eBay International Shipping

[seller_update@ebay]

eBay International Shipping is a new shipping service that removes many of the challenges and complexities associated with international shipping for US sellers. You’ll save on international shipping costs and selling fees. We’ll handle customs clearance, tracking, and post-transaction requests—at no extra cost to you. You can learn more about that here, feel free to review and post any questions you may have below! 

Please note that eBay experts will be present and engaging on the boards between today the 28th through Friday the 30th.

[seller_update@ebay]

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@stephenmorgan wrote:

What is an exporter of record? And what does it mean that eBay will be the exporter of record?

An Exporter of Record (EOR) ensures that all shipments leaving the United States comply with all US export regulations. An EOR is the person or entity responsible for goods and services shipped between two countries. 

As part of eBay International Shipping, we will assume all responsibilities associated with the export of your item. This means eBay will be responsible for filing all documentation and complying with US export regulations on your behalf.

How does this service comply with The European Union requiring certain documentation requirements to be on packages?  Selling old obsolete collectable items may not meet newer requirements.

Also packages to Germany require a licenses to certify shipping materials used.  Is this something eBay will take responsibility for meeting the requirements?

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Hi @stephenmorgan. We will have conditions in place to only expose your listing to buyers in countries where the items are eligable for export. If we allow the item to be sold through the program we will take care of all the required customs documentation.

For packages into Germany eBay is the exporter and will provide our lucid ID and ensure all requirements are met.

[seller_update@ebay]

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@fantasyworld716 wrote:

So just to be clear... the seller/shipper pays for the shipping upfront to the US freight forwarder (e.g. Ebay center in Kentucky) and the seller /shipper does not get reimbursed for that postage/shipping payment to the carrier (USPS, Fed Ex, etc.) until the package is delivered to the buyer. Is that correct?

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Hi @fantasyworld716. eBay International Shipping will follow your listing prices you set for sales within the US. If you are offering free shipping, you would not receive additional funds for shipping costs. However if you are charging shipping for domestic the price set in your listing would be included in your payout.

[partsgalore1]

Please explain how packages are insured, costs, limits... etc

[ittybitnot]

For packages into Germany eBay is the exporter and will provide our lucid ID and ensure all requirements are met.

seller_update@ebay 

Does that mean that sellers who exclusively use the new eBay International Shipping  program for shipping to Germany, no longer need to pay and register for a Lucid ID and documentation?  The eBay Lucid ID will be used instead? 

[wastingtime101]

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@partsgalore1 wrote:

Please explain how packages are insured, costs, limits... etc

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There's an FAQ near the bottom of the seller update page. The eBay rep will copy/paste the below info unless you have a more specific question. haha

Can I purchase shipping insurance?
Yes. If you purchase USPS insurance or signature confirmation for your item, it protects you against any loss or damage to the package only until it reaches the shipping hub. You’re responsible for getting the package safely to the shipping hub, but if the item is lost or damaged during international shipping, we’ve got your back.

Are there size and weight limitations?
Packages cannot:

Exceed 44 lbs. for every country except Canada (Canada’s max is 66 lbs.) - billable weight (not actual).
Exceed 84 inches in Length + Girth

[redmodelt]

Frankly I have never found international shipping to be that much of a hassle, so will continue to ship direct to buyer(s). 🙂

After reading some past post, requirements to ship to Germany, not all sellers need to worry about lucid ID, such as selling collector items or some smaller sellers. 

[wastingtime101]

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@redmodelt wrote:

Frankly I have never found international shipping to be that much of a hassle, so will continue to ship direct to buyer(s). 🙂

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Ditto, except international rates have been rising exponentially, there are constantly more rules and regs about labeling and packing, and I sell a lot of items 2-10 lb so I would consider this new international shipping option if the returns situation didn't appear to be such a "gotcha" with the contradicting info supplied so far.

I have some doubts when eBay says this method will be a cost savings for buyers on shipping because it's replacing GSP, it's handling some level of returns (presumably by liquidating them), and GSP often gouged buyers. This is one service where I do not feel confident being an early adopter.

When it looks too good to be true on the surface, there's usually something big underneath that you need to be aware of. Until we pry those details out of eBay, it doesn't feel like we (as sellers) can make an informed decision about using this service.

[fantasyworld716]

So then the answer to my question was???????

!, the SELLER, am paying shipping upfront to USPS to ship it to Kentucky and I will not receive payment for that shipping for weeks until the package is delivered to the end customer who is international. Correct?? So my due monies sit in an eBay bank account collecting interest until at somepoint once the carrier delivers the pack and eBay is notified it was delivered, then, and only then will I get paid my shipping fees, plus payment for the product sale.

