Selling internationally - how to have my listings appear on US/Uk ebay etc

[theosmama13]

Ok, as the title states I am a bit lost when it comes to doing the shipping to ensure my listings appear on the chosen sites like US ebay.

I haven't sold in years and I did used to often find my items sold to US buyers (I'm your average mum who has a bit of a passion for vintage clothing and shoes), and it was easy to list worldwide. So obviously my items did come up in search results then, and I just specified that buyers email me for a quote. 

Most of what I plan to list is the same sort of stuff - I'm just culling our clothes and kids stuff, and am culling most of my vintage collection, and a few new bits and bobs. So stuff that will really mainly be domestic buyers.

I've done a few drafts and played around with listing tool (I used to use Auctiva, but won't be selling much so the ebay tool is fine) but I do have a few items generally sell to US buyers. Some vintage pieces that US buyers love, and some things like the two pairs of new Frye Boots I'm doing the listings for now, which aren't available here, and I haven't seen any come up in Aus. These two are selling well in the US, and so I'm just trying to figure out how to ensure they appear in searches.

So in the International Shipping section I've kept it simple and picked the US, UK, Canada and NZ. I've then chosen "Flat Cost", and "Custom Location" and ticked those countries. For post options I've chosen "AusPost PrePaid Express Post International Box 5kg", as I've done free post for Aus in a 5kg satchel, which is the only size these boxes will fit in.

I haven't yet done the price as I need to find out obviously.

But then I'm lost. There's the same option again available. So instead of ticking the above four countries under the first option, am I supposed to tick just one(say US), get the rates, then do another one(say UK) and so forth with each country?

Then you have the exclusion list, followed by package details (size, weight etc). So if I'd rather not have the hassle of posting to other areas other than the above four, do I need to exclude all the others to ensure it blocks buyers from those areas?

And despite choosing the 5kg Box, do I still need to do the measurements and weight for each item? 

As I am honestly lost, it seems I'm supposed to have all these different options when I just want a basic "I post to the US, UK blah blah" option, and a cost. And meanwhile, I have about 4 little info tags popping up everywhere saying things like "If you want your items to be visible to buyers in Canada, US etc you must offer an International Postage Service"....which is what I thought I was doing?!

Sorry, I know this probably sounds stupid to seasoned sellers, but eek, why has it become so complicated? 

So if anyone can tell me exactly what I need to tick, fill in etc in normal, real person lingo, not ebay lingo, I would be so very grateful!

TIA 🙂

[cherry*135]

So in the International Shipping section I've kept it simple and picked the US, UK, Canada and NZ. I've then chosen "Flat Cost", and "Custom Location" and ticked those countries. For post options I've chosen "AusPost PrePaid Express Post International Box 5kg", as I've done free post for Aus in a 5kg satchel, which is the only size these boxes will fit in.

I haven't yet done the price as I need to find out obviously.

You really need to look at the cost of international postage - for parcels with tracking.. it costs a bomb..  A parcel 4.5-5 kg, sent by regular airmail (no tracking incl) the postage cost is $104 to US.

What is the value of the items you will be selling? Low, med, high?.. will buyers overseas be prepared to pay high intl shipping costs, for example, $34 approx (for up to 2 kg, in a pack n track satchel) plus the item cost?

Factor in eBay's 9.9% cut on shipping (as well as item cost).

A parcel to NZ will cost less than a parcel to US, UK. so not attractive to NZ to have same flat rate cost as countries in a different zone with a higher shipping rate.

Parcels overseas need to be sent by a service that includes tracking. If there are disputes for item not received or item not as described.. and no tracking.. seller found responsible -  refund includes high intl postage costs.

[cherry*135]

AusPost PrePaid Express Post International Box 5kg"

NZ - Zone 1  - $74.25

US -  Zone 4 -  $111. 00

UK - Zone 6 -  $142.30

[cherry*135]

Top section - chosen flat rate - same cost to all buyers. ( I have ticked UK & US, although postage rates for those countries are not the same for intl express post 5kg box). The rate varies by $30 approx. Usually only letter rate costs are the same for those two countries.

Next section is for other countries not included in flat rate. Buyers in those countries must contact seller for shipping costs.

I have ticked NZ, as shipping there costs less than to UK or US. UK and US come up ticked in there too when listing is finished.

