Problems with items sent to USA

darktrader

I've sent loads to the US. Never had a problem.

When I first began selling I used Surface Mail with Airmail as an extra price option. Everyone opted for the Surface Mail but as it took 6-8 weeks I did get some e-mail - always polite - stating the stuff had not arrived yet. But everything did get there - eventually. Including quite a heavy book bought by a bookshop in Alaska.

Then I dropped the surface mail and now everything goes airmail. Still no problems and less e-mails

soolin

Mandles wrote:

Is anyone else having problems with stuff sent to america .I have had my only 3 buyers from the USA(this month) all email me saying that items havent arrived yet.Items sent different dates and by airmail and should be with them by now. I have certificate of posting but thats all.Is it just me? Do you reckon royal mail will reimburse me?(i dont) Do i still have to repay buyer?..Im really mad as it totals 50 quid and i cant afford to lose that.

I only send low cost items to the US as I've been unfortunate with more expensive items. It is worth remembering as well that different states have different import rules, so your packages may have exceeded the total amount allowable in a particular state, or something and be waiting for your buyer to make payments of duty or tax.

As for reclaiming from the RM the RM will not consider an overseas claim until 20 working days have elapsed, but other than that the procedure for claim is just the same, although it can take a lot longer to receive your cheque in settlement.

Unfortunately you will almost certainly have to reimburse your buyers before you can even start the claim via the RM.

Soo

Contains_Mild_Peril

If buying from the USA I'm likely to opt for surface mail if available, since it's about half the price of airmail, but it can be very slow. If a buyer asks for international shipping prices I only quote airmail unless it's particularly heavy, because I've heard of customers who ask for the cheaper service then complain when it takes the normal amount of time.
The deadline for Paypal chargebacks is 45 days, whereas surface mail can take longer without being considered lost, so it's risky.
I've sold a couple of things around £5-6 to US customers by airmail without any problems. I think they both took about a week.

soolin

Contains_Mild_Peril wrote:

If buying from the USA I'm likely to opt for surface mail if available, since it's about half the price of airmail, but it can be very slow. If a buyer asks for international shipping prices I only quote airmail unless it's particularly heavy, because I've heard of customers who ask for the cheaper service then complain when it takes the normal amount of time.
The deadline for Paypal chargebacks is 45 days, whereas surface mail can take longer without being considered lost, so it's risky.
I've sold a couple of things around £5-6 to US customers by airmail without any problems. I think they both took about a week.

I would never use surface mail for an ebay item purely because, as you point out CMP, it is unlikely to arrive before the cut off time for chargebacks. I would always be concerned that a buyer would start a protective chargeback and I'd lose out.

Soo

nightswimmer

soolin wrote:

I would never use surface mail for an ebay item purely because, as you point out CMP, it is unlikely to arrive before the cut off time for chargebacks. I would always be concerned that a buyer would start a protective chargeback and I'd lose out.

Agreed, as I found out to my cost. When I first joined eBay, I bought some stuff for about £30 from America and had it shipped surface mail. By the time I realised it either hadn't been sent (the seller insisted that it had) or had got lost, it was too late to do a chargeback.