Why is everyone only shipping to the lower 48 these days?

[Stretch]

I'm from Canada, and yes, I like to buy radios from ebay just like many of you. Problem? yes! Many, many auctions say they will only ship to the lower 48, or specify no international shipping, so I can't bid. Canada is your neighbour! We're also on good terms, it's not Mexico, and it's not over an ocean! I'll be shipping a huge box to Minnesota soon and it won't cost more than about $65, so what's all the complaining about? I'm just really tired of being treated like some kind of alien who lives on the moon. I want to bid too!
eric

 

[blu_fuz]

Are you an alien ?

 

[Stretch]

Are you an alien ?

Due to recent government events, I can neither acknowledge nor deny this
eric

 

[floyd]

i think a lot of it has to do with shipments being held up in customs for weeks/ months

 

[Reli]

i think a lot of it has to do with shipments being held up in customs for weeks/ months

Hmm, that hasn't happened to me with Canadian shipments.

I make all my auctions Worldwide......... except for things like coins, precious metals, knives, weapons or other questionable stuff, because I don't want to spend time finding out whether it's legal for certain countries to receive stuff like that.

What I don't understand is Brits and Germans who refuse to ship overseas. If the buyer is willing to pay, why do you care how much it costs?

 

[redbenjoe]

eric --i sent a MINI up to one of our canadian members this week -
and it was about 50 bucks !!!
via the cheapest way --at the us post office --

so - it seems like a $$RIP !!!

 

[Fatdog]

I imagine that some sellers still associate international shipping with the word "headache." I am of the thought that if the buyer is willing to pay for the additional cost, I'll ship to the moon if that's what the buyer wants.

 

[Boom Shaka Laka]

I'll bet some international buyers harass sellers when things don't seem to be arriving on time. Maybe even to the point of filing disputes and claims for refunds, and then leaving nasty feedback. Then there are those international shipments that not only get held up in customs, but get opened for inspection... and re-sealed by a chimp! I can see where some sellers just don't want to deal with the hassles.

 

[45player]

I ship to Canada, but I will tell you one problem that is the result of a problem between Paypal and Java. When the Java platform got updated, it stopped printing labels from the Paypal site. Paypal took the money for the USPS, but you got no label. Then you had to file to cancel it, wait at least 15 days for a refund from the USPS, and then buy postage at the PO. Of course, there went Paypals mandatory proof of mailing. And the problem has been ongoing for a year now! Many others have the problem, and I am told I have to back-grade (downgrade?) to an older Java platform- but so far no luck.... But I love Canada! Especially Tim Hortons Maple stuffed donuts....

 

[Reli]

I ship to Canada, but I will tell you one problem that is the result of a problem between Paypal and Java. When the Java platform got updated, it stopped printing labels from the Paypal site. Paypal took the money for the USPS, but you got no label. Then you had to file to cancel it, wait at least 15 days for a refund from the USPS, and then buy postage at the PO. Of course, there went Paypals mandatory proof of mailing. And the problem has been ongoing for a year now! Many others have the problem, and I am told I have to back-grade (downgrade?) to an older Java platform- but so far no luck.... But I love Canada! Especially Tim Hortons Maple stuffed donuts....

Wouldn't it affect every label you tried to print, not just the Canadian ones?

 

[restocat]

I'll ship to the moon if that's what the buyer wants.

What a great idea. The first package to be shipped to the moon should be a boombox! An Astronaut opens up the UPS carton and..bam.. a JVC M70

Dont pack it with peanuts

 

[Superduper]

If the package gets hung up in customs, it could be there for 4-6 weeks. If the buyer files a claim during that time, it may get awarded. Then the seller might lose his money and his boombox. Because once released, the boombox continues on to the destination. Not everything gets checked at customs. But I would say 20% do. If that 20% includes an M90 (and yes, I've had an M90 inspected by customs before and they took a utility knife and sliced right through the middle of the bubble wrap rather than carefully unpack it), then sunny skies just turned stormy.

 

[Strānj-Bōōmbŏks]

I'll bet some international buyers harass sellers when things don't seem to be arriving on time. Maybe even to the point of filing disputes and claims for refunds, and then leaving nasty feedback. Then there are those international shipments that not only get held up in customs, but get opened for inspection... and re-sealed by a chimp! I can see where some sellers just don't want to deal with the hassles.

BoomShaka, oh man, it seems as though you're talking 100% about what happened to me... check this out everybody...