[redmodelt]

I am not a big time seller, selling only used or collector type stuff. I averaged maybe one sale a year to international buyers.

Reading some of the other updates, they all seem to be directed to people or companies that have larger inventories of items or drop shipping where international shipping is a higher percentage of sales. They don't seem to be aimed/helpful to low count sellers or people that sell used collectors' items so some of the updates really leave that segment out that are maybe like me, very low sales number of items that might ship to international buyers. 

[donsdetour]

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@wastingtime101 wrote:

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@redmodelt wrote:

Frankly I have never found international shipping to be that much of a hassle, so will continue to ship direct to buyer(s). 🙂

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Ditto, except international rates have been rising exponentially, there are constantly more rules and regs about labeling and packing, and I sell a lot of items 2-10 lb so I would consider this new international shipping option if the returns situation didn't appear to be such a "gotcha" with the contradicting info supplied so far.

I have some doubts when eBay says this method will be a cost savings for buyers on shipping because it's replacing GSP, it's handling some level of returns (presumably by liquidating them), and GSP often gouged buyers. This is one service where I do not feel confident being an early adopter.

When it looks too good to be true on the surface, there's usually something big underneath that you need to be aware of. Until we pry those details out of eBay, it doesn't feel like we (as sellers) can make an informed decision about using this service.

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Time will tell.

I suspect GSP is going away due to this new fangled thing as well. Again time will tell.

[redmodelt]

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@fantasyworld716 wrote:

So then the answer to my question was???????

!, the SELLER, am paying shipping upfront to USPS to ship it to Kentucky and I will not receive payment for that shipping for weeks until the package is delivered to the end customer who is international. Correct?? So my due monies sit in an eBay bank account collecting interest until at somepoint once the carrier delivers the pack and eBay is notified it was delivered, then, and only then will I get paid my shipping fees, plus payment for the product sale.

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Well except for eBay getting interest part, that is how I read it too. 

[lightningmcqueen190]

This overview is confusing and has many contradictions.

"Once the buyer gets their order, you’ll get paid. If they’re not satisfied, we’ll handle return requests on your behalf."

"If an item is lost or damaged during international shipping, you will not be found at fault if your buyer opens an eBay Money Back Guarantee case."

So if the item is lost in international shipping I won't be found at fault but I won't get paid? If I still get paid then when? After the case is closed? Otherwise it sounds like I will be found at fault.

What happens when buyers opt to pay import costs upon delivery but then refuse to pay when that time comes. This scenario is already a nightmare with eBay International Standard Delivery and requires multiple appeals after losing Item not Received cases.

[backpacktreasures]

It is extremely unclear what happens with international returns. Copying and pasting information from the FAQ does not help because the sentence below contradicts what is in the terms of service.

 When a return is opened, we’ll provide the buyer with a return label to ship it back to a consolidation center. Upon receipt of the return, we’ll refund your buyer and you get to keep the sale. 

But this is not what it says in the TOS.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, eBay may choose not to display the returns policy field of your listings to Buyers. eBay may choose to manage any international returns on your behalf. For the avoidance of doubt, if a buyer chooses to return an item that eBay approved for international shipping, eBay may in its sole discretion, choose to intermediate the return to you if your returns policy indicates that you accept returns and will reverse the sale. Alternatively, eBay may choose to liquidate the item rather than returning the item to you and you will keep the proceeds from the sale consistent with Section 7 of these Terms and Conditions.

So which is it?

[kilt]

So once a return is received in the eBay consolidation center, eBay keeps it and refunds the seller completely?  eBay does NOT send the item back to the seller and deduct the payment from seller's account?

[seller_update@ebay]

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@lightningmcqueen190 wrote:

This overview is confusing and has many contradictions.

"Once the buyer gets their order, you’ll get paid. If they’re not satisfied, we’ll handle return requests on your behalf."

"If an item is lost or damaged during international shipping, you will not be found at fault if your buyer opens an eBay Money Back Guarantee case."

So if the item is lost in international shipping I won't be found at fault but I won't get paid? If I still get paid then when? After the case is closed? Otherwise it sounds like I will be found at fault.

What happens when buyers opt to pay import costs upon delivery but then refuse to pay when that time comes. This scenario is already a nightmare with eBay International Standard Delivery and requires multiple appeals after losing Item not Received cases.

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Hey @lightningmcqueen190! Sellers are only responsible to get their items to our domestic hub. You will be responsible for the refund if your item is lost in transit prior to reaching our hub. If the item is lost during the international transit, eBay will refund the buyer and you will keep the funds from the original transaction. You also will not be responsible if the buyer refuses to pay import charges and you will keep the original funds.