Shipping to Europe

[coastwindchimes]

I think I have read on these boards about some who do a fair amount of business with Europe. I have some interested potential customers, but nine times out of ten they run away when I break the bad postage news to them. It's okay for smaller items, but for the larger ones, ugly. For example, one of my larger creations ships to the U.S. for about $20, but air to London would be about $108.00-- ouch! No wonder they run! Any tricks for better shipping deals to Europe? Tim.

[shoplineca]

Tim
I shipped there last year and stopped it shortly after Christmas. I was tired of calculating freight and loosing the sale after wasting time and I was tired of shipping the least expensive method and having to answer customers 4-week later why they havent received their item.

Despite the above stories of doom and gloom, I am considering shipping there again in the New Year and will be exporing various shipping alterntives.

Malcolm

[auctiondropnship]

Shipping through American Postal Service is half the price and arrives in 10 days . So for a more expenseive item it's worth it , too go over

[zarzuella]

Todd,
Many of us are hours away from a viable border crossing. This is not the answer to everything.
Ann

[coastwindchimes]

Yes, thanks for the suggestions, but it doesn't work if you have to take a $50 ferry and use $50 of gas. Nice for those who live next to the border though. I guess the only real option is to target that market with light things that fit in small boxes.

A little off topic, but has anyone tried listing on any of the European eBays, to specifically zero in on that market? I'm thinking of giving eBay Switzerland a go.

[imagi.nation]

A little off topic, but has anyone tried listing on any of the European eBays, to specifically zero in on that market? I'm thinking of giving eBay Switzerland a go.

If you select in your items selling on eBay.ca that you sell to other parts of the world (or "Worldwide"), your listings will show up on those eBay sites. There's no real reason to list on a foreign eBay site, although I hear there are no listing fees if you list on the Phillippines eBay site. B-)

Ernie

[zarzuella]

I've listed on the UK site a few times - their free listing days tend to be at different times than ours.

I'd only list on a non-English speaking site if I could speak that language.

Ann