Don't understand shipping basics - help!

[chloeco85]

I made the mistake of reading all of the shipping information on ebay.com rather than ebay.ca so now I am confused.

When shipping from Canada (using the Canada post or UPS option) am I able to pay for shipping and print a label from e-bay or paypal and then arrange for the parcel to be picked up at my home?

I plan to use e-bay's automatic shipping calculator and I thought I could pay for the label and print the shipping through e-bay using these calculations...but then I read something that said this option is only available to U.S sellers.

Is this the case?  If so, how then do I go about the shipping process?  Do I use the automatic calculator and then once I receive payment for the item actually take it in to a Canada post or UPS and then pay for the shipping there (and then physically enter the tracking information into ebay so the buyer knows it's on its way?"  Or do I go to the canada post or ups website and enter information and print labels from them and arrange pick up?

I'm also confused about the whole 'customs' form if I'm shipping to the U.S.  How does that work exactly?

Sorry for all the questions but I'm new to e-bay and just trying to get a better understanding before I try to sell anything.

[scifan57]

Calculated shipping on eBay.com is indeed only available to US sellers. If you check with eBay.ca,you'll find that listing there with calculated shipping is indeed offered to Canadian sellers. You can print off the label at home. You can arrange for UPS to pick up the package at home and you can just drop the Canada post package in the nearest mailbox. Here is the eBay page on PayPal shipping.

[reallynicestamps]

I'm also confused about the whole 'customs' form if I'm shipping to the U.S.  How does that work exactly?

All the Paypal labels that you can print will include the customs label.

The only tricky bit is that they say "Documents/ Other" Your sales are Other. Then in the text box you make a 20 keystroke description of the item (I use 'eBay book' or 'eBay used book' for most of my sales)

It is NOT a gift if you sold it. And marking it a gift will not make it duty free. That's an urban legend.

US buyers have a $200 limit on each import. So there probably is nothing much to think about.

If you are selling items that cost over $200 add this to your listing (nothing to do with shipping- its about feedback)

Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility.
Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying.

[leb17]

Just to add... if you print PP (PayPal) shipping labels and pay for a DC (Delivery Confirmation) OR a Tracking number, PP will send a email to the buyer with the DC or tracking number so the buyer can track their item.