Why doesnt anyone ship out of the us
- Thread starter B-Rod
- Start date
call me ill fill you in 734-693-3177
I sent a Cue Case to Brunei Darussalam in Asia via the U. S. postal Service. The only problem I had was convincing the USPS CLUCK that Brunei Darussalam was a real country.
ha ha thats funny you silly americans
i've shipped to canada taiwan isreal germany and.... i think that's it but there might be one more country.
1. The Hassle: A lot of people don't want to fill out a simple customs form and make an invoice. They COULD print one off in five minutes from any one of 500,000 free templates on the net but they don't want to.
2. The Risk: If there is anything that the buyer doesn't like, or something goes missing, or whatever then The Hassle goes up even more. To ship it BACK to the US involves more customs forms, the buyer has to deal with whatever he paid in import taxes if any....
All that said I ship to every country on the planet and have done so for all of my 20 years. My friend Roy Malott at www.indyq.com ships to every country all over the world.
So there are plenty of sellers who don't have any problem shipping internationally.
2. The Risk: If there is anything that the buyer doesn't like, or something goes missing, or whatever then The Hassle goes up even more. To ship it BACK to the US involves more customs forms, the buyer has to deal with whatever he paid in import taxes if any....
All that said I ship to every country on the planet and have done so for all of my 20 years. My friend Roy Malott at www.indyq.com ships to every country all over the world.
So there are plenty of sellers who don't have any problem shipping internationally.
the PI and japan... that's what was missing
1) shipping costs are significant
2) time delays
3) ivory border issues
4) people are too lazy to fill out a simple form, specifically american sellers from what Ive noticed. (if you take offence, I am assuming you are a seller from the united states who DOES ship outside of the US. Thanks for not being lazy.)
Ive had a seller that Ive been trying to throw money at for years without any success. Ive spent a couple hundred dollars via online items but I havent actually ever got a 'hard good' from them. Im really glad Ive stopped that, only so many times you can spend your hard earned money without having someone seem like they're somewhat interested in your business.
2) time delays
3) ivory border issues
4) people are too lazy to fill out a simple form, specifically american sellers from what Ive noticed. (if you take offence, I am assuming you are a seller from the united states who DOES ship outside of the US. Thanks for not being lazy.)
Ive had a seller that Ive been trying to throw money at for years without any success. Ive spent a couple hundred dollars via online items but I havent actually ever got a 'hard good' from them. Im really glad Ive stopped that, only so many times you can spend your hard earned money without having someone seem like they're somewhat interested in your business.
I have shipped to many countries. Overseas buyers will more often than not pay more for an item because its harder for them to get things. Im not saying more than an item is worth but they dont seem to try and beat you up on the price as bad as someone in the lower 48. From experience I have found that the overseas buyer will usually assume the responsibility for the items and many times they will have an item declared much less than it actually is. I have never had a problem when shipping out of the country.
I really don't understand why someone wouldn't ship to Canada from the USA. Honestly the shipping costs are on the customer anyway and they shouldn't be much different than shipping inside the USA.
I forgot to add that with some brands the US sellers are forbidden from selling into other countries, specifically I am talking about Predator. From what I understand there is a monetary penalty if caught and even the possibility of being dropped as a dealer if caught again.
Customs forms for export takes about five minutes to fill out.
Regarding ivory I wouldn't even try it these days without the right CITES paperwork. Customs is getting high-tech with the ability to use light-based scanners to determine if a material is ivory or not. Also people should be aware that certain woods fall into the category of illegality if they happen to be on an endangered list. And as one guitar company recently found out the lawmakers in the USA are particularly idiotic as they have passed a law making it illegal to import wood that is LEGAL in the USA but does not conform to the laws of other countries.
Typically none of these issues will affect the single item shipment. But, you never know.
I forgot to add that with some brands the US sellers are forbidden from selling into other countries, specifically I am talking about Predator. From what I understand there is a monetary penalty if caught and even the possibility of being dropped as a dealer if caught again.
Customs forms for export takes about five minutes to fill out.
