Do you agree to send things abroad (Europe)?

[DTisMYdoctor]

I haven't sold too many things on ebay, so this hasn't come up before.

I have a few things listed just now, and the postage is listed for 2nd class signed for delivery to the UK. Someone has sent a message asking if I would send abroad and what the price would be.

Are there more issues/problems with selling abroad that I should consider?

I am overseas and expect to pay the full price for tracked, signed-for, insured post, so don't agree to send it cheaply. Quote the person the full gold-plated postage charge, and if they're fine with that, let them bid.

I sell a lot on eBay, and I don't send to Italy at all, though. Too many parcels go missing.

Thanks missedme. Useful to know about Italy - this is the Czech republic I think.

Any other thoughts or words of caution?

My gut feeling is that if you've had some nice chats with the buyer who seems pleasant & you think that you can send it safely (won't get broken), then usually fine (won't be claimed didn't arrive, especially not if relatively low value). Most buyers will not want to pay for signed-for/tracked delivery, though. Not worth it.
Depends how much you need to sell to Europe in order to sell at all. The stuff i sell has low demand so I can't usually afford to turn down European customers.

I don't think I'd ever send to Russia, though. Too many bad stories.

I send stuff abroad and have never had an issue. Last batch if stuff I sold I had parcels going to Spain, Russia, America and Australia.

I know you should never send to Nigeria. Too many scams.

there are only 3 price brackets for mail abroad with royal mail I would not get involved with over 2kg stuff that needs couriers unless experienced

quote signed for, if signed for safe anywhere in europe as if not signed for after 5 weeks royal mail will refund you

I have sent well over 300 parcels abroad and only had a problem with 1 not arriving

I don't send overseas at all. I sell low value items of which the postage costs would often be double the value of the item. I'm afraid that around 10% of the items I sent (monitored over 6 months) were not arriving, were taking more than 1 month to arrive or the buyer was claiming non receipt. Worst countries were Italy, Malta and Russia.
The thing you have to remember is that just say an item costs £2 and postage is £4 if that item is lost then the cost to me is £6 + the wholesale cost of the item...... Of course as a business seller I can only claim back the wholesale cost of the item from Royal Mail....so on that transaction I have lost £6 it was just ridiculous!!