Ebay - Shipping internationally

[shmokes]

I'm selling an Amazon Kindle on Ebay.  I listed the auction as U.S.-only because I was burned many years ago when I shipped internationally, but I have had three people ask if I would ship internationally (Lithuania, Canada, Netherlands).  All three have 100% feedback (the lowest one has 15 feedbacks), but of course they could be hijacked accounts.  At any rate, it's been so long that I wonder if things have become safer in the ensuing years since my last experience.  Does Paypal confirm addresses outside the U.S. now and offer seller protection so long as I ship to that address?  I have no problem shipping internationally (and prefer it to broaden my market) so long as it's safe now.

[HaRuMaN]

Personally, I wouldn't do it.  Too much risk.

[piecesof8]

I've only shipped internationally once, but thought I'd chime in since the item I was selling happened to be a Sony Reader. If I hadn't allowed international bidders I don't think it would have sold (or would have sold for a much lower price) - there just doesn't seem to be as much interest in ebook readers here as there is abroad.

I shipped it to Italy and didn't have any issues, other than the slightly more complicated shipping procedure (I shipped it via USPS). I have heard some international shipping horror stories though, and it seems that ebay/paypal tend to side with the buyer, so if you do decide to go that route I'd carefully scrutinize any international bidders that you get.

[Malenko]

I'd ship to Canada, they are like America Jr.

[Samstag]

If you ship it with a commercial carrier you can make sure it gets to them in a given amount of time and with delivery confirmation.  USPS couldn't do that for me last I checked.  So my policy for international bidders was I ship it via a method that covers my butt and they accept the extra expense or no deal.

I had a few people walk away when they find out I'm not willing to ship it cheap but I've had a few good transactions with Europeans.

[shateredsoul]

You really need to get a couple of throwaway Paypal accounts.  Funnel the E-bay money into one of them and then immediately bounce it to another one.  Paypal cannot touch it at that point.


I urge everyone that takes money via Paypal to do this.

but the won't they just charge your credit card?

[Blanka]

I order lots of stuff from the USA to NL and no problems at all.
DHL, UPS, even flat-rate USPS envelopes come fast and reliable, with or without import tax.
Only country that really stinks to get stuff from is the UK. Royal Mail only works with the most unreliable delivery parties they can find.

[RayB]

Canada is the 51st state, so don't worry about us. You can even track packages across the border, if you paid for a service with tracking.  

I have also shipped to the UK and tracking was trackable from Canada to UK. The only problem there was that it's SLOW to ship to UK, it gets bogged down in customs for a long time, which then makes the customer irate at the total time it takes for their purchase to arrive.

THat's the one thing that irritates me about "the average idiot on ebay". They'll buy something dirt cheap from the opposite side of the planet, like Hong Kong, and then complain in feedback that "it took 3 weeks to arrive!!!" .

[Ginsu Victim]

I'd ship to Canada, they are like America Jr.

They're the Go-bots to our Transformers.

[NiN^_^NiN]

For most other countries you just need a bank account no credit card

But if the seller has the auction setup for immediate payment then you need a credit card cause it won't allow you to use your bank account as that takes about 5 days to extract the money.

[hypernova]

I've shipped internationally multiple times to various countries no problem.  Though I suppose it's only a matter of time before it bites me.

Canada is perfectly safe, I believe.

[opt2not]

I'd ship to Canada, they are like America Jr.

More like America's smarter, healthier, peaceful half-brother.   

[RayB]

I forgot to say that Paypal does verify addresses in Canada.

[HaRuMaN]

I'd ship to Canada, they are like America Jr.

More like America's smarter, healthier, peaceful half-brother.   

Yeah, the Canadian navy only fires on American fishing vessels...   

[opt2not]

Yeah, the Canadian navy only fires on American fishing vessels...  

Heh, that's not as bad as the US Army sending an F15 on Canadian soldiers (killing 4, mind you) while they were in the middle of a training exercise. Even when the US Army was fully aware of it!  "friendly-fire" sheesh!

I forgot to say that Paypal does verify addresses in Canada.

Yup, I got mine verified the week I signed up! Paypal is North American friendly.

Your real concern should be shipping. Don't bother with UPS, cross-border transactions with them always seems to get borked for me. Stick to USPS, or DHL. I've never had problems with either. In fact, I love the USPS...probably the best mail-system on the planet. Those guys even work on Saturdays!

[shmokes]

You really need to get a couple of throwaway Paypal accounts.  Funnel the E-bay money into one of them and then immediately bounce it to another one.  Paypal cannot touch it at that point.


I urge everyone that takes money via Paypal to do this.

So I am setting up another Paypal account for reasons completely unrelated to your suggestion, but I've learned that it won't let me associate a bank account with multiple Paypal accounts.  That's kind of a pain.

[danny_galaga]

It's pretty safe to sell stuff to the civilised countries. Just make sure you use registered post or whatever. I buy  stacks of stuff from the US and UK. You really are missing out on a big slice of the market by not doing it...

[Level42]

I would never ship to The Netherlands. Those stinking Dutchies can't be trusted, especially if they have an excellent E-bay track record.

[Ed_McCarron]

When I first got started in EBAY, I sold a model airplane remote to South Korea.  It got paid for and I shipped it.  I'm not sure what happened to it, or what it was used for.

Not sure I want to know.

[shmokes]

I sold a video card on Ebay for ~$280 about 6 or 7 years ago.  I shipped it overseas.  59 or 89 days later (I forget which, but at any rate it was the day before the last day on which the credit card charge could be disputed) the charges were reversed under the pretense that the charge was not authorized (i.e. identity theft) and Paypal took the money back.  Of course I never saw the video card again.  That was a slap in the face.

