options for sending internationally on Ebay

AubreyMac

Hi,


I want to increase my selling on ebay as over the past couple of years, selling my clearout items have amounted to £600 in my paypal account. If I can double this over the next year that will be my next holiday!


I have always only sold and sent to buyers in UK, it just makes life easy for me this way (especially as I only tend to use buy-it-now). I have had messages from foreign buyers asking if I would send to this or that country. I refuse as I can't be bothered to calculate the cost of sending to each country (as I understand the amount of postage depends on WHERE items get sent). Plus it would also require me to physically go to the post office whereas I list things that can easily shove in the letterbox with the exception of expensive items.


So my questions are:
Is there such thing as a 'global' stamp that I can just buy a sheet of and use that to send small items that doesn't require me to go to the post office?


I know ebay offers a global shipping programme, but who pays for international postage? as far as I'm aware it's only a box that I tick to accept this programme but I can't see where or how postage fees are calculated.


For the experienced seller who sends internationally - whats the most cost effective way to send internationally without having to go to the post office?

kangoora

If you enable GSP you just send your item to a global shipping depot (UK address) who then take care of everything else. I'm pretty sure you need to send them signed for although on a couple of occasions I'm sure I forgot and they still seemed to get there.

The buyer pays additional postage charges and insurance for the international shipping and they will see the charges for this when they try to purchase.

It's expensive for the buyer so typically more useful for niche/vintage items or higher cost items - but that doesn't matter to you as essentially you just list it and they can opt to buy and pay the high fees or not.

Strangely enough I sold a steelbook case & DVD to USA recently. I asked the buyer if he was sure he wanted a PAL TV format DVD and he told me to keep it, he only wanted the case. So I ended up shipping an empty case, god knows how much shipping he paid for an empty DVD case. The item was up for £18, he probably paid £15 shipping charge on it and I kept the DVD to resell Got good feedback also which was nice..............

lindens

Absolutely sign up for GSP. You only charge for and send to, a UK hub. Ebay quote the rest of the postage price to the seller - i think they can only see that though after they buy, which does make more non paying bidders in my experience. Antique or vintage items sell especially well, but i have sold toys and clothes

soolin

kangoora wrote: »

If you enable GSP you just send your item to a global shipping depot (UK address) who then take care of everything else. I'm pretty sure you need to send them signed for although on a couple of occasions I'm sure I forgot and they still seemed to get there.

The buyer pays additional postage charges and insurance for the international shipping and they will see the charges for this when they try to purchase.

It's expensive for the buyer so typically more useful for niche/vintage items or higher cost items - but that doesn't matter to you as essentially you just list it and they can opt to buy and pay the high fees or not.

Strangely enough I sold a steelbook case & DVD to USA recently. I asked the buyer if he was sure he wanted a PAL TV format DVD and he told me to keep it, he only wanted the case. So I ended up shipping an empty case, god knows how much shipping he paid for an empty DVD case. The item was up for £18, he probably paid £15 shipping charge on it and I kept the DVD to resell Got good feedback also which was nice..............

Just to clarify that you do not need to send signed for to the UK hub, you use the same method as stated on your listing.

Obviously all the usual rules apply for PayPal seller protection, and a COP is recommended if you sell items that are highly scammed and may be charge backed later as a COP will cover you for unauthorised use of a card.

AubreyMac

soolin wrote: »

Just to clarify that you do not need to send signed for to the UK hub, you use the same method as stated on your listing.

Obviously all the usual rules apply for PayPal seller protection, and a COP is recommended if you sell items that are highly scammed and may be charge backed later as a COP will cover you for unauthorised use of a card.

Sorry, COP stands for?


If I have to post an item to the UK hub, I assume I put the hub address on the envelope. How will the hub know who to forward it on to?


Also, what happens when buyer says things weren't received or damanged etc. How hassly is refund and who refunds the postage?

theonlywayisup

AubreyMac wrote: »

Sorry, COP stands for?


If I have to post an item to the UK hub, I assume I put the hub address on the envelope. How will the hub know who to forward it on to?


Also, what happens when buyer says things weren't received or damanged etc. How hassly is refund and who refunds the postage?

COP - certificate of posting.

GSP addresses also include the customer name and a reference number, it is vital this info is on the address label.

If you use GSP, have a read through their T&C to be sure you understand your obligations, particularly in relation to what you can and cannot send. In simple terms the seller is only responsible for the safe transit to the GSP address, any damage or loss thereafter is GSP issue and not the sellers.

Update any GSP listings with the weight and dimensions in the appropriate part of the listing, this way the buyer will see a more accurate post-GSP-centre shipping cost than if it is left to GSP to estimate it.

https://sellercentre.ebay.co.uk/private/global-shipping-programme