Shipping to the lower 48 or conus only - WHY?

[CoryC]

By the way overnight shipping from Hawaii to the East coast takes approx 4-5 days via Fedex

Wow, Fedex must suck. I received a cue from Guycrunch on the east coast to me in Hawaii in 2 days. It was shipped fully insured USPS Express Mail.

I used Express Mail to ship out a cue to Los Angeles and it took 2 days also even though it's way closer.

 

[CoryC]

I would ask the seller of an item that I was interested in to make an exception. You will be surprised how many will do the deal especially if you make it easy for them.

Gene

Thanks Gene, for some reason that never occured to me to just ask the seller politely. I guess just seeing that restriction sets me off but I know better now.

 

[CoryC]

You know, Cory, I'm not 100% sure on this but I think a lot of people put that tag on there with the intention of meaning "No international shipping" and don't even consider Alaska and Hawaii as not being part of the "continental" USA.

Personally, since I live overseas, I don't understand why some people won't ship overseas. I mean really, once you have the money in your hand why do you care where it goes?
MULLY
customs forms aren't that difficult

Hi Mully, I have no problem shipping overseas. I have shipped or received cues & cases from Japan, Singapore, Taiwan & the Philippines. That's only Asia. I've shipped to several European countries too.

On the ivory subject - I remember seeing that a Viattore cue with ivory was confiscated by US Customs and an AZ member was selling the shafts only. US customs took the butt and let the shafts through.

 

[CoryC]

Here is the deal, from my perspective, on International cue sales and shipping . I sell a cue, it is FOB Jackson,TN. I will follow the customers shipping instructions to the letter, with them having full knowledge it is their baby when it leaves here.

FOB stands for "Free On Board" but what exactly does that mean?

 

[GoTulane]

Fob

FOB stands for "Free On Board" but what exactly does that mean?

Here is a quick definition of FOB on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_On_Board


Just to let you know, I am a Distribution manager at one of my company's Major centers. We ship and receive product all day long, and FOB is very important to know - since responsibility of the shipment is concerned, in case it is lost or damaged. I am located in New Orleans, and was here for 16 years before Katrina, and WE had to know the FOB of shipments that we had coming and going right before the storm, since we needed to know WHO was responsible for the value of the goods that were re-routed/lost/damaged during that time of Katrina, since we had shipments in route to us and from us. If it is FOB shipping, then the Buyer is responsible for the package when it leaves our dock. If it is FOB destination, then the seller is responsible until the buyer receives it. This is a big deal, depending on who can and must claim insurance claims and responsibilities for lost/damaged shipments.
From what I see here on AZB, most of the sales I have seen seem to be FOB destination shipments. Therefore, if the Cue/package is lost or damaged, then the seller must file the claim, and be the one responsible for any losses or damages. At least that is how I feel about my shipments, but when it goes to international shipments and higher cost items, that might change depending on how much power I have to file a claim and follow up in a foreign country.
Just to let you know, I ship over 3-4 Hundred UPS ground/Fed EX packages a day, and close to 4-5 LTL shipments a day from my location alone. And I am responsible for claims on all the packages my company sends from our 5 distribution centers located around the country. We use many LTL carriers, and receive claims on damage frequently. And the costs associated with these losses is astounding. Therefore, FOB is very important. Depending on which shipping authority, I either have a lot of work on my desk, or very little.

I hope this helps.

Michael

 

[GoTulane]

Shipping international or away from CONUS?

Just my opinion and feelings - I will sell to anybody, and ship to anybody. As long as I feel good about the person, and they can provide references, especially if they are a NEWBEE or very little dealings here on AZB. Can't fault somebody for where they live, especially if they are a buyer who wants to buy your cue, and are offering a good price - JMHO. I have sold all over the world (Netherlands, England, Philippines, Spain, Canada, Dubai, Taiwan, Singapore, and all over the US of A- Alabama, NC, Cali, Florida, Kentucky, Arizona, New Mexico, New York, Just to name a few)- I do not have as many sales as some here on AZB, but I have been lucky. Well, let me say that all my dealings have been with good people here on AZB and the internet/ebay, and I have been lucky enough not to pull in the bad apples. I would have no problem selling to someone not in the CONUS, but I also would ask for more than a shipping address. Because I need to protect my sale, and my hobby.
So if anybody doesn't want to sell to you, just because of where you live -

