Refunding excess International Shipping Fees
I sold some stamps to an International buyer. She asked me (prior to buying) to send them in a First-Class envelope, to save on shipping. She said this is what International stamp sellers do. (I agreed to this -- and I do understand there is no tracking if I mail them this way). She has paid for the stamps, including the International Shipping Fees of $18.39. The excess shipping $ she paid, though, does not come into my account (all that I get is the $ it costs me to mail it to the US shipping center), so I have no way of refunding this $ to her.
Help? I really don't want to cancel this transaction. Thanks
5 comments
1786davycrockett
·11 months ago@s8u8z8y8
"She asked me (prior to buying) to send them in a First-Class envelope, to save on shipping."
USPS regulations for the First Class International Stamp state:
"Mailing Restrictions & Prohibitions
There are specific regulations and standards for mailing restricted, prohibited, and hazardous materials, including cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. Letters and flats must contain only documents and cannot contain any other goods."
So sellers are not permitted to use the USPS International Stamp to send non-document items.
Or are you referring to the eBay Standard Envelope (ESE), which does not have those restrictions?
s8u8z8y8
OP10 months agoI was not specifically aware of the ESE. Can I use those in the future to ship stamps internationally, on my own?
1786davycrockett
·10 months ago@s8u8z8y8
"I was not specifically aware of the ESE. Can I use those in the future to ship stamps internationally, on my own?"
You can't use the ESE " to ship stamps internationally, on my own" -- you can only use the ESE through eBay.
While I have not used it for international shipments, other eBay sellers have stated that they have used the ESE for international shipments, using eBay International Shipping (EIS).
Here is the information for using the ESE --
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/ebay-standard-envelope?id=5308
The process remains the same for international shipments using EIS; and, once the ESE is received at the eBay shipping hub in Illinois, you (the seller) are no longer responsible for any further customs forms, VAT and/or tariff information, or any further communication with the international buyers.
HOWEVER -- the international buyer may discover that they may be paying HIGHER fees than normal, since they will be dealing directly with eBay, and NOT with you -- so using the ESE may NOT be cost effective for your international buyers.
It sounds as if your buyer is accustomed to dodging international fees posed by other countries with which they are dealing; but USPS is more restrictive regarding the USPS International Stamp, and the ESE/EIS shipping system is definitely no refuge from high international shipping fees.
Sounds as if your international buyer is stuck between a rock and a hard place.
bonanza125
·11 months ago"The excess shipping $ she paid, though, does not come into my account (all that I get is the $ it costs me to mail it to the US shipping center), so I have no way of refunding this $ to her."
That is true and your buyer is obligated to pay the $18.39 shipping cost. That's a separate charge in this situation. When dealing with buyers International through the program know that shipping fees from the Ebay hub to the buyer are separate fees which I state in my listing as "International shipping cost is extra."
Unavailable member
·11 months agoIf the sale was through eBays international shipping program you have no control over what eBay charges to ship. If you want to give your buyer a discount on the domestic shipping to the hub that is up to you.
It is never a good idea to allow buyers to change your TOS. Shipping charges are not negotiable IMO.
If you decide to cancel you may want to have your buyer get on board with it otherwise your only option to cancel would be for out of stock.