Anybody sold a bass to an overseas buyer?

[zippydog]

I'm about to put a bass up for sale and typically don't ship internationally.

1. Have you done it?
2. How hard is it...really?
3. Am I missing an opportunity for more buyers with the US $ so cheap by not offering international sale?


Thanks

[team180b]

I can talk from a buyer's point of view. I live in Australia and I can find things on the net that I can't find here and for a better price so for me I'm happy to send my money overseas for gear including basses. You're missing out on a big market out there potentially, I'm not sure how hard it is to ship etc. but my experiences have been great.

[FL Knifemaker]

The only way I ship overseas is if I can use the buyers Fedex or DHL account. That way charges, tracking, insurance, etc., etc., is up to the buyer. I pack the bass, call the shipper and hand them the box at the door. I will NEVER, EVER use USPS again for anything more expensive than a T Shirt

[zippydog]

The only way I ship overseas is if I can use the buyers Fedex or DHL account.

Now that's really interesting.

I have a personal FedEx account I use for shipping domestically, but gotta tell ya after looking on their site, I'm still confused.

Packing the bass and taking it to my local FedEx with the rest of the hassle on the buyer's time and nickel is a really great idea.

Isn't there still paperwork I have to supply, though? Reciept and customs declaration?


Thanks

[scootron]

I've sold basses to people in France, England, Iceland and Canada, with no problems. Some places you have to be very careful about the overall size of the package. Shipping can be high, but the buyers usually understand that.

If the basses are unusual or hard to find in Europe, people there will not hesitate to pay a good price, especially since the dollar is so weak.

I do this from the middle of flyover country, and find it to be little hassle, even with customs paperwork.

[zippydog]

Does the shipping service help with paperwork?

(like a FedEx Kinko's)?

If I can get the help, I'd do it.

[Bassamatic]

So far, I have had no problem shipping to Europe, even with USPS Priority Mail. Be aware that there are some size restrictions. For a shipment to Switzerland, The clerk at the PO was very cool and averaged the narrow and fat ends of the guitar box so it could be accepted.

I get a bass box from GC or another store, and then cut another layer of heavy cardboard from other big boxes to fit inside to help prevent punctures. The bass is wrapped in bubble and then placed in a large dry cleaner bag to keep it free from water damage. This is done for ALL shipping, not just overseas.

GOTTA HAVE INSURANCE - Even if the buyer is stupid and doesn't want to pay, I factor this into the price. I take photos of the bass as it is being packed so they can never say it wasn't packed well.

Yeah - it is about 30 minutes of work, but if it is not a cheap item it is well worth it.

[gillento]

From a buyer's point of view, I tell you that usually we Europeans are very grateful for this kind kind of deals.
USPS seems to have much better prices (shipping prices and imoort taxes) than FedEx or UPS.

Like team180b said, shipping overseas is a big market right now due to the $ / € conversion.

[rbolanos]

I have sold at least four basses overseas, england, japan, etc.
and there is really no difference other than the buyer is paying a high price in shipping. sometimes, this can turn off a lot of buyers. but,if you get somebody really interested, they already know how much approx. the shipping cost are, so there are no surprises.
I have had no issues selling overseas.
good luck

[steamthief]

I recently sold my Stingray to TBer steviecsg, who lives in Singapore. It took a little longer than a domestic sale, but due to his patience, it went flawlessly.

[rusty]

I'll speak from a Singaporean's perspective. We're a small island 9525 miles away from the US (flying direct from NY takes about 16h).

I've had a Wal, some Nordstrands, some Fenders, a Hoyt and a Sadowsky shipped over with from the US by all carriers - Fedex, UPS and USPS... all with no issue at all. It may take a while (usually 10 working days) but we understand the wait and have no problems with it.

My favourite carrier by far is USPS. and I have found them to be the most economical/fastest way of shipping basses over here (it's about US$120 only!).

I'd say the answer to question 3 is yes.

[jbasss]

I have bought 4 basses from US during the last year. Don't really understand the hassle about shipping gear out of US - shouldn't be more cumbersome than shipping national. Have always been using USPS - decent pricing and fast delivery.

You have a very big market out there with customers normally used to much higher prices on used gear!

