[ROVERNET - UK] International Shipping Question

[James Dean]

I ship British parts all over the world, and have an ebay store with 500 
items (Old English Motor Company). Generally if you describe as "used auto 
parts for antique/ vintage car -----years old old,(pick the oldest 
application, as 1963 Rover 2000, if its' not dated like a lens); it may be 
duty exampt for the buyer, and usually is under $50. You still must fill out 
the form. Under $50 it is a smaller  form. If you send International 
Priority, in a small package envelope, supplied by the Postoffice, it is 
cheaper than Global express. Global express automatically insures up to $100 
. International priority small parcel envelopes are cheaper, but cannot be 
insured, tracked or traced. I usually state that on my ebay ad, and give 
customers their choice; of say, $8 Priority or$15 Express. Most will choose 
the cheaper, but make them aware it is shipped at their risk, and keep your 
postal receipts. Pick up a stack of envelopes and forms, your firs time at 
the Postoffice, and learn theprices for sizes of envelopes. Larger items go 
economy or air parcel post.Give your ciustomers a choice, but point out 
economy takes 6-8 weeks. soon you will be able to guesstimate shipping 
costs; add a little to be safe(except on those envelopes), and list prices 
on your ad. Pack well! On parcel post, insurance gives you a tracking 
number, but you cannot track economy for 8 weeks, and Air for 3-4 weeks. 
Postoffice is not as trackable as the more expensive Fedex/UPS; you can only 
track it after it does not arrive. Every country is different, but Canada 
actually requires One Original and 3 copies of  the original invoice; though 
on low price packages, the customs declaration seems to do the trick To be 
safe; Put 4 copies of your invoice in an outside envelope, with a note to 
customs they are there, and sign them in blue ink; then they are all 
originals...... If anyone has the customs duty classification number for 
Canada, for" used antique auto parts, over 30 years "old, I need it, and it 
will help you. Can someone from Canada find out and post it??... On that 
invoice, and the customs form, state country of origin (United Kingdom, or 
England). One other thing..Canadians hate paying taxes or duty. , so usually 
ask for a low receipt. Remind them that you can only insure for the customs 
value. Some Europeans have to take the ebay paperwork with them, when they 
pay the duty. I usually list the value as the sale price, "plus shipping 
cost", as I am not sure, which way customs charges them. Every country has 
size restrictions, though most  allow 128 inches, combined length and girth. 
. If shipping a bumper, you may have to wrap it, and carefully tape 
cardboard around it, instead of box it. Be sure the clerk checks the book on 
countries you have not shipped to.. Some Scandinavian countries will not 
allow insurance; alert your customer. I just shipped an Etype Jaguar coupe 
rear hatchboard to Hungary. I had to okay it with the customer ,first,  then 
cut the board and the lovely chrome edge in two, as the maximum length is 42 
inches.sometimes it takes extra work; but you can make people very happy, 
halfway around the world, who really need parts.. James Dean, Ft. Lauderdale
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Glen WIlson" <glenwilson at cavtel.net>
To: <rovernet at lyris.ccdata.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2006 9:11 AM
Subject: [ROVERNET - UK] International Shipping Question


Hi,

I was going to list some items on eBay and had an international shipping
question. For USPS Global Express Mail shipments, most countries specify
that they require a certain customs form and that it must be in a
special envelope. I don't remember having to do this in the past, and
especially not for shipping something from the USA to Canada.

Have things changed that much?

I'd like to offer to ship internationally, but I'm not sure I want to be
filling out customs forms and procuring special envelopes for them to go
into.

I generally use USPS Priority Mail in the USA because it is easy, quick,
and is generally only marginally more expensive than standard post, but
that's only good for domestic addresses.

I'd appreciate suggestions from people who have shipped small packages
out of the USA recently or know what the story is on the other end.

Some additional info below.

Thanks.

Glen


Customs Forms Required (123)
Letter-post: PS Form 2976 or 2976-A (see 123.61)
Parcel Post: PS Form 2976-A inside 2976-E (envelope)

Global Express Mail® Shipments

The customs form requirement for EMS
shipments varies by country. Use PS
Form 2976 Customs Form or PS Form
2976-A Customs Declaration and
Dispatch Note as specified by the
country. Consult your local Post
Office for additional details.


Consult your local Post Office or
the online International Mail Manual
for additional information about
customs requirements in your
destination country.

A customs form is not required on the following categories of mail:


Global Express Mail (EMS) shipments
(to certain destination countries)
that weigh less than 16 ounces and
that contain documents, business
papers, or commercial papers.

  Parcel Post

Regardless of value or contents,
every parcel post package - whether
airmail or economy (surface) - must
bear a completed PS Form 2976-A
Customs Declaration and Dispatch
Note that is inserted into Envelope
for PS Form 2976-E.



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