Regarding ivory I wouldn't even try it these days without the right CITES paperwork. Customs is getting high-tech with the ability to use light-based scanners to determine if a material is ivory or not. Also people should be aware that certain woods fall into the category of illegality if they happen to be on an endangered list. And as one guitar company recently found out the lawmakers in the USA are particularly idiotic as they have passed a law making it illegal to import wood that is LEGAL in the USA but does not conform to the laws of other countries.
Typically none of these issues will affect the single item shipment. But, you never know.
I ship hundreds of things a year and some go out of the US, it all depends on who I am dealing with and what I am selling. If I am selling a product under $50 I will ship out of the country usually if its a replaceable item, meaning I have more than one in stock. If its an item of value then I am gambling, people do not know what can happen after it leaves the US and enters customs of that country. The USPS is who I use and have had very little trouble, but I expect 1 out of a 100 packages to be lost/damaged which is not so bad. The customs form takes literally 20 seconds to fill out so that is no big deal but I pay to track the item, when it reaches customs that is far as the tracking goes for the most part so a person can say it never arrived and make a claim with Paypal and your out of the dough and the item.
Other shipping companies whom are more expensive might be able to track it right to that persons address but then again not all Paypal addresses out of the country are Confirmed addresses so your not protected through Paypal shipping to that address. Do not ever ship to another address other then the one on a persons Paypal. I might ship out an item to another country and they can say they never received it and I can ship another one out or refund but believe it or not some people look for US sellers and if they know its not being tracked properly they just receive the item, say it never arrived and make the claim with Paypal, they get the product and the money. You also have to deal with a possible several week or over a month wait at times with customs and then the person emails you wondering why it has not arrived, the only thing your tracking shows is it arrived at customs.
So unless the person is someone I have dealt with before or has a solid rep then I am not going to send an item that is expensive because tracking and insurance through the post office is worthless when it leaves the US. Going through other shipping companies is another story but its also more expensive to ship, for example a package to PI might be $40 through the post office, ship it through Fed Ex and it might be more than a $100 over the post office cost.
People from other countries do not have as much trouble shipping here because its easier to track it with our postal system and other shipping companies, not so easy with theirs though because when it arrives in that country its a crap shoot on whether it will be tracked at all depending on the system they use. Hope this explains why from someone who ships outside of the US dozens of times a year, its kind of like gambling a bit.
Other shipping companies whom are more expensive might be able to track it right to that persons address but then again not all Paypal addresses out of the country are Confirmed addresses so your not protected through Paypal shipping to that address. Do not ever ship to another address other then the one on a persons Paypal. I might ship out an item to another country and they can say they never received it and I can ship another one out or refund but believe it or not some people look for US sellers and if they know its not being tracked properly they just receive the item, say it never arrived and make the claim with Paypal, they get the product and the money. You also have to deal with a possible several week or over a month wait at times with customs and then the person emails you wondering why it has not arrived, the only thing your tracking shows is it arrived at customs.
So unless the person is someone I have dealt with before or has a solid rep then I am not going to send an item that is expensive because tracking and insurance through the post office is worthless when it leaves the US. Going through other shipping companies is another story but its also more expensive to ship, for example a package to PI might be $40 through the post office, ship it through Fed Ex and it might be more than a $100 over the post office cost.
People from other countries do not have as much trouble shipping here because its easier to track it with our postal system and other shipping companies, not so easy with theirs though because when it arrives in that country its a crap shoot on whether it will be tracked at all depending on the system they use. Hope this explains why from someone who ships outside of the US dozens of times a year, its kind of like gambling a bit.
TheThaiger
Banned
I think fear and uncertainty come into play here - lack of control, too. There's no reason to suggest an overseas buyer will be any more of a risk than a domestic one. I've bought about two dozen cues, tips, tools, gloves etc from abroad and never had a problem. I choose the seller carefully, and would suggest seller's choose their buyers carefully too.
I live in Norway, Europe, and have imported 10-15 times from US during this year.
Shipment is expensive, but I pay for that.
Sales taxes (VAT) are high: 25% where I live and there is an additional declaration fee of $ 20 - 40, but I pay for that too.
