USA surface mail

charlies_mum

I sold something yesterday which is going to the USA. In my listing I clearly state that I will only send by airmail, but the buyer is asking me to send it by the cheapest method available.

As I don't complete the international postage section on the shipping section, can the buyer insist that I send surface, despite me stating otherwise in my listing.

soolin

The buyer cannot insist on anything and surface mail will be too slow to protect you against a paypal claim.

However, that doesn't stop buyer leaving you a negative if they don't like your postage charge, so send an invoice with the airmail charge clearly shown and if they pay, ship it, and if they don't then open N NPB on day 4 and hopefully it willclose without payment and they will be prevented from leaving you feedback.

Myyrrddyn

Nowadays there isn't much difference in price between surface and air mail.

soolin

Myyrrddyn wrote: »

Nowadays there isn't much difference in price between surface and air mail.

On the normal range of weights it is about half the cost to use surface.

A lot of my items are around the 800g mark and would cost £10.17 as a small packet airmail but only £5.66 surface mail.

Oliver14

Myyrrddyn wrote: »

Nowadays there isn't much difference in price between surface and air mail.

It's about half the price.

charlies_mum

This particular item is quite heavy (nearly 2 kg) so it adds about £10. It went for more than I expected, so should really go tracked, but don't think there is any chance of my customer paying

chancesare_2

If the value is below £41 then you don't need an enhanced service to the US.

No Royal Mail international service guarantees tracking outside the UK, so do not buy RM tracking if you want to defend a paypal claim. For that you would need a courier.

charlies_mum

chancesare wrote: »

If the value is below £41 then you don't need an enhanced service to the US.

No Royal Mail international service guarantees tracking outside the UK, so do not buy RM tracking if you want to defend a paypal claim. For that you would need a courier.

Value is £70, so should really get an enhanced service. However, as Soolin suggested, I have invoiced for airmail postage, and the buyer has now paid.

I know I'm not covered, so will just have to hope it's OK.

baffcat

If you send it airmail, tracked or not, at that weight, it's going to be a VERY long delivery anyway.

Since US Homeland Security brought in new measures at the end of November, anything over 454g (1lb) can't be sent on passenger aircraft to the US.

It's still not clear what RM are doing, but most mail I sent early in December is still in limbo somewhere, maybe in a dark room, maybe on a ship.

I've refunded 8 customers there already, and only today had notification of receipt of a package I sent on 20th of December, which arrived 10th Feb. Interestingly, that package was only 90g in weight.

I've added the US to my list of destinations I don't ship to, as US buyers don't seem aware of the new restrictions and the impact they're having. It's a real pain, as I probably send 2 packages a day there usually.

The only reliable way of sending to the US at present is via FEDEX or DHL or similar, as they use cargo aircraft, often their own. A benefit is it's tracked, but it costs too much for most of my items.

charlies_mum

baffcat wrote: »

If you send it airmail, tracked or not, at that weight, it's going to be a VERY long delivery anyway.

Since US Homeland Security brought in new measures at the end of November, anything over 454g (1lb) can't be sent on passenger aircraft to the US.

It's still not clear what RM are doing, but most mail I sent early in December is still in limbo somewhere, maybe in a dark room, maybe on a ship.

I've refunded 8 customers there already, and only today had notification of receipt of a package I sent on 20th of December, which arrived 10th Feb. Interestingly, that package was only 90g in weight.

I've added the US to my list of destinations I don't ship to, as US buyers don't seem aware of the new restrictions and the impact they're having. It's a real pain, as I probably send 2 packages a day there usually.

The only reliable way of sending to the US at present is via FEDEX or DHL or similar, as they use cargo aircraft, often their own. A benefit is it's tracked, but it costs too much for most of my items.

Do Royal Mail state this on their website ? I had no idea this was happening, maybe there is something on Ebay about this ?

Looks like I will have to block USA for heavier items until this gets sorted.

I might as well send my parcel by surface as by the sound of things, it's going to take as long either way

Royal Mail also seem to have a problem with Europe as I have refunded four customers in the past few weeks for missing parcels.

CouponWoman

If you send a parcel by surface mail (which takes over 2 months) your buyer can do a chargeback via paypal for non receipt.

You cannot prove delivery so they win everytime, and even when they get their parcel 8-10 weeks later how can you then get your money back.

I made this mistake once, won't do it again.