Posting expensive collectable to USA or UK

[starwars_nerd]

Hello, just seeking some advice for shipping an expensive collectable to the USA or UK from Australia.

This item will sell for roughly 5k so i want to take extra precautions to make sure the shipping goes as smoothly as possible.

The steps i plan to take are

1) To protect me in the unfortunate event the item gets damaged during transit ill get it insured for the maximum amount ( Auspost offers coverage to 5K) To make sure it is packaged to fit the insurance requirements i plan to go to an Austalian Post with a JP and get it witnessed and signed that it is packaged correctly and the item is safe. Also... I was thinking i might ask the buyer to open the package upon delivery so the delivery driver can witness the opening, if its been damaged he would be a neutral witness, the buyer is under no obligation to do this... but do you think it would be pushing it to ask as a favour ?

2) To protect myself against a buyer scam ( a buyer claiming they didn't receive or claiming an item is fake ( PS i have authentication the item is authentic) ) ill also get the JP to witness and sign that the item i pack is identical to the one that was won on the ebay auction.

So, how does this sound ? any tips?

Also does shipping to the UK or USA  require me to fill out a customs form and and  copy of the receipt and sticking it to the outside of the box ?

..This turned out to be a long question. Many thanks in advance to those who can help 🙂

[lyndal1838 · Accepted solution]

I can't answer for the USA but here in Australia the delivery drivers will not wait around while the recipient opens their parcel.  I don't believe any amount of begging will make it happen in this case.

If it is picked up at the local post office you might (and I stress might) be able to persuade the buyer to open it in the presence of the staff.

As a buyer, if a seller asked me to take all these precautions to protect him from a claim I would just tell him where to go.  It reads to me as though you do not trust your buyer.

I hope you have a tame JP....not many will agree to what you propose to do.

Yes, you will have to fill out a Customs Declaration although I don't know about attaching a copy of the receipt to the outside of the package.....it may be necessary for such a high priced item.  I would check that with the PO before you send it.

[starwars_nerd]

Thanks for the quick answer.

Yes, i thought asking to open it in front of a delievr driver was a stretch, and probaly a bit rude to ask the buyer to do it.

Thanks agian 🙂

[phorum_junkie*]

Australia Post do not offer a fragile service and even if you insure an item you would be hard pressed to prove it had been packaged well enough, the recipient usually has to take the packaging to the PO and put in a claim which is not going to happen if it is sent overseas.

It will probably cost a small fortune but the only way I would go ahead would be using a company like Pack & Send where they do the packaging so as long as you fully insure the parcel you would be covered.

Are you aware also of the amount a buyer from the UK would have to pay in customs charges, taxes and fees on an item of that value? (and yes you have to declare the value on the customs form). If they don't realise when they buy it then you could very well have it sitting there with the buyer refusing to collect it.

[lyndal1838]

You have listed your items on the USA and UK sites.

It is all very confusing with the postage....the amounts you are quoting in the listing do not equate with the amounts ebay are quoting.

I don't like your chances of this going smoothly.

[imastawka]

I'd love to know how this one turns out.

The collectable sold for nearly $11k.

Wonder if it's going overseas?

[lyndal1838]

OMG....I hope it is not going to the UK....the Customs charges will be horrific.

[padi*0409]

     "Holy Snappin' Duck Guano" Stalks........................

                                And with a sale price of 99 cents as well..............................

[imastawka]

Well, I think it's fair to say - buy the kids some cheap marketing presents -

and then never let them have them.

Did you read the blurb in the listing? 

It's been under the house in a shopping bag since 1987 or so

[padi*0409]

    Shame I can't get underneath my new house Stalks.....................well not without a jackhammer anyway. (could be an empty PS4 box lurking there!!!!! lol)

    But, I did find a nice 40+ year old Jarra plank underneath one of my old houses, it did take me an hours-worth of cursing and sweat to finally get the darned thing out in one piece however.