Sending stoves or lanterns to Japan?

I've currently got a Coleman lantern on the eBay and Japanese collectors are inquiring about whether I will ship there. One wrote that eBay does not allow the shipment of lanterns/stoves and asked if I would find an independent method for shipping.

I've sold goods on the bay before (Europe, China) and when the auction is over I'm able to print out an international shipping label via eBay, take the package to the Post Office and it's a done deal.

I'm open to sending it world wide but want the convenience of the what I described above in bold.

Anyone have and recent experience here? Thanks, Jerry

Posted on Classic Pressure Lanterns site too.

 

I can't speak for Japan, but I've had difficulty in getting stoves shipped to Canada when some part of the listing or description runs afoul of eBay shipping restrictions. Seems to be hit-or-miss. Sometimes I can buy something and it gets shipped, other times eBay doesn't allow me to make the purchase, even if the seller sends me an offer. One seller tried to adjust the listing a bunch of different ways to see if eBay would allow the purchase, but finally gave up when it didn't work, so I have no idea why sometimes sales are banned and sometimes they are not.

 

The only stove I've ever sold was to a collector in Japan. The sale was arranged through private messaging on CCS. I was concerned about shipping a stove internationally so on the customs form I described the contents of the package as "metal parts." The package was hand addressed and arrive without incident.

Ben

 

I wouldn't be concerned about selling/shipping to Japan, but as you know generally there are a number of potential minefields for sellers thru eBay, various scams and jiggery-pokery are rife with unscrupulous bidders. And depending on where it is being "lost" in Customs, and difficulty or near impossibility in package Tracking. When I sell something, I don't want it back, but boomerangs are possible. For example "Seller Does Not Accept Returns" is basically meaningless.

Or put another way, while you don't have to accept returns, you will always have to provide a refund in certain situations. I don't know what the answer is but it sure gives one pause.

What is the situation with the RE-shippers? When an item is marked "Delivered", that is not the end of it, in the case of an "Item Is Not As Described", after it is sent on to destination. I get a headache just thinking about it.

 

I cannot specifically answer your question....
What was easy a few years ago has gotten problematic lately. A simple box of goodies to Canada was returned twice by US customs for not filling out the paperwork correctly.

 

Thanks for your replies. While opening it up to more countries probably increases the final price, the old saying " a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" comes to mind.

 

I can only give you my UK eBay experience. In the past Ebay would not allow stoves to be shipped under their Global Shipping Program.

However, I have sold on eBay, and had delivered by international postal services, many stoves to Japan and elsewhere. I always clean and dry them, and alway mark them ‘camping equipment’.

Only ever had one (out of about 80) go missing (S Africa), and never had one confiscated.

 

Actually, I do not know. Unless you regard a non-paying winner a mine you step on, what disaster can strike you? Someone claiming nothing received - to the US of A by the way - I had to pay back in full. So what- a parking ticket costs more. If you are not prepared to stumble, how are you undertaking to walk?

But I have to admit I am very weary of Ebay who has developed a rather aggressive stance towards sellers. I have spent more agonies with them than on any of the foreign buyers worldwide sofar. The best way is to avoid any 'service' by Ebay like the superfluous GSP and keep control with yourself. Even so, I am glad this will likely be my last year of selling on that platform, and be done with.

 

I don't know what to tell you, but if you're going to quit selling on eBay because of the hassles for sellers, I'm pretty sure we agree on more than we disagree.

 

The stance of Ebay will give me a sense of relieve when I am done selling 95% of my collection of stoves and lamps on that site. Right now I am at about 30 items left, but I started with the intention to reduce 6-7 years ago. To a certain degree also on local (dutch) sites with more common items, but where can I attract decent bids for the more unique pieces? I can sell them only once. I agree with the worldwide lament, that "I need Ebay more, than Ebay needs me". So I end selling on Ebay because I will be sold out.

 

OK but when a winning bidder from a foreign country wins a "domestic auction" how does eBay calculate the shipping? How is a shipping label created or do you have to go to a courier independently of eBay?

I actually spoke to an eBay rep and explained this conundrum and they couldn't provide meaningful help.

In the past I had a Japanese buyer use a third party shipper. I sent the item to a facility in CA and they did the rest. The winner had to pay shipping twice.

 

I'm in the same boat. I want the exposure of worldwide shipping, but it gets confusing fast.

Not so much for the shipping per se, the problem is more of a theoretical one. Most transactions go through without a hitch. When I sell something, by definition it means I don't want it. And I don't want it back, either. I'm not LL Bean, and I'm not in the rental business.

One key factor in eBay sales is proof of delivery. Some scams revolve around claiming the item was never received and filing for a refund, chargebacks on CC. PayPal allows for chargebacks up to six (6) months or 180 days. That's a long time. Note well, that USPS only retains tracking info 120 days.

