Is opening a 40 piece fine china set to the global marketplace worth it?
I am new here and I have a popular fine china set I want to sell. It originted in the UK and it's no longer manufactured and it's particularly treasured by the UK and AU. I'd like to open this up to the global community bc I think the bidding would net a higher price to serious overseas collectors.
However, I'm a bit intimidated by the global/international shipping and the risk of damage when shipping overseas as there are 40 pieces. I've watched videos till I'm blue in the face but I'd love to hear what those with lots of experience would say.
Is the risk worth it to ship global or should I keep it just to the US? m pretty confident I'll get a higher price from overseas (I base this on demand and current listed items and similar sets that have sold).
Bonus question on packing - I watched a video tutorial where a woman packed her large set in smaller boxes that she ultimately stacked In one large box (dimensions were 22x22x?). She included lots of 'fragile' 'this end up' 'do not stack' type stickers. I thought this was sound. Do you have any feedback on this or suggestions for a better way to do it?
Any pointers on this would also be appreciated!
Thank you in advance for your help = any and all tips and suggestions are appreciated!
Best,
Carrie
ladyindecadence
·3 years agoI specifically deal in fine china and glassware. As others have suggested I would split up a large set. Second instead of place settings I would sell sets of 4 identical pieces depending on the value of those pieces. 4 dinner plates, 4 salad plates, 4 cup and saucer sets. I have found that many people do not want complete place settings and may only want one size of plates or a particular serving piece. Also packing 4 identical size pieces is much easier and safer then a place setting which is all different size pieces and takes a larger box.
As to selling internationally some of my best customers are overseas.
s.scharmu0
·3 years agoHI!useI would NEVER ship 40 breakable items in 1 package. If I ship 1 shipped anything overseas I WOULD make sure & go thru the new GSP. You do not want to write fragil on a package because if you get an ****. they might not treat it as fragil & try to see how good you have packed it.
chapeau-noir
·3 years agoI had a 40+ piece set of Cape Cod glass to sell and found it did better by the piece (or small lot, i.e., 4 goblets) than trying to shift the entire set (which weighed a ton, anyway). So the safest route may also be the most profitable.
firesteel_surplus
·3 years ago@vintagecarrie
I'm a bit surprised no one brought up this concern concerning the collection (or I missed it):
Is the collection a valuable item?
If you sell it as a complete collection, what will you post it for? $200? $1000 I'm just throwing numbers out there.
Keep in mind that as a new seller and selling a high priced item, the higher the number goes, the stronger you are as a magnet for scammers. You will attract them like bugs to a light.
Just another good reason to piece it out. Unless each piece is really valuable.
Mike
Firesteel Surplus
44012
·3 years agoI would not do this. I don't ship internationally anymore because of the changes in the program. It will cost more than you will make with the end fees (read up on the changes) plus the packaging nightmare. If it takes you 8 hours to pack it how much will you really make for that one order?
With that said, I am always one to also say try it once and if it doesn't work you will never do it again. From my experience, anything breakable can be shipped and can be received to your buyer unbroken but you have to pack it correctly which many people fail to do. These boxes are TOSSED around shipping transports all the time. So you have to double box almost everything and pack with proper inside packing, foam liners, peanuts, paper etc....
I also want you to imagine a scenario where your buyer gets all their pieces and a few pieces get broken and then they file a Not as Described case and since sellers usually lose, you maybe out everything. Or they then before filing that not as described ask for a reduction in price due to the broken items. Or they ask to just return it because so much of it did break and they can't make proper table settings.
My vote for you is to offer this item locally for pick up only. I wish you tons of success if you try. I love seeing someone win at the odds at the overseas shipping game.
vintagecarrie
OP3 years agoHi @frodobagginskennedy Well that is encouraging! Yes that is exactly how the woman in the video did it. If I were to do it, I'd painstakingly do the same (individually wrap, lots of peanuts, small boxes in one large box). Yes this bone china set is -- I'm actually blown away by how beloved it is in the UK. Pieces are pretty rare, and (1st quality) sets in good shape are hard to come by.
I guess I would ask about the shipping. The fact that it will be opened, inspected, and repackaged has me a bit queasy. This detail was often repeated by several who answered my post. I was further confused by my due dilegence where eBay was going to be replacing their global shipping with international, and they had a pilot program where they were testing, but what I gather from the comments of posters who replied is that they did away with both global and international shipping, is that correct?
If I'm correct (or even if I'm not), which shipping do you elect for a large set like that?
Also I saw a 20 percent import tax from US to UK. So it could possibly be @ $300 in shipping and another $200 or so for the import tax.
Although I really think brand loyalists will pay.
What do you think? I'd choose [X shipping] from FL to TN (or did they move the hub to Chicago?I read both) and then they ship from there?
