Posting basses outside the US

[5544]

Customs forms are plentiful and not fun.

Shipping within the US takes about two minutes of administrative work. Shipping to the UK can take hours just to figure out how to do it. The 48 contiguous US states represents a large enough market with the least amount of time expended for most sellers.

I get the run around everyone I go to the post office to ship anything outside of the USA. The customs forms are a pain they tell me it's to big. Or that there is no way to insure it. Our postmen at the windows don't want to help you or answer any questions because they don't want to deal it. So that's why I only ship to the lower 48 states. Last time I tried to ship to Alaska or Hawaii it was a total nightmare.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

When I go to the US, I always send boxes of stuff back to the Netherlands using USPS.

Either I will grab a bunch of forums from the post office and fill them out in the hotel room or I will fill them out while I wait in line. It is not a hassle and there is only 1 form that requires the from/to address, contents and value. I've seen people buying stamps take longer than it did for me to send 6 boxes overseas.

 

[DigitalMan]

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

When I go to the US, I always send boxes of stuff back to the Netherlands using USPS.

Either I will grab a bunch of forums from the post office and fill them out in the hotel room or I will fill them out while I wait in line. It is not a hassle and there is only 1 form that requires the from/to address, contents and value. I've seen people buying stamps take longer than it did for me to send 6 boxes overseas.

Shipping to yourself is entirely different when shipping to someone else who needs to know the price and terms of shipping before paying, and payment must be received before shipping occurs. You can waste 24 hours just communicating with an overseas buyer due to time zone differences. When shipping within the US you can establish a worst-case shipping cost in advance.

I travel a lot for work and might not have two consecutive business days at home on any given week.

 

[penguineman]

5544. the postal people here where I live dont want to do there job it takes to much energy. They might actually have to use there brain and think about something.

 

[shawshank72]

Which clerk? What location?

I ship from home to save money. I drop the package off at any of three locations that are five minutes away. Anytime I involve a clerk the price doubles.

How much time does one need to spend figuring out the process you find to be so easy?

Im in a small town, I go to the Canada Post office on my way home from work.
Not rocket science or any special trick.
I just don't mind spending a few extra minutes to help out a fellow TBer.

 

[kodiakblair]

@Cuzzie

It saves you a fortune too. Mind we get hit 23% on the bass+shipping+any insurance,get hammered by converting currency. Oh and a final wee £8 handling fee.

 

[penguineman]

Shawshank 72 that's what is the disgusting part we can get stuff from foreign countries faster than they can get what we send to them. I do competition Archery and I did a trade with a guy in B.C. and I got the item 2 weeks before he got the item I sent him and we both had sent the items out on the same day. If I have to send anything outta the country I use and shipping outfit here in town. But the agrivating part is she charges an extra 10 to 15 dollars handling fee. Even if she sends through USPS.

 

[Cuzzie]

@kodiakblair not always

Mine even with shipping and taxes worked out better than if it were in the UK

 

[yodedude2]

Im in a small town, I go to the Canada Post office on my way home from work.
Not rocket science or any special trick.
I just don't mind spending a few extra minutes to help out a fellow TBer.

my nearest canada post office is about a 26 hour drive straight through...

 

[jazz3625tonic]

Shipping within the US takes about two minutes of administrative work. Shipping to the UK can take hours just to figure out how to do it. The 48 contiguous US states represents a large enough market with the least amount of time expended for most sellers.

When I lived in the States I shipped overseas and never ever did it take me "hours" to figure the rates or fill out a form.... if the buyer is willing to pay the shipping I'll send it. I have to pack it up anyway and when I pack it's always overkill. It matters not if I'm sending the bass 50 miles or 5000 miles. And figuring how to fill out a form is a piece of cake. Rondo Music ships all over the world in those cheaply made boxes that start out in China, then shipped to the States.... after an order is placed they simply slap on a shipping label, fill out the form and off it goes in the same exact box. I know some get damaged but most make it just fine. Any box can end up getting damaged. Even in the States on a short 100 mile trip. IMHO, I feel most folks make a bigger deal out it than it really is.

 

[shawshank72]

my nearest canada post office is about a 26 hour drive straight through...

That's a bummer.
I guess we're lucky, about 13k people and we got two haha

 

[Stumbo]

. Rondo Music ships all over the world in those cheaply made boxes that start out in China, then shipped to the States.... after an order is placed they simply slap on a shipping label, fill out the form and off it goes in the same exact box. I know some get damaged but most make it just fine. Any box can end up getting damaged. Even in the States on a short 100 mile trip. IMHO, I feel most folks make a bigger deal out it than it really is.

If you're selling one bass overseas, Rondo's statistics don't mean anything. There's no financially or physically convenient process to handle problems.

 

[5544]

Shipping to yourself is entirely different when shipping to someone else who needs to know the price and terms of shipping before paying, and payment must be received before shipping occurs. You can waste 24 hours just communicating with an overseas buyer due to time zone differences. When shipping within the US you can establish a worst-case shipping cost in advance.

