posted on January 8, 2003 05:42:42 PM new
I shipped a package to Germany on december 12th via USPS parcel post(airmail) with insurance. (this was the first time I ever mailed anything to germany and may be the last)
The bidder says he still didn't get it. I asked about it at the post office and they said that I have to wait 60 days to file a claim.
I don't think I will be able to make the buyer wait that long to get a refund. I would just refund the payment but then it might get delivered and I doubt he would give the money back.
I only have a few days left to be able to return it and get the paypal fees back.
What would you suggest doing in this situation?
[ edited by sapington on Jan 8, 2003 06:30 PM ]
posted on January 8, 2003 05:55:29 PM new
When shipping USPS to any foreign country always write down the bar code info from the customs document and send that to the buyer. Your item may be in their customs awaiting inspection, and the bar code info is what your buyer needs to locate it. Everything I ever shipped successfully showed up - some taking almost 60 days.
posted on January 8, 2003 06:15:02 PM new
USPS surface mail (parcel post) to other countries always takes at least a month to arrive. Usually about 6 weeks. Airmail takes a little more than a week to arrive. Your customer's package is still on the way. I've shipped dozens of packages through the USPS to 15 different countries and I've never had a lost package.
If it's not there after 8 weeks, tell the customer to check his local post office. Usually the package will be there waiting to be picked up.
posted on January 8, 2003 06:25:05 PM new
I forgot to put in the first post that it was shipped by Airmail.
I have shipped a lot of stuff to Canada, Japan and Hong Kong and a lot of other countries and never had a problem before. I am hoping that it just got put in with the surface mail and will be delivered in a couple weeks.
I didn't keep the number from the customs form, I will see if there is any way to get it from the post office.
I guess I will have to keep telling him to wait every time he emails.
posted on January 8, 2003 06:29:32 PM new
I would give this some more time as any parcel shipped surface can take up to four or six weeks or better.
My bet would be that its already in germany hung up at customs somewhere.
Never allow the bidder to pressure you into a early refund. Have them check into this at their end as there is a private company that hands off mail from customs over there.
I find it best to use bidpay for overseas shipments, not paypal.
Just saw your post about airmail, still think its there and hung up. Let them do some of the leg work via their post office.
[ edited by trai on Jan 8, 2003 06:32 PM ]
posted on January 9, 2003 11:04:28 AM new
Germany will take at least 4 weeks. I would recommend that you always ship via air to any country outside of North America. The air shipments are not that more and are still reasonable for the customer. Average ship time is then 4 to 7 business days.
We ship a standard size large 3lb box to almost every country and have had no problems when going via air. We charge about $25 in most cases and our customers are fine with that.
Why ship by boat? It is so outdated and Long, long, long shipping time and you risk damage due to handling and theft.
