| Packing for international customers shouldn't be any different than for domestic customers ”as long as you do it right. Foreign shipments are likely to get even rougher treatment than usual, so make sure the package is packed as securely as possible ”with more than enough cushioning to survive the trip to Japan or Europe or wherever it happens to be going. tip  | Given the increased chances of loss or damage when shipping great distances, you should purchase insurance for all items shipping outside North America. |
What is different about shipping internationally is the paperwork ”and the shipping costs. Chances are your normal method of shipping won't work for your international shipments. For example, you can't use Priority Mail to ship outside the U.S. ”not even to Canada or Mexico. This means you'll need to evaluate new shipping methods , and possibly new shipping services. If you want to stick with the U.S. Postal Service, check out Global Express Mail (fast but expensive), Airmail (almost as fast, not quite as expensive), or Surface/Parcel Post (slow but less expensive). In addition, UPS offers its Worldwide Express service, FedEx offers FedEx Express service internationally, and DHL is always a good option for shipping outside the U.S. Make sure you check out your options beforehand, and charge the buyer the actual costs incurred. You'll also have to deal with a bit of paperwork while you're preparing your shipment. All packages shipping outside U.S. borders must clear customs to enter the destination country ”and require the completion of specific customs forms to make the trip. Depending on the type of item you're shipping and the weight of your package, you'll need either Form 2976 (green) or Form 2976-A (white). Both of these forms should be available at your local post office. tip | | eBay offers several pages of advice for international trading at pages.ebay.com/internationaltrading/. |
In addition, there are certain items you can't ship to foreign countries ”firearms, live animals and animal products, and so on. (There are also some technology items you can't ship, for security reasons.) You need to check the government's list of import and export restrictions to see what items you're prohibited from shipping outside U.S. borders. (Go to www.export.gov for more information.) The Absolute Minimum Packing and shipping are time consuming. The better you can manage this process, the more efficient your eBay business will be. Keep these points in mind: -
When you standardize the items you sell, you make packing and handling much simpler. -
Most eBay sellers use the U.S. Postal Service for the majority of their shipping ”primarily Priority Mail, Media Mail, and First Class mail. -
You should state your shipping and handling fees up front in your item listings; include eBay's Shipping Calculator in your listings so buyers can figure out fees on their own. -
Work your packing and shipping process into an efficient assembly line ”and set a schedule for when you pack and ship your merchandise. -
Avoid trips to the post office by printing your own postage and labels, so your mail carrier can pick up your packages as part of his regular route. |
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