Would you ship an eBay sale to Australia?

As per the title, I'm selling a Focus header on eBay, I said no international shipping. I've recevied a request from Australia asking if I would consider (he pays shipping obviously). Aus isn't exactly full of Nigerian Prince's. WWGRM do and how would you protect yourselves?

Thanks

I ship to australia all the time. Nice people actually.

I have purched form there as well as shipped there no issue. DHL is you new friend.

OK, thanks guys. What about USPS?

For automotive parts I normally limit bids to the continental US but will open to international on request, particularly Australia and NZ... they must be car crazy there as they always bid well. I was never disappointed.

YMMV

If I include "Ships in the continental US only" in the listing and someone on the opposite side of the planet really wants it, I'll do it, but they'll pay for my time to deal with it.

I had a full set of period cafe' racer bodywork for a Honda CB750 sell to a buyer in Japan for about $800, despite my "Ships in the continental US only" language. Shipping the stuff, properly crated and palletized would be about $1100. He disappeared after that.

I've shipped to Oz before. USPS is the cheapest option, but also the slowest.

I ship there all the time. No problems.

Just curious, why would you guys limit your market to US only?

Zomby Woof wrote: I ship there all the time. No problems. Just curious, why would you guys limit your market to US only?

We are lazy and hate having to fill out a piece of paper.

Yes, if it was worth it, money-wise. If it was a $10 part then no way, but if I'm making a chunk of change then sure. USPS works fine for me, different speeds are available, but be sure to know exactly what it weighs when packaged before giving him the shipping rates. You would be shocked how much an extra pound or two of packing material can cost to ship express mail to Australia. It could destroy the point of selling the parts in the first place, to recover money for projects. ;-)

On why not ship internationally, most people internationally don't like paying Fedex rates for their packages, and I don't like taking the extra half hour that a trip to the post office takes. Shipping a Fedex package literally adds 1 minute to my trip home, but the post office is another story entirely. So unless the part is valuable it's not worth the time to ship it internationally.

I've bought Skyline parts from our brethren of down under.

When i had my NOS vintage Montesa internet shop I shiped close to 80% of my inventory too Tasmania and Australia. Infact they were the only ones who never barked at price nor price of shipping.

I don't really understand the question,you get your money up front including shipping costs,you toddle down to the post office and off it goes.Why would you need to "protect" yourself?.

Pisses me off when I try to buy something from a US seller and they won't ship to me in Canada,I mean they'll ship it OVER Canada to Alaska so???.

I shipped a 323i intake manifold to some guy in Russia. Big box. Intake manifold was $175, shipping was $125. I asked him if he wanted insurance on it ($90) but he said no. Got the money in Paypal account in days, and shipped it via USPS. He got it.

IIRC, in NZ there is a tax on imported new auto parts, they are happy to bid/ pay a little extra. They requested marking the package and custom forms 'used auto parts' to avoid the tax. I like selling there.

I shipped used Datsun Roadster floor mats to a guy in Australia. Great guy - I kept asking if he really wanted TP pay $30 to ship $10 mats.

"Pete, we live on an island. We're used to getting jammed on freight".

kevlarcorolla wrote: I don't really understand the question,you get your money up front including shipping costs,you toddle down to the post office and off it goes.Why would you need to "protect" yourself?. Pisses me off when I try to buy something from a US seller and they won't ship to me in Canada,I mean they'll ship it OVER Canada to Alaska so???.

its cause the brits think aussies are criminals.

I've bought and sold to the UK through ebay with no problems at all.

I sell items to Australia all the time and frankly they are a pleasure to do business with. Friendly, courteous and always pay up front immediately. Usually, they send a note just to say hi and thank me for shipping to them. Seriously, really top rated.

Just be aware of shipping costs up front. Recent shipped a paintball marker to NZ for 10$ extra, thinking it would cover it. (only shipped to apo boxes, didn't know) 62$ later I wasn't so happy.

kevlarcorolla wrote: I don't really understand the question,you get your money up front including shipping costs,you toddle down to the post office and off it goes.Why would you need to "protect" yourself?. Pisses me off when I try to buy something from a US seller and they won't ship to me in Canada,I mean they'll ship it OVER Canada to Alaska so???.

I get the impression their post offices aren't always that easy to deal with.

There are a quite a few motorcycle accessory, and machine shops that will not ship outside the US. It's frustrating when it's a specialty shop with a top notch rep and you really want to do business with them and can't.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: OK, thanks guys. What about USPS?

I strongly suggest against this. USPS takes it to the airport and then their responsibility ends. Companies like UPS and FedEx have global representation.

I've had mounds of trouble using USPS to ship from US to Canada, but had zero problems shipping to Japan using UPS. I strongly suggest using a shipper that is present in both your home country and the one to which you're shipping.

Make sure that you have BOTH the weight AND the dimensional weight. Either can cause big changes in shipping costs. As light as a (non-cast) header is, the dimensional weight will likely be larger, so it will cost more than it's weight would initially indicate.

Zomby Woof wrote: I ship there all the time. No problems. Just curious, why would you guys limit your market to US only?

It depends on what I'm selling. I have shipped cars to the middle east and even India, but selecting US only tends to limit the crazies. Scammers have bots that search ebay for international shipping.

International shipping can add some complexity for the seller unless they are well-versed in the required customs forms and procedures.

I've shipped all over the world using USPS, FedEx and UPS depending on what the buyer wants.

I just sent a set of Trans-Am wheels to Italy last month, no issues.

Make DAMN sure you're accurate on dimensions and weights for the shipping estimate or they will shaft you.

Australia has never been a problem for me using USPS.

Make sure you get tracking and delivery confirmation to cover your butt. Ask the buyer if they want insurance and do it using the eBay message system so there is a record if they don't get insurance and the thing goes missing.

Good luck.

Shawn