International Sales?

Peter Atwood

Peter Atwood

Joined
Oct 26, 2000
Messages
2,468
I know a lot of you guys have sold overseas. I'm curious how you accept payment, credit cards, international money orders, etc. and what the best shipping options are. I would really like to have a way to ship with tracking and insurance. Any possiblities there? I have already turned down a couple of overseas buyers because I have been worried about losing a knife. Any advice would be much appreciated. :)
 
I sent one to Germany, recently. Received my money, via Western Union and sent the knife USPS Global priority air, dble insurance and tracking. Cost was less than $23.00 and arrived in Germany in 7 days time. Quick and clean transaction.

Ken
 
Hey, thanks Ken! I'll check it out tomorrow morning, but I think that means that I might have just sold another knife. :D And yes, it's heading to Germany....
 
Peter,

I've shipped grinders several times international. I've had a few problems.

I shipped a machine to Europe and when it arrived, the VISA prepaid customer couldn't pay the customs/duties on arrival. As the shipper I was responsible for storage charges, more fees...and a ton of headaches. The biggest problem was that it was a $fortune$ to return the packages because they were recieved by the foreign country...that had to clear customs to be exported back to me. The customer agreed to pay all the shipping charges (to and fro) and the package eventually made its way back to my shop. No problems...just headaches ...it worked out OK for me in this case.

The other problem that I had was shipping some machinery to BC Canada. I used FEDEX and shipped the prepaid order when it was ready. FedEX delivered the package to the customer and sent notice for the duties and customs fees through a broker. The customer ignored the invoices for the fees. In the fine print aggreement with FedEx, I learned that when they cannot collect these fees, the shipper is responsible. The customer quickly resonded when I contacted him...but only with an elegant lip service. I eventually had to pay FedEx these fees to continue service with FedEx and the customer has slithered out of touch up in BC. In this case I was hosed for nearly $200. The $200 didn't matter so much....the deliberate hose job was priceless. :mad:


In both cases, I thought I was covered with prepayment, however it was the other fees that the recipient must pay on arrival for customs and taxes that caused the problems. Both shipping companies cannot provide the customs fees/ taxes in advance...so there is a risk.

My experiences to Germany have been very good. I used Emery Forwarding. They have an Air service that costs much less than FedEx and UPS for the International shipments.


Good Luck,
Rob
 
That's a shame Rob, but I guess these things happen. Which is why I have been very apprehensive to ship anything of much value to foreign countries. Knock on wood, everything I have sent so far has made it and with my videos the list of countries is getting longer. One went to Japan last week. :)
 
The Australian Market is very limited. I have sold more knives overseas.

The only snag is fees and charges.

If I get a sale of my cheeaap letter openers which I sell to the local tourist outlets for $20. If I got a $20 money order I have to pay 12 to $14 in fees to convert from us to AUS.

With a real knife you would have 2 choices include a marging in the listed price or advise the customer he will have to pay the fees after sale.

I was marking my knives up a bit and using the Exchange rate to make shure I was getting $20.

I was using ebay Auctions I was told to ship after payment recieved.
I did to start then I got too trusting. I started sending them as the
auction finished to speed up the delivery time.

I got caught. I am posting the check in the morning, Yes the check is in the mail. I recieved your knife this morning. What is your address I will send the check. still no check.

It was the same time as 911 so purhaps the mail got lost but I think I was just wripped off.

Now I get Money first unless I have dealt with the person before.

Do not send prohibited weapons to Australia. I heard a horror story from another forum guy that lives near me. He knows a bloke who ordered a bali song/ butter fly knife. It cam to his address with 6 customs men and a search warrant.

That is the customers look out I supose. Each country will be different.
The weapon of choice for most stabbings here is a screw driver or kitchen knife. But we will not get started on that debate.
 
Peter I am just not going to take a chance and ship one out of the US just because of stories I have heard such as Rob. Hope it all works out for you. BTW when you get set up in the new shop post us some pics if you don't mind. I for one would really like to see them. Glad you got a new place and your excited about it.

Glen in Louisiana
 
Sylvester

We have not had Assault rifles and many others in West Australia since 1974. Well legal ones any way. Plenty of them were shiped or driven accross the boarder from other states.

About 6 years ago they they went national with that but also included
pump action shot guns semi auto rifles of any calibre.

Hand guns have been ristricted to club shooters since before the dawn of time.

Well now they are starting on the semi auto pistols from the club hand gun shooters as well. (( We do have very few shootings ))

Your right look out mechanic carpenters they will be comming for the screw drivers. I am not sure what your wife will use in the kitchen either. Purhaps she can grind a bit of maze with a stone. Only iF the stone is too heavy to throw.

Back to the sales side of things. There have not been any added fee at either end for the knives I send. Just postage insurance if you want it and a form to fill out declaring the goods are not explosives etc. I will still ship overseas I will just get the money first with a margin to cover the fees.
 
I'm also Aussie. 95% of my sales this year has been to the USA, Germany, UK. Shipping and payment methods were a headache, but it was the issue of getting onto the best method. I don't think any method is absolutely foolproof, but to their credit, Australia Post haven't let me down yet. Everything has arrived, and fairly quickly. (Been about the same - about 5-8days to most places.) I use First Class Air Mail, I insure everything for their actual listed value and declare exactly the contents.

Reg's story is especially important - post 9-11 especially, expect that your package will be opened. And any infringements acted upon.

The issue of payment methods has been the bigger problem, given the proliferation of scams and shonky operators just north of us.

As far as I am concerned, sending, receiving in locations like UK, Australia, shouldn't be any problem as long as you comply with local laws. Of course, it is up to the person ordering to ensure that their purchase is legit in their locality in the first place. Jason.
 
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