I travel a lot for work and might not have two consecutive business days at home on any given week.

Actually "shipping to yourself" is no different than shipping to someone else. You can also waste 24 hours with just communicating with someone who lives across town because they are too busy or too lazy to return an email. That is just how the world works.

As far as finding out how much shipping would cost for the worst case scenario, USPS goes by weight, not destination, when it comes to shipping internationally. That means shipping to Canada or the Netherlands will cost the same when using USPS.

5544. the postal people here where I live dont want to do there job it takes to much energy. They might actually have to use there brain and think about something.

There must be something in the water where you live then because it doesn't take any more time or energy to ship a package from the post office to your house or mine for the postal worker at the counter.

 

[DigitalMan]

USPS goes by weight, not destination, when it comes to shipping internationally. That means shipping to Canada or the Netherlands will cost the same when using USPS.

That's completely inaccurate for a box that would be able to contain a bass. I just checked pricing on USPS website and it is by weight, dimension, and destination.

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Within Canada it is also based on distance from US point of origin. It would cost me one price to ship to Vancouver, another to Toronto, and far more to the U.K. yet somewhat less to the Netherlands.

 

[penguineman]

Actually "shipping to yourself" is no different than shipping to someone else. You can also waste 24 hours with just communicating with someone who lives across town because they are too busy or too lazy to return an email. That is just how the world works.

As far as finding out how much shipping would cost for the worst case scenario, USPS goes by weight, not destination, when it comes to shipping internationally. That means shipping to Canada or the Netherlands will cost the same when using USPS.



There must be something in the water where you live then because it doesn't take any more time or energy to ship a package from the post office to your house or mine for the postal worker at the counter.[/QUOTE
There is something because when we have substitute mail carriers they won't even get out of there Jeep and bring a package to the front door. They just leave a slip the wife and I have both watched them do it. It's aggravating.

 

[5544]

That's completely inaccurate for a box that would be able to contain a bass. I just checked pricing on USPS website and it is by weight, dimension, and destination.

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Within Canada it is also based on distance from US point of origin. It would cost me one price to ship to Vancouver, another to Toronto, and far more to the U.K. yet somewhat less to the Netherlands.

I just used your price calculator and I guess I was wrong. Prices based on a 10lbs box with 52 x 18 x 7 (l x w x d):

The shipping cost from Chicago IL (USA) to Toronto Ontario (Canada) was 54-
The shipping cost from Chicago IL (USA) to The Netherlands was 68-

A whole 14- dollars more to cross the Atlantic Ocean. What a hassle

 

[12BitSlab]

@12BitSlab good man!!!!

Give me a nudge and let me know where you will be visiting, if I can recommend anything or be any help I'll try.

I am so sorry to hear tales of woe with shipping but completely understand with what you guys are saying about the process and of course you have a huge market.
To be fair it probably saves me money as my GAS can only build this side of the Atlantic!

We are flying to London Heathrow and staying overnight at the airport. The next morning, we will take a bus to South Hampton and board a cruise ship for a cruise of the British Isles. One thing I am super excited about is that we have a shore excursion planned to visit Omaha Beach. My father was part of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division and landed during the first wave at Omaha. It's probably a miracle that he survived and that I am here today.

Next year, we are planning a trip to the UK where we do all of the touristy stuff in London as well as Liverpool. I heard there were 4 young lads from Liverpool who recorded a couple of songs and did OK for themselves.

Here's to a great friendship between our 2 countries!

 

[guy n. cognito]

I have allowed international sales only twice, and it will never happen again. First, there is the extra paperwork, language barriers, postal restrictions, etc. Then most buyers say "I'd be happy to pay the additional shipping costs"....until I tell them what they are. Then, they want me to cut my price, or ship the bass disassembled without the case (which they won't pay for), or other such nonsense.

Of course, even when you say "no international buyers" you get contacted by half a dozens that want to debate you about your sale policies.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Oh, I almost forgot! Most foreign buyers want you to lie to customs, too!

 

[guy n. cognito]

I just used your price calculator and I guess I was wrong. Prices based on a 10lbs box with 52 x 18 x 7 (l x w x d):

The shipping cost from Chicago IL (USA) to Toronto Ontario (Canada) was 54-
The shipping cost from Chicago IL (USA) to The Netherlands was 68-

A whole 14- dollars more to cross the Atlantic Ocean. What a hassle

Of course, with an attitude like this, why wouldn't we want to deal with international buyers?

 

[guy n. cognito]

I suspect that most people selling basses have never heard of an irrevocable letter of credit. Such an instrument protects both a seller and a buyer from getting taken advantage of or being cheated. Letters of credit can be arranged at most banks for a very nominal fee.

P.S. Cuzzie, Mrs. 12BitSlab and I will be visiting the UK in May. We are very much looking forward to it!

You should suspect that most sellers aren't willing to deal with letters of credit from international buyers for a single consumer sale. What an outrageous proposition....