Thread: Caution with International Shipments

Perhaps vendors and/or members already knew this about PayPal's buyer protection policy but I didn't. I thought I'd share.

Recently, I sold a razor on eBay to a German buyer. The listed ended at over $250 but the buyer was willing to accept having the razor shipped by First Class Mail Int'l w/o insurance. I emailed the buyer a copy of the shipping receipt the same day I shipped the razor. This was two weeks ago. A few days ago, I asked him whether he received the razor. He said no but that he understood that shipping from the US to Europe can be slow. I thought we were cool.

This afternoon, I get an email from PayPal that the buyer had filed a dispute against me for not shipping the item. I immediately called PayPal. They told me that for items less than $250, tracking information must be available. For items $250+, tracking information must be available and the buyer must sign for the package. Fortunately, I had my package registered, which counts for something, so PayPal was willing to work with me. I think the delivery is just slow and the buyer is overly worried but we move on.

The point of all this is that if you send packages internationally, you better have the proper services attached to the shipment. Otherwise your buyer can claim that you didn't ship the item and they want their money back. PayPal will automatically rule in their favor. It doesn't matter whether they received it and they are lying. Per PayPal's User Agreement, nothing you say will suffice. Since First Class doesn't include those services, you have to ship everything by Priority Mail. It'll raise shipping costs considerably but it's the only safe route to go.

Hey,thanks for letting us know.I had been using priority,but a couple guys have asked me to use cheaper shipping.I think I will stick with the priority.

i keep all my receipts and all my shipping is registered mail, does that count?

Oh, lovely. I could tell you some horror stories about shipping kit from the US to Germany. Maximum was 6 weeks, including 4 weeks at customs, for a single razor. If you don't play nicely with German post, your parcel will end up in the middle of nowhere (in my case, 150km away from Berlin) to be processed by customs.

Originally Posted by vespar72

i keep all my receipts and all my shipping is registered mail, does that count?

Registered Mail was fine according to the supervisor at PayPal to whom I spoke.

Originally Posted by TstebinsB

Registered Mail was fine according to the supervisor at PayPal to whom I spoke.

thank goodnss. i usually like you scan the receipt and email it to the buyer so that they are fully aware that i've sent it and when.

Also just a side note, i received a lot of razor and other goodies from Germany and the postal service is awesome. It ALWAYS and i mean always receive the parcel here in Hong Kong in exactly 4 days, not a day later than 4 days every time.
I must've had about 8-9 packages sent from Germany in the last 6 months and the same always.
Not sure about shipping over there though, as i imagine it could be a different story judging from the posts.

thanks for the heads up though

I always use registered, insured post unless its a cheapie.

A smart man covers his ass. A wise man keeps his pants on.

From what I know shipping int. to Europe gets expensive once you add all the extras.

There is no tracking available for First Class Mail Int. or for the small flate rate box priority service.

You need to jump to Priority Mail International which has tracking and there's the insurance option at a fee (plus some other features).

That means that shipping a small lightweight razor parcel with First class mail int. goes from +- $5.00 to a whopping $25.18. For 60 cents more you might as well go for Express Mail Int.

I'm waiting for a DD from Turkey since the 17 of April. I expect it will take time and the seller seems to be on the level. If I ship overseas anymore it has to be priority international with insurance. No other way. Registered requires that each postal employee who receives the item sign for it and keep it locked up in the registered items bin every step of the way so it is usually safe but slower.

I've had a lot of straight's sent to me here in Norway from the US with 1'st class international over the last year, from e-bay sellers, the classifieds and most of the restorers on this forum. No trouble what so ever but it sometimes take 14-21 days. Record is 3 days from DrFred in Texas.

Amund.