Remember this
1) Make sure that the buyer is aware of that he has to pay import taxes and tolls on top of the price + shipping cost, e.g. for Sweden roughly 30% on top.
2) If using USPS this is nice: http://ircalc.usps.gov/ for calculating shipping cost.

[FL Knifemaker]

Originally Posted by zippydog

Now that's really interesting.

I have a personal FedEx account I use for shipping domestically, but gotta tell ya after looking on their site, I'm still confused.

Packing the bass and taking it to my local FedEx with the rest of the hassle on the buyer's time and nickel is a really great idea.

Isn't there still paperwork I have to supply, though? Reciept and customs declaration?


Thanks

Using the buyers account really leaves you with not much to do other than packing.

The buyer can Email the customs forms filled out as they see fit, I print the sheet 4 times.........DONE!! If they want to lie to customs, then it's their problem Otherwise the DHL or Fedex driver has the forms and stick on paperwork holder.

[FL Knifemaker]

The problems I've had with USPS are.........

1. In MOST cases, once the package leaves the US, it cannot be tracked. I know, sometimes it can but I've had very bad experiences with it.

2. No matter how much you insure the package for, you cannot EVER collect the full value it's been insurred for. Collecting ANYTHING from USPS takes forever, usually having to get an lawyer involved. They have a very systematic program of hoops you must jump through regarding claims.

3. Most USPS offices, at least here in FL have NO one on staff that knows *** they are doing regarding Intl. shipping. If you don't know the procedures, you're on your own.

[BEADG]

I recently sold my Sadowsky to a TB'er in Israel and it went flawlessly, we did it bu using his account though which made life much easier on me. I just brought it to a local UPS store and they did the rest. Couldn't have been easier.
Good luck,

[AREA]

Yeah as European I can say, many Europeans would buy, if you would sell...especially because the US$ is weak @the Moment.

For Example me... Im a verified Paypal Member and I guess there´s no Problem. The Seller would have his Money within a few Minutes on his PayPal Account.#

That the Shiping Quotes to Europe are higher is normal, but the Buyer has to pay them. So where´s the Problem.

Currently I´m looking for a new/used Bass but some Basses in the "Sale" Thread that look intresting to me, are only for sale in the US, so I couldn´t buy them/one.

I can´t see a really Major Problem to sell and ship "worldwide".

[FL Knifemaker]

If buyers outside the US offer the use of their shipper accounts, I would bet more people in the US would be willing to do business. I keep more than a dozen of my foreign knife customers shipping accounts on file. It makes things really easy especially if I have to ship to them when I'm away from my shop, like at a show.

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by AREA

Yeah as European I can say, many Europeans would buy, if you would sell...especially because the US$ is weak @the Moment.

+1 Recently I was on the lookout for a used bass. I saw many great bargains here at TB, but alas "I dont ship to Europe" was always stated. In the end I bought from ebay ( in the U.S. !! ). So someone here lost out on a sale. I'm sure there are lots of similar cases.

[Dan Knowlton]

Your payment is much more secure than PayPal by using a bank wire transfer if you are worried about shipping the bass and then the buyer playing the "he defrauded me" game.

Usually costs about $35 for the transfer. That leaves the higher shipping and import costs for the buyer as the only issue. If they use their shipping account it is really simple.

Dan K.

[Tapper]

Well, here is my FedEx International sob story.
About three years ago I sold a failing strobe tuner to some guy in Canada. He didn't like it, and, although the item was clearly described as "not functioning" , and sold "as is", I folded and took it back, refunding him his money minus the second shipping once I had the unit back (which I then sold on Craigslist).
About a year later Fed Ex International starts dunning me for the $11.00 duty they failed to collect when delivered, pus "brokerage" fees that had pumped the total up to $45.00. I kept calling , talking to underling operators, then they turned my account over to a collection agency because I was refusing to pay what they should have collected. Their defense was a fineprint sentence to the effect that if they ere unable to collect any duties, etc. It fell upon the shipper. They did suggest I contact the buyer, and collect the duty, plus brokerage, for the item he returned to me the year before....(Shows the basic depth of thinking at FedEx!!)

I was pretty pissed, but, in the end just paid the $45.00 to get it out of collections, and since then have refused to sell to anywhere but the lower 48 states.

(Grumble, Grumble )