So, it has been quite awhile since I sent a high dollar card in the mail via ebay. A card with a value of over $400.
As best as I can tell, I can ONLY send this via express mail or priority mail (non flat rate) and use the large customs forms.
This causes it to cost over $40.
My question is...if you aren't sure what a card will end at, how do you set of the auction? The money I need for postage will vary widley if the card ends up going for over $400 vs, what it will cost if it ends less then $400. BUt, every once in awhile I am not sure what it will end up at. I clearly don't want to set up a high shipping cost when it isn't needed as it's a deterent.
Well, it's a deterent iether way but if they want the card bad enough, they should be willing to pay for it

I actually only ship internationally to international buyers that I approve. I tell them my shipping policy, and if they don't agree to it they don't get approved to bid.

HOw do you set up the auction then? With what type of shipping options?

quote:

Originally posted by STCardGeek:
HOw do you set up the auction then? With what type of shipping options?

I block all international bidders, and then add buyers as they contact me to my exemptions list. My auctions will state that international buyers must contact me prior to bidding or making offers.

I have seen auctions that state if purchase price over a certain price then insured mail will be $x.

No reason why you can't say items under x will cost y for postage

Over x and it will cost y for insurance

STCardGeek, I am always willing to pay that sort of cost for shipping when it is over $150. So if people are put off with you charging $40 for shipping they don't want the card bad enough

Chuck, so are your listings set for being sold worldwide? I didn't know you could do that sort of thing and then block all international bidders.

quote:

Originally posted by hammer:
I have seen auctions that state if purchase price over a certain price then insured mail will be $x.

No reason why you can't say items under x will cost y for postage

Over x and it will cost y for insurance

Actually, there is a reason. If you use the word 'additional' or something similar in conjunction with 'postage', 'shipping' or 'insurance', then eBay's system will stop your listing from going through until you change the wording. They don't like it if you suggest charging extra for insurance these days as it 'damages buyer confidence' You have to be very careful how you word things.

I didn't use the word "additional" or anything similar

quote:

Originally posted by hammer:
I didn't use the word "additional" or anything similar

True, I was just giving a shortened version of my own personal experience with eBay

Regardless of what you put in the description, if you try to increase the shipping cost after the auction through the invoice you can guarantee that the buyer will either complain or hit you with a 1 star DSR for postage costs. And if you start with the high postage cost with an offer to reduce it in the description...you wont get any bidders because the postage is too high

Don't you have to set up shipping in advance and can they not jsut pay off that before you send an invoice?

quote:

Originally posted by Kevin F:

quote:

Originally posted by hammer:
I didn't use the word "additional" or anything similar

True, I was just giving a shortened version of my own personal experience with eBay

Regardless of what you put in the description, if you try to increase the shipping cost after the auction through the invoice you can guarantee that the buyer will either complain or hit you with a 1 star DSR for postage costs. And if you start with the high postage cost with an offer to reduce it in the description...you wont get any bidders because the postage is too high

Too true

Hey, I think I bought that card..

I do look at the advertised postage cost and that does reflect in my bidding. It's annoying with UK customs as they are pretty hot on catching expensive items, I always take the mindset that the cheaper postage items tend to get through, but when items are fully insured and declared, UK customs always catch them and add 20%.

quote:

Originally posted by Juelle Lou:

Chuck, so are your listings set for being sold worldwide? I didn't know you could do that sort of thing and then block all international bidders.

My auctions block international bidders, but in my description I do say that international bidders can contact me to get approved to bid. When they contact me I give them the shipping terms. If they are okay with the shipping terms I add them to my exemptions list to allow them to bid.

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Bartowski:

quote:

Originally posted by Juelle Lou:

Chuck, so are your listings set for being sold worldwide? I didn't know you could do that sort of thing and then block all international bidders.

My auctions block international bidders, but in my description I do say that international bidders can contact me to get approved to bid. When they contact me I give them the shipping terms. If they are okay with the shipping terms I add them to my exemptions list to allow them to bid.

That's must be why I have never seen any of your listings, I only check through the Australian version, so if it isn't listed to be sold worldwide I don't see the listings. And I don't even bother to check on the US version because if sellers haven't listed it worldwide I just figure they don't want to sell outside of the US.
I can't want/have/need, what I don't see

I do alot of consignment and that reflects some in my decision making on how I ship a card.
It's likely I will take more risks on my own inventory then I will on a card I'm selling for someone else.
THey are less likley to want me to defer to the buyer to keep THEIR costs down vs. risking having to give the money back if the card goes missing.

THe one think that isn't taken into account if an overseas buyer requests an expensice item be sent without insurance is the effecrt it has on my life expectency. I fret and worry and stress until it arrives and soemtimes it can take awhile.

quote:

I block all international bidders, and then add buyers as they contact me to my exemptions list. My auctions will state that international buyers must contact me prior to bidding or making offers.

If someone is worry about shipping International. I agree with the recommendation.

STCardGeek, I recommend you ask for S&H what make feel you safe. If you still want to offer to International buyers without using the recommendation from Chuck Bartowski. I recommend you add/show clearly your S&H for high value items in the listing.

Well, I got my DeForest Kelley card, arrived safe and sound. That is of course, if it was the card you were talking about.. thanks a lot, been chasing that one for ages..

In an indrect fashion. I was more thinking about what to do with future high end card as I foudn the maze of shipping options/insurance quite the maze..and I've been doing this for awhile!