Has anyone delivered a sold item to a buyer in the states by yourself?
Summary: lud-4367 raised a query about personally delivering an item bought on eBay to a buyer in the U.S., wondering about border security procedures. pjcdn2005 noted the necessity of using commercial lanes and mentioned potential issues with proving delivery. byto253 shared their experience of completing a CBP 7533 form and suggested contacting the border for advice. recped recommended declining the offer unless already planning a trip and suggested the buyer pick up the item in Canada. mrdutch1001 questioned the worth of the effort, and marnotom! speculated about the buyer's intentions, voicing concerns over potential fraudulent claims.
Recently, I listed an item that costs more than $500, and a buyer in the states asked me if I can deliver the item by myself. The buyer thought I was from the states within a couple of hours distance from them. I still said I'll think about it. The buyer looks legit, and I don't mind a day trip, but I wonder how will the us border secuirty process this? Would showing all the transaction information including the buyer's name and address through the ebay app be sufficient enough?
marnotom!
·2 years agomrdutch1001
·2 years agoIs this sale really worth all that effort? Consider your time, $ and border crossing regulations,etc,etc...
byto253
·2 years agoIt is under $800 so the border crossing is not a big deal, just don't try to sneak it across 😎
Worth it or not would likely depend on if you other purposes for the trip. When I went to the US to ship, it meshed with some other things going on so worked out well.
recped
·2 years agoI would definitely decline this unless I was already planning a trip south and even then?
Why don't you tell them to come to Canada if they want to pick it up?
byto253
·2 years agoI have driven across to drop shipments off at a USPS Office. The last time I did it, the correct form was a CBP 7533 that you filled in and paid a $14.25 fee - that was for a number of items. It was also a couple of years ago. I had the wrong form so they gave me the 7533 and I filled it in there. If you have the form, you can use any lane.
The border guys were VERY clear that if you are not sure call the border crossing where you are going to go, tell them what you are going to do and they will advise you. For 1 item not sure if they will want the form. Best to just call and see what is needed.
pjcdn2005
·2 years agoNo I haven't done it myself but I've read that when you cross yourself to mail items to buyers you are required to use the commercial lane and there is a charge. I would guess that the same would be true in your case.
Also, unless this was bought as a pick up transaction, you won't have a way to prove that the buyer actually received the item as you won't have the QR code to scan.