Quantcast

Selling internationally

Sandwich

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,061
5,970
borcester rhymes
Anybody here ever sell anything on pinkbike (ha-ha) internationally? There's a fella interested in my frame and he's in Chile. Says he's willing to pay up to $150 for shipping, which sounds OK to me....my estimate via the USPS webpage was about $120. I don't have the bike boxed up yet, otherwise I'd just head to the PO and check, but I'm wondering if there's anything I need to watch out for or be sketched out by. I would go through the normal channels, ie paypal, and ship insured and delivery confirmation/return receipt. Anything else I can do to protect myself?
 
KavuRider

KavuRider

Turbo Monkey
Jan 30, 2006
2,565
4
CT
Sandwich said:
Anybody here ever sell anything on pinkbike (ha-ha) internationally? There's a fella interested in my frame and he's in Chile. Says he's willing to pay up to $150 for shipping, which sounds OK to me....my estimate via the USPS webpage was about $120. I don't have the bike boxed up yet, otherwise I'd just head to the PO and check, but I'm wondering if there's anything I need to watch out for or be sketched out by. I would go through the normal channels, ie paypal, and ship insured and delivery confirmation/return receipt. Anything else I can do to protect myself?
Click to expand...
Not really.
Make sure you know the regulations for shipping to Chile, should be on the USPS page. Each country has limits on parcel sizes. Also, make sure you are aware of the customs requirements having to do with item value. Maybe ask the buyer if he knows. An example is Brazil charges an outrageous amount to receive an item if its over a certain value.

I have shipped to Brazil, Australia, Ukraine, France...its a PITA but every transaction went well.
 
Sandwich

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,061
5,970
borcester rhymes
looks like you can get a return receipt, which I imagine is the snail-mail equivalent of delivery confirmation.

the guy seems to be moderately active over on PB, and has even responded to a few ads here on RM.
 
binary visions

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
22,098
1,144
NC
I'd be leery of Paypal for overseas shipment. Paypal tends to protect buyers to a fault, and with basically no hope of actually enforcing anything against this guy, if he gets Paypal to file a chargeback, you're screwed.

There are a number of ways he could do that, including claiming the product was not as advertised, or shipping back an empty box and claiming he shipped the product back.

For overseas shipments, I want cash in hand in some manner. I shipped my Imperial frame to Australia, and did a direct bank transfer. I actually closed the account after that, too, since I hadn't tried anything like that before.
 
KavuRider

KavuRider

Turbo Monkey
Jan 30, 2006
2,565
4
CT
binary visions said:
I'd be leery of Paypal for overseas shipment. Paypal tends to protect buyers to a fault, and with basically no hope of actually enforcing anything against this guy, if he gets Paypal to file a chargeback, you're screwed.

There are a number of ways he could do that, including claiming the product was not as advertised, or shipping back an empty box and claiming he shipped the product back.

For overseas shipments, I want cash in hand in some manner. I shipped my Imperial frame to Australia, and did a direct bank transfer. I actually closed the account after that, too, since I hadn't tried anything like that before.
Click to expand...
This is true, and a big reason that I have been selling on craigslist for cash recently.

Although alternative payments from overseas are just as risky IMO.

I once sold a set of Deemax wheels to a guy CoD. He paid, but I won't ever take that risk again.
 
rockofullr

rockofullr

confused
Jun 11, 2009
7,342
924
East Bay, Cali
KavuRider said:
Not really.
Make sure you know the regulations for shipping to Chile, should be on the USPS page. Each country has limits on parcel sizes. Also, make sure you are aware of the customs requirements having to do with item value. Maybe ask the buyer if he knows. An example is Brazil charges an outrageous amount to receive an item if its over a certain value.

I have shipped to Brazil, Australia, Ukraine, France...its a PITA but every transaction went well.
Click to expand...
You can get around customs on small items by labeling it as a "gift".

Don't know if that would work on something like a bike.
 
Jeremy R

Jeremy R

<b>x</b>
Nov 15, 2001
9,698
1,053
behind you with a snap pop
The last two forks I sold were international.
I sold a boxxer to a guy in Japan through USPS with no problems.
And I just sold a 180mm Fox to a guy in Canada and used Fedex international ground. Both were paypal transactions and went well. Honestly, the only hassle is having to fill out an extra form.
 
rockofullr

rockofullr

confused
Jun 11, 2009
7,342
924
East Bay, Cali
Jeremy R said:
The last two forks I sold were international.
I sold a boxxer to a guy in Japan through USPS with no problems.
And I just sold a 180mm Fox to a guy in Canada and used Fedex international ground. Both were paypal transactions and went well. Honestly, the only hassle is having to fill out an extra form.
Click to expand...
How much was customs?
 
freakrock

freakrock

Monkey
Aug 19, 2005
431
0
Santiago de Chile
I you'd like to make sure you'll get your money, ask him to send it through western union. That service is available from many different sources in almost every chilean city. Last time i checked, it wasn't expensive; something like USD6+3% of the amount to be sent.

Feel free to let me know if you need any info about Chilean customs.
 
Sandwich

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,061
5,970
borcester rhymes
freakrock said:
I you'd like to make sure you'll get your money, ask him to send it through western union. That service is available from many different sources in almost every chilean city. Last time i checked, it wasn't expensive; something like USD6+3% of the amount to be sent.

