Posting basses outside the US

[two fingers]

Never mind that thanks to IDIOTIC treaties we and other countries have entered into, shipping rosewood out of the country would be a huge PITA. There are other woods on the list as well. CITES is BS.

New CITES Regulations For All Rosewood Species

 

[guy n. cognito]

Never mind that thanks to IDIOTIC treaties we and other countries have entered into, shipping rosewood out of the country would be a huge PITA. There are other woods on the list as well. CITES is BS.

New CITES Regulations For All Rosewood Species

Exactly. Who doesn't want to face federal prosecutors simply to help out foreign brethren buy used gear!!

 

[kodiakblair]

@guy n.cognito

Regarding the undervaluing for customs purposes. That's outrageous Man !! Couple of times sellers have offered to do this and while I appreciate it I'd never ask. How does the conversation go ?

" Hi. I'd like to buy your bass but I need it shipped overseas. BTW I'd like you to make a liar of yourself just so I can save a bucks. "

That kind of nonsense hardly instills confidence in the buyer. If folks prefer not to ship overseas I bear no grudge,that's just the way of it. Some sellers will move mountains to ship, one fella on learning I was in Scotland found an old case to send the bass in and included it free of charge.

 

[guy n. cognito]

@guy n.cognito

Regarding the undervaluing for customs purposes. That's outrageous Man !! Couple of times sellers have offered to do this and while I appreciate it I'd never ask. How does the conversation go ?

" Hi. I'd like to buy your bass but I need it shipped overseas. BTW I'd like you to make a liar of yourself just so I can save a bucks. "

That kind of nonsense hardly instills confidence in the buyer. If folks prefer not to ship overseas I bear no grudge,that's just the way of it. Some sellers will move mountains to ship, one fella on learning I was in Scotland found an old case to send the bass in and included it free of charge.

Yep....that's exactly how it goes.

 

[kodiakblair]

Yep....that's exactly how it goes.

Some people just have no moral compass

 

[12BitSlab]

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....

The company I work for sells things internationally in addition to having most of our sales domestically. We don't sell guitars or anything that involves CITES, but the stuff we sell is regulated far more than guitar sales. We sell software and hardware where in some countries, the software is considered to be a munition.

From time to time, we deal with buyers that we don't know. We won't accept a PO with 30 day terms from them nor will we accept a credit card. An irrevocable letter of credit makes sure that the buyer will get the product(s) they want to buy as well as insuring that I will get my money. Typically, I pay anywhere from 1/2 point to 3/4 of a point of the value of the sale. In other words, on a $10,000 sale, the letter of credit will cost me anywhere from $50 - $75. I view that as cheap insurance.

Of course, when selling a single guitar, the sale price will be lower, possibly much lower. In that case, the letter of credit might cost as much as 1 1/5 points to 2 points. On a $1,000 sale, the cost of a letter of credit will go for around $15 - $20. Again, cheap insurance.

I completely understand that someone might not want to go through all of the challenges dealing with international shipments, collections, regulations, etc. However, if one is selling something where there is precious little market demand, selling internationally might be the only viable choice between making a sale and not making a sale.

 

[guy n. cognito]

I completely understand that someone might not want to go through all of the challenges dealing with international shipments, collections, regulations, etc. However, if one is selling something where there is precious little market demand, selling internationally might be the only viable choice between making a sale and not making a sale.

I see you have no sales history here. I have quite a bit. I'll promise you that I've had no problems making sales without having to deal with international buyers. I might have to wait a week or two longer than anticipated, but it's well worth the cost.

As for the L/C......there is a massive difference between using one for a large commercial sale vs a single consumer transaction. NO ONE uses them for the latter purpose. No one.

 

[DigitalMan]

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

I am not talented enough to pack a bass for shipping with that low weight or thin dimensions. And I would of course declare a value. Realistic dimensions, weight, and value will more than double the price you quoted.

But no, you're right, this is so easy.

 

[guy n. cognito]

I am not talented enough to pack a bass for shipping with that low weight or thin dimensions. And I would of course declare a value. Realistic dimensions, weight, and value will more than double the price you quoted.

But no, you're right, this is so easy.

Yup. Weight more like 25lbs and dimensions easily an inch fatter in each direction.

 

[Cuzzie]

Wow

I didn't mean to spark all of this...oops!?!

For me it's always been price of bass and then add shipping, unless they said domestic shipping in the price agreed and then I expect to pay the difference in top if say it was estimated at $40

I forget there are idiots out there sometimes, I have been fortunate in my dealings I think

 

[5544]

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

I'm an American living abroad. I've had this attitude while living in the US long before I moved.

In other words, location has nothing to do with your previous experiences because it could have happened in the States just as easily.

