topic Re: Posting overseas is SO expensive in Selling

Posting overseas is SO expensive

kitty-kat-kollection — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 15:34:01 GMT

Tonight is the 5th time I've been asked if I'll post an item to an overseas buyers (I don't have this option selected). I have my Aus Post booklet and check the website for exact location costs, but the 2 times I sent overseas, I was left a bit out of pocket because I misunderstood the Aus Post information. I didn't bother the buyer with it as it was my fault. One was to the USA and one was to Sweden.

So this newest buyer is from Brazil, and the cheapest prepaid satchel is $28. Um...the item itself is only $12.

I just feel like I'm appearing like a bad seller as I basically have to tell these people that yes, I can send it but...the cost...

Re: Posting overseas is SO expensive

*tippy*toes* — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 18:57:32 GMT

If the cheapest tracked post is $28, I would charge $35. It covers packaging and differences in exchange rates. If they want the item, they will pay it. If the postage is too dear for them, they won't.

My understanding is that Brazil is a high risk area, so not sure I'd be posting there, but it's your call.

Re: Posting overseas is SO expensive

curraone — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:25:29 GMT

Overseas postage is expensive - I think I would just reply that you don't post overseas. Keep it simple, nobody is going to think you are a bad seller if you stick to your terms.

Re: Posting overseas is SO expensive

springyzone — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 21:08:18 GMT

It is up to you but if you don't wish to sell overseas, you don't have to. It will be more of a headache for you if you get a difficult buyer who claims item not as described or whatever.

It doesn't matter very much if you do look like a bad seller to them because they will never be buyers if you say no, & if they have asked through the message system, then no one else has to see it (or your reply)

Re: Posting overseas is SO expensive

digital*ghost — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 23:56:02 GMT

I get this question occasionally, if I am actually willing to post to them, I simply reply by advising them that international postage isn't offered by default due to the incredibly high shipping charges from Australia to international destinations, which tends to mean items aren't very cost-effective for buyers overseas. I provide a postage quote (and convert the amount into their currency, but add about 5% and say it's approximate, and that currency exchange fluctuations may affect the final amount paid), then I just say if they would like to proceed with an order, I can adjust the settings on the listing to allow purchase.

This lets them know you also think the shipping prices are a bit much, without being too discouraging about it, which in turn subtly lets them know it's not just a figure you've pulled out of a hat to get extra money through postage costs etc.

Re: Posting overseas is SO expensive

purplemon18 — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 00:05:14 GMT

@kitty-kat-kollection wrote:
Tonight is the 5th time I've been asked if I'll post an item to an overseas buyers (I don't have this option selected). I have my Aus Post booklet and check the website for exact location costs, but the 2 times I sent overseas, I was left a bit out of pocket because I misunderstood the Aus Post information. I didn't bother the buyer with it as it was my fault. One was to the USA and one was to Sweden.

So this newest buyer is from Brazil, and the cheapest prepaid satchel is $28. Um...the item itself is only $12.

I just feel like I'm appearing like a bad seller as I basically have to tell these people that yes, I can send it but...the cost...

A package under 500 grams to brazil should be $28 without tracking, and $35 with. Perhaps that is what caught you out last time?

Ultimately, it is up to the buyer to decide whether the the shipping price is worth it to them to get the item they want, but bear in mind that the Aussie dollar has been trading quite poorly for the last 6 months, which means they get a bargain.

I have successfully shipped to Brazil a few times, but it's very slow. I tell them probably 4-6 weeks or longer.

If you post your shipping information here, we can check to make sure you calculated correctly.

your postcoade

destination country

weight

Dimensions

signature, express, and tracking are extra of course. And may not actually be available in the destination country.

International is always pretty expensive, but it does get cheaper with bulk discounts. Large Letters are the only relatively cheap way to ship internationally, but that only works with small items, such as dvds or lipsticks.

Re: Posting overseas is SO expensive

purplemon18 — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 00:13:36 GMT

I like shippiing overseas, but it is much more complicated. There are 2 main reasons, the first is that I have shipped things to people who probably can't get things like it where they live. One memorable order last year was to the middle east, and they listed their Latitude and Longitude as part of their address!

The other reason is I feel like I am making a small difference to the Aussie economy by getting money into the country instead of just giving it to netflix, sony, or other international companies.

Re: Posting overseas is SO expensive

kitty-kat-kollection — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 05:35:52 GMT

Thank you all! The buyer was fine and quite happily animated in their disappointment of the high shipping rates. Obviously they're not going to pay $12 for a face cream and then $28-$35 for shipping. Oh well!

Re: Posting overseas is SO expensive

porcelain_dolls_by_me — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 07:38:55 GMT

best idea is to use the AusPost online postage cost calculator

https://auspost.com.au/parcels-mail/calculate-postage-delivery-times/#/

Re: Posting overseas is SO expensive

dazzledayz — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 01:46:07 GMT

So this newest buyer is from Brazil, and the cheapest prepaid satchel is $28. Um...the item itself is only $12.

I just feel like I'm appearing like a bad seller as I basically have to tell these people that yes, I can send it but...the cost...

We have some of the highest int'l postage costs in the world and for mine, the blame lies squarely with Aus Post.

If UK Royal Mail can organise a shipment to me cheaper than I could send it to myself, there is something very wrong with the equation.

As AP are pricing so high, there is absolutely no incentive for other players like DHL etc to go much lower themselves.

