Let's start with the big question: Should you sell internationally? The answer to this isn't a simple one. It depends a lot on your tolerance for differences (in money, in language, in routine), and your ability to deal with unusual post-auction activityespecially in regard to payment and shipping. The pros of opening your auctions to non-U.S. bidders include the following:
The cons of selling outside the U.S. include the following:
Just looking at this list, it may appear that the cons outweigh the pros. That might not always be the case, howeverespecially if you're a real "people person." Many eBay sellers get great joy from interacting with people from different cultures, sometimes turning foreign buyers into lasting friends. I can vouch from my limited personal experience that most non-U.S. buyers I've dealt with are exceedingly polite and tolerant of the extra effort required to complete an international transaction. If you decide to sell outside the U.S., you'll want to state this in your auctions, along with a line indicating that "shipping and handling outside the U.S. is higher," "listed shipping charge is for U.S. only," or something to that effect. If, on the other hand, you decide not to sell internationally, state that in your ad alsowith a "U.S. bidders only" type of notice. |