Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
eBay

If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

Original poster

Has anyone had trouble with posting abroad?

16 replies

TragicallyHip · 19/07/2011 10:34

I have had 2 buyers contact me asking how much to post overseas. Not sure whether to say yes as it can only be tracked in the UK.

Both have 100% good feedback. Is it worth the risk?

OP posts:
sixlostmonkeys · 19/07/2011 11:08

only ever had problems with mail in the Uk.

check the royal mail website for options that provide tracking

navyblueknickers · 19/07/2011 11:10

I've sold a few things to international buyers without any problems. Not many, so by the law of averages something will go wrong sometime - but that's the same for uk buyers. My listings state that if they are not UK buyers they have to pay with Paypal, and any customs duties/taxes incurred on entry to their own country are their responsibility.

I think you may have problems if the item is returned, but I haven't had anything like that yet. I do believe that you can claim the duty back though if that happens.

I sell crafting items and have had a number of people from Eastern Block countries buying from me as you can't get this stuff over there. Weigh it accurately though and add a bit extra and then use the Royal Mail price finder tool to make sure you won't lose out on postage.

Original poster
TragicallyHip · 19/07/2011 11:45

Monkeys - Royal mail say they only track in the UK.

Thanks Knickers I will tell them about customs etc. Just hope they won't need to send it back! I always add bout 75p on for p&p.

OP posts:
Original poster
TragicallyHip · 19/07/2011 12:33

Actually Knickers do you post signed for? Just told the buyer it will be £8 and she was a bit Shock understandably!

OP posts:
sixlostmonkeys · 19/07/2011 14:08

try looking at the details of Airsure to see if that suits - Royal Mail Track & Trace provides peace of mind by tracking the item up to the point of delivery and providing delivery confirmation online.

Original poster
TragicallyHip · 19/07/2011 16:21

Oh thanks Monkeys I will have a look!

OP posts:
navyblueknickers · 19/07/2011 16:23

No, so far I've just sent Airmail Packets. Most of my items are quite cheap and so I made the decision that I would rather just take the hit on it if it goes missing. I also don't send recorded in the UK as I want to keep my P&P costs low. When I first started I used International Signed For as Airsure didn't cover the countries I was posting to, but it is only tracked in the uk - so not really worth the extortionate fee RM charge for it. I haven't used Airsure

80sbabe · 20/07/2011 22:07

I sell abroad all the time - lots to USA, Australia and Europe. I have had no more problems than with domestic sales and they are few. I only track if it's over £35. I have a few very regular customers on Ebay in Romania and Poland and have even sent items to The Maldives and Brazil with no issue at all.
Some countries are said to have worse reputations than others Italy and Ireland being two that spring to mind, but personally I've never had anything much go astray.
The vast majority of post is very reliable.
Occasionally I get overseas buyers who want to pay for tracking for low value items, if they are happy to pay the extra then fine.

franke · 20/07/2011 22:12

I think the main thing is to get a Proof of Posting as that means you can claim for anything that goes astray up to a certain (small) amount. I live in Germany and have never had anything go astray from the UK.

BertieBotts · 20/07/2011 22:14

With good feedback I'd probably be okay with it. I had a bad experience with someone with a 0 score, but the fact they were asking to post overseas might have been irrelevant to that. They just never paid.

Original poster
TragicallyHip · 20/07/2011 22:33

I have told the person in France I will send unsigned and she was very nice and thankful and bid so I have faith in that transaction. Not heard from the other buyer.

It's not a huge amount so if it does go missing I won't lose out on much. Thanks for everyone's advice!

OP posts:
80sbabe · 20/07/2011 22:40

Just make sure as others have said that you have proof of posting in case of a problem, but that is no different to UK posting anyway.
I have lost count how many times I've posted to France and I have only ever had one issue there where the buyer didn't collect from the post office and the item got returned to me anyway.

Original poster
TragicallyHip · 20/07/2011 22:53

Thanks, yeah always get proof of posting.

I'm hopeful it will be fine, just have heard a few mixed reviews about posting overseas.

OP posts:
PurpleFrog · 25/07/2011 13:07

I have sent dozens of eBay items overseas and never had any problems until this year, then 2 parcels went missing within a few weeks of each other. I have only sent higher value items by Airsure/signed for, the rest I have just obtained certificates of posting for. One missing parcel was to the Netherlands and I claimed fine from Royal Mail. The other buyer was in Malaysia and didn't contact me until after 45 days had elapsed. The consensus on here was just to ignore him as he hadn't followed eBay rules etc.. I have never heard from him again, so I do wonder if he was trying it on....

prisonerofazkaban · 25/07/2011 23:40

Before Christmas I sold 6 items at the same time, 2 of which went abroad. The 2 overseas items were with the buyers within the week but 3 of the 4 I posted to UK addresses took more than 2 weeks to arrive and they were posted first class. I would certainly consider posting to europe again, although it might be a different story if it were US or Australia etc.

chipmonkey · 26/07/2011 00:35

I am in Ireland and buy a lot of stuff from the UK. Have never had anything go missing. The only think that ever went missing was posted from Hong Kong and disappeared in customs never to be seen again.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page