International Selling & Shipping

Kevin’s Tips for International Selling & Shipping

Selling internationally on eBay is certainly rewarding. The emails that I receive first thing in the morning are usually from my international buyers. Not long ago, as I was pouring my second cup of coffee, I realized that in only 20 minutes I had just communicated with customers in Austria, France, the UK, Greece, Australia and Hong Kong. What a fun business indeed!

Tip 1)  Sell Internationally to Allow Foreign Buyers to Bid Up Your Item.

Remember that international bidders who partake in bidding on your item drive the price higher. So, even if they are not the winning bidder, you will receive a higher final price, thanks to their bids.

Tip 2)  Keep Your eMail Communications Short.

When sending emails to non-English speaking countries, keep your emails very brief. These customers probably understand only a limited amount of English. Speaking from experience, if you ramble on with a five-paragraph answer, you may very likely get a return email as follows:

Ciao friend,

Sorry, my English, not so good. Again with logic explain please?

Thank you friend,
Vincenzio

Keep your response emails to non-English speaking countries to one or two sentences and get right to the point. That seems to work.

Tip 3)  Insist on PayPal Payments Only.

PayPal is now in most international countries where you will be selling. Your foreign customers can pay you just as easily as a customer in your hometown. Don’t bother with other forms of payments. Those can be a source of fraud. Just state plainly in your policies that you only accept PayPal payments from international customers.

Tip 4)  Include the Shipping Price to Each Country in Your Listing.

If you mention in your description to email you for shipping rates, you will discourage a lot of international buyers. In addition, for those that email you, it can be a lot of work responding to their emails. Simply state your shipping rates in your description as follows:

Shipping & Handling Rates For Our International Customers:

Canada            $amount
UK                  $amount
Europe             $amount
Australia           $amount
Italy & Greece  $amount (they only accept Air Mail Parcel Post)

If you live elsewhere, please email us for shipping rates.

Tip 5)  Ship with the USPS.

The USPS rates are substantially lower that UPS, FedEx or DHL. For Express Mail Service, the savings can be a full 70% off of the UPS Express rate. Plus UPS does not ship to as many countries as does the USPS.

Remember also, the USPS has free Priority Mail boxes for items less than four pounds and that fit inside the box (12 x 9 x 2.38 inches). Priority delivery is available in most European Countries now. Others will have that service soon.

You can always check out domestic or international rates for both carriers at www.usps.com and www.ups.com. Free Priority boxes can be ordered from the USPS web site or pick them up at your local post office.

Tip 6)  Don’t Worry about Customs Forms or Paying Duty.

The seller is responsible for filling out the Customs form. It is the responsibility of the buyer to pay the duty to their government. The seller is not involved in duty payments.

For items that are less than four pounds and fit within the Global Priority Mail box (12 x 9 x 2.38 inches) you should use Customs Form PS 2976 (the small one with a green color section).  

For items over four pounds, use Customs form number 2976-A (the larger one that is all white). Be sure you check “Return to Sender” on the bottom right of the form in case the item is not deliverable. If that box is not checked, there is no guarantee it will be returned to you. 

If you ship items internationally by Global Express Mail, you will need to fill out an Express mailing label 11-B as well as Customs Form 2976-A. For additional questions about any of these forms and boxes, ask your USPS clerk or check www.usps.com.

Tip 7)  Do NOT Agree to Adjust the Price of Your Item on the Customs Forms,

Providing false information on a Customs form is called fraud. It is your name that is on the signature line of the Customs form, not the buyer’s. You are running a legitimate eBay business and do not want to commit fraud. If you sell many items to a particular country and are caught committing fraud on a Customs Form, you can be banned from shipping to that country. 

Send a simple and friendly email to the buyer and decline their suggestion.

Want to learn more? Click here to see Kevin's eBay Books!