Shipping to Australia

**Ash** · 07-15-2008, 03:59 PM

I have made numerous enquiries on marketplace items but have found a lot of sellers balking when asked to quote and ship to Australia. But I've not been told the reason why some sellers worry about shipping to Australia, just that "I've had a bad experience before" or "I just don't post overseas".

What's the deal with this? Given I'm happy to pay extra for the postage required, what's the problem people are finding with sending stuff to Australia?

I've purchased numerous camera equipment through B&H and Adorama and have never had a problem with USPS or our local delivery systems. Delivery time usually tops at 4 business days from the US. So what other issues could there be?

lithos · 07-15-2008, 05:16 PM

I know. There've been a few items up for sale I'd have gladly pay for, but for the "US ONLY" caveats people stick on them. Are we not worthy?

If you're willing to ship to Hawaii, why not Aus? Hawaii's halfway here, anyway.

Granted, there're some items where it's just not worth it - a thirty dollar lens, for example - but an MF camera or Bigma or whatever...eh, why not?

heatherslightbox · 07-15-2008, 07:49 PM

I've shipped from the US to Australia on several ocassions and I've never had a problem. Australia seems to have a pretty efficient customs process and postal service. Out of the other countries, I would rank them #1 and Canada, #2 in terms of good shipping experiences. Other countries I've shipped to have been OK, but items are more likely to get hung up in Customs, so I'm a little more hesitant to ship to them. Generally, the only items I'll restrict to US only are the extra-cheap items, unless somebody from another country wants an item really badly. In that case, I'll reconsider.

Heather

**Ash** · 07-16-2008, 02:08 PM

More from US sellers about their reasons for not posting abroad...

A seller assumes no cost or inconvenience other than signing a customs declaration to post something overseas. Surely this can't be a reason...

As stated elsewhere, buyers assume all additional costs to postage and customs (if applicable). What else deters US sellers from posting to Australia or anywhere else? Is it the inconvenience of having to go to the post office to get a quote? If so, I'll pick up the tab for fuel costs getting there and back...

Unless there's genuine reasons why sellers can't post abroad, I propose to the moderators that all sellers permit international sale & postage of their gear.

roentarre · 07-16-2008, 02:34 PM

Plus that it is so much easier to sell to Australia since we are often happy with the price offered in the market place.

davef · 07-16-2008, 05:00 PM

In my limited experience, I've never had a bad experience shipping overseas. Certainly, nothing of the nature Peter Zack relates regarding his experience shipping to Germany. I have had some buyers who have suffered lengthy delays at the hands of various customs departments. (Ash, this has never been an issue to or from Australia but my sample is small.) I have had challenges where Air Mail isn't readily available and/or is obscenely expensive for a particular item. I've also looked into shipping to some countries and discovered that the expectation is that a shipper will visit the local consulate to obtain a permit to ship something. In these latter 2 cases, I decline to ship there. Dave

NicholasN · 07-16-2008, 05:21 PM

Anybody here from Sydney?

dosdan · 07-16-2008, 05:48 PM

Originally posted by davef

ve also looked into shipping to some countries and discovered that the expectation is that a shipper will visit the local consulate to obtain a permit to ship something. In these latter 2 cases, I decline to ship there. Dave

What countries were these?

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07-15-2008, 03:59 PM	#1
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Shipping to Australia I have made numerous enquiries on marketplace items but have found a lot of sellers balking when asked to quote and ship to Australia. But I've not been told the reason why some sellers worry about shipping to Australia, just that "I've had a bad experience before" or "I just don't post overseas". What's the deal with this? Given I'm happy to pay extra for the postage required, what's the problem people are finding with sending stuff to Australia? I've purchased numerous camera equipment through B&H and Adorama and have never had a problem with USPS or our local delivery systems. Delivery time usually tops at 4 business days from the US. So what other issues could there be?

07-15-2008, 05:16 PM	#2
lithos Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, QLD, AUS Posts: 3,261	I know. There've been a few items up for sale I'd have gladly pay for, but for the "US ONLY" caveats people stick on them. Are we not worthy? If you're willing to ship to Hawaii, why not Aus? Hawaii's halfway here, anyway. Granted, there're some items where it's just not worth it - a thirty dollar lens, for example - but an MF camera or Bigma or whatever...eh, why not?

07-15-2008, 07:49 PM	#3
heatherslightbox Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Gainesville, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,599	I've shipped from the US to Australia on several ocassions and I've never had a problem. Australia seems to have a pretty efficient customs process and postal service. Out of the other countries, I would rank them #1 and Canada, #2 in terms of good shipping experiences. Other countries I've shipped to have been OK, but items are more likely to get hung up in Customs, so I'm a little more hesitant to ship to them. Generally, the only items I'll restrict to US only are the extra-cheap items, unless somebody from another country wants an item really badly. In that case, I'll reconsider. Heather

07-16-2008, 02:08 PM	#4
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	More from US sellers about their reasons for not posting abroad... A seller assumes no cost or inconvenience other than signing a customs declaration to post something overseas. Surely this can't be a reason... As stated elsewhere, buyers assume all additional costs to postage and customs (if applicable). What else deters US sellers from posting to Australia or anywhere else? Is it the inconvenience of having to go to the post office to get a quote? If so, I'll pick up the tab for fuel costs getting there and back... Unless there's genuine reasons why sellers can't post abroad, I propose to the moderators that all sellers permit international sale & postage of their gear.

07-16-2008, 02:34 PM	#5
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	Plus that it is so much easier to sell to Australia since we are often happy with the price offered in the market place.

07-16-2008, 05:00 PM	#6
davef Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ontario Posts: 433	In my limited experience, I've never had a bad experience shipping overseas. Certainly, nothing of the nature Peter Zack relates regarding his experience shipping to Germany. I have had some buyers who have suffered lengthy delays at the hands of various customs departments. (Ash, this has never been an issue to or from Australia but my sample is small.) I have had challenges where Air Mail isn't readily available and/or is obscenely expensive for a particular item. I've also looked into shipping to some countries and discovered that the expectation is that a shipper will visit the local consulate to obtain a permit to ship something. In these latter 2 cases, I decline to ship there. Dave

07-16-2008, 05:21 PM	#7
NicholasN Inactive Account Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 301	Anybody here from Sydney?

07-16-2008, 05:48 PM	#8
dosdan Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,741	Originally posted by davef ve also looked into shipping to some countries and discovered that the expectation is that a shipper will visit the local consulate to obtain a permit to ship something. In these latter 2 cases, I decline to ship there. Dave What countries were these?