Question
I hadn't done it in a while, and thought I'd give it a shot again.
First one out of the box...
I send the EOA quoting shipping via Airmail to Canada. I don't know exactly what it will cost, I took the US Priority Mail shipping cost and added a buck.
Give me the total including ECONOMY LETTER POST (SURFACE) to Canada. I
don't need Airmail. Thanks!
I'm really not trying to be difficult, but I have lots of packages going out all the time (eBay and elsewhere) and I ship stuff Priority Mail in the U.S. or Airmail outside the U.S. From the listing:
SHIPPING: All albums shipped Priority Mail in the U.S. or Airmail outside the U.S. For shipments in the CONTINENTAL U.S. ONLY, shipping is $5 for the 1st album, and $1.50 for each additional album. Double album sets count as 2 records for shipping. Outside the continental U.S., please email for a shipping quote. toyranch*aol.com
There are so many shipping options, and I found that when I tried to accomodate all of them I spent my time trying to sort out every one of them, losing money and time in the process, and things got mixed up. Now there are only a couple of options, things go out fast and efficient, and it's much faster and easier.
Thanks
Could you make an exception and senc it ECONOMY LETTER POST (SURFACE) mail
? I really don't want or need Airmail!
The price I quoted you for shipping is only $1 more than the standard shipping cost inside the U.S. To ship to Canada takes 5x the work, time, and effort as shipping in the U.S. I should be charging $8 for it.
I haven't offered to sell internationally in over a year. This is the first time, for these albums. You are the first international purchase I've had since I tried this again. I'm truly not encouraged to continue.
If the terms, as stated in the listing, are not acceptable, let me know and we can cancel the transaction.
Thanks,
PayPal arrives...
in the notes section it says:
Please use the CHEAPEST method of shipment available (I don't mind the wait at all) and send back the change if any. Should be ECONOMY LETTER POST (SURFACE).
Please don't forget to state the package as GIFT, and NOT merchandise, and to put a value BELOW 10 $ ((TR adds... ***The value is over $10***)) on the package, also don't forget to put your personal name, NOT your business name on the package and DON'T PUT ANY INVOICE in the package, otherwise I'll have to pay huge amounts of money just to take possession of the package! Thanks for understanding!
I refunded the PayPal payment and filed for refund. Probably gonna get negged...
I should have known better.
Answer
is right!
Please don't forget to state the package as GIFT, and NOT merchandise, and to put a value BELOW 10 $ ((TR adds... ***The value is over $10***)) on the package, also don't forget to put your personal name, NOT your business name on the package and DON'T PUT ANY INVOICE in the package,...
What are these people thinking anyhow????
Did you get any reaction to the refund?
Answer
Perhaps you should contact customs and do a sting operation. After all, they are asking you to commit a felony!
I wonder... if they give a you a -neg for failing to commit a felony if eBay would remove it.
-Jim
Answer
I stopped all International shipping a few months ago. Since I've stopped I still get angry and demanding email from people not in the U.S. telling me I have to sell to them. The last one told me he had the right to buy in the United States and threatened to report me to Ebay and leave negative feedback which I thought was odd because he didn't buy anything from me.
Answer
I would have shipped it Air,
marked it other(since there is no merchandise box on the customs form anymore),
for value I'd put what I paid for the album(Well, that's what its value was to me )
used my name and not included an invoice
I keep the change, mail the record, and never think about this putz again.
Answer
Looks like the guy has about 800 feedback so I'm sure he knows how much it costs to get an LP shipped to him by now..if it's the transaction I was looking at the LP went for 12.00..I would have shipped it surface mail for 3.00,put 10.00 on the customs and went about my other business...Problem solved.
Answer
For future reference, here is the U.S. postal service international postal rate calculator:
http://ircalc.usps.gov/
Answer
I'm well aware of HOW to do an international postal calculation. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT THE ACTUAL POSTAGE COSTS. I have Fixed Price shipping for the U.S. I can't do Fixed Price worldwide, so I quote shipping off the top of my head, based on whatever the hell I feel like charging at the time. I ask them to email me FIRST and get a shipping rate. I honor that rate if they win. HE DIDN'T EMAIL FIRST. I charged him just what I would charge anyone from Canada. THE RATE I CHARGED IS NOT EXCESSIVE, however it is higher than I expect actual postage to be...
I've been selling mail order since 1993. The largest part of that has been selling internationally. Before eBay, I NEVER HAD TROUBLE WITH THIS CRAP from my buyers. It takes more time, more materials, more everything to ship to Canada. I CHARGE FOR THAT! And I don't charge enough, either. From now on, IF I decide to sell international, my listings will state "$5 handling fee for all international orders IN ADDITION TO actual postage."
Answer
Bobby, I have no problem with you included materials and a handling charge in your shipping cost. I do too. As you are a veteran seller, I was just surprised by this statement of yours:
I don't know exactly what it will cost
I charge a flat rate too for up to a certain weight. Beyond that, I always calculate my actual postage cost before I come up with a shipping charge. I don't want to undercharge and lose money on shipping. Occasionally I make exceptions in special circumstances and absorb part of the cost and sometimes I will even ship for free if many items are purchased. However, even in those cases, I figure out what the actual cost would be that I'm willing to absorb.
By the way, I've been in mail order since 1991 and over that time period about 98% of my sales have been international. :p
Answer
Irene~
I'm good a guesstimating. On heavier packages, I do sometimes check... but my office/warehouse where I do packing and shipping doesn't have an internet connection (I'd have to get satellite or VERY expensive DSL that doesn't work worth a crap in that area). I print labels, answer email from customers, etc. etc. from home. Then I take it to the office and pack everything and ship it.
I'm almost always just a little higher than actual postage on my shipping guesstimates. Every once in a while I'm off a tad, but that "off a tad" works both ways. It's been 2 or 3 years since I really screwed up. It works for me, it's worked for me for a long time