Shipping To Poland: Ebay Miscalculates Cost And Export Restrictions

It's tricky.

1) Sell item on ebay
2) Go into PayPal and ship from there
3) Instead of first class international package, select international letter, and package type as small envelope
4) Input weight, customs etc. Usually costs less than domestic shipping, about $2-3.
5) Say your prayers because most international customs offices don't scan them, and without the cooperation of foreign customs agencies, your buyer gets an automatic refund if it doesn't arrive in a "reasonable" time.

Personally, I wouldn't do it. I just had to give a $70 refund for a buyer in Poland whose package vanished into thin air back in early April.

What about ebay's Global International Shipping. Has anyone tried that? I was thinking about selling some of my coins, but very leery of seller International.

Victor that's too expensive, scratch the Global Shipping Program.

Unfortunately, as of January 2018, USPS first class international letters and flats may contain only documents. All merchandise (anything with a value greater than $0) must go by first class package, priority mail or express mail with customs form attached. The change was to comply with Universal Postal Union regulations.

See the USPS notice here: https://about.usps.com/postal-bulle...updt_006.htm "In this price change, conforming to the requirements of the Universal Postal Convention, we are limiting the contents of First-Class Mail International postcard, letter, and large envelope (flats) mail to personal correspondence and nondutiable documents. Merchandise that was formerly carried in First-Class Mail International service will instead be eligible to be enclosed in First-Class Package International Service® (FCPIS®) pieces or another available service."

While 1st class package international is relatively expensive (~$14), it includes E-DELCON tracking and delivery confirmation (per PayPal requirements for seller protection) to some 42 countries if you print the postage yourself. E-DELCON is not available in person at the Post Office. You can also sign your customer up to receive an email or text every time the parcel is scanned en route. On self-printed labels, the customs form is integrated into the label, making the declaration much less conspicuous than the separate hand-printed forms at the post office.

The best part of printing your own postage is that you never need to visit the post office. The price also includes free scheduled pickup!

Domestically, coins can still be sent by 1st class letter at the non-machineable rate (75¢). Personally, I prefer 1st class package for domestic mail as well (~$2.75) because it satisfies PayPal seller protection.

Is there really a large% of items that do not reach the recipient and sellers have to refund? After all, registered items must be delivered on time.

The problem with registered mail is that it is handled differently in every country and has poor tracking. In some countries, registered mail is treated no differently than ordinary 1st class. Insured priority mail is a much better option which offers insurance and excellent tracking for about the same price.

Some countries are postal "black holes". India is a good example. My loss rate to India over 20 years in business is 100%. I no longer ship there by any method.

The postal charges for single coins on ebay have always surprised me.

One seller in the US charges US $4.50 for USPS First Class Mail International, while another seller charges US $24.50 for USPS First Class Mail International. Both are apparently the same delivery method, but at widely differing cost. One coin I bought from a US seller was free delivery. I thought it would take a lot longer to arrive, but it came in much the same time, if not a bit sooner.

In Europe I've been charged between £5.00 and £15.00 per coin, and from Cyprus from £5.50 to just under £15.00. The latter seller said it was due to the Covid-19 virus! In the UK the postal charge varies from £1.20 to around £5.00.

So far I've not had anything go missing. (Touch wood.)

It does stick in my craw, having to pay $24.50 postage for a coin that cost less than half of that though.

Τhe least expensive (legal) international postage rate for merchandise from the US is first class package international at $14+, even for a $1 coin. In many countries, the recipient will also have to pay a customs fee at his end. Some sellers will illegally conceal the coin in a letter for a couple of dollars postage, evading customs. When I'm asked why I won't do the same, I reply "It is our company policy to obey the law". Most understand that.