How to sell "high value jewelry" internationally?
I received a message from an international buyer who wants to buy a jewelry item that I have listed for over $1500. Although I often ship through eBay's International Shipping, the program doesn't include "high value jewelry." I don't know what the cut off is, but apparently this item is not included. How do I make it available to the buyer and how do I ship it safely? Thanks.
16 comments
recommendedbuyer
OP4 months agoThanks for the information. I have used the authentication service. Maybe that's why it's not eligible for international shipping. I'll ask the buyer to sign up for a freight forwarder.
I apologize for taking so long to reply, but I've been sick.
idealgems1
·4 months agoI don't know if our situation is true of all fine jewelry accounts, but for us, selling internationally is fine using eBay's international shipping program. When we've done it (maybe 12-15 international sales so far), if an item is over $500 there is no authentication. Evidently, that is a domestic program only. We just send it directly to the eBay international shipping hub (located in the US) as directed with the designated number on the package. Ebay and the buyer take care of everything else regarding fees, duties, customs, etc. We've sold to Canada, Switzerland, Spain, and Australia, but mostly to all around the UK including Scotland.
We had one buyer initiate a return, but the way the program worked in that instance is that eBay did the return themselves. We kept our money; eBay refunded the buyer and eBay took possession of the returned item, which presumably they liquidated somehow. I was doubtful that it would work the way it was explained that it would, but sure enough, bada-boom-bada-bing. But everyone should check with eBay to see if your account is handled the same way ours is.
tealt
·4 months ago@recommendedbuyer
The only way your sale might work is for your international buyer to hire a US freight forwarding service.
Since your jewelry piece is over $500, it must go through eBay's Authentication service. If it passes Authentication, the service would send it on to the freight forwarder, which would then send it on to the buyer. I've done this and the buyer became a repeat customer. When I later sold him a $300+ piece of jewelry, I discovered that he was in Viet Nam and used a FF in Oregon.
Once a piece passes authentication eBay is out of the picture. The company that performs that service takes all responsibility for returns and possible scams (same as the EIS service works). The seller's only responsibility is to get the piece to the Authenticator (I always use signature confirmation and insure the package for full value).
If this method interests you, you might want to read all the information about eBay's jewelry authentication process.
ethylsgarage
·4 months agoBIg red flag. Never get talked into a sale that has to go outside of regular eBay channels. That's almost always a sign of fraud. I've been selling on eBay since 1998, I've never had a legitimate request of this type. If they really want to buy your item instead of scam you, they can figure out how to set up a forwarder account.
reallynicestamps
·4 months agoA Message?
Be cautious.
Do you usually ship overseas? If not you are within your rights to say so and refuse the sale.
If you cannot use eIS, tell the customer to set up an account with a US freight forwarder who delivers to their country.
Freight forwarders (which includes eIS) are the second safest addresses you can ship to, if only because once delivered to the US address, your responsibility for delivery ends.
Delaware and Oregon will not charge state sales taxes to your overseas customer. Florida will.
Secure packaging is more important than insurance.
Full disclosure- I have been shipping overseas for decades and do not find them any worse than my Canadian customers. I have the most problems with Americans. But even those are few.
My concern is that the customer did not make a Best Offer or buy, but that they contacted you which is unusual. Beware of attempts to get your email or telephone contact.
danapointbooksandart
·4 months agoCould you please give an example of the freight forwarders you mention? Who are they?
Thank you.
squinkercat59
·4 months agoI wouldn't. I've had enough trouble with a couple of countries in particular with costume jewelry, where they have alleged corrupt postal systems and customs and things seem to disappear. The EIS makes it easier and without the same risk, but I would still be squeamish about anything of great value.
recommendedbuyer
OP4 months agoThanks. I'll have to see why this item doesn't seem to be included.
onefootflipper
·4 months agoBecause high value jewelry sent overseas is an extremely high fraud item and not even ebay wants to deal with it. It has not only a high chance of going to a fraudulent buyer, it also has a high chance of just vanishing along the way if sent to a more corrupt country.
inhawaii
·4 months agoYou're actually safer selling anything (not just high-value items) via EIS than selling/shipping domestically.
You just need to find out what the dollar limits are.
Added:
eBay International Shipping (eIS) limits items to a maximum value of $2,500 USD per package (including shipping).
recommendedbuyer
OP4 months agoThank you all. This sounds risky, which is too bad because I would have loved to make this sale.
caldreamer
·4 months agoThere are many scammers on EBAY looking to get items "for free". EBAY will NOT protect you if you get scammed.
Personally, I would not do it because customer can claim "not as described" and then return a "fake item" to you. Or they can contact their credit card company and "reverse payment" AFTER they receive your item (keep both item + your money).
soh.maryl
·4 months agoBut aren't those possibilities present with ANY sale of ANY item, not just international sales?
tealt
·4 months ago@soh.maryl
@caldreamer
If a high priced jewelry item goes through eBay Authentication, the buyer cannot return a fake item. Any request for a return must go through the Authenticator--the only address the buyer receives when returning an item. If a fake or damaged item is sent, it is returned to the buyer with no refund.
It has never happened to me, but once a piece passes Authentication, it is no longer in eBay's hands. The Authentication company would have to deal with a chargeback (that's the way EIS works--which has happened to me).
tobaccocardyahoo
·4 months agoI would forgo making this sale.
Many carriers have exclusions to insurance coverage for jewelry or low limits.
Tracking and signature upon delivery is often not accurate in some countries.
Fraudsters often know more about shipping to their countries than amateur sellers in the US do.
All of the risks of high value sales to US buyers are magnified when you add multiple legal jurisdictions.
If registered mail is available to the destination country, it would be the only choice I would consider for this item, and I probably would decline to ship internationally.
fabrics24
·4 months ago@idealgems1 @flipping_treasures any advice?
While we wait for them, if you can sell this internationally, you're definitely gonna want some insurance on this thing; I've seen so many people on the boards recently losing $1000+ items in the mail lately just getting authentication, and that's just domestically.