Shipping US to China - HELP! :)

[kathimac05]

I need some help with best way to ship a pair of altec lansing cabinete speakers to China. I've check UPS and the cost (air) is more than the speakers. I'm not familiar with the global shipping program. The weight will be about 200 lbs, crated, from US 37405 to Yulin China, 537000. Can anyone give me some direction on what would be least expensive way to ship these speakers to China? Should I check the global shipping box so that is an option?  I did uncheck it when first appeared bc it was messing things up but have shipped to many countries overseas, including Asia, with no problems. I've never shipped anything this heavy. Surely there is a way that is not so expensive. Thanks in advance for any help or direction you can give. kathi 

PS - The prospective buyer wants " Use wooden and packing blanket, fixed box tray."

[lintbrush*]

There are no Import fees showing when I click on any of the countries listed in the dropdown and it shows being shipped by UPS Supersaver.  It is NOT a GSP listing.

You CANNOT estimate for a GSP listing.  That won't fly.  But yeah, they didn't say anything becasue it's not a GSP listing.   They also won't make you correct anything.  PitneyBowes isn't your babysitter.  You are responsible for the proper information.

Right now if someone from Nigeria bought them, you'd be shipping there.

Get the $$ signs out of your eyes.  They are blinding you.  We see this all too often with newer sellers.

[kathimac05]

Gosh, you're right, thanks... it was anther international shipping service. I've been here for 11 years, BTW. I'm too tired right now to deal with this since it keeps showing me that it goes through GSP, then doesn't so I'll put it back the way it was and try to fix it tomorrow.

[lintbrush*]

200 lbs of LPs are quite different than crated speakers.  You are not accounting for actual dimensional (volume) weight - which isn't the same as DimSum for the GSP.

All of the people here are trying to help you not lose 4k.  You refuse to believe them even with links provided.

[lintbrush*]

To ship only to GSP eligible countries, you would have to set your shipping blocks to all international locations, and then set your buyer requirements to block those buyers living in a different country.  Then you would have to apply the GSP and allow it to override your blocks for eligible GSP countries.

You don't even have enough details in the description describing EVERY visible flaw or enough pictures to show their true condition. 

I'd end the listing until I was able to do all of that.  Even for a domestic purchase, you're wide open for a SNAD claim.

[kathimac05]

I don't know why you say I refuse to believe anything when I continue to express my appreciation and the fact that no sale has taken place yet so respecting interested buyers by garnering information that also adds to my knowledge base is what I am doing. 

[kathimac05]

Lintbrush, any suggestions on what I should photo, describe, etc.? I wondered if I should open the back but since they've never been opened and I'm not trained, I was hesitant to do so.

[lintbrush*]

The reason why I'm on you is because while you keep saying no sale has taken place, they are still available for sale.  With all the potential for problems, I would simply end the listing.  Then, when I got it together with complete accuracey and full understanding of potential pitfalls, I would relist it.

I do not suggest opening the back, but I do suggest taking close-ups of the tops and sides.  I'd describe any scratches or nicks - any repairs (like scratch cover)  I don't even see both backs. 

Have you plugged them in?  What do they sound like?  I don't see any wiring so have you checked to see if they worked?  The 'surround' around the cone could be brittle and cracked causing strange vibration.  Easy to fix, but makes them sound terible.

eBay is extremely buyer-centric.  If they didn't have the ability to control of your money or have the ultimate end decision on any claims, then I wouldn't be reacting so strongly. 

[missjen831]

---

@kathimac05 wrote:

I don't know why you say I refuse to believe anything when I continue to express my appreciation and the fact that no sale has taken place yet so respecting interested buyers by garnering information that also adds to my knowledge base is what I am doing. 

---

We just don't want to see another seller get burned here. You have a beautiful set of speakers, I have no doubt you could sell them locally. Maybe not as fast as you want but I am sure there is a local or semi-local collector out there who would love to buy them if you list them locally. eBay would love for you to sell the speakers here because it helps line their pocket. But they will NOT have your back when the sale goes south. 