BUY ONE OF MY CUES!!!!! I always have something for sale, and always looking to trade - But I never have a lot

JMHO,

Michael

 

[hangemhigh]

Here is a quick definition of FOB on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_On_Board


Just to let you know, I am a Distribution manager at one of my company's Major centers. We ship and receive product all day long, and FOB is very important to know - since responsibility of the shipment is concerned, in case it is lost or damaged. I am located in New Orleans, and was here for 16 years before Katrina, and WE had to know the FOB of shipments that we had coming and going right before the storm, since we needed to know WHO was responsible for the value of the goods that were re-routed/lost/damaged during that time of Katrina, since we had shipments in route to us and from us. If it is FOB shipping, then the Buyer is responsible for the package when it leaves our dock. If it is FOB destination, then the seller is responsible until the buyer receives it. This is a big deal, depending on who can and must claim insurance claims and responsibilities for lost/damaged shipments.
From what I see here on AZB, most of the sales I have seen seem to be FOB destination shipments. Therefore, if the Cue/package is lost or damaged, then the seller must file the claim, and be the one responsible for any losses or damages. At least that is how I feel about my shipments, but when it goes to international shipments and higher cost items, that might change depending on how much power I have to file a claim and follow up in a foreign country.
Just to let you know, I ship over 3-4 Hundred UPS ground/Fed EX packages a day, and close to 4-5 LTL shipments a day from my location alone. And I am responsible for claims on all the packages my company sends from our 5 distribution centers located around the country. We use many LTL carriers, and receive claims on damage frequently. And the costs associated with these losses is astounding. Therefore, FOB is very important. Depending on which shipping authority, I either have a lot of work on my desk, or very little.

I hope this helps.

Michael

Thank you, Michael, for enlightening the poster about FOB.

 

[CoryC]

Thank you, Michael, for enlightening the poster about FOB.

Thanks to Michael too. I'm going to see if I can rep to death everybody who contributed to my education.

It seems to me that FOB by itself is incomplete. The designation "shipping" or "destination" must be used in conjunction with FOB to determine where responsibilities or liabilities lie.

Info from Wikipedia:
FOB shipping is the term used when the ownership/liability of goods passes from the seller to the buyer at the time the goods cross the shipping point to be delivered.

FOB destination designates that the seller is responsible for the goods until the buyer takes possession.

 

[CoryC]

As for asking the seller, yeah, it usually works. In the end they want the money. If you're up front with them and say "Hey, I'm really interested in this but I live in............., would you mind shipping over here?" They're usually cool about it. Luckily I have a US address to ship to in the event that they just don't want to ship overseas. But so far I haven't had any problems.
MULLY

You've been lucky. I had an ebay buyer with a USA location in ebay ask me to ship a Carmeli cue to their "customer" in Japan via express mail. It turned out that the buyer was using a hijacked Paypal account. I found that out because Paypal sent me an email saying the account was hijacked and the funds were removed from my Paypal account. I managed to get my cue back before USPS shipped it out but it was a close call.

 

[GoTulane]

No Problem

Hangemhigh & Coryc - no problem at all. I actually enjoy my job and the responsibilities that it entails. Of course looking through a week's worth of just UPS invoices for 12 grand is not always fun But especially after Katrina, FOB authority and responsibility is a BIG DEAL!!! Especially here in New Orleans, since we were one of the lucky ones with all our Shipping contracts and FOB information on record with each vendor/customer, updated 2 months before KATRINA. At least I believe we were up to date, since it was my job to make sure of it that time before the storm. And believe me when I say that some companies FOB policies were very strange considering their products and product values. It still does not make a lot of sense to me, but that is probably why I am not an insurance agent or an accountant.

Glad I could help.

