Does anyone know an inexpensive way to ship overseas?

[sherwin3501]

Hello everyone! I have a question about shipping large packages overseas as I have an auction running and everyone that wants it is overseas. I am very familiar with Canadapost shipping and how slow it can be if sent overseas. Here is what I am selling. Any ideas how to get it to lets say Germany? If I take it apart I can hopefully get it into two packages. Ideas?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/122824118405?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

[ypdc_dennis]

If you are located in a city near one of their locations check out chitchatsexpress if they have any choices that would work for you.

[recped]

Can't even take a wild guess without knowing the packaged weight and size........

[mdf_jersey]

Ya I do. First you put it in a bottle, then run to the ocean , point it in the correct direction, and shove it off

[femmefan1946]

Frankly, I'm not sure you should be shipping that overseas.

You might want to look into the cost of courier shipping-- but you should be aware that couriers (unlike the postal system) have limited destinations. When a customer wants to ship to a rural or isolated location, the couriers sub-contract-- to Canada Post.

If you do decide to ship overseas, do NOT use Surface shipping. It is too expensive for what you get.

In practical terms,Surface delivery means the buyer has won a non-Delivery claim and been refunded before the ship even docks.

AIR SHIPPING ONLY!!

Also, your shipping prices vary depending on where the customer is looking. The only one that matters is the one on the Shipping tab, which gives a $120Cdn flat rate to Canada and the USA --- and to the Ukraine--- and Nigeria.

And that is the most you can charge.

Because you have bids, you can't change that.

You can cancel any bids from overseas bidders as they come in, but that won't stop a last moment sniper.

OTOH-- Many good overseas buyers use US based freight forwarding services. With those the seller's responsibility for shipping ends at the forwarder's doorstep. You could enquire with each of your overseas buyers if they have that in place, and cancel the bids of any that don't (or who don't reply).

[pjcdn2005]

In your listing you are showing a shipping cost of $120 within Canada and to everyone else in the world.  Do you realize that you won’t be able to charge more even if shipping to the auction’s winner is double that amount?  How did you come up with that amount?

[lukey9]

I would have a bad feeling shipping that out side NA  as too many things could go wrong. If the buyer decides  they do not want it or a NAD you are going to get stuck with a heavy return postage cost. The other thing is if you do send it out side of NA and insure it the buyer is going to get dinged with custom charges so I would let the Buyer know before I would ship so he knows up front he may get dinged with them.

[amcdc79]

Now that is a cool item!

Due to it's size, imho you should set the listing so only buyers from US/Canada can bid/purchase. Very easy to do, plus it would eliminate the many overseas issues.

The item may be more suited for Kijiji, Craigslist etc, as it fits into the furniture category when it comes down to shipping.

Contacting antique dealers, or other auction sites may yield surprising results. They might give you a price range based on their experience regarding the item, and tips on how or who to use for shipping.

You may get more money on ebay, but the "elephant in the room" is the shipping cost.

Good luck in however you deal with it, may the outcome be positive.

[sherwin3501]

Hi all ! I have been selling on Ebay for 15 years and still can't figure out how to do the shipping part when I post an item. LOL! As far as the shipping goes and what it shows in the listing, I do make sure everyone knows the costs. I did call a freight forwarder that I used to use a lot for big items and he figured it would be $350CAD to ship just about anywhere in Europe. The customer does however have to pick up the item at the airport and clear customs themselves. Glad I remembered him.

[femmefan1946]

I put your listing on my Facebook page because so many of my friends are musicians. Hope one of them springs for it. So cool.

Since you can't change the shipping, a lot of selling price is going to go to your shipper.

BTW-- does it play 16rpm records?

[cumos55]

The listing has ended.  No sale.

One should also look into the reality that  the voltage for appliances differs between North America and Europe.

In Canada and the US our appliances are manufactured to run on 110 volt systems, while in Europe the same appliances are different and are able to  run on 220 volts systems, with no conversion  from 110 volts to 220 colts necessary..

The question becomes compatibility  and how easily one can make adaptations such that a 110 volt system can run on a 220 volt system

For some appliances there should be no conversion from a 110 volt to a 220 volt system

...  and one could suspect that the classic stereo system that was being sold should NOT be one of those devices converted to the 220 volt system used in Europe

Sales to Buyers in the US and Canada..... ONLY

[cumos55]

Another factor to consider is frequency.

European electricity operates at 50 cycles per second... 50 Hz...  The current in the US and Canada operates at 60 Hz

Even if you change the voltage from 220 to 110 (easy to do) the frequency difference can have serious effects on many devices, from faulty operation to destruction. 

What would be the effect of a difference in frequency be on a stereo system?

Would the sound coming out of a speaker be different with a 50 Hz system compared to a 60 Hz system... even if the voltage is the same for both systems.... even if the voltage was adjusted from 220 volts to 110 volts, such as what would be necessary in Europe.

Also.... The adjustments required to convert a US/Canada system to a European system could be different among the European countries.

This is all discussed on the internet!

Conclusion -----  From the internet....

European electricity is a high voltage challenge for American appliances and gizmos.