[twnpopcards]

@kathimac05

I do not ship internationally but I did not see anybody address your question about Ebay taking their 10% FVF on the shipping even if it is that high.  My understanding is they take their FVF no matter what the amount is so if you are talking $2000 shipping, then I believe Ebay will take an additional $200 just on the shipping charges.  I am not at all familiar with what they do with the GSP charges.

You stated that you cannot afford to take a loss on these items and everybody keeps trying to warn you that you are setting yourself up for taking a loss, yet you still seem to be operating with tunnel vision.  Hi value items are always targets for scammers and China is notorious for not tracking items that are delivered from what I have read on the boards.  If you cannot show the items are delivered all the buyer has to say is i did not receive it and you will have to refund their money.

Also have you taken into consideration that if the buyer says the speakers do not work and file a SNAD that you are then also responsible for paying to have them shipped back to you?  This means you are going to have to pay another $2000 to have the items shipped back and then you have to pray that what you get back is the same as what you shipped and if they are that they still work, or just refund all the money that the buyer paid you in the first place, including the shipping costs.

You would be so much better off selling them with local pickup only and use a service where you can charge cash when they pick the item up so you do not have to worry about the buyer charging the cost back later.  I only mention this because you stated that it would be devastating if you lost the money from this sale and that is the ONLY way I can think of to make sure that you are protected.

David

Twnpopcards

[kathimac05]

Thanks David. I do ship internationally and (knock wood) so far have not had any problems. Someone did address the final value fee for global shipping saying that eBay does not charge it on that part of the shipping, only on the portion of shipping to their disbursement center in KY. 

My listings state buyer pays return shipping and I hope eBay and a buyer would honor that as part of the contract. 

Research and respect equals tunnel vision? I don't get it but apparently some want to see me as wrong for doing that. I'm very grateful for all the feedback here and having a place to go to look in to these things so I don't have to pay to learn with mistakes. 

[lintbrush*]

---

@kathimac05 wrote:

Thanks David. I do ship internationally and (knock wood) so far have not had any problems. Someone did address the final value fee for global shipping saying that eBay does not charge it on that part of the shipping, only on the portion of shipping to their disbursement center in KY. 

My listings state buyer pays return shipping and I hope eBay and a buyer would honor that as part of the contract. 

Research and respect equals tunnel vision? I don't get it but apparently some want to see me as wrong for doing that. I'm very grateful for all the feedback here and having a place to go to look in to these things so I don't have to pay to learn with mistakes. 

---

This really demonstrates your inexperience.  If the buyer claims Not As Described, a normal return policy doesn't apply.  It falls under the Money Back Guarantee.  The seller is responsible for a full refund plus return shipping exepenses if they want them back.  There is very little protection as to what you get back too. 

For an International transaction - Cost out of your pocket if your customer is in China based upon the last way I saw it - $2k shipping one way $2k shipping back. Refuse and it won't cost you the 2k back but you'll then lose the items & the original shipping.

For a domestic transaction - your loss will be less, but do you trust someone to a) ship them back or b) ship them back properly?

http://community.ebay.com/t5/Shipping-Returns/why-is-eBay-not-interested-in-solid-proof-that-a-4000-...

Look at this thread:  The seller shipped a saxophone and got back an envelope. 

If you ship internationally, then you should also know that eBay bases its shipping FVF on the lowest domestic option (when shipping directly).  If you use the GSP, you pay the FVF on the domestic option to KY - not on the lowest price. 

International payments are charged 3.9% in PayPal vs. 2.9%

The time to do research is before you list something.  You haven't figured out the actual dimensions.  You haven't figured out how to appy GSP (if you can).  Do you know how much it would cost to have them crated them with a fixed box tray? or how to do it yourself?  Crates weigh a lot as well as shipping blankets.   You haven't taken good pictures or given a proper description. 

Until you have all of the right answers and have finished gathering your info, they should not be listed.  That's your tunnel vision.  The listing as it exists right now is set up for failure.

You had a potential buyer ask about sound quality & prior repair.   Your response about not using them for a long time but they played beautifully isn't going to cut it in a SNAD claim. 

