Question for international e-bay users

[strategery blunder]

I will be listing a bunch of stuff on e-bay in the next week or so. If I get a Canadian buyer, do I need to fill out tons of customs forms and other such evil stuff?

I don't really know what the fair market value of the goods are so I'm going to let e-bay users determine it.:) I'm selling a few duplicate rare cards I have from my Star Wars Decipher CCG collection. I'm basically trying to figure out if I should make this a US-only auction.

I've bought a few things on e-bay, but this will be the first time I'm selling. Any tips are appreciated.:)

Edited to broaden scope of topic line, as I wasn't getting a lot of help.

[Maple]

1. I've bought American stuff on ebay

They put it in a box, make out the one short form on top which lists an approximate price and name of the item, and ship it. I pay for it.

Never had any problems.

[strategery blunder]

2. I'm an American seller

I'm trying to figure out which forms I would need to put on there as the seller. I've bought stuff international and of course the BUYER doesn't have any problems, because the seller gets to ship it through customs!;)

I'm trying to figure out the hassle factor from a seller's, not buyer's, perspective.

[strategery blunder]

3. Shameless kick

:kick:

[bratcatinok]

4. Why don't you contact the companies you might use

to ship internationally, talk to their customer service people and find out what's needed in order to ship internationally.

Doing that would help you sort through the companies that have the easiest shipping policies and also help you with your advertisement on eBay.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

5. I have shipped items all over the world via USP

It's pretty easy. Don't let the length of my reply worry you, I just have a number of suggestions to offer.

If the package/envelope weighs under 15 ounces you don't even need a customs form for most countries.

For packages under 4 pounds, you fill out a little slip with your name/address, the buyer's name/address, what the item is, how much it's worth, and whether it's a gift or merchandise. Some buyers may ask you to mark it as a gift or indicate lower value so they don't have to pay so much when they pick it up from customs. It's up to you to decide if you'll go along with their request.

For packages over 4 pounds you fill out a slightly larger form with the same information. Only difference is that it's a 2-sheet self-carbon form so one copy stays with UPS and one goes along with the package.

If you do anything wrong, the post office clerk will tell you what to do right, so you can't really make a mistake.

BTW you can pick up blank forms in advance on your next post office trip so you can have them on hand to fill out. It's easier to fill them out at home than when you're in the post office standing in line and juggling packages. Also, you can just scrawl the information, you don't have to worry about legibility - you've got an address label on the package. The UPS keeps these on file only 30 days and then throws them out.

The rules vary slightly from country to country. You can go here to figure out international postage and find out any other conditions about shipping to specific countries:
http://ircalc.usps.gov/

The way I would indicate shipping costs on an auction like yours would be to provide a set price for 1st class shipping in the US, and tell international bidders that they will pay for airmail shipping to their country. (Remember when weighing stuff to include any packaging, like cardboard reinforcing, etc. It can add a few ounces that can increase the cost more than you might expect. If you don't have a postal or food scale at home, take one of your items with packaging to the post office and check the weight there beforehand.) I would give them the option of contacting me before bidding for an estimate of shipping costs. Little items like yours will cost anywhere from $3.10 to airmail to Canada to $8.40 to airmail to Japan. UPS also offers Global Priority flat-rate envelopes - it's like Priority mail here: if your stuff will fit in the envelope, you can ship for a flat rate (usually $5.00) and save your buyer a little money.

I recommend either of these methods over surface mail, which costs half of what airmail costs but takes a lot longer to deliver. Airmail is 7-10 business days, surface mail is 4-6 weeks. Buyers who ask for surface mail often start emailing you after a month complaining that their purchase hasn't arrived yet, and you have to reassure them it's on its way. UPS has never lost any of my packages and I have shipped to every continent but Africa.

The other thing about international shipping through UPS is that you can't insure the item like you can for domestic shipping. You can buy something called registration for it, it costs around $7.50; I just skip it unless the item has sold for a whole lot.

