Bacon, there's many other European buyers (edit. of course, not sellers!) who regulary source from the US, besides me. (BTW, can recommend bacon as a great international seller )

Really, everytime I see some interesting stuff with "NO INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS ALLOWED" written all over the auction, I think: If you don't need my money? I don't care.

If you want to maximize your profits, there is really no other way than to sell worldwide. I can't see any good reason, why international bidders should be excluded. Or do we behave more stupid than US buyers?

you could always come and sell to me!

draco76 (i hope) can vouch for me

Ralf Toth wrote:If you want to maximize your profits, there is really no other way than to sell worldwide. I can't see any good reason, why international bidders should be excluded. Or do we behave more stupid than US buyers?

This has been my experience, albeit not with RPGs.

1.  Because shipping is so much more expensive, very often international bidders compensate by bidding lower so the same total price works out.

2.  For non-RPG stuff, when customs/tariffs are involved, I am often asked to undervalue the item on the manifest, which hurts if insurance is required.

3.  Lack of tracking when sending via inexpensive methods can mean problems with lost shipments.

Given #1, I have assumed that most international bidders aren't going to make competitive bids.  But I suppose if this stuff is harder to come by overseas, then the market is there.  Even with what I sold Ralf, I thought the price was too high once the shipping was factored in (although now I can't remember the details, that was my feeling at the time).

BaconTastesGood wrote:Even with what I sold Ralf, I thought the price was too high once the shipping was factored in.

If you're living in the US, it might look so. If you're living in Europe, the price was good (even including shipping). And don't forget the current exchange rate.

If overseas buyers start bitching about shipping quotes, an official quote on the auction might prevent this. I'm much quicker to bid on an auction that already states overseas shipping cost. OK, we all use pre-generated questions for shipping and such, but sometimes I am too lazy and just skip an auction, I'd have otherwise bid on.

Ralf Toth wrote:

Aneoth wrote:Ralf, not that I will ever have anything listed that you might want, you are welcome to bid anytime on any of my rare listings...... while I may not actually NEED your money, but I do want it....

Thanks, I appreciate it  :lol:

I know you collect the rarer and more expensive stuff, so chances are that I probably cannot afford it. However, I'm starting to develope a taste for D&D stuff... If you have a nice copy of Blackmoor or Eldritch Wizardry on ebay (which is NOT a first printing ), I'll be tempted to bid.

Actually, I have several extra copies of each of the OD&D Supplements. I can send you pics if you like.  
Otherwise, yes, I do intend to list some of them sometime in the future.

But knowing my listing rate, I hope you realise that it may be a while.

BTW: When I stated "Rare Listings" above, I was not intending to refer to "Rare Items" but to the fact that actual auction listings themselves (by me) are a "Rare Occurrence"....

Aneoth wrote:BTW: When I stated "Rare Listings" above, I was not intending to refer to "Rare Items" but to the fact that actual auction listings themselves (by me) are a "Rare Occurrence"....

I know, but the stuff you are bidding on looks rare and expensive to me 95% of the time I see you bidding.  :D And you are currently selling a 1st print Greyhawk and a 1st print MM. That looks like rare stuff to me.  :wink:

PM'd you about the OD&D supplements.

Here is all you need to know about international shipping (I have sold several hundred items overseas with not one damaged or lost item).

When sellers say "they have had horrible experiences" it is probably because they did something wrong or packaged it poorly and it was damaged.


RPG stuff is an easy sell for two reasons:  

1) They are books
2) They often fit in Global Priority Flat Rate envelopes

Get a stack of Global Priority Flat Rate envelopes and "Green" (short) Customs forms.   You can ship up to 4 lbs in a GP Flat Rate (which is more than enough for anything that can fit).  Address everything clear and correctly and fill out the customs form.  Check "other" for the contents (it is not a gift, sample or documents).  Be brief in the description - "Book" or "used book" is more than sufficient.  You can list the weight or let the Post office list it.  Also, feel free to put the actual price - there is NO INSURANCE available for Flat Rate and, in any case, most countries are "easy" on books (in fact, many don't charge or concern themselves with a tax).  A Flat Rate is $9.00 ($7.00 to Canada).  

The only "commonly" sold to country that doesn't accept GP Flat rate is Italy.  You will have to use Air Mail.

Even packages that are somewhat large ( I think the Max Height/Width/Depth limit is 72") can be sent Airmail letter Post if they are under 4 lbs.

If packages are larger than 72" (but less the 144") or are over 4lbs they must be sent by Parcel Post. Always offer Airmail Parcel Post and state that interntional bidders must email you first.  Check your weight (usually it is in 1 lbs. increments so it is easy to guess) and go to USPS - The United States Postal Service (U.S. Postal Service) to find the cost.  Insurance is available for these packages . . . if you don't want to risk an expensive purchase, don't ask you buyer if they want insurance, just bundle it up with the total shipping cost.  For these packages you must fill out a "White" (long) form which has five carbon copies.  

- Country of Origin is United States
- HS Tariff number (just leave blank)
- Make sure you state "Books"
- Always make sure you fill these forms out completely and sign/date (you can't trust a postal worker to check your work).


NEVER offer to send Surface mail - I will do this if the buyer requests and then I make sure they have a full and clear understanding that it will take between 4-8 weeks (possibly more).

ALWAYS package  items as if they would be tossed about the room like a football.  MAKE SURE they are encased in cardboard protective sleeves and/or boxes with bubble wrap, foam, etc.

DON'T EVEN MENTION M-Bags unless the buyer requests and you feel comfortable.

Rember that if a buyer gets several books and they won't fit into a Global Flat Rate, it still might be cheaper to send them in TWO separate envelopes at $9.00 each, than in ONE envelopes with combined weight.

Make sure you have a return address on every envelope - when shipping to Canada, make sure nothing is abbreviated and everything is in capital letters (they may still accept and delivery it if not, but their new "official" policy is as I stated . . . so don't take chances.)

Finally . . . if someone can't use paypal, then insist they use a Western Union money transfer which is quick and easy.  Or, failing that, I have allowed buyers to express mail me U.S. cash (which is signed for).

I have never had even a whisper of a problem yet . . . it is really no big deal.  

Shit no, Bush made our economy great, from a domestic standpoint. Overseas countries are snapping up American goods like a mackerel in a herring school. As is always the case with large-scale finance, you won't see the end results for a few years.
Which is exactly why you SHOULD allow overseas bidders. You get more $$ on average, because the exchange rate is so much in their favor.

beyondthebreach wrote:To the best of my knowledge the pre-pay postage in NOT available for any international package. You always have to go to the post office. . . even if you put a $9.00 postage stamp on a Flat Rate, the Post office still needs to scan the UPC code on the package and the UPC code on the customs form.

Gah!  What a pain.  The problem for me is that the easiest mailing place for me is a UPS Store, but the local post office is 20 minutes out of the way =(  So if I have to go to a post office I might be better off selling everything as a single huge lot to save trips/forms.

Oy, can't believe that sending a book international requires that much headache =/