Semi-OT: Folks in the US shipping stuff internationally. Or not.

[ch1]

Thanks for the suggestion, but adding about thirty minutes travel time each way to get to a more efficient post office in a different part of Manhattan doesn't really save much time. Most anywhere else in the US, even in many moderate sized cities, this isn't a problem.

The DIY machines are great for domestic packages when they're working. Often they aren't, so it's back to the line.

The most ridiculous postal situation I've experienced is waiting the usual 40 minutes or so in line to mail packages and purchase stamps, and then discovering that the clerk was out of stamps in the denomination I needed, so he had to go over to the postage vending machines and purchase them with cash from his drawer. Often the machines in that post office take the cash without dispensing the stamps, so I figured, better he risk his cash than I mine. The clerk did acknowledge how absurd this all was.

Sorry you've had such a hard time, David. I was only trying to offer you a positive solution. :angel:

Sounds as if you're not interested .

Have a nice day. 🙂

 

[celluloidprop]

It's just not worth the extra hassle for me. I print shipping labels with Paypal, use the free USPS priority materials, and drop everything off at midnight. Anything requiring that I actually stand in line at the PO had better be a big ticket.

If I had auctions that didn't sell because of the policy, there'd be reason to revise it. But that hasn't happened yet. (most of my auctions are somewhat US-specific anyway - not too many Germans hunting for used Criterion DVDs)

 

[enochRoot]

not too many Germans hunting for used Criterion DVDs)

unless they feature david hasselhoff 😀

 

[ChrisN]

I'll add a view from the other side of the world - in the last two years I've had about 30 or 40 parcels delivered that were sent from the US via USPS. This has been 100% reliable, and usually takes 10 to 14 days.

The only problem I've ever had was with a camera sent via UPS - it was slower and they went out of their way to maximise the customs charges and handling charges.

I really appreciate sellers making that little extra effort - this way I can gain access to items that I would otherwise never see in my little corner of the world.

As a sender, our system is like the UK, go to the post office, queue for a couple of minutes, fill out two forms and show some ID. Postal insurance is available to many destinations but not to Germany, for some reason.

 

[ch1]

I'll add a view from the other side of the world - in the last two years I've had about 30 or 40 parcels delivered that were sent from the US via USPS. This has been 100% reliable, and usually takes 10 to 14 days.

The only problem I've ever had was with a camera sent via UPS - it was slower and they went out of their way to maximise the customs charges and handling charges.

I really appreciate sellers making that little extra effort - this way I can gain access to items that I would otherwise never see in my little corner of the world.

As a sender, our system is like the UK, go to the post office, queue for a couple of minutes, fill out two forms and show some ID. Postal insurance is available to many destinations but not to Germany, for some reason.

Chris,

Nice info to hear. I did a lot of eBay selling a couple of years back. At the time it was virtually all UPS all the time.

Now, quite the opposite. It's USPS as the preferred shipper - particularly Priority Mail - which is actually operated by FedEx under contract with the PO. Obviously, eBay, USPS and FedEx have a marketing alliance - but it grew out of people getting totally pissed off with UPS.

 

[airds]

Pop is correct. Do you want to send some printed material to United Arab Emirates? You can't send it if it's "offensive to Arabs and Muslims." How about a radio receiver? Nope. You'll need a permit first.
How about sending a deck of used playing cards to Germany? Prohibited.
Or a bloody HORROR COMIC BOOK to the UK and some walkie talkie transceivers? Prohibited. If you're planning on selling worldwide, you'll need to check HERE before you ship.

R.J.

Come on RJ, the walkie talkie transceivers are obviously for good reason - with the UK and the States equipment working on different frequencies - not to mention mains voltage. I'm sure it works in reverse too. The actual restriction said:-

Citizens Band Radios, walkie-talkies, microbugs, and radio microphones that are capable of transmitting on any frequency between 26.1 and 29.7 megacycles per second and 88 to 108 Mhz per second.