Excluded postage locations

You do have to fill that out, if you want to exclude other countries. Don't have to do it country by country e.g. can tick whole of Europe.

Choose appropriate options from drop down boxes.

[theosmama13]

Thanks so much am*3, sorry it's taken so long to come back....house full of sick kids this week, so have only just started listing now.

I've taken Int shipping off what I've listed so far, and have decided I will only use it for items that do tend to sell better to US buyers. It seems such a hassle, as each item is going really going to vary in size. 

So it won't be a regular thing, just for the two listings I'm still completeing which are for new Frye Boots, and some of my vintage stuff that does sell well in the US like vintage Coogi jumpers etc.

So it seems that flat rate is definitely NOT the way to go? I can't screenshot (am using my ancient laptop thanks to the new one from Harvey Norman last two days....the second laptop from there that carked it!) so apologies for asking so many questions, but I am hoping I *may* have got it right now?

I've done calculated, then added in three options. Each option has UK, Canada, US & NZ ticked, and to save any hassle I've gone through and excluded every other area.

So like your screenshot I've picked "Custom location" for each option. Under services the first one is Aus Post Sea Mail, second one is Aus Post Air Mail, and third one is Aus Post Registered Post International.

Then I've added in package details. So for the boots I've been able to get exact Shipping weight and dimesions from the exact same same items on Amazon, and just converted the lbs & inches to Kg and cm's, and have added in an extra 2 cm for each measurement to allow for packaging, and have increased the weight to 2kg (it's just under, about 1.7 kg).

So would that be the best way to do it? And with Sea & Air mail, how do I find and factor in the extra cost for tracking and signature on delivery? As obviously I'm just a basic new seller who will mainly be just clearing out our outgrown kids stuff and clothes, the boots are a bit of a once off as we splurged and went up a size (like I usually do with US sizing, and need to do when I buy vintage Frye boots for myself) then discovered that this style is unfortunately (for us anyway) accuracte sizing....the US size is for once equal to the Au size.

None have been on Aus ebay, and although we paid full price from Frye ($500 Au each *gulp*), US sellers have them for around $250 Au, not including shipping. So I was going to put around $200 on each pair which is a big sale for me, and with the conversion rate (and the fact on style is sold out and hard to find) I reckon they'll sell to a US buyer.

So apologies for the length and all the questions, but one thing I DO want make sure of is that if they DO sell O/S, I'm not taking chances with a missing parcel or any kind of issues as I know Paypal will automatically decide in the buyers favour. So I plan on doing the whole film it being packed in the P/O thing, as it's a lot of money to us, and I frequent a designer forum where there have been numerous bait & switches etc. So tracked and sig on delivery is essential. 

I swear its all staring me in the face, but a week of sick kids has addled my brain and can't work out even the basics!

[i-love-my-sheep]

I hope someone corrects me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure Australia doesn't have a sea mail option any more, even though it is mentioned on the AP calculator site (I could also be getting confused with another country :D) Also, if you list with standard airmail, buyers will automatically always choose that option because it is cheaper than the registered option. It's your problem if the parcel gets lost, not the buyers, so you are protecting yourself by sending registered. If you want tracked airmail, remove the options that don't have it, like the sea mail and standard airmail and keep the registered option.

I haven't posted overseas for awhile, but I'm not sure if you can have both tracking and signature, I think it might be one or the other. OK, so I just checked the AP postage calculator for a 1.5-2kg parcel going to the US.

Registered post has a signature, but no tracking and costs $63.90. If it's an expensive item where you might want to add an insurance cost, there is no option to do that with registered. Maximum weight is 2kg.

Pack and Track has no signature, but has tracking and the option of insurance. It's also up to 2kg and is also $63.90 to post.

Express Post International has both tracking and signature and the option for insurance. You can post up to 20kg and it's also saying $63.90 to post.

Standard airmail has no tracking and the option of signature. You can post up to 20kg at a cost of $56.90.

Of course, I would double check those costs with Aust Post by taking a packed parcel to them and asking what it would cost to post for each option. If the figures I showed above are correct, I think for the extra few dollars, the express international would be the way to go.

I just had a quick look for the UK and 1.5-2kg for the first 3 options above is $82.90 as opposed to $75.90 for standard airmail. That's a lot of postage to have to refund a buyer if they claim the item hasn't arrived.

