posted on February 3, 2001 04:29:30 PM new
Well, I think I'm going to take the plunge. I thought at first I will only ship via USPS Global Priority and make bidders pay actual shipping costs. I will probably only take payment through Bidpay, since it is the only form of payment I am comfortable accepting from international bidders.
If these are bad ideas, please explain. Also, any advice will be appreciated.
posted on February 3, 2001 04:36:14 PM new
I've shipped hundreds of items internationally and have never shipped one item by Global Priority. It's usually the most expensive method of payment. (Other than Express). I would suggest offering other shipment methods - such as Global Airmail Letter Post and Global Airmail Parcel Post.
Those are the methods I use most often and they are MUCH cheaper to ship and they get to your customers in 4-7 days. I've never once had a problem shipping by this method and the customers will be glad that you saved them some money on shipping too.
[ edited by ExecutiveGirl on Feb 3, 2001 04:36 PM ]
posted on February 3, 2001 04:39:10 PM new
International bidders have a tendancy of bidding higher , more profit for us sellers. Shipping is easy, just a extra form to fill out. Most economical is surface mail, takes 6-8 weeks to be delivered, goes by ship and when shipping this method to some countries, it never gets there. The ship crew has to have something to do during those long voyages, they plunder your mail. The best is air PARCEL POST, insured. Unless its a small inexpensive item, Economy Air, can't insure the parcel. But you can purchase a shipment confirmation that shows you did mail the package from a particular post office, for this method.
posted on February 3, 2001 04:42:23 PM new
Hi. I ship about 4 to 5 packages, internationally, every week. After doing the research - USPS is the best.
There are 3 Global Priority sizes (envelopes). All are Flat-Rate and the weight limit is 4lbs.
Small envelope is 6" X 10" (about 2 paperbacks or several aromatherapy 1/2oz. bottles, etc.), and runs $4 to $5 - depending on destination.
Large envelope is (approx.) 9" X 12" (1 large book or several paperbacks or alot of "flat" aromatherapy items, etc.), and runs $7 to $9 - depending on destination.
Large Pak / Envelope </b>is the largest of the lot. Can fit small boxes inside, etc., and runs $9 to $12 - depending on destination.
Hope this helps.
Silvia @ Scentvillage
[ edited by scentvillage on Feb 3, 2001 04:44 PM ]
posted on February 3, 2001 04:48:10 PM new
There are also Global Priority Boxes - that measures 12" x 9" x 2" and is not a flate rate fee - it is weight sensitive.
posted on February 3, 2001 05:05:22 PM new
So , in my TOS should I just state "International Buyer to pay Actual shipping via USPS Global Airmail Letter Post, USPS Global Airmail Parcel Post, or USPS Global Priority " ??? I will also be insuring through U-pic, but I do not want to frequently lose packages and then be dropped by U-pic. So, I shouldn't offer Surface mail, right? This is why I originally thought Global Priority. It seems to be the most reliable.
posted on February 3, 2001 05:18:57 PM new
In my auctions I just state that I will ship internationally. Then when my bidder emails me for a total, I calculate all the possible shipping charges and let them choose which they prefer. It's much easier than having to read through all that in your TOS.
I also use U-pic and almost all my packages are shipped by Global Airmail Parcel Post or Global Airmail Letter Post (which used to be Small Packet Air Mail) and have never had a lost or damaged package. Very reliable.
Whatever you do though - I would definitely NOT ever use UPS for international packages... they add on a huge "fee" that the customer has to pay when the item arrives. Chances are the customer will refuse it and it will be sent back to you.
posted on February 3, 2001 05:51:53 PM new
As an International Buyer and Seller, I prefer your Air Mail when buying because it is affordable for me. Please remember that for us outside of the US your $10.50 for shipping is equivalent or close to $20.00 in my currency. So to send it the most expensive way can be a turn off to some international buyers. Most of us if we can would prefer to pay $5.00 instead of $10.00 for shipping. Of course it depends on the item you are shipping. Sometimes you have little to do about the cost if it is a large or heavy item.
Now when I am sending my parcels to International buyers I always let them choose which way suits them best. I give them all prices for shipping and let them choose, that way if they want to pay the extra they can or if the buyer is concerned about the cost getting a little too high they can choose Economy Mail or Sea Mail.
posted on February 3, 2001 06:25:35 PM new
Thanks for the advice.
What do you guys/gals think about ONLY accepting BIDPAY from international bidders. I currently accept Paypal, Billpoint, Bidpay, Money orders. Are any of these forms of payments safe to take? I have heard good things about BIDPAY and international transactions, from a sellers standpoint. So, I feel more comfortable taking that form of payment.
posted on February 3, 2001 06:29:17 PM new
Bidpay is good but it costs the buyer $5. I would have to really want the item desperately to pay this extra cost.
posted on February 3, 2001 07:04:29 PM new
Bidpay is good but I have to admit that for me to use bidpay it will cost me an extra $5.00US and if I purchase a money order in Australia to post it will cost me about the same, but if the item you are buying is only a small value item say for $5.00US and shipping is another $5.00 than you add on the cost of an international money order that takes it up to $15.00US. Now in some cases the item isn't worth that much. If I have the US cash I would rather pay with cash. Some sellers will not accept us sending cash, but it is easier for us and less costly. In all the time I have been buying and sending cash I have not had one payment go astray.
posted on February 3, 2001 07:06:34 PM new
$5 for international buyers is a very good deal - from what I have heard it's pretty expensive to get an international MO and then to mail it to the US.
posted on February 3, 2001 07:31:08 PM new
Hi Executive Girl, $5.00US ($9.00AU) is the standard cost of purchasing an International money order in Australia I don't know about the cost for other countries. With postage it will cost me about $6.50US ($11.50AU) to send a payment to the States. You are right it isn't terribly expensive but I just prefer to get it done the quickest and easiest way for me and that is by sending the cash payment.