I'm lost with Horror comics though - and just what are matrices ? Remember too it's not a restriction FROM the U.S. but from any country INTO the U.K- I can't imagine anything from any other English speaking country would fail to comply, would be but more to prevent entry from other dubious sources.


Just think of all these street photo oppertunties and exercise you miss while not taking a trip down to that Post Office 🙂


Not to mention the problems some folk - even Europeans - have of just getting into the States for business ....


Top marks must always go to Mr Aki-Asahi, the Japanese P.O. and the Royal Mail for consistent impressive quick deliveries. (My best was a CD from Hong Kong ordered apres pub, very early on a Sunday morning, and here, getting into the wilds a bit ~100 miles North West from Glasgow, on the Tuesday ....)


rdgs

 

[paulh]

I ship internationally by EMS insured. Its a bit more work but hey we only have 3.5 million people in the whole of Singapore and probably 0.05% of that uses rangefinders!

Cheers,
Paul

 

[RJBender]

Come on RJ, the walkie talkie transceivers are obviously for good reason - with the UK and the States equipment working on different frequencies - not to mention mains voltage. I'm sure it works in reverse too. The actual restriction said:-

Citizens Band Radios, walkie-talkies, microbugs, and radio microphones that are capable of transmitting on any frequency between 26.1 and 29.7 megacycles per second and 88 to 108 Mhz per second.


I'm lost with Horror comics though - and just what are matrices ? Remember too it's not a restriction FROM the U.S. but from any country INTO the U.K- I can't imagine anything from any other English speaking country would fail to comply, would be but more to prevent entry from other dubious sources....

The wallkie talkies for kids use 9 Volt batteries. Here are the Citizens Band frequencies for the USA (26.965 MHz-27.405 MHz). 88-108 Mhz is the FM band here in the USA. Can you buy something like this in the UK?

source: http://www.ccrane.com/radios/fm-transmitters/fm-transmitter.aspx


Check with a bookstore and see if it's illegal to possess this type of material:

source: http://www.comicsvf.com/cgfs/17708.php ​

I think matrices are used for printing comic books.
I have no idea what the penalties would be in all the jurisdictions shown HERE. Death by stoning? Life imprisonment? A huge fine?

Check out the Country Conditions for Mailing - Albania :

Extravagant clothes and other articles contrary to Albanians' taste.
Literature, publications, and other articles prejudicial to the State public order.
Used articles.

Over 90% of all items listed on eBay are used. Albanian customs will probably seize the item and the buyer will leave you negative feedback. Albanian customs employees are probably the best dressed people in Albania.

R.J.

 

[ch1]

RJ

A little perspective is needed here:

I can best speak about the "walkie talkies" since as a ham radio operator (and someone NOT interested in CB band stuff per se) you have to understand that radio frequency regulation is, and has been, a globally-based system since 1927!

Simply put, the frequencies that are used in the US for CB "walkie talkies" are not universally accpeted. Those same frequencies in some jurisdictions are allocated to other uses - and thus - exporting non-compliant equipment to those jurisdiction would enable people there to contravene the legal uses of those frequencies.

Now - as to the HORROR comics - part of it, I believe stems from "sensitiviies". Witness, for example, how the Muslim world is burning down Danish (and now every Western) embassy. Now I have less than zero sympathy for their intolerance but I do understand that some cultures would not want certain images IMPORTED into their jurisdictions.

The key word here, obviously, is IMPORTED. These rioting jerks in the Muslim countries are reacting to images published elsewhere - simply slavishly responding to the irrational dictates of their Imams.

But, OTOH, it is very reasonable to understand why Germany, for instance, would not allow the importation of Nazi-glorifying comic books and rightfully ban the same.

The difference of course, is that the Germans, for example, do not go trashing our embassy if we choose to publish these kinds of cartoons in OUR country.

