International Shipping

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Craftdiggity

Craftdiggity

Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2010
Messages
1,373
Location
Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Here's the situation: I had to ship a fellow IAPer from Canada a small Flat Rate box full of blanks. They would not insure a FR box so I had to take my chances. Well, as luck would have it, the box was delivered, torn open and empty except for one blank. I just got it back, and I have no recourse at all since it was not insured. So I took another box to the post office to ship it in my own packaging, and the cost including the $2.00 insurance was over $30. I said the hell with it, and walked out.

Since I can't insure a Flat Rate package, what's the point of offering merchandise to international buyers. I would call things like this the cost of doing business, but it's a high cost considering what pen blanks sell for. And with no way to cover yourself, I don't see the point.

What am I missing?
 
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Craftdiggity said:
Here's the situation: I had to ship a fellow IAPer from Canada a small Flat Rate box full of blanks. They would not insure a FR box so I had to take my chances. Well, as luck would have it, the box was delivered, torn open and empty except for one blank. I just got it back, and I have no recourse at all since it was not insured. So I took another box to the post office to ship it in my own packaging, and the cost including the $2.00 insurance was over $30. I said the hell with it, and walked out.

Since I can't insure a Flat Rate package, what's the point of offering merchandise to international buyers. I would call things like this the cost of doing business, but it's a high cost considering what pen blanks sell for. And with no way to cover yourself, I don't see the point.

What am I missing?
Click to expand...
Hi Chris; I can't help you out, since I'm in Canada. I've had innumerable items mailed to me from the US, both from members here and retail businesses and have never once not received the goods.

I certainly feel your pain!
 
We ship quite a few international packages--

MOST get delivered. But, yes there is no control once it leaves the USA. So, you may want to look at UPS. We looked a few days ago for a gentleman in Britain who was in a hurry. Four pound package---shipping $100+. FedEx, the same. He decided he was NOT in THAT big a hurry --USPS $24 ish, if I recall. OR $50 for "Express International".

Of course, if the package contains $200 worth of goods and it "goes missing"...........................

So we continue to take the risk because nearly ALL have made it to the intended destination. But every time we eat an order that was not delivered, we talk about eliminating international---so far, we continue to ship. Just hold our breath a lot.
 
I too am in Canada and have not has any problems with packages being damaged and the goods removed. I have noticed that some shippers wrap the entire box with tape and one has to spend some time getting the box open. Possibly that's a hint that the shippers has had a problem - I don't know what the answer is. There a a few thieves working all over the place and if they want something bag enough its impossible to stop them.
 
Hi Chris,

I have had two flat rate boxes from the US not make it to me with all of the contents still in them. In both cases the ends were not sealed with tape completly. After a few calls and a couple complaints (they were not very receptive when I said I wanted to discuss the thieves that worked for Canada Post) someone finally acknowledged that the floor supervisers would be made aware of the problems and that formal complaints were being made.

To all the great vendors here on IAP, when shipping your goods PLEASE tape the package so that there is no way it can be opened without leaving signs that it was opened, regarless of where you are sending it.

Chris, I can understand your frustration and can only hope that in time you might reconsider selling to us that live north of the border. If you choose not to then all I can say is best of luck in all your future endeavours.

Bruce
 
Andrew and I tape every seam, and opening on all USPS packaging, even the envelopes (particularly the envelopes. we also tape over the ship too and the from addresses on all packages so water can't damage the lable, I've had good luck so far shipping to Canada, the United Kingdom and several European countries and Australia.
 
Have had good experiences on almost all USPS packages . Only lost a few blanks where the sender didn`t unitize the shipment by taping all of the blanks together . Never put loose blanks in an envelope or even a box . A fairly small hole caused by handling damage will let a blank or two go , but the entire end of the package has to be open for a taped together group to go . Taping of all seams is also a good idea . I will willingly struggle with that at my end , knowing I have received what was sent .

I also don`t believe that much is lost through theft . Consider what the probability is of a postal employee that makes pens or collects exotic woods coming across a pen related package - perhaps 100,000 packages a year in a system that probably handles several billion .
 
My experience so far with international shipments have been 'very good'. No lost claims so far. The only shipment that went astray is a completed pen made and shipped to me from Stan (Mrcook). Took it all in stride and figure that the 'pen thief' probably needed this pen much more than me.:biggrin:
 
ed4copies said:
So, you may want to look at UPS.
Click to expand...

Hi Ed and Chris,

A wild a** guess -- I'd say I've had close to 50 orders shipped to my address from the US over the past, say, five years. That's from folks here with the IAP, many penturning vendors, ebay, etc. I've never had one lost -- never had anything missing from a package.

[Pauses... Knocks on wood...]

But my request would be to avoid UPS -- they gouge Canadians brutally with their brokerage fees. If it comes via US Post or Fedex, it generally doesn't seem to be a problem.

To all the vendors who listen in and participate here; many thanks from a Canuck for taking the extra steps to provide us with our supplies.

Steve
 
Let me chime in and just pass on a huge THANK YOU for those vendors and individuals who offer international shipping despite the apparent risk. In 17 years of living in Japan I have yet to have a single issue. And that includes shipping (a lot) from Japan as well.

On this forum as well as other forums I attend the majority of the problems are with shipping to Canada. Granted with the volume of traffic across the border there are going to be more claims but the number of vendors not willing to ship international is ever increasing. And the shame of that is "no shipping to Canada" becomes "no shipping anywhere international". Just defending Japan Post which BTW.....has no equal.
 
