International Shipping–What do I need to know?

So maybe 2-3 times a year I sell something on eBay. Because I never wanted to bother learning about international shipping, I would just say “shipping to continental U.S. only.” But several weeks ago I sold a coin on eBay and later heard a Canadian collector grumble that he was going to bid on the coin but couldn’t because of my “U.S. only” shipping policy. So I figured I should get over my postal cowardice and enlarge my potential market by expanding my options a bit, especially since I'm getting ready to sell a scarce Licinius I with a VOT / XV FEL / XX RP reverse. I figure it might catch the eye of an international buyer.

I’ve seen some sellers simply refuse to sell to certain countries because the postal service is so bad that loss is highly probable.

So what do I need to know about international shipping? What are the baby steps to expand beyond the U.S.? Is there a simple way to ship internationally, and insured?

 

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When you list a coin, in the shipping instructions you can select the eBay international shipping program as your choice for international shipping. A customer from one of their approved countries, which are many, can use that option, and eBay takes care of the shipping fee. You send the package to their hub in Kentucky and they take care of the customs declaration and tracking it to the foreign destination. eBay doesn't ship to destinations that have notoriously bad postal systems, and if the package is lost, you still get to keep the money - eBay takes responsibility for it. It's expensive for the buyer, but it keeps everyone safe, and it's very valuable for higher-ticket items.

 

Wow. That's super-helpful. Thanks JA!

 

I have never bought from those eBay sellers who use the "International Shipping Program". JA is right that it is expensive for buyers. It is so expensive for buyers that it sends them elsewhere. This is at least true in my case. I will never buy from anyone using this program.

I am in Canada and have frequently spent my money elsewhere because many US sellers refuse to ship outside of the US. I spend my hard earned money in European auctions instead.

Sellers in the US have every right to restrict their sales to those in the US. I understand that international shipping can be complicated. Just be aware that you are limiting your sales and forcing your potential customers to buy from someone else.

 

Hmmmm. Ok. Keep those options coming. I've learned a lot in just two posts.

 

You're welcome. Once in a while, I get a PM from a potential international buyer, asking me if I can mail something by regular post, usually a low-ticket item, because the international shipping program is too expensive for them. In that case, I go to my post office and ask them about the reliability of the postal system in that country, and what it would cost to mail the coin. Then I tell the buyer the cost, and if they agree, I tell them to buy the coin and request an invoice. When I make up the invoice I add the international postage. You have to fill out the customs declaration yourself, but that's not a big deal - the staff at the post office can help you.

 

As far as Canada and certain other countries go, if the postal system is reliable, you can get away with sending the coin in a small envelope as a non-machinable letter, for only a couple dollars. This is the cheapest way to go for your buyers. There is no tracking, and no customs declaration if the the package weighs less than an ounce. It's a bit of a gamble, but as long as the coin isn't terribly valuable, it's the cheapest and best way. I've mailed many coins that way to the UK, Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Hungary, and Singapore. It takes much longer - don't ask me why. I think they use pigeons.

 

Just want to second @Orfew's dim view of the "International Shipping Program". Canadians, at least, hate it. As I understand it, they overcharge by some ridiculous amount to enrich both Ebay and Pitney-Bowes. Particularly annoying when a bunch of duty is applied to some sub $60CAD item which is exempt.

Whenever possible I avoid sellers who use this program. And apparently Ebay makes it effortful for the seller to avoid using it.

 

I've shipped coins to Germany, GB, and Canada without any difficulty (maybe Spain as well). The bottom line is you have to be ready to accept the responsibility or ask the customer to accept responsibility. Canada? That's almost like sending to Hoboken, NJ. Never thought of any problems sending there at all.

 

I returned a coin to a German-based eBay dealer who had shipped me an incorrect coin.

You must attach a form CN-22 to the envelope. The instructions are at https://about.usps.com/forms/ps2976.pdf and also at the post office.

It is best to fill out the form honestly. If you don't, and there is a problem, it's your problem. For most coins this shouldn't be hard.

A friend of mine who worked for a dealer in rare stamps explained that customs forms can be difficult to fill out. He once had a rare postage stamp that had to be sent overseas for authentication. It turns out there is no way on form CN-22 to say the value of the content is either $0 or $5000 depending on the experts decision!

 

I've never had trouble shipping internationally. Just do flat rate cheapest possible and "buyer's risk".

 

I've never had any issues shipping to Canada using Registered Mail. It might take a while, but it gets there.

 

I always list my auctions as ships free to US. If a buyer outside the US buys a coin he will foot the bill for shipping. I have had people ask me to lie on the customs forms which I will not do. I have never had a problem shipping to Canada, Great Britain, Sweden, Japan and most any other place I have shipped. The only place I lost a coin to is India. It was a US $5.00 Liberty gold coin (1887-S if I remember right). The post office will not insure to some countries and India is one of them. That one hurt but it was a lesson learned.