HIGH cost of postage from US sellers?

[littlepuss3]

I wanted to buy a bottle of essential oil 15ml. from a US seller; their cost to post it was $28.22 for goodness sake. I checked out others from the US and they seem to have the highest post rates in the world!  It's unfair and unrealistic.  What is going on here. Are these prices legitimite and if not how are these sellers getting away with this?? 

[jinglekell]

Proof of delivery safeguards against INR.

Proof of shipment means either PayPal or the Seller will refund for INR.

I'm a casual seller -- with 2 IDs (one domestic, one international) -- who lives, sells and ships from Los Angeles, Califorrnia USA.  

[davewil1964]

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@cyclonic_thai wrote:

Er -- that was mydadopi's posting you were replying to, not mine. But I'll forgive you

Update: I've been browsing the formums for other threads on this subject, and in one of them I came across the statement that US Sellers don't actually need anything more than proof of posting when they sell/send to Australia to be protected (but we need all the bells 'n' whistles when we sell/send to the US).

If anyone could confirm that authoritatively, I'll pass the good news to some US eBayers I'm in touch with. Hopefully business between Aussie Buyers & US Sellers will become a bit freer. But as things stand, the only solution for those Aussies not wishing to be gouged is to not do business, and that's sad. Surely there's a better way...

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It depends on the site they are logged in to when they purchase.

There is a dispute going on at the moment where the buyer claimed under eBay protection because they were logged in to the US site when they purchased. Which is ridiculous as both are in Australia, but that is the eBay way.

So buying from the US when you are logged in to eBay Oz means the seller really only has to provide proof of postage. But many wouldn't be aware of that.

Selling to the US when the buyer is logged in to eBay US means you have to provide proof of delivery as they are subject to eBay.com's protection.

[gem-boy-g]

have you checked our postal rates to the US, for 19.70 you can have either tracking or signature, not both which I believe are needed for protection in the US. The lowest rate for both is $62.35.

[davewil1964]

I don't sell overseas, so 'No, I haven't'.

However, Pack and Track with Click and Send is supposed to give you coverage - but probably only with Paypal. Worth checking out if you do sell OS.

[belindabargainhunter]

I have bought many things from the the states and yes it's expensive but I look at my purchase as a total price. I often find when I buy a few things from that seller they put it in a flat rate box and even with high postage the cost of items is less than here so it still works out better.

I also have a couple sellers that stock a couple items I need to buy regularly so I tend to buy a few I always contact the seller to make sure they can still fit the same amount in and as I have used them before I am not worried about paying one seller a large sum in one transaction.

[imastawka · Accepted solution]

I have bought from USA, small things I admit, but the postage said $27. When I contacted seller postage was dropped to $7. They say its ebays postage price, not theirs. Received items, everybody happy

[wishbone44]

Greetings, If you want to take the time, and make the effort, you can check out postage fees straight from the horse's mouth ... United States Postal Service Price Calculator.  Cheers, Diane

[putney32]

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@wishbone44 wrote:

Greetings, If you want to take the time, and make the effort, you can check out postage fees straight from the horse's mouth ... United States Postal Service Price Calculator.  Cheers, Diane

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Diane, the problem here is that many usa sellers who ship to Australia do NOT USE USPS but instead use Global Shipping thruPitney Bowes, a freight forwarding agency, who add a huge % to the postage cost to cover paperwork, handling, packing etc.

that is where this comparatively new Global Shipping is shocking Aussie buyers (and I might add also shocking the US seller who has no idea how mch extra PB charge on top of the usual 'postage'

[adornedau]

I try and buy in oz as much as possible but there are some items just not available here at all (and I've spent hours looking on search engines!). The postage from the US is pretty disgusting at the best of times but then again Auspost isn't much better at the end of the day! I remember when the fees for international letters went up and even the lady at the post office went "Holy **bleep**! Is that right?" lol

[smrf3t]

i have seen prices up to $50 for 1 hotwheels car this is an absolute rip off but it is the u.s after all