CONUS only in B/S/T

[Zephyr]

Why do many who sell in B/S/T only sell to CONUS?
I can understand it when it is PIF's, but why when selling, the buyer will pay for the shipping anyway.

 

[life2short1971]

Its easier is the reason i always hear. If you ask though they generally will ship to you anyway after adjusting freight. I wouldn't consider CONUS a death sentence for your ability to purchase an item without asking the seller first.

 

[_JP_]

Some items like aftershave cannot be shipped internationally.

 

[Jim]

Conus I can click and ship anything, done its gone. Every other destination requires me to get to a post office. That can take from 1/2 hour to a couple hours ....so its just not worth the hassle.

 

[CapnPanther]

Convenience is one factor. PayPal will take care of almost all of the shipping procedures (calculating and paying for postage, printing mailing labels, etc). For overseas shipments, the seller has to go to the post office and stand in line to get everything done. Don't know how the post offices in Norway are, but in the U.S. that can take a long time.

 

[DE Shaver]

You have to fill out customs declarations if you are shipping out of country, the cost is more, the parcel takes longer to get delivered and so on. The bottom line, it's more of a PITA.

 

[Loric]

Another factor is that it is accepted procedure to include shipping in the price. Its hard to include shipping to all corners of the world.

 

[Jim]

One other factor is tracking, if you do not use "real' tracking and delivery confirmation then you will have no protection in a paypal dispute. That type of shipping is very expensive to most locations outside CONUS.

 

[Shavely Manden]

I prefer to send CONUS, since I can just get postage online or at the automated postage center (without the PO having to be open). My local PO isn't so bad in terms of service, actually, but getting there during working hours is a pain and a half.

That said, I'll tend to ship internationally if the buyer wants it...I'd just vastly prefer not to have to mess with international sales.

 

[jansob]

I live in Japan, so this is a subject near and dear to me. I think it's the PITA effect...sellers have to to go the PO and fill out the form by hand instead of just printing it off. But I always ask anyway if it's a small and easy to ship item. In both cases I've asked, sellers have been willing to do it. I always stress that time is not a factor, and if it'll be a few days before it gets mailed, that's fine.

The actual cost of sending a disassembled 3-piece razor or blades in a small padded envelope is very low if you don't worry about tracking and such (I hardly ever buy anything high dollar) The last two razors I got, a New and a Tech, each cost around $3 from the US to Japan. Razors in cases, along with a couple of soaps or creams can probably fit in a small Flat Rate box, which ships anywhere for around $14.

I would not mess with anything in bottles as the weight would be a killer and in some countries it's not legal. I doubt I'd try to get a seller who puts CONUS only to send me anything expensive enough to warrant insurance or tracking, as that's getting to be a real PITA! Those things go to my US address and await my yearly trip home.

If I were a seller in the US, I'd get a couple of small flat-rate boxes, and small padded envelopes and at least offer overseas shipping for a small extra handling fee.

I don't blame those who don't ship overseas, but really appreciate those who do...if I ever find the mythical NOS O-Type injectors at an old drugstore, those sellers will be getting a shot at the first ones for a song!

 

[Stubblefield]

You can do priority flat-rate international shipping through paypal for about $15. But if you need tracking, it runs a minimum of $30--and you must go to the PO.

Most buyers aren't willing to pay those rates.

 

[cooncatbob]

I ship out of the country all the time, after all BRW is world famous.
Filling out Customs Declaration form CN 22 can be a pain, but I keep some at home so that when I get to the post office every thing is ready.
As for crowded post offices, you just need to know what time to get there and what days are less crowded.
Best way to find out is to ask your friendly Postal Clerk.
I've learned at my Post Office best time is late mourning before the lunch crowd about 10:30 to 11:00
Worst thing for me about shipping over seas is how long some countries customs will hold your package.
I had a package to Denmark take a week to get there then sit 2 weeks in customs.
Canada is really bad 2 to 3 weeks and some of the eastern European countries can take 4 weeks or more.
BTW I've never had a International fail to arrive, yet.

 

[hometownhero]

This is funny because for me to ship one puck of soap out of Canada it costs $7 canadian to anyplace in the world. Yes I have to go to the post office. To ship that same puck of soap within Canada it costs ~$12 canadian. Guess what lol I still have to go to the post office and declare anyway what is in the package. The reason it is cheaper to ship out of the country is because a small package option is available but is not available when shipping within Canada. Go figure.