I'm completely new as a seller on eBay, and boy what a traumatic experience it's been these past few months for me, just because I decided to sell internationally to make some extra money for my trip to the US with my wife and little daughter. I take pride in saying that my packing jobs are nice, making sure that the product get there perfectly. I use styrofoam, new hard boxes, bubble wrap, very tight packing. No shifting. Lotsa packing tape.

I auctioned (sold) not 1, but 2 boxes full of factory sealed blank vintage cassette tapes last year in December (BASF & Maxell). One box (of 10 NOS 1988 cassette tapes) went to New York, sent it december 15th, and the other box was sent to Ukraine on december 14th...

The Staten Island guy filed a claim around February (since he said the box never arrived). I'm only starting out with eBay and I only have 17 feedbacks, 100% positive though. But with this very negative comment he left me and the claim my feedback was thrashed. Although I took many many pictures of the packing process AND pictures of his box at the Post Office with all the stamps before sending it to him, I sent all the pictures to his email directly since I couldn't attach any pictures on the eBay Claim. I begged him to please wait more, that I had shipped cassettes even to Saudi Arabia, UK, Austria, etc. And that I never had ANY problems with those shipments. He didn't care. Filed the claim anyway. The Ucraine guy also filed a claim also in February since he said he never got the box either. These 2 claims did me over. eBay had to refund all their money back and now is charging me the money. I'm left with no cassettes, no money. Great deal! Specially after I already spent the money in the US getting my daughter things. Now I'm up sh!t creek without a paddle.

Just last week, I got an email from the Ukraine guy saying he had gotten the tapes in perfect condition and that he would pay me via PayPal.... yeah right... Does it do me any good now? I still don't have my cassettes nor my money to pay eBay back. I don't think he'll pay me now...

My eBay account was closed since I haven't come up with enough money to pay eBay back.

I tried to explain in those 2 claims exactly what I did, with scanned copies of the sender's receipt they give me when I send and told them that the mail service here is good, but slow... very slow... I sent it certified, now, I'll never know if the New York guy got his tapes...

So, as you can see, I'm only left with a very bitter taste in my mouth since now I have to come up with like $300 or else I'm facing legal actions from eBay... I'm really, really sad that this happened to me, since I took SO much effort and care that these cassette tapes got to their new owners...

I had an idea couple weeks ago, opening a new eBay account and take the risk and sell stuff again only to pay them back, I opened the account, but I'm trembling to sell anything again... you dig?
:'-(

 

[baddboybill]

I'll bet some international buyers harass sellers when things don't seem to be arriving on time. Maybe even to the point of filing disputes and claims for refunds, and then leaving nasty feedback. Then there are those international shipments that not only get held up in customs, but get opened for inspection... and re-sealed by a chimp! I can see where some sellers just don't want to deal with the hassles.

BoomShaka, oh man, it seems as though you're talking 100% about what happened to me... check this out everybody...

I'm completely new as a seller on eBay, and boy what a traumatic experience it's been these past few months for me, just because I decided to sell internationally to make some extra money for my trip to the US with my wife and little daughter. I take pride in saying that my packing jobs are nice, making sure that the product get there perfectly. I use styrofoam, new hard boxes, bubble wrap, very tight packing. No shifting. Lotsa packing tape.

I auctioned (sold) not 1, but 2 boxes full of factory sealed blank vintage cassette tapes last year in December (BASF & Maxell). One box (of 10 NOS 1988 cassette tapes) went to New York, sent it december 15th, and the other box was sent to Ukraine on december 14th...

The Staten Island guy filed a claim around February (since he said the box never arrived). I'm only starting out with eBay and I only have 17 feedbacks, 100% positive though. But with this very negative comment he left me and the claim my feedback was thrashed. Although I took many many pictures of the packing process AND pictures of his box at the Post Office with all the stamps before sending it to him, I sent all the pictures to his email directly since I couldn't attach any pictures on the eBay Claim. I begged him to please wait more, that I had shipped cassettes even to Saudi Arabia, UK, Austria, etc. And that I never had ANY problems with those shipments. He didn't care. Filed the claim anyway. The Ucraine guy also filed a claim also in February since he said he never got the box either. These 2 claims did me over. eBay had to refund all their money back and now is charging me the money. I'm left with no cassettes, no money. Great deal! Specially after I already spent the money in the US getting my daughter things. Now I'm up sh!t creek without a paddle.

