Thread: EU to US shipping

I think when I sent the DD to you it was less than £5 shipping, I don't remember exactly but 15euro sounds way over the top unless he's sending it in a 2Kg hardwood box or insuring it for $2000!

Okay, quick example of greatly varying shipping cost from www.usps.gov, our Postal Service.

Lets take a $100 razor and send it to the UK. Packed weight in an envelope and then in a box, 8 oz. either case.

Flat rate Global Priority envelope (cannot add insurance) $5.75
You own envelope, Airmail Letter Post (cannot add insurance) $6.75
Global Express Mail envelope with $100 insurance (free) $21.00

8 oz. Box (safer for razor) Airmail Parcel Post w/ $100 insurance $19.50

It comes down to risk. You can save $14 but who covers that razor if damaged?(remember the thread a few weeks ago when one of John Crowley's razors was destroyed in shipping)

Is your seller responsible if you choose the less expensive shipping? Is it your responsibility if you tell him to ship the cheapest method and something goes wrong?

Legally it is the seller's issure until it gets to you, insured or uninsured. Morally, to me at least, if I choose not to insure soemthing I buy it's my problem if it gets damaged but not eveyone feels that way. Lots of guys want the cheap shipping, a false claim on the customs declaration to save on import fees but also want you to assume full liability for any problems.

My shipping in or out of country is always via Airmail Parcel Post Insured. No it's not cheap, but I only pass on the exact cost. If your item gets lost or damaged you get your money back right away and I fight with the Post Office. For me it is the safest approach and removes any issues or hard feelings of who is responsible.

On ebay or elsewhere ask shipping costs up front, think about what you spent for the item, think about what happens if it goes bad, then decide if $5.00 is fine or you should go for the insured method.

I will add though for next year I have thought about going with an uninsured method simply because I have had only a single lost item in 2 years. I would have no issues taking that loss and refund my customer anyway. Not everyone is so lucky, I know guys who loose a package every week and could not afford to eat those losses to keep a customer happy.

No cut and dry, too much or too little answer here.

okay, off the soap box and back to the shop <g>.

Tony

Tony,

This is great - I am with you. It just doesn't make sense for me to pay EU15 on an item that cost me 10. However, I do not speak French and might need to just pay this and hope at least I get something nice

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Joe,

If that $100 Manyware razor gets lost or damaged who looses? Most of my International stuff comes the same way, cheap but uninsured.

A typical example is us sending to overseas. Global priority Uninsured only, $5.00.if you want insurance you have to jump up to Airmail parcel post or Global Express, both at $15 or more for the same weight.

Tony

I know that, but no insurance was mentioned here.

There's an element of risk and an element of trust here. Before Manfred had Paypal, his razors sold a lot cheaper, but I used to send him cash concealed in an envelope. We neve had a problem.

It does come down to risk - and, I guess, technically, whether the terms are CIF or FOB.

If it's a cheap item, I usually tell them to just send it the cheapest way possible. Fortunately for most of us, the a first world postal service is unlikely to lose any given package. Though in France, the postal carriers might be on strike.

Tony's right, though, for anything of value, it's better not to take the risk and to pony up for the insurance.

Originally Posted by ernestrome

French seller tried the same with me, is it sevyhobby?

Just send her links to other french razor auctions who charge 5 euro for int'l, she backed down on mine.

Yes, it's Ives (sevyhobby) - so I guess she's trying that with everyone... hm

Thanks
Ivo

Originally Posted by Joe Lerch

I know that, but no insurance was mentioned here.

There's an element of risk and an element of trust here. Before Manfred had Paypal, his razors sold a lot cheaper, but I used to send him cash concealed in an envelope. We neve had a problem.

Joe,
I didn't mean Manfred specifically as I have dealt with him too many times and know it would always work out well.
It is the idea of what happens when any uninsured sale goes bad.

I know insurance was not originally mentioned but none of the cheap shipping methods are insurable.

Tony

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Joe,
I didn't mean Manfred specifically as I have dealt with him too many times and know it would always work out well.
It is the idea of what happens when any uninsured sale goes bad.

I know insurance was not originally mentioned but none of the cheap shipping methods are insurable.

Tony

Well, of course, if it's worthy of insurance, it requires more expensive shipping. But that's not the case here. It almost seems like an Ebay violation where a seller is trying to make money on a low auction by hitting you with an exhorbitant handling fee. I wonder if the auction showed that a head of time.

No, Joe, the auction did not have a posted shipping. It was a French auction, and I assumed shipping would be 5 or so euros

That's why I always ask before.