 

[Crixus]

Filling out Customs Declaration form CN 22 can be a pain

As for crowded post offices, you just need to know what time to get there

Worst thing for me about shipping over seas is how long some countries customs will hold your package.

I had a package to Denmark take a week to get there then sit 2 weeks in customs.

Canada is really bad 2 to 3 weeks and some of the eastern European countries can take 4 weeks or more.

But Bob, I assume it's part of your business needs to do so. You have listed just a few of the hassles to be encountered shipping out of the US. In a business, part of your living depends on not limiting your customer base. If I have a razor that I might have $18-20 in and I'm going to pass it on to another member for $14 SHIPPED (in CONUS), there are a whole lot of hoops to jump through (not to mention time) when I'm actually losing money in the first place.

That said, I do feel somewhat sorry for the B&B international members who don't really get a "fair shake" on lots of the goods that come up on the B/S/T. And don't call me a hypocrite, because I'm one that WON'T ship out of country. I wish it wasn't like it is to go international--but it is. A shame, because one of the things I really like about B&B is the cosmopolitan input we get from our members around the world.

 

[jansob]

One other factor is tracking, if you do not use "real' tracking and delivery confirmation then you will have no protection in a paypal dispute. That type of shipping is very expensive to most locations outside CONUS.

Yep, one reason I don't have expensive items sent to me...those go to a US address and I pick them up when I come back on vacation. I should also add that mail to Japan is extremely reliable...in 10 years I've never had anything lost in the mail...late maybe, but never lost.

 

[Bubu]

Well I for me I am able to go to the post office and fill out a small form and pay a low price to get a good to Canada. I live in North Carolina Asheville. Though I think that it would be a different story to ship to the U.K.

 

[jansob]

But Bob, I assume it's part of your business needs to do so. You have listed just a few of the hassles to be encountered shipping out of the US. In a business, part of your living depends on not limiting your customer base. If I have a razor that I might have $18-20 in and I'm going to pass it on to another member for $14 SHIPPED (in CONUS), there are a whole lot of hoops to jump through (not to mention time) when I'm actually losing money in the first place.

That said, I do feel somewhat sorry for the B&B international members who don't really get a "fair shake" on lots of the goods that come up on the B/S/T. And don't call me a hypocrite, because I'm one that WON'T ship out of country. I wish it wasn't like it is to go international--but it is. A shame, because one of the things I really like about B&B is the cosmopolitan input we get from our members around the world.

Yes, businesses are different...if a business is unwilling to ship a small item overseas without even checking the rates, I'll generally pass on it. If it's expensive, I'll send it to a US address for later pickup, but I'd like the choice. But with individuals, it's understandable.

 

[Jim]

I live in Japan, so this is a subject near and dear to me. I think it's the PITA effect...sellers have to to go the PO and fill out the form by hand instead of just printing it off. But I always ask anyway if it's a small and easy to ship item. In both cases I've asked, sellers have been willing to do it. I always stress that time is not a factor, and if it'll be a few days before it gets mailed, that's fine.

The actual cost of sending a disassembled 3-piece razor or blades in a small padded envelope is very low if you don't worry about tracking and such (I hardly ever buy anything high dollar) The last two razors I got, a New and a Tech, each cost around $3 from the US to Japan. Razors in cases, along with a couple of soaps or creams can probably fit in a small Flat Rate box, which ships anywhere for around $14.

I would not mess with anything in bottles as the weight would be a killer and in some countries it's not legal. I doubt I'd try to get a seller who puts CONUS only to send me anything expensive enough to warrant insurance or tracking, as that's getting to be a real PITA! Those things go to my US address and await my yearly trip home.

If I were a seller in the US, I'd get a couple of small flat-rate boxes, and small padded envelopes and at least offer overseas shipping for a small extra handling fee.

I don't blame those who don't ship overseas, but really appreciate those who do...if I ever find the mythical NOS O-Type injectors at an old drugstore, those sellers will be getting a shot at the first ones for a song!

Not trying to be augmentative at all, but what small fee would be worth 2 hours of my life?

 

[luvmysuper]

Not trying to be augmentative at all, but what small fee would be worth 2 hours of my life?

For me? $114.00

 

[mr. s]

Not trying to be augmentative at all, but what small fee would be worth 2 hours of my life?

You must never leave the house? In that case, you have a point.