Regards,

 

[RJBender]

RJ

A little perspective is needed here:

I can best speak about the "walkie talkies" since as a ham radio operator (and someone NOT interested in CB band stuff per se) you have to understand that radio frequency regulation is, and has been, a globally-based system since 1927!

Simply put, the frequencies that are used in the US for CB "walkie talkies" are not universally accpeted. Those same frequencies in some jurisdictions are allocated to other uses - and thus - exporting non-compliant equipment to those jurisdiction would enable people there to contravene the legal uses of those frequencies.

Now - as to the HORROR comics - part of it, I believe stems from "sensitiviies". Witness, for example, how the Muslim world is burning down Danish (and now every Western) embassy. Now I have less than zero sympathy for their intolerance but I do understand that some cultures would not want certain images IMPORTED into their jurisdictions.

The key word here, obviously, is IMPORTED. These rioting jerks in the Muslim countries are reacting to images published elsewhere - simply slavishly responding to the irrational dictates of their Imams.

But, OTOH, it is very reasonable to understand why Germany, for instance, would not allow the importation of Nazi-glorifying comic books and rightfully ban the same.

The difference of course, is that the Germans, for example, do not go trashing our embassy if we choose to publish these kinds of cartoons in OUR country.

Regards,

George,

Can you imagine what would happen in the UK if someone were to walk around with a wireless microphone that operates on the same frequency as television's audio frequency? They could impersonate telly tax collectors. How much is the telly tax now? £112 per telly?



Well, I can't blame the Queen's censors. That stuff, although collectible, is crap IMO.

R.J.

 

[jan normandale]

I'm off the strict line of the thread but I'll put my my vote in for the USPS and Canada Post. Both seem to deliver one or two days later than UPS ... BUT! ... they do it for a fraction of the cost, don't assess fictional or non applicable duties as well as handling charges and refuse to remit the parcel unless I pay their fees. I am fighting the couriers as I write.

Meanwhile the USPS and Canada Post deliver at a third the total cash layout of UPS or the others for a day or two difference. Since I'm paying, I love these organizations and I want to say (by and large) thanks to their people for a job well done and at an affordable price point that their competitors are not willing to match.

Regarding the declaration form, it takes one minute if you know it two if you don't.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

For anyone shipping out of the country: check the new shipping prices. They are up substantially with the new price increases. ALSO, shipping items insured is a lot more expensive. Cost me $30 to ship a 55/1.2 lens insured for $100 via Global Priority. That is up by at least $5 from last year.

AND for the first time ever, it looks like I shipped an item (not the lens) that was damaged in transit. Glad it was insured, let's see if they make good on it. On a prior -and different item- claim, the item shipped overseas appeared to be lost and I was offered full reimbursement. That offer came ONE YEAR after the item had been shipped. It had been finally received, and I declined the reimbursement. BUT, does anyone think an overseas customer is willing to wait ONE YEAR to be reimbursed? Likely, the seller will have to refund out-of-pocket.

 

[George S.]

Just some issues I personally ran into when sending items overseas....

Yes, it is a bit more paperwork for the U.S. seller, but then sometimes you get a buyer who's not all that savvy, and when it takes 2 or 3 weeks for the item to get to them, they start wondering aloud if you're ripping them off, etc.

The US Postal employees just told me it was not feasible for an out of U.S. buyer to track the package, that the international tracking is designed for post offices, and not individuals, to do the tracking. (Whatever THAT means!)

They also just informed me that maximum insurance coverage is $675. So why would I want to send an M6 or an M7 with only $675 coverage....?

Then, when you inform the buyer that you need insurance, they don't want their customs office to know how much the item is worth, and they ask you to state that the camera is "For parts", or "Broken".

Most people just don't check off the "Will Ship Internationally" tab on the ebay auction set up because then they think they'll get all bids from Nigeria and Eastern Europe or something, but if you ask them in a private email, they'll mostly answer "Sure" when you ask if they'll ship internationally to Europe or Austrailia, etc.