The other downside to sea mail (if it does still exist) is the time factor. You leave yourself wide open to someone opening a non arrival dispute because it can take several months. Even if you tell the buyer it could take 3 months, they will still fixate on the estimate in the listing and take that as gospel. If this is your selling ID, you would be defected off eBay really quickly.

[cherry*135]

There is Sea Mail to the United States and probably other countries. Not recommended for eBay sellers though.

1. It takes 3 months to get there. Buyers might get a bit impatient and start opening item not received claims (even if you tell them it will take up to 3 months)

2. There is no tracking on sea mail. Any claim open for item not received, the buyer will win. Seller will have to refund item cost and shipping cost to buyer. 

If item not as described claim, and buyer wins. Seller refund item cost and shipping. If seller wants the item sent back to them,

seller has to pay the return intl shipping (ebay Money Back Guarantee cases). 

Regular Airmail

Pack the item in your own packaging. No tracking.  Still costly.

To get tracking for intl post  I think you have to buy Aust Post prepaid satchels... e.g. the pack n track one for up to 2 kg (not a very big size satchel) or the Express ones (hideously expensive).

Signature on Delivery - not sure which intl post methods that can be added on to.

I think a good idea might be for you to take a pair of boots down to the PO and ask the staff best way to send them. Also ask which methods have tracking and the cost.

It is not really all that basic anymore. The main thing is you want to make sure you charge enough to cover the postage, plus factor in eBay is going to take 9.9% of it, so need to increase what the buyer will pay v actual costs.

Also as you say, make sure parcel is sent with tracking (which adds a lot more to the cost of intl shipping).

[cherry*135]

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@i-love-my-sheep wrote:

I hope someone corrects me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure Australia doesn't have a sea mail option any more, even though it is mentioned on the AP calculator site (I could also be getting confused with another country :D) Also, if you list with standard airmail, buyers will automatically always choose that option because it is cheaper than the registered option. It's your problem if the parcel gets lost, not the buyers, so you are protecting yourself by sending registered. If you want tracked airmail, remove the options that don't have it, like the sea mail and standard airmail and keep the registered option.

I haven't posted overseas for awhile, but I'm not sure if you can have both tracking and signature, I think it might be one or the other. OK, so I just checked the AP postage calculator for a 1.5-2kg parcel going to the US.

Registered post has a signature, but no tracking and costs $63.90. If it's an expensive item where you might want to add an insurance cost, there is no option to do that with registered. Maximum weight is 2kg.

Pack and Track has no signature, but has tracking and the option of insurance. It's also up to 2kg and is also $63.90 to post.

Express Post International has both tracking and signature and the option for insurance. You can post up to 20kg and it's also saying $63.90 to post.

Standard airmail has no tracking and the option of signature. You can post up to 20kg at a cost of $56.90.

Of course, I would double check those costs with Aust Post by taking a packed parcel to them and asking what it would cost to post for each option. If the figures I showed above are correct, I think for the extra few dollars, the express international would be the way to go. Would buyer pays $100+ shipping?

I just had a quick look for the UK and 1.5-2kg for the first 3 options above is $82.90 as opposed to $75.90 for standard airmail. That's a lot of postage to have to refund a buyer if they claim the item hasn't arrived.

The other downside to sea mail (if it does still exist) is the time factor. You leave yourself wide open to someone opening a non arrival dispute because it can take several months. Even if you tell the buyer it could take 3 months, they will still fixate on the estimate in the listing and take that as gospel. If this is your selling ID, you would be defected off eBay really quickly.

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The rate varies depending on weight.. 500g, 1 kg, 1.5kg, 2 kg and so on to maximum size 20kg.

One rate does not apply for parcels that range from 1kg to 20kg.

A 20kg parcel, sent by  regular airmail to the US - postage cost $339.50

There is an option of extra cover (insurance) on regular airmail. No tracking. But I suppose if they item was damaged or lost in post you could claim back item cost (AP don't refund the postage cost?)

[jensmanchester-australia]

Yes - that is correct. For each International Zone you need to enter a separate cost when choosing the flat rate option.

Ebay will allow you to enter five different zones

For the countries you are talking about the UK is one Zone, US and Canada are both the same zone so they can be done together and NZ is a third zone so you will need to complete three options to cover the four countries.

[i-love-my-sheep]

As mentioned in my (long) post, that calculation was for a package 1.5-2kg. I think the OP said they were close enough to 2kg, which is why I used that price bracket.