Selling directly to USA

Dustybee

I have a buyer interested in purchasing a second hand item from me, who happens to be in the USA. What's the best and safest way of getting paid? Item is worth £350.

Buster_Danog

I don't know the answer but when selling on ebay I avoided international sales. The real fun starts if the buyer wants to return the item and the seller then has to arrange the return shipping. I guess I would go with Paypal but I would check the worst case scenario first.

Belenus

Read this thread and be careful.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6461132/received-bank-transfer-for-a-item-sold-bank-now-frozen/p1

Dustybee

Buster_Danog said:

I don't know the answer but when selling on ebay I avoided international sales. The real fun starts if the buyer wants to return the item and the seller then has to arrange the return shipping. I guess I would go with Paypal but I would check the worst case scenario first.

Yes I avoid international sales with Ebay as well. This isn't an Ebay sale. 

Dustybee

Belenus said:

Read this thread and be careful.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6461132/received-bank-transfer-for-a-item-sold-bank-now-frozen/p1

I have read that thread beforehand, which is why I'm asking what is the safest way of getting paid from the USA or any international country

tightauldgit

Dustybee said:

I have a buyer interested in purchasing a second hand item from me, who happens to be in the USA. What's the best and safest way of getting paid? Item is worth £350.

If you're just looking for safety of the transaction and not the cheapest way to do it would it be possible to just list the thing on Ebay and have the buyer bid on it? You would also be able to use their GSP although it does always look expensive. 

Other than that it's going to be the normal routes of Paypal or whatever. 

I guess you could also in theory sign up to a payment provider like Zettle and take a credit card payment? Not sure it's worth it for one payment mind you. 

FFHillbilly

Paypal. but £350 is a big risk IMO I would think carefully. ultimately you are looking for the way to pay which gives you (the seller) the most protection, and this in turn gives the buyer the same levels of protection, so there is a chance they can say it's slightly damaged, not quite what I expected, etc and force you to into a return which will be costly, insurance on a £350 item posted to the states is going to be quite expensive. is the item heavy?
how long have you had the item listed for sale, and are there no UK buyers interested?