US EBay annoyance!

I'm working toward being new seller on Ebay, and will look into the International Shipping thing. What concerns me (maybe others, maybe not) is the exchange rates vrs value of what you're selling, and the taxes and fees that may rear their ugly head long after the deal is done.

I realize I AM speaking from a point of ignorance at this point, and my comments may seem really stupid once I get some experience doing this. I just don't want to incur the NAZI-like attentions from some government cesspool types that so often happens with aviation in our country.

I think it'd be great to get some input from experienced Ebay International Shippers on what's needed to do this safely.

Kim says it well: exhange rates, taxes, duties etc. all complicate sales to foreign countries.

When an item from the US finds a buyer in the US.................................

I ship abroad all the time and for me it is no hassle at all.
I dont know what is different from sending out of the US?

SuperDave wrote:Kim says it well: exhange rates, taxes, duties etc. all complicate sales to foreign countries.

When an item from the US finds a buyer in the US.................................

If this is the reason, how is it that I have found many US sellers (Individuals, not big companies) who WILL happily ship over here? (Even if some of them have rather inflated ideas about shipping costs!)

Wilf

This has been an annoyance to me too. I live about an hours' drive from the U.S. border, and can have purchases shipped to an address on the U.S. side, but can't even bid on items if the seller says he ships to the U.S. only.

tubebass wrote:This has been an annoyance to me too. I live about an hours' drive from the U.S. border, and can have purchases shipped to an address on the U.S. side, but can't even bid on items if the seller says he ships to the U.S. only.

Same it says "sorry the seller does not ship to your country" the worst thing is there are many family members and friends in the US I could have it shipped to but i cant even bid.

Well, maybe I can talk to some friends and get a clue about this.

It basically comes down to this: Sending a package overseas takes more effort in the US than shipping domestically and often it just not worth it, getting accurate shipping costs, confusing paperwork, worse, if there's a problem, lost parcel or broken stuff and often there is no seller protection. Buyer will usually want it shipped the cheapest way (with no eBay protection) and if it gets lost or buyer decides he's not happy, your stuck.

Although, eBay has made it easier in the last year or two, its still not the same. I've personally sell low price stuff worldwide, if there's a problem, I just eat the loss, yum, yum.

(eBaying since 2001, 1000+ positive feedback)

There, thanks to Bernie, I think we have the definitive answer, also, to quote from previous comments here,US sellers consider "It's too much trouble" to ship worldwide!.

I wish there was some way we could circulate Bernie's comments here to all US EBayers, perhaps then they might realise just how much potential profit they are losing by thinking that there is no world outside the US of A!

Wilf

Cox International wrote:
If there is enough interest (and the site owners permit this and set it up “sticky”) I might be conducive to an “ask Bernie” mentoring forum in regards to Internet sales (that includes eBay).

I have been in business for myself since the age of 19 (I’m in my 50’s now), virtually exclusively in marketing, including e-commerce, for the last 16 years.

That is very generous of you and I think it is a great idea.

Cheers

warrenlead wrote:

Cox International wrote:
If there is enough interest (and the site owners permit this and set it up “sticky”) I might be conducive to an “ask Bernie” mentoring forum in regards to Internet sales (that includes eBay).

I have been in business for myself since the age of 19 (I’m in my 50’s now), virtually exclusively in marketing, including e-commerce, for the last 16 years.

That is very generous of you and I think it is a great idea.

Cheers

I'll vote for this, too! an extremely kind and useful offer, which I am sure would be of benefit to all of us

Wilf

Thanks Bernie! An excellent idea, and generous offer !

Cox International wrote:I teach Internet Marketing and How to be Successful on eBay at our university and one of the things I always point out to my students is that about 50% of USA-based eBayers do not ship outside of their country.

BIG MISTAKE ! -------- No, HUGE MISTAKE !!!

To avoid unnecessary conflict I will refrain from explaining why this is happening.

Many, many country’s citizens have way more buying power that Americans. They are the ones that generally drive up auction prices.

Forget the exchange rate. The Greenback is so low it’s a bargain to most of the world – it’s actually a plus for US sellers. Plus, if you are selling in USD who cares about the exchange rate?

