough and finding stuff is even tougher. Most people don't want to deal with APO/FPO. It doesn't cost anymore than if you shipped to someone in America, because for my location, it is sent to NYC and then it is picked up by the military. Our post office on base IS the USPS! The only difference is you will have to take my package to the post office and fill out a customs form. Simply asks for your name and address and my name and address, items in the box, value of merchandise if you are getting insurance and your signature. The difference between flat rate and priority is price and how long it takes to get to me. If you send it flat rate, it takes a month. If you send it priority, I get it in a week or less. Most of us would be willing to pay the priority rate.