| Many people just getting started on eBay have | | | | United States Post Office (my recommend |
| reservations when it comes to selling to | | | | shipping venue for reasons talked about below) |
| International buyers. Possibly they've heard a few | | | | doesn't offer this for International Mail.I've been |
| second-hand horror stories, or they feel it's simply | | | | accepting PayPal from International buyers all |
| not worth the extra hassle.eBay provides you | | | | along. However, nearly all my International sales |
| with the opportunity to sell to buyers all over the | | | | are in the antique and collectible categories. |
| world. This opens a huge new market to the | | | | Historically, collectors have never been as much |
| seller. It also allows you to receive more interest | | | | of a non-payment risk as people buying consumer |
| in your items and higher closing prices.In many | | | | products. If I was selling in the electronic or |
| categories, some of the most active buyers live | | | | computer categories, for example, I might |
| outside the United States. As an example, at the | | | | seriously reconsider my payment policies.2. |
| time I'm writing this, if you were selling collectible | | | | International Money Orders. Many sellers accept |
| Pyrex glass, many of your serious bidders would | | | | International money orders in US Dollars. There is |
| be from Japan.I have been selling internationally on | | | | a common misconception that these are as good |
| eBay for five years and have been selling to | | | | as cash. That's not the case. There are instances |
| International buyers right from the start. It's not | | | | of stolen and forged money orders right here in |
| difficult, doesn't take much more time and, if you | | | | the States. This problem, while minute, exists for |
| follow a few simple do's and don'ts you shouldn't | | | | International money orders also.3. Cashier's |
| run into any problemsThere are only two | | | | Checks. Just like money orders, there is a |
| methods of payment, which will ensure absolute | | | | common misconception that they are as good as |
| zero risk regarding sending product overseas:1. | | | | cash. There have been cases where blank stolen |
| The first is wire transfer directly to your | | | | cashier's checks, or even bank checks have been |
| bank.You can contact your local bank and they will | | | | forged.Additional considerations when shipping |
| walk you through a wire transfer transaction. It is | | | | products to International buyers.Shipping products |
| very similar to the process of having a payroll | | | | Internationally does involve a little more work, but |
| check deposited in your account. As soon as a | | | | it's nowhere near as involved as many make it |
| payment is deposited electronically into your | | | | seem.Unlike products shipped within your own |
| account it can never be touched by any source | | | | country, the major difference is the need to |
| other than by you, the account owner. Once the | | | | include a customs form. These forms are free |
| bank notifies you that payment is wired or | | | | and supplied by the carrier you chose, whether it |
| transferred into your account, you can ship the | | | | is the US Postal Service, Fed Ex, UPS, Etc. You |
| product.2. The second is which is a division of | | | | will need to state the weight, the item and it's |
| Western Union. This was originally called and the | | | | value, the destination, etc.When shipping |
| name has been changed to Western Union (R) | | | | Internationally, use only the United States Postal |
| Auction Payments.Payment for this method is | | | | Service. Most, if not all countries charge duty on |
| completely processed via email. You will then | | | | items coming into their country. These are based |
| receive a physical check from Western Union. | | | | upon the value of the item and, for expensive |
| This usually takes three to four days after your | | | | items, can get pretty healthy. With some other |
| email confirmation. Very Important! Do not ship | | | | carriers, you may find that you end up paying this |
| the product when you receive the email | | | | duty tax and not the buyer. With the USPS, all |
| confirmation. Wait until you physically receive the | | | | import duties are collected from the buyer and |
| check from Western Union.There are three other | | | | not you.Shipping internationally can be profitable |
| methods of payment that you will need to decide | | | | and fun. You may even find that you end up |
| if you will, or will not, accept. These do pose a | | | | becoming good friends with some of your |
| small amount of risk:1. Paypal payments. You will | | | | overseas buyers. Just be careful about how you |
| find that many International buyers have PayPal | | | | take payment, be aware of the shipping |
| accounts and will ask to pay through PayPal. While | | | | procedures, and send via USPS.Gary Hendrickson |
| PayPal does provide a seller protection program, it | | | | has been making his living selling on eBay for |
| requires that you have proof of delivery. The | | | | more than six years. |