Just last week, I got an email from the Ukraine guy saying he had gotten the tapes in perfect condition and that he would pay me via PayPal.... yeah right... Does it do me any good now? I still don't have my cassettes nor my money to pay eBay back. I don't think he'll pay me now...

My eBay account was closed since I haven't come up with enough money to pay eBay back.

I tried to explain in those 2 claims exactly what I did, with scanned copies of the sender's receipt they give me when I send and told them that the mail service here is good, but slow... very slow... I sent it certified, now, I'll never know if the New York guy got his tapes...

So, as you can see, I'm only left with a very bitter taste in my mouth since now I have to come up with like $300 or else I'm facing legal actions from eBay... I'm really, really sad that this happened to me, since I took SO much effort and care that these cassette tapes got to their new owners...

I had an idea couple weeks ago, opening a new eBay account and take the risk and sell stuff again only to pay them back, I opened the account, but I'm trembling to sell anything again... you dig?
:'-(

When you sent these items was there a tracking number? Because if there was that should have been used to track package by ebay/paypal to see where the package was

 

[fins5]

As a Canadian, I've wondered the same thing. But if I spot a box I really want, and the seller indicates US-only shipping, I'll ask politely.

Some just see it as extra hassle (they think they'll need to fill out a ton of forms). Or they see potential trouble with unreliable shipping or long delivery times (that's usually not the case though). A lot of the time, sellers are willing to ship up here if they know you realize shipping will be higher.

That said, if I see a seller insists on UPS, I won't even ask - UPS shipments from the States to Canada are horrendously expensive (thanks to the huge surcharge UPS lays on for customs brokerage). By contrast, USPS shipments to Canada are pretty reasonable.

You want to talk about international nightmares, though: try shipping from Canada to Mexico. I sold a Toshiba System 1 to a Mexican buyer the first week of November. Problem 1 - the postal rate calculator was way off, and the actual shipping cost was about $40 more than my estimate (which I'd listed in the auction). So, I ate $40. Total shipping costs around $75, and they wanted $35 more for any tracking. So, I opt for no tracking. Grrr. Problem 2 - Border delays. A few days after Christmas, I get an email from the buyer, saying he still hadn't received the package. Crikey. Good thing the buyer was a decent guy to deal with...he agreed to wait longer to see if it showed up. A few weeks later, end of January, he still hasn't got it, so I started going through Canada Post channels to see what's what. This takes forever (but thankfully the buyer handled the delay like a gentleman). Finally, on February 11, holy crap, I get an email from the buyer to say he received the box (as the post office is still trying to do a trace). So Canada-Mexico took around 14 weeks (that's three and a half months). Just thankful the buyer was so good about the delay.

 

[Strānj-Bōōmbŏks]

I'll bet some international buyers harass sellers when things don't seem to be arriving on time. Maybe even to the point of filing disputes and claims for refunds, and then leaving nasty feedback. Then there are those international shipments that not only get held up in customs, but get opened for inspection... and re-sealed by a chimp! I can see where some sellers just don't want to deal with the hassles.

BoomShaka, oh man, it seems as though you're talking 100% about what happened to me... check this out everybody...

I'm completely new as a seller on eBay, and boy what a traumatic experience it's been these past few months for me, just because I decided to sell internationally to make some extra money for my trip to the US with my wife and little daughter. I take pride in saying that my packing jobs are nice, making sure that the product get there perfectly. I use styrofoam, new hard boxes, bubble wrap, very tight packing. No shifting. Lotsa packing tape.

I auctioned (sold) not 1, but 2 boxes full of factory sealed blank vintage cassette tapes last year in December (BASF & Maxell). One box (of 10 NOS 1988 cassette tapes) went to New York, sent it december 15th, and the other box was sent to Ukraine on december 14th...

The Staten Island guy filed a claim around February (since he said the box never arrived). I'm only starting out with eBay and I only have 17 feedbacks, 100% positive though. But with this very negative comment he left me and the claim my feedback was thrashed. Although I took many many pictures of the packing process AND pictures of his box at the Post Office with all the stamps before sending it to him, I sent all the pictures to his email directly since I couldn't attach any pictures on the eBay Claim. I begged him to please wait more, that I had shipped cassettes even to Saudi Arabia, UK, Austria, etc. And that I never had ANY problems with those shipments. He didn't care. Filed the claim anyway. The Ucraine guy also filed a claim also in February since he said he never got the box either. These 2 claims did me over. eBay had to refund all their money back and now is charging me the money. I'm left with no cassettes, no money. Great deal! Specially after I already spent the money in the US getting my daughter things. Now I'm up sh!t creek without a paddle.

