Selling Internationally (Tips & Advice)

[hwblanks]

I'm curious, but how do the rest of you feel about selling to someone in another country, but shipping the item to one of their family members or friends who has a US address? Once the item gets to the US address, either the family member or friend will take it to the buyer next time they go to see them in person or the buyer will pick it up next time they visit the friend/family member and take it back with them. I've been asked to do it, but I'm not entirely comfortable with the whole arrangement.

What do ya'll think?

Thanks!
Heather

[Blue]

I just use my FedEx account, UPS, account or USPS depending on where they are. I've only dealt with UK (several times), Canada (several times), Australia (once), New Zealand (once), Kenya (once). I have received things from people in UK, Canada and France. If you get paid for the item before you ship it, I don't see a problem. The key is to get a shipping estimate up front. It can vary widely depending the size etc.

[JML]

Originally Posted by hwblanks

I'm curious, but how do the rest of you feel about selling to someone in another country, but shipping the item to one of their family members or friends who has a US address? Once the item gets to the US address, either the family member or friend will take it to the buyer next time they go to see them in person or the buyer will pick it up next time they visit the friend/family member and take it back with them. I've been asked to do it, but I'm not entirely comfortable with the whole arrangement.

What do ya'll think?

Thanks!
Heather

Well Heather,

That's indeed a good question if you have doubts about it.
Maybe it 's possible to take away your inhibitory feelings about such a sale.
I'm from Europe but as you wrote I do have friends living in the US and Canada. My brother works sometimes in the US. As some of the members of this forum will ship only to Conus (?) I ask if it is possible to buy from them from Europe and ship it to an adress in the US or Canada. I just made a succesfull buy of a DA 10-17 from Aegon, From Portland Oregon. In the beginning he was also a little worried about such an arrangement, but everything went very smooth with the payment and the shipping, . We do have also garanteed Paypalaccounts in Europe, and probably in Australia they do too.
If you like to aks Aegon about this sale, you can do that of course if you like.

So I'll hope you will be not worried anymore to sell abroad, . Who knows what a wide world will open for you, .

Kind regards,

JM

[rparmar]

Originally Posted by JML

We do have also garanteed Paypalaccounts in Europe, and probably in Australia they do too.

Some clarification: The only countries in which Paypal has "confirmed address" accounts are USA, Canada and UK.

A "confirmed account" is not the same thing. Sellers who allow international buyers but who then say they demand a confirmed address -- and there are lots of these -- apparently only want to a sell to three countries.

[Bramela]

I'll confirm that., Australia does not have confirmed addresses up to now, unless I am missing something somewhere.

[Peter Zack]

Bruce the biggest issue when selling to AU is now the shipping cost. it seems to have gone up quite a bit since last year. At least from Canada. I sold an AF360 and shipped it yesterday. The box couldn't possibly be any lighter or smaller and it cost $34.00 via air/2weeks. Ground was going to be 2 months + at $14.00. Total weight was 624Gr.

[Blue]

Originally Posted by rparmar

Some clarification: The only countries in which Paypal has "confirmed address" accounts are USA, Canada and UK.

A "confirmed account" is not the same thing. Sellers who allow international buyers but who then say they demand a confirmed address -- and there are lots of these -- apparently only want to a sell to three countries.

If the buyer pays for it and shipping, why does a confirmed address matter. Just get shipping verification. I've sent stuff to the backside of Kenya.

Edit: Shipping something isn't my biggest concern. Its ordering something from the Ukraine or Thailand etc. that concerns me.

[NorthPentax]

I have bought almost everything on ebay. And saved alot of money because of the low US dollar.
Too bad that many private sellers in the US don't Ship to Norway and you should. Then you have a great chance of getting more money for the item you are selling.

I have used about 6000USD on photo equipment since april and spent most of the money on ebay. Bought lenses, dSLR, flash and more from Canada, Hong Kong and the US.
It's easy to understand why we buy things on ebay.
AF-540 flash costs about 800USD in Norway, I bought it new from Canada, about 400USD with S&H and taxes.

[aamir515]

Its just a notion.... I got scammed by a crook on ebay who had a confirmed address. After I shipped him the product, he reported to paypal that the payment was unauthorized. Paypal asked me to show that I had shipped the item. I gave them the tracking number but since I did not have signature receipt, paypal reversed the payment to the buyer. Good thing I had taken the money out already from my paypal. They kept sending me emails everyweek that if i did not pay $400 to paypal they will hand over my account to collection agency. I called paypal and explained them the entire situation. They said they cant do anything so I said go screw urself. I aint giving u any money then. They dont have my ssn so they cant do anything. I havent even received any letter from the collection agency because even they cant do anything without ur ssn.

Lesson learnt:
1. Confirmed address means nothing unless u request a delivery signature proof.
2. Never give ur ssn to paypal. (thank God I didnt)
3. Never authorize paypal to deduct your account fee automatically.
4. Try not to sell on fleabay (chances are u will get scammed soon).
5. Never EVER use ur bank account to make payment (when buying) coz if the buyer tries to scam you, your bank will give you a very hard time in reversing the payment.

Hope you all dont have to deal with these crooks...... best