posted on October 25, 2001 03:40:35 PM new
First of all, my auctions say that I will ship to United States only. I have shipped internationally before when I've had international bidders and have had few problems except for bidders not fluent in English. But I made it through the transactions.
I have a bidder from Scotland who won a Barbie doll. I have sent her the cost to ship the doll to her. She thinks the shipping is too high and that it should be lower. I have used the international rate calculator and have been to the p.o. with the doll ready to ship so I know the cost is right. The reason she thinks the shipping is too high is because she just won the same type of doll from another seller and he charged her much less. She also forwarded me the email from that seller with his shipping cost on it. I checked out the other seller and he has a fixed international shipping cost. It is half of what it should be and I assume he will be eating part of the cost. The seller is fairly new with a feedback in the sixties.
I sent the bidder the page from the post office international calculator with the rates on it. She said it is too high and to go back to the post office and check again. She also wants me to put the doll in a bubble envelope because it will be cheaper. I don't want to ship a doll in a bubble envelope overseas because I don't think that is enough protection. I'm desperately in need of advice and words on how to handle her.
posted on October 25, 2001 03:57:57 PM new
Here's what I would do:
1) Cancel the transaction and file a "Mutual Buyer-Seller agree to cancel" for FVF request.
OK Assuming that you still want to pursue the
transaction: Here are some "tips"
2) If she wants it the cheapest way possible, try sending it by Surface Economy. Tell her it will take a LONG time (unless she is lucky and it goes by air anyway). It will be cheaper than AIR
3) If she wants a bubble mailer explain your reservations for doing so, and if she persists, do it anyway. If she wants to be cheap, BE CHEAP but explain to her why you can't be responsible if something goes
wrong.
4) If you are making a decent profit or better, maybe you may want to consider
eating some of the cost. Heck, if I made a big enough profit on an item, I would bend over backwards to please her. However, if the profit is very small or you are already struggling to make one, I would strongly consider OPTION 1
5) If she is really cheap, you could try and stuff the doll in one of the larger Global Priority Flat Rate envelopes. You may also be able to use bubble wrap. Those cost around $9
6) (A Variation of Option 1) Ask her to go back to the other seller who may be better able to accomodate her needs (and problems).
posted on October 25, 2001 04:11:07 PM new
I agree with the large Global Priority envelope, barbie should fit in there quite easily even wrapped in bubble wrap.
posted on October 25, 2001 04:41:19 PM new
I can see how a loose previously owned Barbie might fit into one of those envelopes. But if it's new and in a box I just can't see how it will work!
This sounds like a situation I had a few months ago. Bidder from Australia emailed me and said she's going to bid on my new Barbie in the box. I said o.k., fine, I'll allow it even though I don't do non US sales. She won the auction, I took my time and figured the various shipping rates, and she never responded again!
Your buyer is becoming very time consuming with all the back and forth nonsense. If you want you could email her the link for the rates and explain to her that you don't offer shipping discounts. As it is you've already bent your terms by allowing her to bid on your Barbie! AS well as running back to the post office for her.
I would remind her again what the shipping rate is and NPB alert if payment was not received. Then I'd neg the bidder and FVF the thing.
I wonder how many other sellers she's trying to pull this with? Thanks for the warning! I'll be on the look-out for a woman from Scotland!
posted on October 25, 2001 04:55:47 PM new
I think Parcel Post is $28.00
But I believe if item is under 4 lbs and fits into box no bigger than below measurements.. you can mail airmail letter $18.10
I mail quite a bit overseas and always find this to be weird that you can mail a box but this rate says Letter !!
This is what my post office uses for the rate when I mail boxes. I used to always charge too much going by parcel post amt and had to go back and refund the overage.
posted on October 25, 2001 05:46:24 PM new
This is another weird thing about this deal. Airmail parcel post is $16.00 and Economy Surface parcel post is $23.00. I am going to try sending it by Airmail Letter Post which will cost $7.55. That is if the p.o. will let me. I'll check tomorrow if I have to ship something.
Here are a few facts; this is an old Barbie and she doesn't have a box. I'm not making a big profit on her so I don't want to pay extra postage.
I've probably done about a thousand auctions but have done very few international sales so all of this is a learning experience. Thanks for all your help and ideas.
posted on October 25, 2001 06:23:08 PM new
Believe it or not I sent a costume Jewelry Lot (9) pieces, medium to large in a small global priority mail envelope.I made a bubble envelope out of the priority envelope and then wrapped the jewelry in bubble wrap and it went fine. I would imagine that if you did the same with a large priority envelope it would be just as easy. I did tape all the sides of the envelope securely so they wouldn't break apart and the postal service did not complain. Gool Luck in whatever you do.
posted on October 25, 2001 06:43:36 PM new
I'm having this problem as well! I had a bidder from Austria win a video and I quoted my normal s/h and was emailed about shipping to Austria, whcih I quoted as $8.00. I used the international rate calculator and it states $9.00 but had already emailed the bidder saying it was $8.00 so I'll eat the dollar. They emailed me back "how daring" that I overcharge them so much for shipping when they've paid much less than half of what I'm charging them for shipping. That's fine for the other people if they want to absorb the shipping costs but I simply cannot.
posted on October 27, 2001 11:32:06 PM new
Tell her you do not accept Int bidders and if she wants the item that is the cost, period. If she gives you a hard time threten the neg. Then tell her that to avoid the neg to pay your fees and relist (Not just FVF)
posted on October 28, 2001 06:09:02 AM new
post office does not like to see tapes over the global priority envelope.
they have seen folks who re DO their envelope to fit the content.
so if you have excessive tapes over the envelope,they may reject it.
years ago i have been asked to remove the item and place it in a new envelope ,when it does not fit,they say NO DEAL.
posted on October 28, 2001 07:22:55 AM new
Just for the record, Airmail Letter Post is not only for letters. They will also take what used to be "small packet" mail, packages up to a total measurement (length and girth) of 36 inches. And it is MUCH cheaper than Airmail Parcel Post. The postal clerks get very confused about this, so you need to stand your ground if they question it.
--
El
"The customer may not always be right, but she is always the customer."
posted on October 28, 2001 08:14:22 AM newThe postal clerks get very confused about this, so you need to stand your ground if they question it
Exactly! While the clerk may be right, I have had some incredible rates quoted to me (and I am just north of the USA!) and when I have asked the inexperienced international seller to go back and check, they have come back with a much lower "actual" cost. If the mailing cost seems high, question it