Just last week, I got an email from the Ukraine guy saying he had gotten the tapes in perfect condition and that he would pay me via PayPal.... yeah right... Does it do me any good now? I still don't have my cassettes nor my money to pay eBay back. I don't think he'll pay me now...

My eBay account was closed since I haven't come up with enough money to pay eBay back.

I tried to explain in those 2 claims exactly what I did, with scanned copies of the sender's receipt they give me when I send and told them that the mail service here is good, but slow... very slow... I sent it certified, now, I'll never know if the New York guy got his tapes...

So, as you can see, I'm only left with a very bitter taste in my mouth since now I have to come up with like $300 or else I'm facing legal actions from eBay... I'm really, really sad that this happened to me, since I took SO much effort and care that these cassette tapes got to their new owners...

I had an idea couple weeks ago, opening a new eBay account and take the risk and sell stuff again only to pay them back, I opened the account, but I'm trembling to sell anything again... you dig?
:'-(

When you sent these items was there a tracking number? Because if there was that should have been used to track package by ebay/paypal to see where the package was

Yes there was, but none of the info made the buyer's happy... I was so helpless... you couldn't imagine... I still feel very nervous about selling ever again on eBay, believe me, if I had another method of paying them back I'd do it that way and call it a day with eBay...

 

[Reli]

If you ship using UPS or other company that provides online tracking and also request a signature release, the buyer will never be able to claim they didn't receive it.

 

[Strānj-Bōōmbŏks]

If you ship using UPS or other company that provides online tracking and also request a signature release, the buyer will never be able to claim they didn't receive it.

I know brother Reli, but imagine sending a box of 10 vintage audio cassettes using UPS (which we don't have here) or even worse DHL or FedEx... a lot of money... I sent using certified mail... the most expensive service here at the Post Office... it has tracking but not as good as DHL or FedEx... :'-( Even thinking about the money that I owe eBay now makes me cringe...

 

[Superduper]

USPS does not offer delivery confirmation for international packages unless you use express mail guaranteed, the costs of which exceeds any definition of sanity.

Stranj.... make sure you retain the email proof that the guy received your tapes to make your case, in case of legal repercussions.

 

[Stretch]

As a Canadian, I've wondered the same thing. But if I spot a box I really want, and the seller indicates US-only shipping, I'll ask politely.

Some just see it as extra hassle (they think they'll need to fill out a ton of forms). Or they see potential trouble with unreliable shipping or long delivery times (that's usually not the case though). A lot of the time, sellers are willing to ship up here if they know you realize shipping will be higher.

That said, if I see a seller insists on UPS, I won't even ask - UPS shipments from the States to Canada are horrendously expensive (thanks to the huge surcharge UPS lays on for customs brokerage). By contrast, USPS shipments to Canada are pretty reasonable.

You want to talk about international nightmares, though: try shipping from Canada to Mexico. I sold a Toshiba System 1 to a Mexican buyer the first week of November. Problem 1 - the postal rate calculator was way off, and the actual shipping cost was about $40 more than my estimate (which I'd listed in the auction). So, I ate $40. Total shipping costs around $75, and they wanted $35 more for any tracking. So, I opt for no tracking. Grrr. Problem 2 - Border delays. A few days after Christmas, I get an email from the buyer, saying he still hadn't received the package. Crikey. Good thing the buyer was a decent guy to deal with...he agreed to wait longer to see if it showed up. A few weeks later, end of January, he still hasn't got it, so I started going through Canada Post channels to see what's what. This takes forever (but thankfully the buyer handled the delay like a gentleman). Finally, on February 11, holy crap, I get an email from the buyer to say he received the box (as the post office is still trying to do a trace). So Canada-Mexico took around 14 weeks (that's three and a half months). Just thankful the buyer was so good about the delay.

I'm glad you brought this up, because these days on auctions that do not say they ship to Canada in the listing, they don't even let you ask any questions! I try all the time, but now eBay has a blue notice that pops up and tells me the seller cannot be reached by me at this sime, blah blah. So now We can't even ask for them to ship it and say we'll pay! That is my biggest frustration!
eri