International shipping - "Please enquire"

[graphskill]

Hi All

new to ebid, so please excuse the question if it is obvious

I am only using fixed price / buy now auctions, and I include free second class postage to UK

I would like to be able to sell abroad, but I don't know the cost. Our items can be very heavy, and bulky. So I would like to be able to say

"Free second class shipping to UK, for international please enquire"
and then be able to add the calculated cost on once we get a figure from the shippers.

Another site i used I could set the weight of the product, and it automatically calculates from rules

Any ideas if this is possible? Or any other suggestions?

[iwiw60]

Hello and a big welcome to eBid! I visited your All About Me page and listings and as regards your question about international postage...gosh, I could be wrong, but I'd think the shipping costs on such heavy materials would be just awful!! Maybe someone here on the forum will be able to help you, but I'm at a loss on this one....

[billsstamps]

I recommend being specific about all postage costs when you list an item.

If you have an estimated weight for the packed item, it is easy enough to read postage cost off a table.

Received wisdom is that if a crucial piece of information is missing, customers look elsewhere

[astral276]

To calculate the cost you not only need the weight of the item but its package size, carrier, and carrier service.

If you are listing online then there is a link next to the International Shipping area (just under where it says International Shipping) to Royal Mail's postal calculator. For international you only have two rates - Europe and Rest of World. Nowhere near as complicated as our American cousins have it.

If listing offline you can go direct to the Royal Mail calculator at: http://sg.royalmail.com/portal/rm/Pr...ar=pricingcalc

Or another, excellent, calculator - which I find easier to use, is at: http://www.seajays.org.uk/postage/

[graphskill]

Thank you all for suggestions (helpful crowd around here

I think I will stick with UK for now, see how it goes. Probably find that adding international postage could make the products uncompetitive anyway

[suesjools]

Thank you all for suggestions (helpful crowd around here

I think I will stick with UK for now, see how it goes. Probably find that adding international postage could make the products uncompetitive anyway

Might be best for heavier items, unless you know of a good (and cheap) courier. I ship jewelry and books overseas, but not clothing, d/t shipping costs making it prohibitive to ship.

Oh and welcome to eBid, the friendliest place to buy and sell on the Net!

Best wishes for many sales to all,

[adruml]

Hi All

new to ebid, so please excuse the question if it is obvious

I am only using fixed price / buy now auctions, and I include free second class postage to UK

I would like to be able to sell abroad, but I don't know the cost. Our items can be very heavy, and bulky. So I would like to be able to say

"Free second class shipping to UK, for international please enquire"
and then be able to add the calculated cost on once we get a figure from the shippers.

Another site i used I could set the weight of the product, and it automatically calculates from rules

Any ideas if this is possible? Or any other suggestions?

I encounter pretty much the same issue but I'm based in US. I like to be able to ship everywhere and what I have found pretty much a standard shipping from US is either a 79" length plus girth limit (with different length maximums alllowed) up to a 108" length plus girth limit (again with different length maximums allowed) I put in my listings to contact me for shipping quote prior to bidding or buying.
Ebid's shipping does not pick up the fact Australia cannot have a guitar shipped USPS Priority Mail as it does not fall within the 79" maximum length plus girth allowed but when I check my auction the shipping calculator quotes a price well under what it would cost to actually ship the item which must ship USPS Global which is almost double the price.
If the size of your items is not the issue but rather weight you should be able to put your weight and package size into the auction shipping calculator and allow buyers to see the cost. I would still request they contact you prior to placing a bid so you can quote a true shipping cost.

[adruml]

Thank you all for suggestions (helpful crowd around here

I think I will stick with UK for now, see how it goes. Probably find that adding international postage could make the products uncompetitive anyway

That's not necessarily true. I have only sold online since January of 2007 mostly Musical Instruments. I would say 35% of my sales were shipped International.
International buyers are aware of the shipping cost involved with International shipping. I wouldn't give up on it just figure out the best way to do it. I would like to help but I am not familiar with your Postal Service. Ebid does need to smarten up there shipping calculator a bit just some minor tweeks like getting the calculator to determine how an item can be shipped (which service) at least from the US anyway.
Last and certainly not least...Do not forget, if you are being paid by Pay Pal their fees include the shipping cost as well as the item cost which can be sizeable if shipping cost is between $50.00 and $120.00. Add a handling fee to cover those fees.

[Bohemian]

This may be stating the obvious, but a good reliable set of scales (for weighing items) is worthwhile. Once you have your own
scales and a list of Post Office charges, it should be simple, to work out the exact cost. Less trips to the local Post Office too ! Good luck.

[adruml]

This may be stating the obvious, but a good reliable set of scales (for weighing items) is worthwhile. Once you have your own
scales and a list of Post Office charges, it should be simple, to work out the exact cost. Less trips to the local Post Office too ! Good luck.

I purchased a pretty nice scale for about $30.00 but it only goes up to 36 pounds which is great for what I normally sell. Every now and then I'll get some large heavy bulky item in and have no way to weigh it. So....
Take the scale you use to weigh yourself and weigh yourself. Lets say you way 150 pounds then take the item (boxed) hold it then get on the scale now you and the box weigh 202 pounds. Deduct the 202 from your original 150 and the box must weigh 52 pounds.
Most of the newer digital scales for home personal weight use don't register until 70 pounds are placed which is why you can't just put a 50 pound box on them to get a weight.
If I dabbled in heavier items constantly I would buy a larger scale but for every now and then I use this system.