Shipping Poll for International eBay Buyers-Domestic US, please don't Vote (1 Viewer)

[Gideon]

This is a question about the cost vs time in transit for international buyers - what is more important to you?

USPS First Class International for package under 4 pounds is cheap but takes a very long time to arrive. There is no record of delivery nor any tracking. It is like putting a stamp on an envelope.

USPS Priority Mail has increased in price. Flat rate box options are a better price for heavier shipments and there is some bit of tracking available along with delivery confirmation.

The last time I used 1st Class Intl, I had many buyers asking for the whereabouts of their packages. I had no way of tracking and many were very understanding.

Sadly, some became combative with me and left poor marks on delivery time even though the date on the shipping label was within 48 hours after payment was made. The buyers were not willing to pay the higher postage but expected fast service even though I told them it would be slow.

So, what do you think? I don't to lose buyers but I can't perform miracles when someone chooses a slow service and then wants to hold me responsible for their decisions.

 

[tdubel]

This is a question about the cost vs time in transit for international buyers - what is more important to you?

USPS First Class International for package under 4 pounds is cheap but takes a very long time to arrive. There is no record of delivery nor any tracking. It is like putting a stamp on an envelope.

USPS Priority Mail has increased in price. Flat rate box options are a better price for heavier shipments and there is some bit of tracking available along with delivery confirmation.

The last time I used 1st Class Intl, I had many buyers asking for the whereabouts of their packages. I had no way of tracking and many were very understanding.

Sadly, some became combative with me and left poor marks on delivery time even though the date on the shipping label was within 48 hours after payment was made. It didn't matter but the buyers were not willing to pay the higher postage.

So, what do you think?

Gid,
I feel your pain. Basically, unless you ship something for free, no one is happy including ebay. Ebay would like you to offer free shipping, jack up the opening bid, thereby giving them more in listing fees and final value. It is a real scam on their end.

As for buyers, again, it is a tough thing, most people are reasonable, but some are not, if they pay a penny more than what you estimated shipping that is on the label or if it arrives 1 day later than their expectation, you are to blame.

As to foreign buyers, I have begun to only offer Express mail to certain problematic countries.

No win situation,

Tom

 

[thebritfarmer]

I don't mind paying and as someone who has bought from the US & UK the cost of shipping is not so much of an issue. What is a problem is when the shipping cost is less than what I paid. I hate that!!!! I also think a little understanding is required, sometimes things take time. Usually I have found 2 weeks to receive and item from the US and about 1 week from the UK. I don;t know why (perhaps beefed up security) But that is the way it is. Trouble is we are in a society that receiving it yesterday is still not good enough

 

[jazzeum]

Tom,

What are the problematic countries for you. Not that I'm in your league but I've shipped principally to UK, France, Australia and Italy.

 

[Gideon]

I know what you mean Tom,

I am considering Express or Priority only to most of South America. I had an experience recently where someone told me how to use 1st Class Intl with all sorts of confirmation options and it didn't work. Package arrived two months after, buyer opened a PayPal dispute and they sided with him. To the buyers credit, when the package arrived he dropped the dispute but it was an education.

Also, some buyers had spent a chunk on some rare pieces and selected 1st Class Intl. Man, they were upset at how long it was taking to arrive and I couldn't do anything to help them at all. Long time buyers who I have dealt with for years and all I could tell them was when the item shipped. That is terrible.

Fortunately I pack stuff like it is going to be thrown around like a football.

 

[Gideon]

I don't mind paying and as someone who has bought from the US & UK the cost of shipping is not so much of an issue. What is a problem is when the shipping cost is less than what I paid. I hate that!!!! I also think a little understanding is required, sometimes things take time. Usually I have found 2 weeks to receive and item from the US and about 1 week from the UK. I don;t know why (perhaps beefed up security) But that is the way it is. Trouble is we are in a society that receiving it yesterday is still not good enough

Canadian Post clearly shows preference to packages from the UK. Some of the most unreasonable buyers I've dealt with in this regard were from Canada. I actually banned a few after some anti American tirade type stuff.