If I were to do the auction, I think I have the option of only making it available to the US, UK and AU - I think I might do that -- If I go all-in.
Thank you again. I'm checking out all your listings ... I really appreciate it! 🤗
frodobagginskennedy
·3 years agoI sell mostly fragile glassware and China Sets. I have on occasion sold a china set internationally. It was a smaller set. The way I pack is separate all pieces by type. Lots of bubble wrap and peanuts. Everything by type gets packed in smaller boxes then put in a larger box. I use nothing but 18/18/18 or 24/12/12. Internationally it would be expensive. SOME people will pay the high shipping. I sold a set to AU. No problems. $300.00 shipping.
I ship a lot of glasses abroad. No problems usually.
vintagecarrie
OP3 years agoWow! Thank you so much to everyone who took time out of their busy day to post such thoughtful replies! I am blown away by all the super helpful information and insights. I can't thank you enough, other than sending you a great big wave of gratitude.
Thank you thank you thank you.
As I was doing the research, I was getting that uneasy feeling in my gut. That uneasy feeling was the voice of reason. Y'all provided the supporting evidence.
I knew it'd be risk to sell like this -- esp. on my first attempt at selling!
Alright alright alright! Individual place settings it will be~!
Wishing you all nothing but the best and $$$$ sales today and everyday.
Sincerely,
Carrie
mtgraves7984
·3 years agovintagecarrie
OP3 years agoLOL @mtgraves7984 . Precisely 😄
dbfolks166mt
·3 years agoWow! Thank you so much to everyone who took time out of their busy day to post such thoughtful replies! I am blown away by all the super helpful information and insights. I can't thank you enough, other than sending you a great big wave of gratitude.
Thank you thank you thank you.
As I was doing the research, I was getting that uneasy feeling in my gut. That uneasy feeling was the voice of reason. Y'all provided the supporting evidence.
I knew it'd be risk to sell like this -- esp. on my first attempt at selling!
Alright alright alright! Individual place settings it will be~!
Wishing you all nothing but the best and $$$$ sales today and everyday.
If you are going to sell the individual place settings and go worldwide with the listing you may want to look at the EIS program. It does offer some limited protections as opposed to shipping the items directly yourself.
If you do OPT into EIS be aware that that becomes the default of all of your items and there are a number of restrictions associated with EIS as well. The program is also fairly new and has yet to be proven.
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/ebay-international-shipping-program?id=5348
vintagecarrie
OP3 years ago@dbfolks166mt Ha! So it is available? It looks like there is a fair amount of confusion over the global and international mail offers. From my understanding, global is still available and fulfilled through Pitney Bowes (as I just saw it in someone's listing originating in GB) and international ebay is still in its pilot stage being tested, but only available to existing sellers with a certain satisfaction ranking. I could be wrong, I'm just putting the pieces together and it seems that there is conflicting info on different tutorials etc but nevertheless I will get to the bottom of it!
I think I'll test with a less rare smaller set of china first to work out all the bugs and figure things out. Thank you!
dbfolks166mt
·3 years ago@dbfolks166mt Ha! So it is available? It looks like there is a fair amount of confusion over the global and international mail offers. From my understanding, global is still available and fulfilled through Pitney Bowes (as I just saw it in someone's listing originating in GB) and international ebay is still in its pilot stage being tested, but only available to existing sellers with a certain satisfaction ranking. I could be wrong, I'm just putting the pieces together and it seems that there is conflicting info on different tutorials etc but nevertheless I will get to the bottom of it!
I think I'll test with a less rare smaller set of china first to work out all the bugs and figure things out. Thank you!
It is available but you need to read through the following link and take note of the restrictions and limitations with regards to the EIS program. With the EIS rollout I am not sure you can even OPT into the GSP any longer. The EIS program is pretty much out of pilot stage and sellers are being unilaterally converted from the GSP to EIS.
The GSP program was handled/sub-contracted to Pitney Bowes who is a world leader in logistics operations. The EIS program is sub-contracted to a Hong Kong (Chinese) company with an unproven track record.
toysaver
·3 years agoI've had plastic dishes break and shatter in shipping. Anything you ship internationally will be opened by third party agents who will act like monkeys on crack. I guarantee they did not watch a video on how to pack or repack china and never took a lesson in how to even open a box.
ckimodog
·3 years ago@vintagecarrie
Hi Carrie
You're going to take a big risk shipping the whole set together. Some of us here have a joke about USPS and putting fragile on the package. Actually it means "kick a goal across the warehouse with this parcel" in USPS lingo. lol.
