Post time to USA

wendym

In case any other sellers are experiencing delays in posting to USA - my American buyer chose not to have a refund but to wait a little longer. The Airmail packet sent on 28th February arrived in Kentucky today.

soolin

Goodness, I ahd to refund my difficult buyer after only 3 weeks and he is still whinging about it.

porto_bello

I always despatch items next day after payment (if not same day) but I can see from my own DSRs that I've had 2 poor ratings for delivery speed. Looking closer, both were in the USA. So out of just 4 sales to the USA, I ended up with 2 bad DSRs. [Every other rating to every other part of the world is high].

Although my overall delivery speed rating is 4.89, it seems prudent (given in my case) the lack of importance of the US market, to stop selling to US buyers. Has anyone else come to this decision?

steviebabes

DSR ratings from the UK and Ireland are the only ones that matter.

porto_bello

steviebabes wrote: »

DSR ratings from the UK and Ireland are the only ones that matter.

Really? So DSR ratings everywhere else don't affect the average?

Oliver14

porto_bello wrote: »

Really? So DSR ratings everywhere else don't affect the average?

Yes only domestic DSRs count

Myyrrddyn

Postage to USA and Australia has been slowed up by customs as they are checking everything more since the toner ink bomb scare.
DSR's from out side the UK are still gathered and show up when you look at them on your seller dashboard. Out side the UK are not counted for UK seller perfomance at present. Ebay are saying this -
Starting in May 2011, we're going to evaluate your global seller performance separately from your domestic activity. When you sell to buyers outside of your home country, you'll need to meet global standards based on the detailed seller ratings you receive from all of your buyers.

porto_bello

As of May 2011, I think it's best to cease selling to US buyers then - unless they form an important part of your customer base...

I certainly don't fancy the prospect of being red carded by ebay, simply because customs in the United States is a bottle neck and because it's easier for American buyers to blame foreigners for their home made problems!

dontone

I stopped selling items to the USA a while ago, not only because of the delivery times, but also because some of our American cousins can't understand that US dollars and not the same as Pounds sterling.
I had on fella buy an item for £7 + £5 p&p and he sent me $7 through the post. He couldn't understand why I wouldn't accept it, especially when it clearly stated on my auction that international bidders were Paypal only.
I also used to ask for a little patience with airmail because of customs etc, and still had nasty emails a week after an auction demanding to know where their items were :mad:
It's a pity either way, because the Americans seem to love buying British stuff but it isn't worth the hassle.

martindow

According to RM the situation is improving with 'the vast majority' now going by air. See section 8 here

http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/content1?catId=400033&mediaId=3800088

I had a parcel to the USA arrive after 6 weeks. I had long since refunded and the customer refused the parcel when it was delivered. To my amazement it arrived back in 4 days.

Americans advocate free trade but use security and terrorism as an excuse to have one sided restrictions.

terra_ferma

Myyrrddyn wrote: »

Postage to USA and Australia has been slowed up by customs as they are checking everything more since the toner ink bomb scare.

I wasn't aware of delays in Australia, do you have a link? it would be useful for info and to send to buyers when items are late.
Some of my parcels have been getting there in 6 days, a small -but significant- number (approx 3%) were not received after 3 weeks and I had to refund.