Typically, a USPS Priority package shows up within 2 weeks to most locations. First Class can be anywhere from two weeks to two months. That said, I haven't had any lost in transit - all have arrived.

I always ask that buyers check the ship date on the package to better understand that once USPS has the package it's out of my hands.

I really wish there more protection to the seller in these cases. They should insure that buyers and not touch sellers accounts who have good to excellent track records.

 

[Gideon]

This really bothers me. I get multiple questions every day about shipping cost and I know that bid prices are lower because of it.

I just don't understand why a First Class label can't be scanned, tracked and confirmed electronically. It is just stupid. They have bar codes fer cryin out loud.

 

[tdubel]

I don't mind paying and as someone who has bought from the US & UK the cost of shipping is not so much of an issue. What is a problem is when the shipping cost is less than what I paid. I hate that!!!! I also think a little understanding is required, sometimes things take time. Usually I have found 2 weeks to receive and item from the US and about 1 week from the UK. I don;t know why (perhaps beefed up security) But that is the way it is. Trouble is we are in a society that receiving it yesterday is still not good enough

Regarding shipping, I always look at the whole deal, ie, what the item cost plus shipping when I bid. As long as it is within $5 I don't care, b/c that is usually b/c someone had to estimate weight, etc, so with $5 is pretty close.
Tom

 

[tdubel]

Tom,

What are the problematic countries for you. Not that I'm in your league but I've shipped principally to UK, France, Australia and Italy.

Italy is probably the worst, ex. Express mail, arrives, logged in, then sits in post office for 2 weeks, finally notify customer. Same with a regular first class, except never notify customer and send it back. One time, it just got lost..........

South America - awful. Too many stories to discuss.

France is generally great.

UK most of the time, although, they recently opened a box and didnt repack it, therefore items missing, etc.

Tom

 

[thebritfarmer]

Don't get me wrong I am not quibbling about a couple of dollars. If I paid $6 and it was $4 that is not big deal but when I have paid $25 and then it turned out to be $8 that is a different story !

 

[vandilay]

I would go for the cheaper shipping cost with the longer wait ,
unless the item is expensive [$600 plus] .
The couple of times I have had something go astray dealing with
the post office and insurance claim was more hassle than it was
worth .
So I,m prepared to take the risk at my end .

 

[Gideon]

Italy is probably the worst, ex. Express mail, arrives, logged in, then sits in post office for 2 weeks, finally notify customer. Same with a regular first class, except never notify customer and send it back. One time, it just got lost..........

South America - awful. Too many stories to discuss.

France is generally great.

UK most of the time, although, they recently opened a box and didnt repack it, therefore items missing, etc.

Tom

At this moment, with 2 hours left to go, there is an Italian buyer asking for First Class. I have described to him why I don't want to ship it 1st Class but he has been bidding on multiple lots all week and this is the first time he is asking. I am hoping he responds and understands.

 

[nmrocks]

I agree with you guys, Italy is a nightmare, no real problem recieving from but to send there usually results in damage and long, long delays regardless of shipping method.
France and GB are great, Austrailia is horribly expensive as is Germany for some reason.
As for the USPS, they go farther and Farther backwards everyday, now they've ripped out all the stamp machines forcing everyone to stand in line for EVERYTHING INCLUDING BUYING A .42 CENT STAMP!
Great business model, remove all automated services from your locations nationwide,make people stand in line for some of the slowest service in the USA, the cost per hour, per employee has to be in excess of $200.00 per hour and make them sell .42 cent stamps, can't understand why they can't make money????
Brilliant!!!

 

[JAGCDR]

I agree with you guys, Italy is a nightmare, no real problem recieving from but to send there usually results in damage and long, long delays regardless of shipping method.
France and GB are great, Austrailia is horribly expensive as is Germany for some reason.
As for the USPS, they go farther and Farther backwards everyday, now they've ripped out all the stamp machines forcing everyone to stand in line for EVERYTHING INCLUDING BUYING A .42 CENT STAMP!
Great business model, remove all automated services from your locations nationwide,make people stand in line for some of the slowest service in the USA, the cost per hour, per employee has to be in excess of $200.00 per hour and make them sell .42 cent stamps, can't understand why they can't make money????
Brilliant!!!

