Opinions about shipping from US to Europe, how safe is it?

[Sweat]

Hi guys
don't want to create new thread, so decided to write it here.
Could anybody tell me, why a lot of peaple from US don't want to ship internationaly?
For example, ebay. I saw nice guitar, affordable, but the comment is NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING. and there is maybe 80% of all sellers that dont ship internationaly.
What's the problem? buyer will pay The shipping price, custom fees and etc. so why dont you ship to Europe or somethere else? Is it harder to write the longer address or what? I DONT UNDERSTAND?

Well thats an easy answer, since I have alot of experience in shipping guitars, regulars will get the humor in this, first it can be a hassle, second alot of international buyers want you to ship USPS, while it is still cheaper, barely, way to much hassle, too many forms you have to fill out yourself, bad customer service, long lines, employees that have no idea what there doing, long ship times, lack of tracking info, you get my drift.
Also international buyers ask sellers to fudge on the sale price for customs reasons, but some are not willing and this also effects the amount of insurance due to damage, so lots of ifs in shipping internationally.

I have no problem doing it but under my conditions, first UPS only, pricey but worth it, second no prob on what anyone wants to declare but at thier risk, I over pack so never worry about that issue.

just find the right seller.

 

[blind_fly]

thanks for the answer! now i really understand whats the problem ITS laziness

 

[ProtoChicken]

I stopped shipping international after repeated issues. Despite always stating in my auctions that would ship internationally, I always had buyer winning the auction and then insisting on me sending it USPS, because they didn't want to pay the higher UPS prices.

I also always state that the buyer is responsible for all Customs, VAT, etc, but still got asked to write gift on the customs form which I stopped doing after customs opened one of my packages and questioned whether it was really a gift. After both eBay and PayPal refused to help me out on an item that a buyer wouldn't accept because they were shocked at how high the custom fees were on their end, and having to deal with a foreign customs office, and pay shipping to get the item returned to me I gave up on international sales.

 

[Sweat]

thanks for the answer! now i really understand whats the problem ITS laziness

LOL while I get your post as humor, nothing to do with laziness, more to do with time, frustration and concern.

It is why I insist on UPS, I can ship one to Germany or England (main place I have shipped ) and its there in the same time as UPS gound in the US, USPS well 10 days, 12 days who the hell knows, longer transist more chance of something bad happening.

As the old saying goes you get what you pay for, apply this to cheap azz guitars

 

[Headstock]

LOL while I get your post as humor, nothing to do with laziness, more to do with time, frustration and concern.

It is why I insist on UPS, I can ship one to Germany or England (main place I have shipped ) and its there in the same time as UPS gound in the US, USPS well 10 days, 12 days who the hell knows, longer transist more chance of something bad happening.

As the old saying goes you get what you pay for, apply this to cheap azz guitars

Another reason for me has to do with risk. It is "easier", although not easy, to deal with a shady character in the same country, than it is in a foreign one.

On several occasions "newbies" have PM'd and asked me to send internationally. I personally never do this. If they have not been an active forum member whose presence I have noticed/ been accustomed to I personally wont send to them.

Regulars here have a vested interest in their reputation on the forums. Knuckleheads have built in camaraderie/trust once they establish longevity here. At least for me anyway.

I have shipped several overseas. I have some ground rules that I like the recipient to agree too before I agree to do business and they are generally lop sided in my favor.

I know me, and I know how I will behave if the transaction goes bad. What I cant predict is how the other individual will react. A million different scenarios can occur, once it leaves my hands I have no control. This gives me at least the feeling of some semblance of control. I can then react with a clean conscience based on any situation that may occur.

Of course every transaction I have had internationally to date has been a pleasure, and went off without a hitch. Communication is key.

It's the perfect home to discuss, buy and sell. Everyone that logs into it is a potential admirer, and purchaser of your guitar. It only takes one person to want and one person to sell. I have bought and sold more EBMMs via this site than eBay for sure.

This community here - its my home, and it fosters trust. That's why I'm here.

 

[jamminjim]

well if I never shipped intl. with USPS, then coffeemug would be out an Al... .... it was not a problem at all to ship to Germany, or UK or Aus or Taiwan or Japan. but to other countries it can be very risky.

 

[D.K.]

I've had more than 10 EBMMs (I wonder exactly how many, actually?) shipped to me from the US in the last two years, mostly bought off E-Bay, but also from shops. They were shipped via USPS, UPS and Fedex, and everything went smooth so far.

Granted, in Germany You get Your guitar only after You've paid the taxes, and it usually takes two weeks and more because of the customs, but that's how it works.

I think it just depends on the seriousness of the buyer and the seller.

 

[mindstorm]

us/uk import

i have imported some guitars from usa, all via UPS with no problems, and japan via japan post, again with no problems. be prepared for import fees, in the uk its VAT, IMPORT DUTY and a possible UPS HANDLING CHARGE. if you do import ask for both currencys to be put on the shipping note as i know somebody who was charged import on the dollar price which should have been in GBP {double}. as for false ebay pages, yes there are. my drummer was looking at a dw drum kit at a price too good to be true but luckily decided to wait and when he went back the page had dissapeared and when we checked the seller on ebay proper it turned out to be a pet shop.