eBay

jarepag0 · ‎06-21-2023

I am still new to the ebay international shipping program. I sell cards through ebay standard envelope for cards up to $20 and realize it is domestic only and cannot ship(I don’t want to ship) to the shipping hub using that service.

if I add USPS first class shipping as an option to my listing so that I can ship to the hub properly, can an international buyer choose that as an option in addition to what they already pay ebay for shipping?

I did note in my listing description that international buyers need to choose first class shipping but not sure if they are able to

marnotom! · ‎06-21-2023

As long as there’s confirmation of shipping and delivery, the limited tracking shouldn’t be an issue.

What could be an issue, however, are the minimum shipping dimensions of eIS items. If I’m understanding correctly, eBay Standard Envelopes may be a bit too small for eIS to handle. But I’ve also heard mumblings of the eIS minimum dimensions changing.

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1786davycrockett · ‎06-21-2023

@jarepag0

Per the the regulations which eBay has posted about the eBay Standard Envelope (ESE), the ESE is intended ONLY for domestic United States mail -- NO international service.

Your international buyers may have their shipments mailed either as a First Class envelope with a USPS First Class International stamp (without tracking), or as a USPS First Class International package (with tracking).

The First Class International Stamp will NOT be shipped to the eBay hub; but the First Class International package WILL be shipped to the hub, unless you purchase the postage (at a higher price!) directly at the post office.

marnotom! · ‎06-21-2023

@1786davycrockett wrote:

Per the the regulations which eBay has posted about the eBay Standard Envelope (ESE), the ESE is intended ONLY for domestic United States mail -- NO international service.

But with eBay International Shipping, the seller is shipping the item to a US address to then be forwarded (at the buyer’s expense) to the buyer’s location.

jarepag0 · ‎06-21-2023

That’s what I was wondering! Will eBay domestic hub accept an eBay standard envelope since it has limited tracking

marnotom! · ‎06-21-2023

As long as there’s confirmation of shipping and delivery, the limited tracking shouldn’t be an issue.

What could be an issue, however, are the minimum shipping dimensions of eIS items. If I’m understanding correctly, eBay Standard Envelopes may be a bit too small for eIS to handle. But I’ve also heard mumblings of the eIS minimum dimensions changing.

jarepag0 · ‎06-21-2023

That makes sense. I really appreciate your help! It seems like I will have to exclude ESE trading card listings from the International Shipping program to avoid any issues.

pjcdn2005 · ‎06-21-2023

Since there really isn't a definitive answer so far, I would probably keep them listed for EIS, then when one sold, send it the usual way and see what happens. If it is successfully delivered, you could end up with many other trading cards sales to international locations.

1786davycrockett · ‎06-21-2023

@marnotom!

"But with eBay International Shipping, the seller is shipping the item to a US address to then be forwarded (at the buyer’s expense) to the buyer’s location. "

Agreed.

Unfortunately, the ESE is not set up for that situation: The ESE would only travel as far as the eBay International Shipping center -- and then stop, since the buyer had not purchased any international shipping, and eBay International Shipping will not forward merchandise for which the FULL shipping charges have not been paid. Since eBay is not set up to prorate unpaid shipping charges, the ESE would probably be returned to the OP.

Wouldn't it make more sense for the OP to ship inexpensive (under $20.00) trading cards internationally as a USPS First Class International letter, which at this time only costs $1.45 (without tracking)?

Or the OP could use eBay International Shipping as a First Class International package, which comes with tracking.

So the OP has several options available to expand their trading card sales to international markets.

ms.rodriguez* · ‎06-21-2023

Or if you have an international buyer that wants the item, you will need to change the shipping for first class mail. Of course, they will need to email you and let you know exactly what card they want and you need to tell them the shipping cost to Illinois. Goodluck.

marnotom! · ‎06-21-2023

@1786davycrockett wrote:

Unfortunately, the ESE is not set up for that situation: The ESE would only travel as far as the eBay International Shipping center -- and then stop, since the buyer had not purchased any international shipping, and eBay International Shipping will not forward merchandise for which the FULL shipping charges have not been paid. Since eBay is not set up to prorate unpaid shipping charges, the ESE would probably be returned to the OP.

I don't understand, @1786davycrockett. Why couldn't eIS add the international shipping charge to the listing the way that it does for items sent to the eIS hub any other way? Remember, international buyers see one shipping charge on listings where eIS is used, and that charge is the sum of the seller's charge for getting the item to the eIS hub plus whatever eIS is charging the buyer to get it from the hub to the buyer's location.

1786davycrockett · ‎06-21-2023

@marnotom!

"Why couldn't eIS add the international shipping charge to the listing the way that it does for items sent to the eIS hub any other way?"

Because the eBay Standard Envelope is not set up for that option, and eBay does not offer that option for international shipments.