Not sure why anyone would go to the post office to buy stamps, even from a machine. Best place to buy stamps is shop.usps.com, where you can buy all of the stamps that you need with only a nominal shipping charge.

 

[Gideon]

Not sure why anyone would go to the post office to buy stamps, even from a machine. Best place to buy stamps is shop.usps.com, where you can buy all of the stamps that you need with only a nominal shipping charge.

Gotta agree with that. I think USPS is trying very hard to move more and more transactions to web apps.

I use a pitney bowes shipping system and do all my shipping through it. I haven't waited in line at the PO in years.

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

I guess I'm lucky. I have shipped thousands of orders overseas in the last ten years and have only lost two, which were both in Germany. I have had a few take as much as four months to eventually show up though. International orders are 50% of my business, and I mostly ship 1st class mail. In my opinion priority mail is a scam. I really don't see that much of a difference in delivery time at all. In fact sometimes 1st class mail arrives faster than priority.

The PO really encourages the use of online shipping, hence the discount to print shipping online. I use Stamps.com for all USPS shipping and FedEx. I never go into a PO anymore.

 

[maddadicus]

Our post office and Royal Mail have a cooperative agreement, so that if you use any of the U.S. postal international services, you can track the customs number on the USPO site and the Royal Mail site after it reaches England...I had been restricting most all other countries, because of the fast becoming, prohibitive shipping costs. More than once, have I eaten shipping costs that were unexpected. I always try to guesstimate the shipping costs on my auction, but offer a refund of the difference if the actual is much below my number. Again, I list that on the auction..Michael

 

[glossman]

*
My purchases from the US have all arrived safely, except for one that had nothing to do with postage (rogue seller).

The postage cost depends on the weight of the packaged item.

A packaged set of one mounted metal figure would weigh at least 450 gram (1 lb).

The options:

(1) USPS First Class International

Cost: about USD $20.00

Delivery Time to Singapore: 7 to 10 days.

Note: without Tracking and Insurance.

(2) USPS Priority International

Cost: about USD $30.00

Delivery Time to Singapore: 10 to 14 days.

Note: with Tracking and Insurance, not sure why it takes longer than (1)

(3) USPS Express International

Cost: about USD $45.00.

Delivery Time to Singapore: within 5 days.

Note: a bit too expensive

Comments:

Most US sellers prefer USPS Priority International as it offers tracking and insurance.

Most will state they cannot be responsible for the sale unless the buyer accepts the insurance option.

The fastest delivery was 5 days by USPS First Class International sent by a seller in the Midwest.

I just wish more US sellers would not restrict their shipping options to US only.

Best Wishes, Raymond.

 

[VIRIATO]

I am with Raymond, please do ship internationally!


Paulo

 

[agmtanks]

Hi Raymond,
Your post is excellant as usual and lots of good informaton.
I ship many packages from the USA Midwest /Chicago to International places and just lost my first box this month. eBay and Paypal do little to protect the seller. The guy I shipped to filed a claim straight with paypal and said he did not receive the box and even said I did not ship in the first place, even selling on eaby for 12 years and 100% feedback.I combined a box with 7 auctions he won, and so far he has left me 2 negatives.Even after his money was returned from Paypal.I shipped US Priority Airmail and when I talked with the post Office , they said they cannot track the box once it leaves the USA. I have heard this from other collectors also. Even with extra insurance they cannot track it. A collector can even say they never received the box to ebay and paypal and you have no proof whether this is true or not shipping Frist Class or Priority Airmail.
I will take the $300 loss a cost of doing business on ebay and shipping to all the great collectors worldwide, but I am sure many sellers will not take this attitude and will only ship to the USA. I heard it will take 4-6 months to get a partial refund from the Post. I only hope by shiiping Priority Airmail the box will be returned to me sometime this month???
Please , nobody bring up customs issues or values, as my thread last night with lots of good info was deleted. I did not know it was illegal to discuss customs values.