Shipping a Large Item To Puerto Rico. Could I Have Potentially Been Burned?

[fastkc]

I currently have a large item listed. The weight isn't so much the issue but the size of the box is. Weight is 21' and the box is 69" x 13" x 8". I had this item listed as UPS Ground for about $78 flat rate shipping. An interested buyer from Puerto Rico wanted to know how much shipping to PR would be. I looked it up and UPS was the cheapest at $198. 

I'm enrolled in int'l shipping but don't believe PR is considered international. Am I wrong on this? If the potential buyer didn't ask about the shipping could he just have done BIN, paid the $78 shipping and I'd be out approximately $120 to ship to him? I've been selling for a little while now but had never considered this before and I'm somewhat nervous about larger items now. I've changed the listing to Calculated Shipping and give my discount. 

Am I missing something here? Would this go directly from to the buyer in PR or would it be considered int'l and go through EIS? (I've sold many items through EIS). This is a little long-winded but would appreciate any help. Thanks. 

[caldreamer]

No, Puerto Rico is part of USA.   I would be very cautious about shipping through FedEx or UPS as they are notorious for having charges big surcharges after you shipped item.   If that happens, you will get stuck paying any surcharges.

Post Office does not do that (if you use calculating shipping USPS they will charge customer the correct amount).  Although your box is rather large and may exceed USPS requirement for maximum size.

When you view your listing and you see $78 (that is if you shipped it to Ohio).   Customer in PR would see correct price $198 to ship item.  

[buyselljack2016]

PR is US shipping, but eBay has recently been toying with, or has included PR to possibly be done via eIS. Don't know all the particulars on that but the cost is reportedly extreme that way.

For things that would incur $$$ or delayed shipping to HI, AK and protectorates I exclude those locations in the individual listings.

Shipping for the item that I suspect you are questioning ............... to PR shows me $198.55, but if you had it as "flat rate cost" then yes they would pay $78

[inhawaii]

Do you realize that if the buyer returns that item for not as described, you will be stuck paying for return shipping?

[dbfolks166mt]

     Basically yes regardless of where the US buyer is located they would have paid $78 for the shipping. That is the risk you take when you use a flat rate shipping amount as opposed to using calculated shipping. Based on what I plugged into Pirate Ship, which has the same sometimes better, discounted rates than eBay you can't even get the item from your location to CA for $78. Also realize you will be paying FVF's on the shipping cost so in addition to potentially being short on your shipping cost you may also be out the fees on the shipping. 

     I plugged your numbers into Pirate Ship using your zip code to a zip in San Juan and get the following. I don't ship UPS much nor do I buy my labels off eBay. As noted UPS is infamous for unilateral surcharges after the item has been delivered. 

[buyselljack2016]

@fastkc 

You may also want to rethink the "flat shipping cost" on the rocker panels. UPS can have some serious after the fact surcharges.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@dbfolks166mt wrote:

     ... you can't even get the item from your location to CA for $78. ...     I plugged your numbers into Pirate Ship using your zip code to a zip in San Juan and get the following. I don't ship UPS much nor do I buy my labels off eBay. As noted UPS is infamous for unilateral surcharges after the item has been delivered. 

...

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The eBay shipping calculator gives the same price as Pirateship for Ground Advantage. The postage cost would be the same to California as to PR, since they are both Zone 8 when shipping via USPS from Ohio.

The package has a length-plus-girth of 69+13+8+13+8 = 111 inches, so it's 3 inches too big for Priority Mail but well within the limit of 130 inches for GA.  In addition to shipping at the "Oversize" rate, it will incur USPS surcharges for length over 22 inches and for volume over 2 cubic feet.  Nevertheless, I'd go with USPS rather than UPS because of the potential for UPS mystery surcharges.

Would it be possible to decrease the size of the box at all without risking damage to the product?  If you can get the length-plus-girth down to 108 inches, you'll save $100 in postage due to shipping at the dimensional weight rather than the Oversize rate.

[fastkc]

Oh boy. Appreciate the potential PR buyer for asking me beforehand when I still had that flat shipping. He could have done the BIN and I'd be out. Will have to rethink things. Thanks Jack.

[fastkc]

Even if I have my listing as "Buyer Pays Return Shipping"? 

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@fastkc wrote:

Even if I have my listing as "Buyer Pays Return Shipping"? 

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Yes.  If the buyer files a claim for "Not as described," then the seller is responsible for return shipping.  The seller's return policy does not apply to "Not as described" claims.

[fastkc]

Could you explain the surcharges Jack? I haven't ran into that (knock on wood). What would cause them? Thanks

[fastkc]

Do others exclude Alaska, Hawaii and PR on their listings for this reason? 

[buyselljack2016]

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@fastkc wrote:

Even if I have my listing as "Buyer Pays Return Shipping"? 

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Buyer pays return shipping applies only to "remorse" returns. Changed mind, don't like and the such.

For not "as described" the eBay MBG override " buyer pays" setting.

[inhawaii]

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@fastkc wrote:

Even if I have my listing as "Buyer Pays Return Shipping"? 

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Buyer pays return shipping on a remorse return.

Seller pays return shipping on a INAD (item not as described) return.

[buyselljack2016]

there are a multitude of UPS,(and FedEx) surcharges that can be applied after the fact. I don't use either, so don't have the list handy, but perhaps some with the saved list will chime in.