Never mind that thanks to IDIOTIC treaties we and other countries have entered into, shipping rosewood out of the country would be a huge PITA. There are other woods on the list as well. CITES is BS.

New CITES Regulations For All Rosewood Species

The treaties are real idiotic since there is no limits based on what people are able to buy and sell in the USA. According to CITES, 1 person buying an instrument with a rosewood fretboard outside of the USA is more damaging than 100,000 people buying instruments with rosewood fretboards in the USA

I am not talented enough to pack a bass for shipping with that low weight or thin dimensions. And I would of course declare a value. Realistic dimensions, weight, and value will more than double the price you quoted.

But no, you're right, this is so easy.

I used google to find the weight and dimensions. But hey, don't take my word for it: [This invalid link has been removed]

 

[guy n. cognito]

I'm an American living abroad. I've had this attitude while living in the US long before I moved.

In other words, location has nothing to do with your previous experiences because it could have happened in the States just as easily

Nope. The problem experienced have been exclusive to international buyers. Again, over 100 sales on this board alone. Location had a significant amount to do with it.

 

[guy n. cognito]

I used google to find the weight and dimensions. But hey, don't take my word for it: [This invalid link has been removed]

Hmm..... Those boxes, when packed, often weigh up to 25 lbs (with case) and get measured by UPS and Fed Ex as 19x8x53.........

 

[DigitalMan]

Hmm..... Those boxes, when packed, often weigh up to 25 lbs (with case) and get measured by UPS and Fed Ex as 19x8x53.........

Correct, and that crosses a threshold for most shippers where the package is considered oversized. I have had the USPS return a bass that I had dropped off at the post office to my home with a note stating it would cost $45 more to ship than I had paid because each dimension was rounded up by one more inch. I had used the dimensions printed on the box itself. They didn't care.

 

[12BitSlab]

I see you have no sales history here. I have quite a bit. I'll promise you that I've had no problems making sales without having to deal with international buyers. I might have to wait a week or two longer than anticipated, but it's well worth the cost.

As for the L/C......there is a massive difference between using one for a large commercial sale vs a single consumer transaction. NO ONE uses them for the latter purpose. No one.

It was not my intention to ma k e you angry. Sorry if I did.

I have never sold a bass in the U.S. or elsewhere. If you say that no one uses letters of credit in such situations, I'll take your word.

My posting merely tried to show others that there was a way to mitigate risk. I have 2 friends that use letters of credit.

One deals in person to person sales of art objects. More than likely, the price is more than most basses so art may not be comparable to selling basses.

The other friend buys old VW parts so he can restore old Beetles. Most of those purchases are international purchases done with letters of credit. The average price is probably less than the average sale of a bass. So, it is at least somewhat comparable.


BTW, I know a little bit about selling stuff. When I was named president of the company I work for, we were doing close to $2.5mm in sales. Last year, we closed the year with $186mm in sales.

 

[Downunderwonder]

It's all BS, I've shipped all over the world and you know how much it took more to send it?
60 seconds of me filling out a form and another 60 seconds for the clerk to input it into a computer.
In this day and age if you make someone do an extra 5 seconds of work it's deemed
"Too much aggravation "

Yup, judging by the single form stuck on the parcels mailed to me from all over the world, the US is no different to anywhere else. 1 customs declaration, done. Or trolls.

 

[Siggy]

The main reason I don't sell outside CONUS is that it's more difficult to do a "face to face" if someone tries to pull a scam.

 

[5544]

The main reason I don't sell outside CONUS is that it's more difficult to do a "face to face" if someone tries to pull a scam.

But you have no problems flying cross the country to do a "face to face"?

If you say "oh, I'll just ask some members who live in the area to visit them for me" then why wouldn't that logic work outside the CONUS?

 

[Siggy]

I came off as too aggressive in my reply, I meant for it to sound a little more "Tongue in Cheek".

In reality I like to travel and prefer driving. I also like a good adventure. I retired at 52 and have the time and finances to pretty much go and do as I wish. If I really felt that I wanted to, it wouldn't much matter if I drove to Cleveland or Seattle. (Warning...Not Bass related) A few years back I rode a motorcycle from Columbus to Coldfoot AK. I took 21 days and traveled 10,000 miles, of which 1000 were mud and stone.

I have sold and shipped overseas here on TB and have no complaints. Great group of people. I have had some bad experiences selling overseas through ebay and prefer, in general, not to.
If I felt I ABSOLUTELY had to resolve an issue in person I would be at a disadvantage doing so in a Foreign country.

 

[Cuzzie]

No worries Siggy, no aggression was felt, but if you think about the size of The USA shipping Seattle to Miami is not much different in mileage and a 'face to face' is still a long way away!