bombadil wrote:Hello, Aia.I've had a few problems shipping to Italy, and receiving from Italy. Every time an Italian wins one of my auctions, I cringe. I don't know why it works out that way, but it's the only country I've had problems shipping to and receiving from. Nothing against Italy; in fact, my family is from Toscana, so I've got a special fondness for the place.Seems to me, though I may have a faulty memory, that the last item I shipped to Italy was a hard-cover Players Handbook. I think I spent about $18.00 to send it Global Priority. There is a reference and/or tracking number on the Global Priority packages, though whether it can be used to track shipments to Italy isn't clear to me. I asked at the Post Office, and was told that they think it's possible, but weren't sure. What about UPS, DHL, or FedEx? Probably going to cost more than you want to spend, I would guess.Good luck,Stephen
Beyondthebreach wrote:There is an often ovelooked way of sending international mail and providing delivery confirmation. You must send the item by either Airmail Letter Post of Surface Mail Letter post. (no Global Priority). Then you get the item sent Registered Mail (this insures the package.) On top of this, you can add a Return Receipt which mails back the sender confirmation that the package was delivered.
ExTSR wrote:Praps those doing the deliveries are fine unless they get head-butted by surprise...?
Badmike wrote:There are so many problems shipping to Italy that the USPS won't sponsor Global priority...it has to be sent airmail or surface, or Global Express which is ridiculous for such an item. Just try to work it out with the seller, he is obligated to accept Paypal unless he wants his auctions yanked. I personally wouldn't pay that for a marginal item.Mike B.
Deadlord39 wrote:$7.75 for surface is a joke.
bclarkie wrote:Not to be a dick or anything, but I don't see what the real problem is. It defintely would have been better if the seller was more forthcoming about the his shipping reuirements to Italy in their auction description, but the problem with that is that if he states clearly in his auction description exactly what he indicated to you privately, Ebay will take his auction down fro violation of their rules regarding Paypal.
bclarkie wrote:EBay forbids sellers from having anything in thier auction listings about having any rules for buyers using Paypal(I think that in itself is bullsh*t, but that is another story for another day). I know of several horror stories of sellers shipping to Italy. As a matter of feact a former member of this forum lost out a $2000 item that was shipped to Italy with no tracking. I personally have never had a problem with it myself and I do not have the same requirements(especially for such a low value item), but I have heard many stories about packages not arriving in Italy. Now, I am sure some of those packages have been legitamately lost as no postal service is perfect, but that is where the true problem arrises. If a buyer files a Paypal dispute, the seller must provide proof of delivery or else Paypal will find in their favor, no questions asked. In that circumstance, sellers have no way to protect themselves versus unscrupulous buyers who want to claim that they never received an item even if they really did. In this circumstance, I think that this seller is trying to protect themsleves from being screwed over by unscrupulous buyers. Maybe you should just email the seller and let them know that sisnce you were unaware of their strict international shipping requirements and see if they would be willing to cancel the transaction. As long as they agree to void the transaction amicably they can get their fees back from EBay and you do not have to get a NPB strike.
bombadil wrote:What about UPS, DHL, or FedEx? Probably going to cost more than you want to spend, I would guess.
Gus Landt wrote:That said, your best bet might be to find a friendly US face her on The Acaeum, have it shipped there, and have your friend then ship it to you as cheap as possible.
Beyondthebreach wrote:(I'll note, in Italy's defense, that I have shipped many, many packages there and they have all arrived safely. In other posts I've mentioned a few tips to help out with shipping to Italy, but I don't feel like typing them again . . . )
ExTSR wrote:I've had a problem or two shipping to Italy, and not the buyer's fault at all; something about the postal system.
Mars wrote:$8 for shipping sounds like he has a couple dollars for a handling fee. For a 1 pound envelope to Italy sent Surface Letter Post its $4.10 + $1 for an envelope, leaves $3 handling fee? You many not want to pay his handling fee but there is no way Ebay is going to side with you and say that $3 is an excessive handling charge. Does anyone know what Ebay would consider an excessive handling fee? $10? $20?
aia wrote: perfect! i wanna thank Mars for this last post!now, i'd like to better understand the US postal system indeed... as well as the famous criteria of "excessive fees" stated by ebay!1) i know since i started doing purchases in US that the most easy and chap way to send small item is AIRLETTER POST... but what are the thresholds for this kind of delivery? is there any weight or size limit? 2) what should i do if a seller charges me a airmail parcel post and then he sends the item with letter post saving up even 75% of the S&H fees???3) how much do you allow to the seller in terms of flaxibility of the S&H fee? do you allow him to gain a couple of $? do you pay attention or not? or you're strict with it and you don't let him gain neither a cent?