I would honestly ship separately and if it's as unique as you say, please package it up to the best of your ability and add insurance need be. Another thing, whom ever is bidding on it, check to see if they are the types that buy this type of merchandise from time to time. Gives you more of a idea who you're dealing with.
Look forward to seeing your collection should you choose to sell.
All the best and Good luck.
byrd69er
·3 years agoI wouldn't attempt to ship 40 pieces of popular fine china across town. One tiny event of breakage and you've got a problem on your hands.
dhbookds
·3 years agoI would not try to ship all the 40 pieces together........there are shipping weight limits in the Ebay International shipping program:
https://pages.ebay.com/internationalshippingprogram/seller/terms/
I would list identical pieces together........i.e. 4 Dinner Plates......4 Lunch Plates...... 4 side bowls ......4 cups and saucers......... etc. mixing them if necessary: 4 Dinner Plates and 2 lunch Plates.......
kath.layn
·3 years agoI agree with those who suggest breaking up the set. I sell a lot of china and I have sold a few sets. All my items have arrived undamaged, so it can be done. I always hold my breath until it arrives safely. I do NOT sell overseas anymore since GSP went away, and I never sold fragile china or wine glasses outside the US. Selling in lots of 2 or 4 of an item, say plates or cup/saucer sets, is much easier to pack and you end up making more money in the long run, IMHO. I never do auctions on any of my listings. Just me. And I totally agree if you are new, read literally everything in the rules and regs and read a lot on this forum before listing anything. It can be lots of fun! Good luck
m60driver
·3 years agoWell, the short answer to your question is no, it is not worth the risk of selling a 40 piece set of fine china internationally. It is scarcely worth the risk selling it domestically given that a single item breaking can result in a return of the entire set at the seller's expense.
albertabrightalberta
·3 years agoOthers have commented on selling a heavy and fragile item on ebay.
My comment is more specific to china and its desirability, or rather, lack thereof.
When I was planning to get married, bridal registries included china and crystal (along with other very impractical items).
I registered for and received 9 5-piece place settings of my pattern as well as a few serving pieces.
Because of the weight and fragility of the dishes, I opted to list on CL. For over a full 18 months, I ended and relisted the dishes twice weekly and the ONLY replies I received (and there were fewer than a handful of them) were from scammers to wanted to pay hundreds more than my price, after which they'd send their shipper to my home to pick up.
Finally, after 2 years of wasting my time and shelf space, I donated the whole kit and kaboodle, smacked myself upside the head for not doing it sooner and let Saver's deal with it!
Unfortunately, today's families are much more practical and don't use china (or crystal and sterling either).
toomuchstuffagain35
·3 years agoI've found (when I've been silly enough to actually purchase whole settings - as in plates bowls serving pieces you name it) it sells much better either as place settings, or individual pieces.
For the seller it's easier to ship as well and limits exposure to breakage claims etc.
Of course, you have to be prepared to wait a while to sell it all (or most of it) and the serving pieces usually go first.
The only upside is if it's a higher end brand, you usually make way more than you spent initially.
12345jamesstamps
·3 years agoIf you haven't sold anything on eBay...you wouldn't receive funds for 30+ days. Plus you would have to set up an account to receive such funds even before selling anything. And understanding how stuff is shipped and stuff about auctions....I wouldn't offer it here until you have sold some items for a few dollars to get an idea how eBay works. Sorry, but I would not even think of selling it here. Try going to Antique Shops to sell it in your city. Just take photos and visit shops where you live nearby or try selling it locally.
the_fancy_fox
·3 years agoI would break the set and sell each piece as an individual.
buyselljack2016
·3 years agoThere are shipping container "size limitations" for shipping to some countries.
When I sold my set of dishes I pieced it out to make the shipping more practical.
That was years ago. There was no GSP/EIS at that time.
I did well selling in smaller quantities, as there are many that wanted replacement items.
GSP is going by the wayside. I would never ship a fragile item via GSP because of the repackaging done on some items via that service. I don't know the inner workings of EIS.
stainlessenginecovers
·3 years agoMy Opinion?
It would cost $500 for you to ship it 'that way' overseas, or cost the buyer-either way, probably a major hurdle.
2nd- All those 'stickers' and 'this end up' are actually read as 'throw me off the truck' by most 'middleman carriers'.
I would NOT even DARE sell something that breakable and try to ship it 8000 miles away.
inhawaii
·3 years agoYou are correct.
I have a good friend who works for UPS. He confirms this.
Any package labelled "FRAGILE" is gonna be in for a rough ride. 😉
chapeau-noir
·3 years agoI've got my "Kick me!" stickers all ready for when I sell my next bunch of glass! 🤗
mtgraves7984
·3 years agoMy kneejerk reaction is that I'd be scared to death to sell it here. But wait to hear from braver posters. Good luck.