Re: Posting overseas is SO expensive

porcelain_dolls_by_me — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 08:15:55 GMT

By regular airmail with tracking.

4kg package from USA to Australia costs the equivalent of $A130

Same weight package from Australia to USA would cost only $A78

By Express mail the numbers are $A175 and $A90

Australia is a bargain!!

Re: Posting overseas is SO expensive

digital*ghost — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 08:42:44 GMT

@dazzledayz wrote:

As AP are pricing so high, there is absolutely no incentive for other players like DHL etc to go much lower themselves.

They (DHL) have economy services, which is what I use for international shipping. (GM Packet and Packet Plus - max insurance $50, max package weight 2kg, they also just got RACA certified, with no increase in prices of affect to the parcel processing flow....according to them, anyway)

Tracked to the US starts from around $7.50, and is charged by the gram, though Aus Post can be cheaper (if you have a top tier discount), once the parcel gets on the heavier side.

It's a little on the slow side (3 weeks - in real terms I think that's decent, but in a lot of eBay buyer terms, that's slow, hence why I still quote Aus Post prices for enquiries on eBay, as their tracked services average 2 weeks to the US), and unless you can drop your packages off, you need to be sending enough for the pick-up fee to still make it worthwhile, but a decent option for sellers sending lower value, small items regualrly (my pick-up fee is $10 per collection - no good saving $10 on a parcel service if you pay it in the pick-up fee anyway; I only do 2-3 pick-ups a week).

Re: Posting overseas is SO expensive

lyndal1838 — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 10:17:08 GMT

@porcelain_dolls_by_me wrote:
By regular airmail with tracking.

4kg package from USA to Australia costs the equivalent of $A130
Same weight package from Australia to USA would cost only $A78

By Express mail the numbers are $A175 and $A90

Australia is a bargain!!

Once you exceed the 4lbs weight limit for using the USPS First Class Mail International the other services become exceedingly expensive.

Re: Posting overseas is SO expensive

kitty-kat-kollection — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 12:13:47 GMT

I find to the USA ok, but the places these buyers are in like Sweden and Brazil is ultra expensive. It is putrescent.

Re: Posting overseas is SO expensive

purplemon18 — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 13:11:34 GMT

@digital*ghost wrote:
@dazzledayz wrote:

As AP are pricing so high, there is absolutely no incentive for other players like DHL etc to go much lower themselves.
They (DHL) have economy services, which is what I use for international shipping. (GM Packet and Packet Plus - max insurance $50, max package weight 2kg, they also just got RACA certified, with no increase in prices of affect to the parcel processing flow....according to them, anyway)

Tracked to the US starts from around $7.50, and is charged by the gram, though Aus Post can be cheaper (if you have a top tier discount), once the parcel gets on the heavier side.

It's a little on the slow side (3 weeks - in real terms I think that's decent, but in a lot of eBay buyer terms, that's slow, hence why I still quote Aus Post prices for enquiries on eBay, as their tracked services average 2 weeks to the US), and unless you can drop your packages off, you need to be sending enough for the pick-up fee to still make it worthwhile, but a decent option for sellers sending lower value, small items regualrly (my pick-up fee is $10 per collection - no good saving $10 on a parcel service if you pay it in the pick-up fee anyway; I only do 2-3 pick-ups a week).

I actually started using DHL after the last time you mentioned them, thank you.

I tend to do 2 shipments a week with about 8 items in them, and save about $5 per shipment compared to large letter mail. Plus I don't have to deal with trying to get international stamps out of Auspost anymore (really big plus actually). It varies a lot because they charge per gram, but I generally break even at the 4-5th item. My next shipment is currently 7 items and I will save a whopping $19.74.

As for delivery times, I don't think it is slower, at least to the UK. Conveniently I had a customer buy 2 items off me a day apart on the day I switched. I asked him how long each took and they arrived after exactly the same number of days. The remarkable thing is that his order sat on my desk for 2 or 3 days waiting for me to have enough orders to actually book a shipment. So really, DHL would have been faster if he had ordered 4 days apart. Of course it is just one example, and other items could be a lot slower

Re: Posting overseas is SO expensive

purplemon18 — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 13:20:11 GMT

Generally, in order of cost it goes:

New Zealand

South East Asia

USA

Rest of the world

For speed and reliability, generally any "westernised" destination is pretty reliable. I most commonly get asked where their item is for Russia and China (excluding Hong Kong). I'm probably going to drop thos destinations.

Re: Posting overseas is SO expensive

digital*ghost — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 03:40:11 GMT

@purplemon18 wrote:

As for delivery times, I don't think it is slower, at least to the UK. Conveniently I had a customer buy 2 items off me a day apart on the day I switched. I asked him how long each took and they arrived after exactly the same number of days. The remarkable thing is that his order sat on my desk for 2 or 3 days waiting for me to have enough orders to actually book a shipment. So really, DHL would have been faster if he had ordered 4 days apart. Of course it is just one example, and other items could be a lot slower

Shipping times to the EU seem to be a little faster than to the US, but I think it might be due to most of my packages being routed through Germany, so it's relatively quick to all the other EU destinations (some go through NZ - which is actually the most expensive destination to send to directly for some reason - the others start at under $3 untracked, while NZ is over $4).

The best thing about it is that it's based on weight alone - no more keeping packages under 2cm to qualify for letter postage (which makes some items cheaper to send internationally than domestically through AP parcel post).