Shipping overseas

[dlloyd]

It seems like every time I list something for sale and just want to sell it to the lower 48, someone comes up with "Why won't you ship it overseas?". It's a pain in the a$$ and makes me take a much bigger risk compared to shipping it to someone here, that's why. It's my item I'm selling so I get to choose where and to whom I sell it. There are a lot of folks that don't mind selling and shipping overseas but I am not one of them. A first time experience helped me to make that decision.

That's fair enough.

I can only speak from my own experience of shipping items overseas (from the UK to the US and Europe only). The only difference I've experienced is filling out a customs form (and, obviously, increased shipping costs). I've never had anything larger than a birthday card go missing, so I guess I don't see the risks.

The interesting thing is that (IMLE) most ebay sellers that specify US/North America only are only too happy to deliver to Europe if you ask them.

 

[bovinehost]

I've had one TERRIBLE experience with shipping to Europe.

But I won't say that I'll never do it again, because if I had something for sale and one of you guys really wanted it, I'd probably do it.

But not for strangers - ever again. What happened wasn't his fault, but I wouldn't go through the paperwork and phone calls and three months of trying to find the bass (never located, BTW) for a stranger ever again.

 

[AnthonyD]

I'm small time - a dozen or so eBay items a year - and I generally specify "US Only" mostly because I've had situations where a buyer has asked me to claim the item as "gift" on the customs forms. When I refuse, it gets ugly and just not worth it.

When folks ask, and then are made to clearly understand that they are liable for all shipping costs and such, I've agreed to ship to Europe and Canada.

 

[cgworkman]

I've shipped 5 basses outside the USA with no problems..

One to Nottingham. One to someplace else in England. One to Hong Kong. One to Japan. One to Texas.

The rest were all within the USA.

 

[Mobay45]

I would probably do it again if it was someone that I had a lot of contact with here, but that's the only way. I had to deal with the post office to send the bass I sold to Germany, but to ship something here, I can use UPS or FedEx. Both of them are much easier to use than the USPS.

Dave - When I get ready to sell something, I want to get rid of it with the least hassle possible. That's why I offer it up only to the lower 48. I am just happy that I have so many people to sell it to compared to what I used to be able to do, which was list it in the classified ads in the local newspaper.

Chris - Thanks for including the Republic of Texas as being outside of the U.S. If most of us had our way, we would secede from the Union.

 

[oldbluebassman]

Last year I had the situation where I really wanted the Pacific Blue SR5 but the seller would only ship within the USA. Eventually I persuaded him to ship it to a musician friend of mine in Austin, Republic of Texas.

While that was happening I opened my own Fedex account and gave my friend the account details. He rang Fedex, filled in the form and the bass was shipped to me. I was directly charged for the shipping, duty, taxes etc. It could not have been easier.

 

[Transverz]

While that was happening I opened my own Fedex account and gave my friend the account details. He rang Fedex, filled in the form and the bass was shipped to me. I was directly charged for the shipping, duty, taxes etc. It could not have been easier.

This sound like a good idea for everyone wanting to buy things outside of their country. Open up an account with a worldwide and convenient to find shipping company. Have that person ship with the buyer's shipping account # and everything from that point on (aside from pre-shipping damage or issues) should be the responsibility of the buyer and the shipping company.

I really don't feel the buyer (even if it was me) should just have the responsibility to pay and just sit there expecting everything to be taken care of and have the package arrive on their lap on a silver platter. Maybe if it was a bigtime company you paid mucho $$$ to as they are making a profit running a business and that IS their business to satisfy you totally or your off to the next business. But when a buyer is just buying from some dude/dudette who just wants to sell their personal bass and that's it, I think everyone involved should share the responsibility and effort.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Last year I had the situation where I really wanted the Pacific Blue SR5 but the seller would only ship within the USA. Eventually I persuaded him to ship it to a musician friend of mine in Austin, Republic of Texas.

Heh, did you send the seller a MO for thousands of dollars more than the purchase price, and have him send the difference to your agent in Texas, too?

While that was happening I opened my own Fedex account and gave my friend the account details. He rang Fedex, filled in the form and the bass was shipped to me. I was directly charged for the shipping, duty, taxes etc. It could not have been easier.

This is a great idea. If someone really wants to buy something that a seller has marked "US only," then it only makes sense that the buyer does the extra legwork.

 

[Davtran]

Usps

interesting discussion this, Im in the UK and have bought loads of basses from you guys in the state's with NO problems... You have all been fantastic and helpful but there's one thing I just dont get USPS change there minds about parcel size all of the time 90% of the basses I buy are ok but the other 10% just wont get posted because they are just TOOOOOO BIG! I dont get it ? HELP!

Dave

 

[cgworkman]

interesting discussion this, Im in the UK and have bought loads of basses from you guys in the state's with NO problems... You have all been fantastic and helpful but there's one thing I just dont get USPS change there minds about parcel size all of the time 90% of the basses I buy are ok but the other 10% just wont get posted because they are just TOOOOOO BIG! I dont get it ? HELP!

Dave

Yeah, that bass I just shipped to you was technically to big. According to the USPS website the max length is 79 inches with girth. However, when I took it to my local Post Office, they said it was fine right now but changes at times. They didn't say why...

Sellers who limit themselves to just the USA are limiting the purchase prices of their basses. Considering what allot of people are paying for quality instruments outside the US, many non-US residents are willing to pay top US dollar. That's good for the seller, and believe it or not, it's a hell of a lot cheaper for the buyer also.

To me, a little hassel is worth the extra cash. Everybody wins.

 

[Transverz]

IMO/IME (as usual):

I only use USPS when UPS and FEDEX is way more expensive or just not possible. USPS is reliable at getting a letter from one place to another. UPS and FEDEX have full time website and toll free calling support, day and night. You can track that package every step of the way and is highly more likely you can do something about it when things get lost or complicated. When problems arise, USPS have typically said something to me like, "Umm, sorry, haven't seen it, don't know what happened to it". And that's it! What else can you say after that?

Yeah, UPS and FEDEX have their own issues here and there, like some of them are 2000lb gorillas heaving your items like a football, but then again, USPS does that too. I just don't like how USPS has this attitude about fitting THEIR requirements and THEIR rules, like they are doing YOU a favor paying for their services! I guess I could understand this attitude because they were the only game in town a long time ago. But that era has ended. A letter to mom goes USPS. A bass to lil' Billy in Boston or Mr. High Dollar in Holland goes through UPS or FEDEX.

-T