The timing of the chargeback always led me to believe that the legitimate credit card holder was in on the scam, but that's all academic.  Whether it was identity theft or some other type of credit card fraud, the consequences to me were the same.  I've used US-only auctions ever since. 

[Rusty Shackelford]

Be careful electronic items attract the scammers. Every time I sell a mobile phone or camera I get lots of ' I work on a oil rig and will pay you x amount over the asking price to get it now' type of messages.

Check the positive feedbacks. Lots of very cheap small purchases may indicate a scammer.

[RayB]

The timing of the chargeback always led me to believe that the legitimate credit card holder was in on the scam, but that's all academic.  Whether it was identity theft or some other type of credit card fraud, the consequences to me were the same.  I've used US-only auctions ever since. 

Yeah, cuz there's NO way an American could EVER perpetrate such a scam. Americans are ALL good, law-abiding citizens immune to greed and corruption.

[shmokes]

The timing of the chargeback always led me to believe that the legitimate credit card holder was in on the scam, but that's all academic.  Whether it was identity theft or some other type of credit card fraud, the consequences to me were the same.  I've used US-only auctions ever since. 

Yeah, cuz there's NO way an American could EVER perpetrate such a scam. Americans are ALL good, law-abiding citizens immune to greed and corruption.

 An American who did this would be guilty of a felony under federal law, and would live within the immediate jurisdiction of federal courts. I also am familiar with and have easy access to American law enforcement resources.   I wouldn't even begin to know how to call the Lithuanian police to report a crime.  Also, and most importantly, Paypal's seller protection did not apply specifically because I shipped overseas.  Hence my original post, to see if this policy has changed in the ensuing years.

Don't be so sensitive.  

[BobA]

For Americans shipping to Canada.   Please remember this   NEVER NEVER NEVER ship UPS.  When your shipment arrives in Canada UPS adds a totally unreasonable Brokerage charge.   This can be 20 to 40 dollars or more on a shipment.  When the shipment arrives in Canada they will not deliver it until this undocumented fee is paid.  They are to scam artists of international shipping.

I have received many items from the US and USPS is by far the cheapest and most reliable.

[CheffoJeffo]

For Americans shipping to Canada.   Please remember this   NEVER NEVER NEVER ship UPS.  When your shipment arrives in Canada UPS adds a totally unreasonable Brokerage charge.   This can be 20 to 40 dollars or more on a shipment.  When the shipment arrives in Canada they will not deliver it until this undocumented fee is paid.  They are to scam artists of international shipping.

I have received many items from the US and USPS is by far the cheapest and most reliable.

+1000

When I have stuff shipped to me from the US and have a choice, I always use USPS and always choose tracking (once the package crosses the border, tracking shifts to the Canada Post website instead of the USPS website). It is money well-spent.

FWIW, you can have somebody else other than UPS clear your packages (thus avoiding the brokerage fees), but, as I understand it, the process can be a pain and then you still have to either clear the package yourself or pay a broker to do it.

[shrunkenmaster]

Being in the land of "hardly anything decent turns up for sale here at a reasonable price", I hate it when US eBay sellers flatly refuse to ship to the UK. Surely a buyer/bidder with a (246) 100% feedback (like me) should present some peace of mind?! Speak to the other party during bidding and see where their head is at - it's not difficult to work out if a bidder is on the level. Just my 2 pence/cents 

[hypernova]

harpal lived in the UK, didn't he?

I have received many items from the US and USPS is by far the cheapest and most reliable.

I'd agree about using the USPS.  When crossing oceans, however, it's a different story.  I'm guessing stable countries are okay, but others are a crapshoot.  Example:  Our company recently shipped two decent sized boxes to Kuwait.  One made it.  The other disappeared.  We then shipped a replacement.  Again, it never made it.  Both packages mysteriously disappeared.

So the USPS isn't always the best option when going over water.

[danny_galaga]

Paypal's seller protection did not apply specifically because I shipped overseas.  Hence my original post, to see if this policy has changed in the ensuing years.

Don't be so sensitive.  

Things have changed in the six or seven years since then. I'm pretty sure Paypal will cover your international transactions. It covered me in Australia buying from Canada once. I'm sure it will cover you selling to the real countries (you'd be a bit silly to sell to the pretend countries like Lithuania or Nigeria)

[shmokes]

pretend countries like Lithuania or Nigeria)

Or Canada . . . which, let's face it, is just America Lite.  

[shateredsoul]

harpal lived in the UK, didn't he?

I have received many items from the US and USPS is by far the cheapest and most reliable.

I'd agree about using the USPS.  When crossing oceans, however, it's a different story.  I'm guessing stable countries are okay, but others are a crapshoot.  Example:  Our company recently shipped two decent sized boxes to Kuwait.  One made it.  The other disappeared.  We then shipped a replacement.  Again, it never made it.  Both packages mysteriously disappeared.

So the USPS isn't always the best option when going over water.

when you ship overseas  usps hands over their mail to the national mail service of that country, no matter what mailing method of theirs you choose it gets handed over.  Overseas I would not recommend usps

[hypernova]

when you ship overseas  usps hands over their mail to the national mail service of that country, no matter what mailing method of theirs you choose it gets handed over.  Overseas I would not recommend usps

They work with DHL as well.

To established and stable countries like the UK and Australia, they are more than adequate for the job.