Many people who are just getting started on eBay have reservations when it comes to selling to international buyers. They may have heard some second-hand horror stories, or just feel like it’s not worth the extra hassle.
eBay offers you the opportunity to sell to buyers from all over the world. This opens up a huge new market for the seller. It also allows you to receive more interest on your items and higher closing prices.
In many categories, some of the most active buyers live outside of the United States. As an example, as of this writing, if you were selling collectible Pyrex glass, many of your serious bidders would be from Japan.
I have been selling internationally on eBay for five years and have been selling to international buyers from the beginning. It’s not difficult, it doesn’t take much longer, and if you follow a few simple steps, you shouldn’t have a problem.
There are only two payment methods, which will guarantee absolute zero risk with regard to shipping products abroad:
1. The first is a bank transfer directly to your bank.
You can contact your local bank and they will guide you through a bank transfer transaction. It is very similar to the process of having a paycheck deposited into your account. As soon as a payment is electronically deposited into your account, it can never be touched by any source other than you, the account owner. Once the bank notifies you that the payment is being transferred or transferred to your account, you can ship the product.
2. The second is http://www.auctionpayments.com/, which is a division of Western Union. It was originally called BidPay.com and the name has been changed to Western Union (R) Auction Payments.
Payment for this method is fully processed by email. You will then receive a physical check from Western Union. This usually takes three to four days after email confirmation. Very important! Please do not ship the product when you receive the email confirmation. Please wait until you physically receive the check from Western Union.
There are three other payment methods that you will need to decide whether or not to accept. These present a small risk:
1. Paypal payments. You will see that many international buyers have PayPal accounts and will ask to pay via PayPal. While PayPal offers a seller protection program, it does require you to have proof of delivery. The United States Post Office (my recommended shipping location for the reasons listed below) does not offer this for international mail.
I have been accepting PayPal from international buyers the entire time. However, almost all of my international sales are in the antiques and collectibles categories. Historically, debt collectors have never had as much risk of default as people who buy consumer products. If I were selling in the electronics or computer categories, for example, I might seriously reconsider my payment policies.
2. International money orders. Many vendors accept international money orders in US dollars. There is a misconception that these are only as good as cash. That is not the case. There are cases of stolen and counterfeit money orders right here in the United States. This problem, although small, also exists for international money orders.
3. Cashier’s checks. Like money orders, there is a misconception that they are only as good as cash. There have been instances where stolen blank cashier’s checks or even bank checks have been forged.
Additional Considerations When Shipping Products to International Buyers.
Shipping products internationally takes a bit more work, but it’s not as complicated as many make it sound.
Unlike products shipped within your own country, the main difference is the need to include a customs form. These forms are free and provided by the carrier of your choice, be it the US Postal Service, Fed Ex, UPS, etc. You must indicate the weight, the item and its value, the destination, etc.
When shipping internationally, use only the United States Postal Service. Most, if not all countries, charge taxes on items that enter their country. These are based on the value of the item, and in the case of expensive items, they can become quite healthy. With some other carriers, you may end up paying this tax and not the buyer. With the USPS, all import duties are charged to the buyer and not to you.
International shipping can be profitable and fun. You may even find that you end up becoming good friends with some of your foreign buyers. Just be careful how you accept payment, be aware of shipping procedures, and ship via USPS.