Shipping to Taiwan?

half fast bankr

half fast bankr

Purist / Traditionalist
Silver Member
So, even though I had an auction state that I only ship to N & S America, I had a Taiwanese winner (which is fine by me). But now, I have recollections of all the horror stories I've heard about shipping abroad. I know there are a few on here that have done this multiple times with success. Can anyone give me some advise about what I should do, what I should look out for? (Packing, pricing, customs, duties, etc.)

Thanks for any and all help!
 
Just make sure you have the money first. :p
Then make sure you will be able to track the item.
Also ask for the buyer phone number. Always include phone number on the address (just in case it get lost).
 
i just had an ebay auction and sold a case to martin in taiwan. usps online is the best way to go. it is very easy but you need to have adobe reader on your computer. you put all of the info online at www.usps.com at create a mailing label and it will print out all of the forms filled out for you. you can even pay by credit card online and just have to drop it off at the post office. some insurance in incuded so check to make sure if you need more.

i have done this many times, any overseas shipments should be done by usps.

guy
 
It's no big deal at all.

You can ship Priority Air through the post office- it will cost ~$35-$40 for a single cue. You'll have to fill out a customs declaration (not a big deal- you'll basically write "pool cue" and a value). Duty and customs charges are the buyer's problem and will be assessed on his end.

The best way to pack the cue (which is what I'm assuming it is) is in a pvc or cardboard (1/4" thick or so) tube. A well-packed (bubble wrap/newspaper/etc.) triangular package will most likely make the trip without a problem, but it can take a bit of a beating.

If you really want to do the buyer a favor, give him the option of putting a lower value on the customs form- this will lower his custom's duties, but it will also lower the amount he can claim (again, this is his problem) if the package is lost or damaged. I generally have my cues shipped without insurance with a declared value of $100, which can save me up to $50 when I pick it up- after seven cues shipped to Thailand from the States, I haven't had a problem yet.:cool:
 
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ALL good tips! Thanks guys. I am surprised to hear that miserable ole USPS is the way to go here. For me, they've never been good at anything other than shipping cigars within the US. Glad to hear they have an effective global presence. And man I can't believe it's that cheap to ship worldwide. Insurance should jack that up a little bit though...
 
Good stuff! That's almost the exact same price for shipping 'within' the US.

And, DAMN that's a gorgeous Beachfront @ Seascape!!!! Reminds me of a little place in the Caribbean I hide away.
 
half fast bankr said:
Good stuff! That's almost the exact same price for shipping 'within' the US.

And, DAMN that's a gorgeous Beachfront @ Seascape!!!! Reminds me of a little place in the Caribbean I hide away.
Click to expand...

Stop by if you're ever in the neighborhood- AZer's get preferential rates.;)

To be honest, though, it rained like hell last week (it's the rainy season until the end of November)- the beachfront won't look like that again until the middle of December (and will last until mid-October)- hadda ride my scooter to work through almost three feet of water on Thursday- not much fun.:D
 
half fast bankr said:
ALL good tips! Thanks guys. I am surprised to hear that miserable ole USPS is the way to go here. For me, they've never been good at anything other than shipping cigars within the US. Glad to hear they have an effective global presence. And man I can't believe it's that cheap to ship worldwide. Insurance should jack that up a little bit though...
Click to expand...

I never had problem with USPS. So far so good (tap on wood):)
 
One more thing- you'll get a tracking number (it's the number on the customs form), but (possibly) you won't be able to accurately track it through USPS.com- sometimes all I get is the scan from when it was dropped off at the post office in the States and no updates until it arrives, and other times I'll get five or six scan points with very detailed information re: transit points and dates- it's pretty strange- everything gets here eventually, though.
 
I have shipped several golf clubs oversees... it is a pain to do the paperwork, but I haven't had any problems... I used USPS and they helped with filling the papers out correctly... Make sure you get insurance!!!!!!!!
 
Great advice

All this adivce is great and true,what ever you do don't us UPS they crushed a cue that I bought and I'm waiting for the insurance money.UPS charges 2 times as much as the good ole post office[usps].
 
1st, use USPS Global Express. Taiwan customs usually won't inspect USPS parcels coz USPS belongs to United States government. UPS or Fedex are private companies. Taiwan customs can do whatever they want against a foreign company. Same rule applies when you ship cues from overseas to United States.
2nd, got the money first.
3rd, I am in Taiwan now. If anything went wrong, send me a PM.
 
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All that

icem3n said:
Just make sure you have the money first. :p
Then make sure you will be able to track the item.
Also ask for the buyer phone number. Always include phone number on the address (just in case it get lost).
Click to expand...


Get provinces and all address information and ship USPS Global Express Guaranteed...for that you will need to have an invoice created for the post office as well as all of the complete address information and plan on it being about 100 bucks that the buyer should pay...but it is the only "guaranteed" method of shipping.
IF the buyer doesnt want that then "they" should take all risk of it getting lost in the mail.
 
I shipped a cue about a year ago to Taiwan, via USPS Global Express, and had no problems whatsoever. They buyer had his cue in 3 days...shipping from the west coast of the US...and everything arrived in good order.

Lisa
 
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