Once an item has been "delivered" to a US based re-shipper, my crystal ball gets hazy on how all this works, specifically in the event there is some sort of dispute on the part of a buyer and he or she wants to make a return for a refund.

 

@Metropolitantrout

I am completely lost here: what is a 'domestic auction'? And why does Ebay need to calculate the freight expenses? And what 'shipping label' ? I have worked for decades with relevant forms, issued by local governments (shipping international / intercontinental from Holland, France, Canada and the USA). Plus an address I simply wrote on a scrap of paper and glued / taped it on a parcel in case of private deals. Rates are dead-easy to get nowadays, anywhere, thanks to the internet. I do not understand your problem.
Granted, US Postal Rates are a swamp of information to get relevance out of, equalled by Royal Mail which makes me pitty any british seller. But do I understand you do not want to take anything under your own control? Mike

 

When I list a stove on eBay I usual ask overseas bidders to contact me for shipping costs before bidding. When they do I give them an estimate based on my preferred carrier, and a promise to send an accurate invoice if they win.

If they win, I weigh stove and packaging and calculate shipping cost and insurance cost. Then I send invoice (selling price plus shipping plus insurance).

After payment I arrange shipping independent of eBay.

 

@Twoberth,

that is basicly how I do it too: no extra hassle by letting Ebay gets their hand in shipping though this GSP for instance. Luckily for me, dutch post as well as the couriers that are at your disposal too, like DPD, DHL, Hermes etc. charge in weight brackets. Royal Mail I found a royal pain....
With some good kitchen scales I thus can predetermine shipping costs that I can advertise and insert in my postings. Any bidder then knows what the total cost will be with a certain bid. That clarity makes for resolute bidding, at least that is my theory. Insurance - overrated till you have a case that gives you more trouble and frustration and will lose you money anyway - I almost never offer and charge for. Ebay/Paypal or whomever is satisfied with a T&T code.
To steer clear from Big Brother, that is the goal still, and conduct your own business. But for me it has become a rather tiring run, and I am glad I can say goodbye to Ebay as a seller soon.

 

@Twoberth @Dutchmike

The way you are doing it perfectly fine but it is more busy work that I'd prefer to avoid.

I once sold some ski parts to a guy in Austria via eBay. When the auction was over, eBay generated a shipping label, calculated the appropriate shipping charges (which were built into the final charges to the buyer). I simply printed out the shipping label, taped it to the box and dropped it off at the Post Office. Done! Simple!

When you now list a lantern/stove that option goes away (stoves are scary and dangerous ya know!) for international sales hence "Domestic auction". That term is not official, just what I use to describe it. In the shipping section of my auction there is no option to chose shipping outside the US. In my description I have listed "Sorry- no shipments outside of the USA" yet many bids are coming from other countries. I guess I'll learn what happens next.

 

@Metropolitantrout

If they win, the overseas buyer will give you a US domestic address to ship to. That is your responsibility. Anything required to get the stove from that address to the bidder is out of your hands.

As mentioned above, reshipping is a thing.

 

@Metropolitantrout

Ah, I see what you mean, as in restricted. Because in principle everything advertised on Ebay, whether it is on yours (Ebay.com) or mine (Ebay.nl that I have never used) is accesible for anyone in this world. And since the rest of the world likely does not read Dutch, I advertise(d) on Ebay.com, and with the stoves etc, exclusively on Ebay.co.uk. So there is no 'domestic' market really. Every comfort comes with a price I guess, and if you insist on having some very simple logistics done for you, you are dealing with a huge apparatus that has little insight of (our) reality. For instance, Ebay has no clue really about shipping , or so it seems. Ebay is a giant of a sales machine, and profitability usually lies with the greatest common denominator. Odd items like your and my stoves, that reek of 'danger' do not fit in there. Shareholders will not complain if Ebay were to ban the trade of anything that could compromise - in their view - a 'safe and friendly environment' , like our stoves or lamps. So that is what they do through their shipping program - that is costing you extra money by the way. Anyway, you have explained your goals on Ebay, but I am still surprised how you - and a majority of sellers no doubt - see alkinds of obstacles that in reality are not there. Mike

 

Only if a bidder has registration within the country of where the goods are auctioned. Otherwise an Ebay member, who in principle is registered with just one particular address, would deviate from it, which is in conflict with the stipulation on guaranteed deliveries. As a seller I never shipped to an odd address deviating from the registered one, as that would make me game for anyone with bad intentions. As the above is impractical - registering with several Ebay's for instance - serious collectors employ middle men who will do the bidding, paying and receiving for them. So this 'if they win ' sounds too casual to me, and likely does not happen. And for the odd thing I still would like to get - and avoiding the sometimes high expenses inflicted by GSP for instance - I ask my friends to bid on my behalf. That has worked time and again.

 

Perfect! Thanks Scrambler.