Feel free to let me know if you need any info about Chilean customs.
Click to expand...
is western union common in chile? It goes virtually hand-in-hand with scammers up here. I don't want to scare people off sounding like a scammer, but I don't want to get scammed either. There are like three people interested in the frame and they're all in chile.
 
dan-o

dan-o

Turbo Monkey
Jun 30, 2004
6,499
2,805
Wire transfer before ship.
If they're not comfortable with the risk then 'no frame for you'.
Will probably be around $20/fees for both parties.

Customs/duties aren't your problem and you can't predict them beforehand.
List frame as 'used' on forms and value reasonably.
 
freakrock

freakrock

Monkey
Aug 19, 2005
431
0
Santiago de Chile
It is not used that much, but it is widely available. I don't think you'll sound like a scammer if you ask for it and explain your reasons. Most people here wouldn't trust fellow chilean asking for funds through WU, but wouldn't mind if someone from the states did.

If you want, send me their names, nicknames and the cities they're from and i'll see what i can find out.
 
Nerf Herder

Nerf Herder

Chimp
Mar 26, 2010
28
0
why can't you just do a bank to bank transfer and ship when the cash is in your account.

Get your banks IBAN and or SWIFT code ... ask the bank if the respondent bank can reverse the transaction once it is processed into your account (get the answer in writing).

Presuming they can't reverse the transaction (which I believe they can't) then If something dodgy occurs, like they try to scam your account or reverse the transaction then you have your banks security to trust ... and can claim your bank if something happens. Sure you gave out your bank details, but it is only a semi random series of numbers, which the bank is responsible for verifying and securing all transactions and data, with your authorisation.

Recommend you put some money under your mattress just in case I'm wrong ... I'm Chilean after all. :weee: can't wait to ride your rig dood. :p
 
dump

dump

Turbo Monkey
Oct 12, 2001
8,212
4,462
Serial Midget said:
I've purchased / sold items from Germany,the UK, Australia and Canada - Canada is by far the slowest... that's all I know.
Click to expand...
Especially when Canada Post is on strike... no mail delivered in the last 2 or so weeks. It's going to be fun once they get going again.
 
rockofullr

rockofullr

confused
Jun 11, 2009
7,342
924
East Bay, Cali
dump said:
Especially when Canada Post is on strike... no mail delivered in the last 2 or so weeks. It's going to be fun once they get going again.
Click to expand...
Seriously! I tried to order parts off of a PinkBike kid in Canadnanadndnada and I loled when he told me about the strike.

him: "Our postal workers have been on strike for the last week so I cant ship anything and I have no idea when I will be able to."

me: "looooooooooool"
 
maddog17

maddog17

Turbo Monkey
Jan 20, 2008
2,817
106
Methuen, Mass. U.S.A.
i've been told that if you do the deal thru Paypal you send it as a gift and not as an online sale. that way they can't try to scam you by saying they never rec'd it or isn't as advertised
 
dump

dump

Turbo Monkey
Oct 12, 2001
8,212
4,462
rockofullr said:
Seriously! I tried to order parts off of a PinkBike kid in Canadnanadndnada and I loled when he told me about the strike.

him: "Our postal workers have been on strike for the last week so I cant ship anything and I have no idea when I will be able to."

me: "looooooooooool"
Click to expand...
He could always use Fedex or UPS.
 
dump

dump

Turbo Monkey
Oct 12, 2001
8,212
4,462
dump said:
He could always use Fedex or UPS.
Click to expand...
Take that back.

Spoke w/ someone stateside today and they said UPS is recommending you not ship at the moment as it will get held up in customs. Some element of the postal service is involved in the customs work and because they're on strike, it's a no-go with UPS and FedEx.

Crazy.
 
?

?????

Turbo Monkey
Jun 20, 2005
1,678
2
San Francisco
I had my parents ship me a camera lens that I had warranty repaired before I went to Turkey and because the value of the lens was listed at full msrp for insurance purposes in case it got lost in the mail I ended up paying about $400 in shipping, power of attorney, and VAT expenses. I'll never do that again.

Recently a friend sold... I mean gave a Trek Session to some guy in Germany.

Best of luck to you!
 
Sandwich

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,061
5,970
borcester rhymes
sounds like a gift or western union is the way to go...I have like 4 or 5 people from chile that want my frame...supwiththat? I'm beginning to think I'll just replace the shock and not deal with the international crowd. None of these people seem necessarily not-trustworthy, but it sketches me out nontheless. I don't want the frame to get there and have them find some micro-crack and not be satisfied. If the person were in the us, they could just ship it back for a refund...but $120 worth of shipping later, that gets weird.
 
ALEXIS_DH

ALEXIS_DH

Tirelessly Awesome
Jan 30, 2003
6,147
796
Lima, Peru, Peru
$150 to ship a bike to Chile is crazy cheap.
my local "overseas shipping agent", (yeah seriously, they exist and are legit, not everyone is a nigerian scammer)... charges me $400-$500 to bring a bike from Miami, FL in 3 days.
 
Last edited:
Sandwich

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,061
5,970
borcester rhymes
that might be the difference though. I fully expect it to take weeks to get there, shipped priority. I once sold a bike overseas and the guy had me ship it to florida, then "his agent" shipped it to me from there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom