Shipping To Poland: Ebay Miscalculates Cost And Export Restrictions

A 3 ounce coin isn't going to get cheap rate to Poland no matter how it's going
Small coins (even sestertius) I have slipped through in padded envelopes
Larger coins in a 6 x 9 Manila with foam added
Generally in the 3-4 dollar range

The least expensive international option offered by the USPS is 1st class package which runs about $14 to most countries. "Slipping through" at the letter rate is a felony.

I send to Poland all the time and the buyer has always paid the price I put on ebay for them. I lose money but I have always said $2 in USA, $8 in Canada, and $12 to the overseas countries I sell to. So if you set a price for a buyer from that country they just pay it. I used to not lose money of course, but now shipping has gone up and I have just never adjusted it up.

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.