In our case, a full 98% (not a typo) of our customers are from outside of our country. About 30% are to the USA, 2% within our own country and the balance hail from all over the world. This is from an eBayer approaching 30,000 feedbacks and a 100% positive FB score of over 10,000.

http://stores.ebay.ca/XENALOOK?_rdc=1

It is a myth that shipping outside of the USA is more difficult. 100% we use Paypal shipping to create (on-line) our shipping documentation. The time required to fill in the CN 22 (customs) form is less than 20 seconds. Stamps.com would be another alternative for on-line shipping.

We compile extensive statistics in regards to where the sales (and $$’s) come from and can with certainty claim, statistically speaking, that the average non-North American order is over double the domestic one in size.

Personally, I LOVE bidding on auctions that state “will ship to USA only” (under one of my USA-based eBay accounts). I have snagged many incredible bargains over the years because the seller would not ship outside of the USA.

Every time I have an interaction with an eBayer that ships only within the USA and complains “how bad the economy is” I just think “cry me a river” lol.

If one looks at our TOS (Terms of Service):

Returns
You may return merchandise for any reason within 14 days of receipt!
All returns must be unused, complete, and in the same condition as originally shipped.
We will refund your purchase price as well as the shipping cost you initially paid us.
Reasonable return shipping costs will be refunded if the item is not as described, damaged or defective.

Not only do we refund shipping costs paid, no matter what the reason for the return, we even pay return shipping when justified.

We transact over 40,000 sold items per year (over 6,000 packages/year) and how many returns do you think we get?
Well, last year we had 4 and this year we had a whopping increase to 6 so far – and that despite having one of the most liberal return policies on this planet.

I know the following statement is going to generate some backlash but, truth be told: On an “incident per $/sale” North Americans cause us the most work in regards to questions, complaints and “why has my item not arrived yet”. Our fellow Canadians seem to be the worst.

I am in no way knocking USA sales but I wanted to express that the fear of selling outside of your country’s boundaries (comfort zone?) is more in your head that based on fact.

Our major competitor, Matt from Ex Model Engines, can undoubtedly testify to the above.

If there is enough interest (and the site owners permit this and set it up “sticky”) I might be conducive to an “ask Bernie” mentoring forum in regards to Internet sales (that includes eBay).

I have been in business for myself since the age of 19 (I’m in my 50’s now), virtually exclusively in marketing, including e-commerce, for the last 16 years.

Bernie
www.coxinternational.ca

Bernie thank you that is the best answer I have heard and you are well qualified to answer!!!!

Yes I think that would be a great idea Bernie.
And very useful as well as another reason for people to join here.

If it's any comfort, I paraphrase H.L. Menckin (American editor):

"No one has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people."

SuperDave wrote:If it's any comfort, I paraphrase H.L. Menckin (American editor):

"No one has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people."

Aint that the truth!!

The question was: Why won't folks let those of us of a UK or European persuasion buy their offerings?

And I thought I answered it pretty clearly on why they didn't, without giving a lecture on why they shouldn't.

YES, There is some ignorance and I'm sure some prejudice by US sellers, but also some risk as per eBay insurance guide lines for dollar values and shipping weights...that nobody's talked about.

I have had my share of issues shipping overseas, sometimes package size and weight (shipping cost) mostly insurance (claims and cost) and yes, sometimes I wonder if its worth it?

At the end of the day obviously it is, it would be foolish not too.

I'm not trying to be argumentative here, I'm just trying to show the sellers side of the story and possibly why 50% of all eBay'ers don't want to ship overseas.

Thanks,

Mark

I know i infact ship overseas on a weekly basis.
But at the end of the day the buyer pays for it so i am still quids in.

That is very odd no wonder AndyW wanted nothing for the diesel head it's cheaper to send to me than keep in Canada

If a seller ships outside of the US how does he protect himeself from getting burned by a buyer who claims the item was never delivered. For a big time seller who can take the loss it may be no big deal, but to a smaller seller just trying to make a buck every penny counts. I checked with USPS and UPS and they don't offer any kind of tracking for a reasonable price. Without proof of delivery Paypal will take the side of the buyer.