Shipping An Item Internationally

[billymac814]

I'm hoping this sounds more complicated than it really is. I'm sure after I do it once or twice it may be a little more clear.

[dirtclod]

It's really not a problem at all. Like i said filling out the customs forms are the worst thing and their not that bad. Just make sure you have the right one. So you don't have to fill out another one at the post office.

One other thing i send the customer a scan of the form, receipt and a picture of the box so they will know it has been mailed.Oh i put what ever their ordering in a plastic bag incase the package gets left out in the rain because the person's not home and it won't fit in the mail box.

Edited July 11, 2010 by dirtclod

[electrathon]

I'm hoping this sounds more complicated than it really is. I'm sure after I do it once or twice it may be a little more clear.

I have sent a lot of things overseas. Generally, USPS is always the cheapest choice. All you really need to do is walk up to the post office counter like any other package you ship. They will hand you an aditional form, takes about 30 seconds to fill out. Mark it as a gift or the guy on the other end may have to pay import customs fees. Undervalue it on the form as much as you feel comfortable doing. If possible mark it as used part. To the best of my knowledge everything I have sent (about 40 itms, but not leather) has made it. sometimes it can take a while. It used to be a lot faster (by weeks) to ship to Europe than to Canada.

[rickeyfro]

I have sent a lot of things overseas. Generally, USPS is always the cheapest choice. All you really need to do is walk up to the post office counter like any other package you ship. They will hand you an aditional form, takes about 30 seconds to fill out. Mark it as a gift or the guy on the other end may have to pay import customs fees. Undervalue it on the form as much as you feel comfortable doing. If possible mark it as used part. To the best of my knowledge everything I have sent (about 40 itms, but not leather) has made it. sometimes it can take a while. It used to be a lot faster (by weeks) to ship to Europe than to Canada.

One note about undervaluing something in order to save the other guy fees, this will also limit the amount you can insure for, so if you send a $500 seat and list its value as $200 on the customs form, thats all your gonna get if the item disappears, nice to try and save the customer a few dollars but could bite you in the ass.

[cem]

To send to Australia the cheapest option is USPS and lately I have been getting a tracking number as well with them, $70 sounds about right if it's for a seat. We have an import amount of $1000 AUD before we get charged anything by customs you can check here and get your customer to have a look as well if you are worried about going over that amount http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page5549.asp and it also lists the restricted items as well.

I would make insurance compulsory if it's a high end item the customer should understand, I've never had anything go missing over the ten years I've ordered from the US but I still like to get insurance.

Hope this is of some help

Cheers,

Clair

[gesa]

Another note about undervaluing an item.

If the custom officers think the item is worth much more than it is written in the papers ( a custom seat for 60$ ) they will determine the value and your customer will be accused to avoid customs and will be charged with high tax fines, at least here in Germany.

I already ordered a lot of goods from the USA and insist on declaring the real value of the items, and to send it with insurance. For me the items always worth the money I paid.

So far not a single package got lost the last 8 years and I was always happy to get my goods without any trouble.

Gesa

Edited July 12, 2010 by gesa

[bex DK]

Sending with USPS does NOT guarantee that the recipent is free of a brokerage fee. We are charged by the danish postal system for every item that has been sent to us through USPS. A fixed-rate brokerage fee, customs based on the item category, and standard danish VAT of 25%. But the rules vary from country to country even within the EU.

It is easier for your customer to find out what to expect than it is for you. So just make it clear that the responsibility is theirs and that they should do the research if they aren't experienced with it.

Marking an item as a gift when it is a purchased order is not legal. Not everyone cares about that, but it is something to consider. Some people do it, some don't. It's a bad idea as a business IMO to lie on customs forms. It can bite you later if your tax paperwork gets examined and it may be evaluated if you send much. It is fraud on both ends.

Marking as a gift also is no guarantee that the recipient will be free of fees. I once had to pay a couple thousand danish kroner on my christmas presents from my parents. The value of the package exceeded the limit so I had to pay customs and VAT and the fees on all of it.

I've never been in or sent to Australia, so I have no idea exactly how it works there. But I've both received from the US and sent int'l packages while living in the US.

The system generally just works. You only need to care about all this if you want to know how much it will cost in charges on both ends. The paperwork is pretty simple but needs to be exact. They've been tightening the rules in the US system lately too. So you need to be more specific on content than used to. And clarity helps make sure the item is taxed appropriately on arrival so the customer doesn't end up paying too much.

Also be aware that the package may be opened and the item examined. Anything looks suspicious and they will open it up and study it all.

[Denise]

Thanks for the information, bex. Good to know. Now I can say that couriers always charge a brokerage fee, but the post office doesn't to some countries! You are giving very sound advice here.

[whinewine]

Billy:

i was searching the web for international shipping & came up with a few answers.

1] google 'mail forwarding'.

2] There is also a company called Bongo International that forwards parcels to 233 countries at what seem to be reasonable rates. http://www.bongous.com ; you can see rates listed at http://www.bongous.com/shipping_cost_calculator.php .

Their FAQ page is very helpful. They seem to be quite legitimate, but I've never used them.

(I sent you an pm through LW. We should get together.)

russ

[billymac814]

Thanks again everyone. After all that the dude probably won't buy it. But I know for the next time and feel a bit more confident about it.