And if they don't work right or your buyer thinks they differ from your [lacking] description, you will be on the hook for a lot of money. 

Now it looks like you've removed the UPS Supersaver option, but left it as Worldwide shipping??  There are so many countries where I would never dream of selling to because of their corrupt gov't. 

I just don't understand why you don't end the listings until you get a grip on this.  I can't help you anymore if you won't help yourself.

[kathimac05]

You've helped a lot. For instance, I didn't know the Paypal Intl. rate. thanks

[kathimac05]

Okay, you guys convinced me and I really do appreciate the info and everyone taking the time to comment.

Since they've been listed for nearly a month with no bids and the listing expires in less than 5 days, what I did was raise the price, add a note asking anyone interested to contact me, and changed shipping to freight with the freight.com option with them packing. This should dissuade anyone from bidding on the auction as is and if not, add enough financially to cover what is needed to make sure the deal works.

I'll follow the recommendations here vis a vie photos, testing, etc. and then repost. Thanks a bunch!

[twnpopcards]

---

@kathimac05 wrote:

Thanks David. I do ship internationally and (knock wood) so far have not had any problems. Someone did address the final value fee for global shipping saying that eBay does not charge it on that part of the shipping, only on the portion of shipping to their disbursement center in KY. 

My listings state buyer pays return shipping and I hope eBay and a buyer would honor that as part of the contract. 

Research and respect equals tunnel vision? I don't get it but apparently some want to see me as wrong for doing that. I'm very grateful for all the feedback here and having a place to go to look in to these things so I don't have to pay to learn with mistakes. 

---

@kathimac05

I apologize if I offended you with that comment.  In reading your responses it just seemed that you were determined no matter what anybody said to make this sale and seemed so sure there would be no problems.  That is why I mentioned what I did, not that you were researching things but the interpretation i got was you had made your mind up to do this regardless and were just looking for ways to try and protect yourself, which there are basically none.  The responses you received were from a wide variety of people who rarely all come together with the same basic feeling oif how this was going to end.  We have just seen so many of these and they seem to be increasing, not decreasing so we wanted to try our hardest to convince you it may not be such a great idea, that's all.  Just because your listing states that buyer pays return shipping costs means nothing if the buyer files the item is not as described for any reason.  Ebays Money Back Guarantee now trumps your returns policy and YOU are paying for the return shipping if you want the speakers back.  If not the buyer will get all of their money back (including the original shipping cost) AND get to keep the speakers and Ebay.  I still feel that the majority of buyers on Ebay are honest, but when it comes down to paying $2000 to return some speakers vs nothing, many of those honest buyers suddenly find something wrong with the speakers whether there is or not. I have rarely posted on the boards since they made the changes as I do not care for the new format at all, but like the others, felt that I had the responsibility to try and warn you based on what others have gone through and written about here on the boards.  

Personally I do not want to see another person typing on the boards that they were ripped off or this or that happened and i am now out my product and my money, How could Ebay let that happen.  At least you were smart enough to come here first and ask questions and yes i did read your response and am glad you did come to a better decision (at least what I believe is one).  

That saxophone case is a prime example of what can and many times will happen on Ebay and there just is not any support for you from Ebay.  I hope you understand that all any of us was trying to do was prevent you from losing your speakers and money, nothing more and nothing less.  If you sell them to this person I will hope that we are all proven wrong !!

David

Twnpopcards

[missjen831]

@kathimac05 Your return policy isn't part of the contract. The money back guarantee trumps your return policy when it comes to items that are not as described. You would be required to pay for return shipping if the buyer says the speakers don't work. And since this is an international purchase, you stand to lose thousands of dollars. If you are not able to issue a call service tag through UPS or fedex, you have to send the buyer thousands of dollars via PayPal before they return the speakers, and then submit the proof to eBay. Otherwise eBay will force you to refund the buyer in full and let them keep the speakers. and if you send the buyer money to pay for return shipping, you have no recourse if the buyer decides not to return the speakers.