Since the buyer is required to prepay ALL shipping charges at the time of purchase, there is NO option for an international buyer to initially purchase an ESE shipment to the eBay International Selling Center, followed later by the more expensive eBay International Shipping charges to the buyer's overseas home address.

And, as I stated previously, eBay does not prorate additional shipping charges after a shipment has reached the destination address -- one single payment, at the time of purchase, is the eBay design.

Additionally, by doing as you suggest, the eBay Money Back Guarantee would be voided, since the destination address on the ESE would only be the eBay International Shipping Center, instead of the buyer's actual home address -- in short, the buyer would have lost ANY recourse under the MBG for INR and NAD claims.

The ESE was never intended for international shipments, and the suggestion of doing "end-runs" around the system are highly unworkable.

marnotom! · ‎06-21-2023

@1786davycrockett wrote:

"Why couldn't eIS add the international shipping charge to the listing the way that it does for items sent to the eIS hub any other way?"

Because the eBay Standard Envelope is not set up for that option, and eBay does not offer that option for international shipments.

I'm still very confused here, @1786davycrockett. Media Mail isn't "set up for international shipments." Neither is First Class Mail or FedEx Next Day Overnight, but they can all be used to send items to the eIS hub in Illinois. I just don't understand what would theoretically make the eBay Standard Envelope different. It's final destination as an eSE would be in Illinois. It would then be taken over by a different shipping method or methods.

My experience: I got a pair of jeans today that the seller had sent in a Priority Flat Rate Domestic Envelope to Illinois. eIS used its own contracted shipping services to get it to me in Canada. It didn't go from Illinois to British Columbia as a Priority Flat, and at checkout I paid the seller's domestic shipping charge plus eIS's charge for getting it to me from Illinois.

@1786davycrockett wrote:

Additionally, by doing as you suggest, the eBay Money Back Guarantee would be voided, since the destination address on the ESE would only be the eBay International Shipping Center, instead of the buyer's actual home address -- in short, the buyer would have lost ANY recourse under the MBG for INR and NAD claims.

If that's the case for the eBay Standard Envelope, my understanding is that it would be the case for any domestic shipping option sellers use to get their items to the eIS hub in Illinois. Again, I'm not sure what makes the eBay Standard Envelope a theoretical exception in your arguments.

Of course, this is all theoretical as the reason that eBay Standard Envelope can't be used for eIS shipments is because it doesn't meet eIS's size requirements.

1786davycrockett · ‎06-21-2023

@marnotom!

Once again -- the ESE, as designed by eBay, is ONLY designed for domestic United States shipments. It is regulated by USPS as metered mail for the United States ONLY, and can NOT be transformed into eBay International Mail, requiring additional shipping charges when it reaches the eBay International Shipping Center. The ESE is contractually licensed as USPS metered mail and is ONLY designated for domestic United States purposes.

When an international buyer makes a purchase on eBay, the buyer pays the entire shipping charges at the time of purchase -- buyers do NOT have the option to split the shipping payments, as you seem to be suggesting.

Additionally, the international buyer is NOT offered the option of the eBay Standard Envelope, as eBay has made NO special arrangements for the ESE metered mail in foreign countries.

USPS regulates the international shipping of USPS Media Mail and USPS First Class packages -- but the ESE is limited by USPS metered mail regulations to be shipped ONLY as domestic mail.

Again -- what you are suggesting as a "work-around" is unworkable, since it requires two separate shipping charges for which eBay is not designed (first to the eBay International Shipping Center, and then another to the international address).

If the OP wishes to ship trading cards via USPS First Class International letter mail, the current charge (from the seller to the buyer) is only $1.45. Or the OP can choose to ship a regular package through the eBay International Selling Center at a higher charge. Either option is legitimate, according to both USPS and eBay.

marnotom! · ‎06-21-2023

@1786davycrockett, I think you may be confusing the eBay International Shipping service with the soon to be mothballed eBay International Standard Delivery service. The two services are quite different. The former is a mail consolidation/forwarding service, while the latter is a discount postage scheme. Your points seem to make more sense in the context of eISD rather than eIS. eIS is what the OP was inquiring about.

1786davycrockett · ‎06-21-2023

@marnotom!

No, I am not confusing any of the eBay International shipping services, either past, present or future.

The OP was inquiring about using the ESE for shipping trading cards on an international basis; and I have been attempting to reply to the OP (and to you) that the ESE can not be used for international mail, nor can it be offered to international buyers as a "work-around" for either regular USPS First Class International letters, nor USPS First Class International packages.

The regulations for USPS metered mail (such as the ESE) are very strict, and very restrictive, and cannot be used for forwarding shipments to the eBay International Selling Center. Postal regulations in Canada (where you live) may be different; but in the United States, we must abide by USPS regulations.