Alternate

Craftdiggity said:
Here's the situation: I had to ship a fellow IAPer from Canada a small Flat Rate box full of blanks. They would not insure a FR box so I had to take my chances. Well, as luck would have it, the box was delivered, torn open and empty except for one blank. I just got it back, and I have no recourse at all since it was not insured. So I took another box to the post office to ship it in my own packaging, and the cost including the $2.00 insurance was over $30. I said the hell with it, and walked out.

Since I can't insure a Flat Rate package, what's the point of offering merchandise to international buyers. I would call things like this the cost of doing business, but it's a high cost considering what pen blanks sell for. And with no way to cover yourself, I don't see the point.

What am I missing?
Click to expand...
The reason you can't insure a small flat box with the post office is because of international agreements. There is indemification and if you kept the package with the customs form you can probably submit a claim. It is based on the weight of the package and is probably limited. It can also take up to 60 days to get it resolved. Go to the USPS web site and get into the information they provide on international shipping

If you do your postage on line you might be able to buy third party insurance from UPIC or another carrier. Works much like postal insurance but is a lot cheaper. USPS makes money on insurance.

I use Endicia for my postage...they sell third party insurance real reasonable and you get a small discount from post office mail rates. It does cost $15/$16 per month though....but it also retains a log of all your mailings and addresses.
 
Chris,

Thanks for mentioning Japan. It made me think.

We have lost (and found) packages in Britain.
We have lost (and stayed lost) two in France.

We've had problems in Canada--but I don't THINK we have LOST (permanently) a package.

So, yes we should be more specific if we make a shipping policy decision.
 
Shipping

If you intend to ship international here are a couple of clues.

1. Parcel insurance is available for USPS small flat rate box and flat rate envelope from 3rd party insurers. UPIC is the best known but I think there are others. You might have to use an USPS approved postage provider to get it.

2. You can make claims on damaged or lost packages shipped international but you might need some help jumping through the hoops. The reason USPS won't sell you parcel insurance is because there is an indemnity agreement that covers such items. It is not based on the value of the package though and may be far less than the declared value. I understand that you can have a lot of hoops to jump through to collect too. Check international shipping claims at USPS web site.

3. I use Endicia for my postage purchases/printing, there is a small USPS discount and delivery confirmation is free if you use a vendor like Endicia.
Their insurance is very reasonable, much lower than USPS and the first level covers up to $100 rather than the $50 at USPS

4. I find that 15% to 20% of my business is international...a lot to give up for a couple of losses. But, having said that, all of my USPS losses have been international. I even had a German who wouldn't go to the Post Office to pick up a package and was asking me for a refund...he found out that there was VAT due...surprising how many Europeans don't know they have to pay that on imported stuff.
 
In Europe, I am told that VAT is just added into the "sticker price", so they sometimes forget it exists.

Amazing difference from the way we approach sales tax--same type of tax, different presentation.
 
only problem I ever had with shipping from the U.S. was a tube with polished side trim for my son's VW shipped from California via UPS. Only the top section of the mailing tube 18" long arrived empty and who knows where the other 4' with the trim in it went to.I refused the package and the sender has put a claim in with UPS. However we still don't have the trim after 6 weeks.
 
Hi Chris,
I know this doesn't help now but I usually use strapping tape covering most of the box. I also try to either tape the blanks together or put them in one of those really strong priority envelopes not the cardboard ones, the ones that are like fibrous cloth, then in the box.
Alice
 
Probably true

ed4copies said:
In Europe, I am told that VAT is just added into the "sticker price", so they sometimes forget it exists.

Amazing difference from the way we approach sales tax--same type of tax, different presentation.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be surprised if that is the truth. I know I have had Brits ask me to call the shipment a gift because apparently there is an exemption (up to a certain value) from both the VAT and import duties. I don't know this for sure but I got the impression that the VAT is an EU tax applied in every country belonging to the Union.

I lost 1 shipment to South Africa, 1 to Slovania and 1 to Belgium. I've had delays to England, Canada, and Germany where the package was not delivered for three or four weeks. Usually they told me that it was probably held up in their country. I try to make sure international buyers give me a phone number to include on the package.
 
Like some have said I would and will wrap the blanks in paper, write the name of the person I am sending it to, their address and my return address. Then wrap in clear packaging tape. Put inside of the Flat Rate box, reinforce the box with "Clear" packaging tape. You don't want to cover up any of the Artwork on the box i.e.: "Small Flat Rate Box", "Priority Mail", "International Indicia" and such. They can get picky on that kind of stuff if you know what I mean. Then take it to the Post Office, give it a Kiss and send it on its way.
 
I'm another in Canada, and have never had anything go missing, it's all made it here intact and unopened. That said, if my memory serves correct, every FR box has been sealed and then taped very well (to the point I always need a knife to open).

Scott
 
I have been buying from many US suppliers for many years, have not as yet put claim up for lost or damage.

I ship the better part of what I do in the States, (witch is many packages per month).
Never had any problems such as yours over the past three (4) years and same applies for domestic shipping.

I do exactly what other members did mention to you: package as to be "snug fit" if you shake it and it moves inside the mailers or the boxes you just bough yourself a ticket for big problems.

Tape it properly with good quality tape not that dollar value crap.

All packages going to the US and Canadian market are fully insured, but I can not get insurance for off shore del'y from Canada Post and Insurance brokers are asking more than I make so what do you do... in my case I did figure out my sales % on off shore market and made it a go to keep selling...

Have a good day
Oldfox
 
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