Sending to Italy : an ok thing or a bad thing?

[pepper1202]

In the past it’s always been a thumbs down on shipping to Italy. Is that still the case?

[dbfolks166mt]

     Not a lot of detail to your question. What are you shipping? How are you shipping it? What is the dollar value? Italy has a LOT of restricted items. You may want to check the following. 

https://pe.usps.com/text/imm/il_008.htm 

[ekmadonna]

I would strongly advise against it.

[ekmadonna]

Unless you are using GLOBAL SHIPPING PROGRAM

[pepper1202]

Value is about $50 but it’s about a 20x16x16 package so around $69some to send. I wouldn’t be using global shipping program. I’m more worried about if things actually reach their intended destinations or is there a lot of “lost in transit”.(which means I’m out the item and the $60some of shipping cost. I see there is no tracking provided by USPS.)

[ekmadonna]

I have heard many things are lost, stolen or confiscated at Customs in Italy, evryone advises against shipping there on your own.

[dbfolks166mt]

     I looked at a couple of your listings and you do not appear, from what I can see, to sell internationally so not sure how the buyer purchased the item. I have shipped to Italy before with no problem but anything I sell internationally goes through the eBay GSP. They actually are the ones who send the buyer the invoice, collect the customs fees or VAT tax, take care of all the customs forms and collect the cost of the international shipping leg from the buyer. Your shipping cost is for the local leg from your location in Carmel, Indiana to the GSC in Erlanger, KY. 

     While it is not a high cost item given all the prohibitions on imports to Italy and all the unique forms and other shipping restrictions Italy is not one of the countries I would ship to directly. 

[nocoolnamejane]

I’ve done it once against my better judgment and got burned.

Never again.

[dbfolks166mt]

I have heard many things are lost, stolen or confiscated at Customs in Italy, evryone advises against shipping there on your own.

Given their prohibited items list I would tend to agree. Add to that all the unique shipping requirements and it's a non-starter for me. 

[juvikingnorway]

Customs take so long time that buyers have a chance to open an INR case and get freebies. Would not recommend.

[pepper1202]

Thanks, all. The potential buyer decided not to buy when given the $60some shipping cost. Case closed, but it does look like it’s still not wise to send to Italy. 

[pepper1202]

You’re correct, I do not usually sell internationally but that doesn’t stop buyers from asking. Or outright purchasing. I had an international buyer two weeks ago who purchased without asking so I had to cancel the sale.

[theteamsetguy]

I do not use Global shipping Program. I will ship anywhere in the world and have had one issue with a buyer out of many shipments. Most of my international orders are bigger and higher dollar.

I ship direct using Pirateship. Much cheaper than going thru USPS. They use Assendia and DHL. Assendia is owned or part owned by the Swiss Post.

[slippinjimmy]

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@pepper1202 wrote:

In the past it’s always been a thumbs down on shipping to Italy. Is that still the case?

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Italy during the "bad years" 2007 - 2009 was REALLY bad, customs delays of many weeks or even months was common.

That was well over 10 years ago, things have improved a lot and while I don't have many Italian buyers anymore (or any Europeans) shipping there is not much different than any other EU country.

[katzrul15]

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@pepper1202 wrote:

In the past it’s always been a thumbs down on shipping to Italy. Is that still the case?

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Would never ship to Italy direct again.

To be clear - never.