For me the worst part of receiving an International money order is the cost involved in having the funds transferred into Australian Dollars. It usually cost anywhere from $3.00US - $5.00US (5.00 - 10.00AU) to have the money orders converted from US Dollars to Australian Dollars, and then depending on the amount of the money order we have to wait up to 4 weeks for it to clear. And buyers wonder why we don't like international m.o. over here.
posted on February 4, 2001 03:24:53 AM new
As an international buyer I am not keen on Bidpay, unless it was for a large purchase (hundreds of $) and I really wanted it.
I much prefer using Billpoint or Paypal, and actively look for auctions using those payment methods. Fortunately, I have had no problems with it so far (touch wood!).
I would just recommend being wary of sending items to addresses other than billing addresses - particularly for users in some European countries. I do sometimes ask to have items shipped to my sister in the US, but am upfront about it in the beginnng AND provide my proper billing address as proof (hopefully) that it is me.
I prefer to have the option on shipping methods as well - some things I want straight away, some things I want absolutely insured, some things I don't need until later (I shop early for Christmas, mostly), and some things I don't think it is worth insuring. I think I have only ever had one thing sent to me Global Priority - and that was because it was cheaper than Air Mail for some reason. But it is also about what is convenient to you, as a seller.
posted on February 4, 2001 06:55:13 AM new
My first dealings with bidpay started nearly 3 weeks ago.
-High bidder of item in the low hundreds informs me that they will pay by bidpay
-Bidpay email within the hour informing me of bider's instructions to pay me.
-Within 1hr 30mins. payment dispatch notification email from bidpay
-soon after a 3rd email from bidpay singing the praises of their service and later I notice the 3rd email reads
<b>"Please be sure to log into www.bidpay.com and under sellers choose SELLER SERVICES and REGISTER WITH US... as soon as you have done that you will immediately be able to check and track the status of the order that was just placed with us"<b>
Now 19 days after their 3 email run, including the 3rd which seems to serve no purpose other than spam, and their not having replied to my 2 messages in 2 days,
I'm still waiting for my money.
I have posted approx. 100 items to USA, UK, Japan, Canada, Portugal, Germany, and even though I do not send dispatch notifications out at 1.5 hour intervals, I have only once had a parcel take over 15days from time of dispatch. That Item was held at customs because it was a valuable item and it didn't have an invoice attached.
Their home page states
1./"Convenience & Speed expedites your transaction"
2./"Payments sent quicker you get your goods faster"
3./"Seller knows that payment is on the way."
They seem to make bold claims without much concern for their validity, They obviously have the resources to email.
cape123, As far as I'm concerned, I wouldn't rely on them.
I hope my customer is understanding when If I have to email them some time near the end of March to explain to them that the reason their item hasn't arrived is because the normal clearance time for an international bank cheque of 30days is a little longer because of the speed in which the bid pay cheque got to me.
Assuming it gets here.
Further, should I feel as though it is 'membership extortion' to have too register in order to get information as to the progress of the money that was promised to me.
cape123, Is that the kind of response you were seeking.
posted on February 4, 2001 09:06:23 AM new
It's a good thing to register with Bidpay as a seller, so the buyer can't type in the wrong address or info! Do it!
posted on February 4, 2001 09:39:00 AM new
Should I require my international buyers to purchase insurance? And if so, should I state in my auctions that the item is insured through U-PIC?
posted on February 4, 2001 11:35:47 AM new
Re: insurance... Depends on what you are selling. If it is easily breakable, or too valuable to accept loss, then YES! insist on insurance. If they absolutely insist on NOT paying insurance for an item, then make sure that they understand they will bear the consequences in the event of loss or damage.
Be aware that if a bidder buys using a credit card, and it is subsequently lost in the post, YOU are likely to suffer a chargeback. If you can't afford to bear that, buy your own insurance as protection, insist on it as part of your TOS, or factor it into the sale price.
Secondly, remember that if you send breakables, they must be really well packed, insured or not. The Post Office won't pay out for breakage of poorly packed stuff, and again - if paid by credit card - you can suffer a chargeback if uninsured.
Insurance is a gamble... and you and your bidder have to decide what risk is worth taking. I have rarely had stuff insured, except for breakables, or valuable stuff. I have had one uninsured parcel arrive damaged, due to poor packing and claimed a chargeback. I also had some pokemon cards stolen by a post office worker, but had to swallow that loss. Clothes are unlikely to get "lost", or books, or videos - and at any rate they are fairly low value anyway. You makes your choices, and you takes the consequences.
posted on February 5, 2001 06:28:59 PM new
Is it safe to take Paypal or Billpoint payments from international buyers. How many of you do it? I just noticed that the Paypal Seller's "Protection" policy does not apply if shipped to a NON-US residence. But, we all know that there really is no sellers protection from PAYPAL so I probably shouldn't even be worried.
