Need some advice for shipping high-value item internationally

[kuronekocollectables]

Most of the time my international shipping is handled by eBay's Global Shipping Program, but this time my customers order bypassed it (perhaps because I sent him a invoice after he'd not payed for days) so now I have to ship to the location directly. I'm not used to shipping internationally at all and want to do everything I can to avoid any potential issues, so I'm asking for advice to hopefully avoid royally screwing up.

It's a large broken pocket watch with a declared value of $725 (It sold for $725 + $40 shipping), and it's shipping to Germany. I want to insure this item, but it seems like I can't add additional liability coverage with eBay International Standard Delivery (there's literally no option available). eBay also says that my order requires signature confirmation due to it's value, but I'm unable to select "Require Signature" for any of the available shipping methods. I can add additional coverage with USPS so that's what I went with.

So at the moment, I'm planning on using a small flat rate box with ShipCover insurance for a cost of $36.65+$14.42 ($51.07 total). The USPS site says the commercial price of a Small Fate Rate Box shipped internationally is $26.50, how come I'm being charged $10.10 more than that? I'm assuming either prices have gone up and the website hasn't updated, or the price to Germany is higher. Also, I have no clue what to fill in for AES/ITN/Exemption, License number, Certificate number, or Invoice number. I'm willing to pay $51.07 to get this item shipped, and even more than that if necessary. I'm just paranoid something will go wrong with that package and ShipCover will refuse to cover the cost because I mislabeled the package or because I didn't have signature on delivery enabled (even though I can't select it). Any advice or guidance is heavily appreciated, I don't have to ship this item until Monday 1/4/2020.

Also, I haven't read the shipping restrictions to Germany and what not quite yet, could there be a problem shipping a mechanical pocket watch there? Or perhaps shipping WWII memorabilia there (It's a U.S. Navy ship helm pocket watch from 1942, potentially used during WWII)? Thanks again.

[donsdetour]

The Hamilton. Nice watch. Nice price you got.

Should not be a problem on Germany for the import other than the taxes they need to pay>

Do not lie on the customs form.

Other than that:

you will need signature confirmation and tracking to go with it.

You will need to check with shipper to see the cost and methods to insure its arrival.

That could be a problem:

Should have sent it through GSP.

[kuronekocollectables]

The only time they messaged was when they mentioned the taxes they had to pay (20% tax on U.S. goods to Germany). I'd hope that they're dealing with the taxes on their side, as eBay didn't report to me that they paid any taxes on the order details. And as I stated before, I'm unable to select signature confirmation as an option with any of the available international shipping methods, is this going to be a major problem?

[donsdetour]

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@kuronekocollectables wrote:

The only time they messaged was when they mentioned the taxes they had to pay (20% tax on U.S. goods to Germany). I'd hope that they're dealing with the taxes on their side, as eBay didn't report to me that they paid any taxes on the order details. And as I stated before, I'm unable to select signature confirmation as an option with any of the available international shipping methods, is this going to be a major problem?

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Yes on the no sig: any item over 750 I believe must have sig confirmation to go with it for protection.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/member-behavior-policies/signature-confirmation-policy?id=5154 

[kuronekocollectables]

Well since it's impossible for me to add signature for this order, should I cancel and refund the buyer?

[kuronekocollectables]

I've simply decided to cancel and refund the buyer, this is after learning Germany's $500 insurance limit for priority mail. I'm not willing to take the risk of it being lost or stolen, if it takes me another month to sell it domestically so be it.

[dave_n_s]

I started selling small items via Standard International several months ago and it has boosted sales, particularly of things that I am the only eBay seller of. Values often are in the $300 range. I've been using InsurePost, whose service is easy to use and cheap. I also use it within the US for items above my "self-insure" comfort level when shipping via USPS. I do need to warn that Standard International has so far mislabeled / incorrectly sorted two packages, which has never happened in all my years of using Global. I'm going to start a separate thread on that.