Returning is expensive, but it is still the buyers risk if nothing else is agreed upon with the seller.
Demaged and lost parcels - never had a problem - only once the delivery took 5 weeks, all others received after 7-10 days. I allways ask for tracking, and it tracks the parcel from acceptance until I have picked it up at the post office.
I have made orders both from private persons and companies, all with good experience. As long as both seller and buyer do their best, the risk is really low, and if value and cites declaration is according law, the risk is extremely low - still I do not say it cannot go wrong....
Shipment is expensive, but I pay for that.
Sales taxes (VAT) are high: 25% where I live and there is an additional declaration fee of $ 20 - 40, but I pay for that too.
Returning is expensive, but it is still the buyers risk if nothing else is agreed upon with the seller.
Demaged and lost parcels - never had a problem - only once the delivery took 5 weeks, all others received after 7-10 days. I allways ask for tracking, and it tracks the parcel from acceptance until I have picked it up at the post office.
I have made orders both from private persons and companies, all with good experience. As long as both seller and buyer do their best, the risk is really low, and if value and cites declaration is according law, the risk is extremely low - still I do not say it cannot go wrong....
A friend of mine lives in Germany he does not want anything shipped to him any more, because custom holds everything, and he has to stand in line for hours to clear it, plus might have to pay more custom depending on Custom estimation of price even if invoice says low$$$
Not alot of people know where Brunei is LOL. Believe me, I know some friends from China, Taiwan, Korea & etc who didn't know Brunei existed until they met me while studying in Singapore haha.
I'll ship anything anywhere but you pay the additional costs and if it's going thru customs, your on your own once its leaves my shop.
At the risk at being termed a "silly American" here's some of the problems with shipping cues from the US to an International destination:
1) If the cue has ivory there is the risk of confiscation at customs. Many buyers want to "try" it anyway, which obviously involves some risk of confiscation at the border.
2) Many buyers want the customs documentation filled out with the cue undervalued so they can save on the duties their Country charges for importation. This undervaluation has to be accompanied by under-insurance (you can't declare the cue as being $100 in value and then insure it for 2K), so again, there is risk due to loss or damage in transit.
3) If paid by PayPal, many Countries as destinations void PayPal's Seller Protection for credit card charge backs. Plus, even if it is on the short list of Counties that PayPal will provide protection to, many buyers balk at the shipping costs involved that result form using an International shipping method that satisfies the Direct On-line Signature Verification required by PayPal. So again, risk.
As is any situation that involves risk, these risks have to be discussed between buyer and seller before the deal is consummated and the responsibility clearly understood.
Myself, I ship pretty big cues overseas, but I won't accept PayPal as an International form of payment and I'll declare any value the buyer requests as long as the buyer takes all the risk due to loss, confiscation or damage in transit. I ship USPS Express Mail declared and Insured for $100 and they have always (thus far) sailed right through.
Sorry if this seems silly
Thanks
Kevin
1) If the cue has ivory there is the risk of confiscation at customs. Many buyers want to "try" it anyway, which obviously involves some risk of confiscation at the border.
2) Many buyers want the customs documentation filled out with the cue undervalued so they can save on the duties their Country charges for importation. This undervaluation has to be accompanied by under-insurance (you can't declare the cue as being $100 in value and then insure it for 2K), so again, there is risk due to loss or damage in transit.
3) If paid by PayPal, many Countries as destinations void PayPal's Seller Protection for credit card charge backs. Plus, even if it is on the short list of Counties that PayPal will provide protection to, many buyers balk at the shipping costs involved that result form using an International shipping method that satisfies the Direct On-line Signature Verification required by PayPal. So again, risk.
As is any situation that involves risk, these risks have to be discussed between buyer and seller before the deal is consummated and the responsibility clearly understood.
Myself, I ship pretty big cues overseas, but I won't accept PayPal as an International form of payment and I'll declare any value the buyer requests as long as the buyer takes all the risk due to loss, confiscation or damage in transit. I ship USPS Express Mail declared and Insured for $100 and they have always (thus far) sailed right through.
Sorry if this seems silly
Thanks
Kevin
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