This may all sound like a hassle but it's really not much harder than domestic shipping. The great thing about offering collectibles to international bidders is that it's harder for them than for domestic buyers to find US items. So they'll often bid on things that US buyers yawn at.

I suggest you get PayPal or other online payment account and insist that international buyers pay online. It's free for them to use; they'll charge you a small amount so a lot of sellers don't use it. But otherwise you will wait quite awhile for your buyer to mail you payment. If that doesn't bother you, accept only international money orders or well-concealed US currency. I also have found lots of domestic buyers prefer the PayPal option.

Finally, take a look at current auctions for items similar to the ones you want to sell. They'll give you an idea of what your opening bid should be, and payment/shipping language that others use in their listings may be useful for yours. Also, check eBay's forums in the Community section. There are forums dedicated to every aspect of buying and selling on eBay, and you will probably find good advice there.

Good luck, and have fun!

[strategery blunder]

6. I already have PayPal

As a matter of fact, I'm leaning toward accepting ONLY PayPal so I don't get screwed and I can ship right away instead of waiting for checks to clear and other such messiness.

As I'm in a small town, I'll have to use USPS.

I can get away with standard first-class mail if won by a US bidder, right? Sheesh, $8.40 for airmail to Japan is expensive to ship two lousy cards. I've bought a couple from Great Britain and paid 1-2 pounds sterling.

Thanks for your help. :)

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

7. Yeah, a couple cards in a small photo mailer should be maybe

2 first-class stamps. USPS (I forgot that other S) will do you just great. The only trouble I've had with them is when I ship during the peak holiday season, which starts just about....now. Domestic packages can take 2 and 3 weeks longer to deliver. I once waited 5 weeks for a 1st class envelope mailed from NC to IL in late October.

I also take money orders, and checks from bidders with 20+ positive feedback, but lots of sellers take PayPal only.

Airmail to Japan is expensive (Australia too, it's a fortune!) but keep in mind that most overseas buyers are accustomed to paying it. Europeans and Canadians, in my experience, often request a surface mail option, and if they ask then I send it that way after warning them it will take awhile to deliver.

[parkia00]

8. Increase your market potential

The major advantage to shipping internationally in that you open your goods to a MUCH wider audience. I always believe it's a good thing unless you sell computers, electronic items, cars, cameras or stuff that's just to darn big to ship.

The best way to ship items overseas is by USPS. Avoid UPS or FedEx as their rates will kill your customer and in many circumstances, they don't get their stuff any faster. It's a waste of money. Most international bidders are quite savvy and know th ebest shipping methods and rates.

Customs forms are easy to fill out. 2 types. Forgot thier numbers. All is needed is shipper's and receiver's addresses, what the items are and thier value. The value is the final eBay bid price. I'm on the side of whatever the customer wants. If they want to to put a lower amount, so be it. Make them happy. Return customers are a good thing.:D

I seldom sell but buy mostly from outside of the US for some years. As an internaional bidder I'm always glad to see "International Bidders Welcomed!" signs as opposed to "No Foreign Bidders! American Only!" It makes you fell unwanted! THis I understand for some items like those mentioned earlier. PayPal is fast and convienient but the safest method is BidPay.com now called Auction Payments. Basically the buyer orders a Western Union International Money Order which is sent out of a Well Fargo Bank in Colorado by first class mail to your address which you can then cash the money order in your bank like a regular check except it's safer cause the money is guranteed. Money orders don't "bounce". Best of all, the buyer pays for all the fees, not you. Many international bidders use this methid as PayPal does not extend their services to many countries.

One final notice, international shipping can be a bit unpredictable. USPS always says that airmail will arrive 7-10 working days. In my experience it more closer to a month. Don't send surface mail. It take waaay to long. Sometimes 3 months or more. Also pack properly! Insurance claims can be really difficult to claim for international shipping. I trade in Asian antiques so I am a but paranoid about proper packing of fragile items. Nothing ruins your day more then receiving a 500 year old Ming dynasty dish in pieces.

Good luck!