Michael

 

[digitalcrack]

I live in Hawaii also. Once cueaddicts sold me a Gilbert jump break(25 dollars shipping) via DHL and it came in less then 3 days. Nielsen's always gets my stuff to me within 3 days using USPS Priority. Seybert's gets to me via USPS first class within 7 days. Blowfish has shipped me things from Hong Kong and it took around a week. I shipped things to Hong Kong and Singapore (Zylr Sneaky) using USPS parcel mail, took about 25 bucks..got there within 10 days. UPS just sucks for its price..over 30 bucks shipping anything using 2 day air. Fedex is slightly cheaper but I've had bad experiences. USPS Priority Mail with insurance and deliver confirmation in the USA costs at most 15 dollars to ship something like a cue. Reliable both ways for me.

 

[ChrisOnline]

i never had any problems shipping to hawaii from the east cost.. usually about 3 days with usps priority mail..

chris

 

[Integrale]

Hi everybody,
i live in germany and i bought 4 cues till now here on AZ, ranging between 240 and 950 $, and there were never any problems.
I payed every of them with paypal and i have no problem, waiting the cue to get shipped thill the seller has the money secure.
Yes, i asked the sellers if they could state a lower amount on the receipt for german tax reasons,we have to pay at least 20%, i never know that there is a problem with insurance then.
So i like to have the right to ask but i have no problem if the seller says no.
Az is a bih family and i believe that you shouldn`t make a difference where somebody lives. Just my 2 cents.
regards,
David.

 

[cueandcushion]

some rambling.

So what is your stance when someone like myself, obviously American, contacts you and wants to make a purchase? How lenient would you be if I was to order something and say "I do have a US address to ship to but it would be a lot eaiser on me if I didn't have to pay shipping twice." Are you a broad swiping "NO OVERSEAS ORDERS" or do you go case by case?
MULLY

Since you asked. Credit card companys will always favor the purchaser over the retailer in many transactions. Unless we have a previous history we NEVER sell by credit card (over the phone/internet). We do not have that fraud percentage added to our prices. Service fees on credit cards are many times based on the likelyhood of fraud occurring. Like a $8.00 fee on a $30.00 concert ticket? They know the fraud percentage is huge in online ticket sales...so you pay accordingly. We usually only deal via cashiers check after we feel comfortable with someone. If it is going to a city where we know someone we might even send it to THEIR address so the package can be opened in front of them to verify the arrival. Too many people these days are claiming they recieved a empty package or something was damaged and want to renegotiate the price after they have it in their hands. Credit cards let this happen a lot more than they should. I have to pay $1.22 just to swipe the card and then I pay a % of the sales price and then I have to wait 60 days for the money to be transferred to my bank account. All these precautions are to protect consumers. They are not in place to protect retailers. Retailers must protect themselves by raising prices to cover the fraud. ALL places that take credit cards (retailers etc) have to deal with waiting for their money and the card getting a % off the top.

We still wont take Discover because they want DOUBLE what Visa and Mastercard want...THIS is how you get "Cash Back". The retailer is paying it to you...NOT Discover. You are paying higher prices up front so you can get 1% Cash back. Discover wants $1.00 + 4.5% off the top from me to accept the card. So I pay $46.00 on a $1000.00 cue purchase so the buyer can get $10.00 back at the end of the year.

Enough rambling.....I am just getting frustrated....

 

[Dartman]

... and then I have to wait 60 days for the money to be transferred to my bank account ...

I won't go into the Visa & MC shipping rules for card-not-present transactions or the Paypal rules
on shipping - both of which are reasons why some sellers limit delivery to the lower 48 states
or as a minimum to an AVS verified or Paypal confirmed address.

My question tho - 60 days for the transfer of funds?
Have you shopped other merchant account services?

 

[Jigger]

So what is your stance when someone like myself, obviously American, contacts you and wants to make a purchase? How lenient would you be if I was to order something and say "I do have a US address to ship to but it would be a lot eaiser on me if I didn't have to pay shipping twice." Are you a broad swiping "NO OVERSEAS ORDERS" or do you go case by case?
MULLY

I have no problem with shipping to a "confirmed address" when payment is received thru paypal. The problem is Int'l address are often impossible to confirm. In those cases maybe a Western Union payment would work best for both sides of the deal.