International Sales

[Michael Craven]

Does anyone have some advice on how to smoothly go through a transaction with the least cost?

 

Payment Methods?

Shipping?

Customs?

Packaging?

 

 

This would be a US to the UK shipping.

[Erwin Landau]

First make sure you know who you're dealing with. Always a good first step, especially if the person is new to the forum, business, etc... Do inquire and if it looks like it sticks it usually does... Just saying...

 

Wire transfer or PayPal worked very well for me in the past. Just make sure you receive/share the full payment information. Especially when using wire transfer, Bank address, BIC code, Swift number, etc. (Anything essential that matters, better more info then less... or the money will come back, happens all the time if info is missing). Depending on you account it can run you about $10.- to $25.- (If you have a Business account in the US, it's free of charge). PayPal is very painless again it's free or little fee depending on the kind of payment or transfer that you are making (Read the guideline on the website, purchase versus money transfer, etc).

 

Usually the stuff that we send is expensive so I would go with a well known Shipper like Fedex, UPS, DHL, etc. Most guys do have a Fedex account or other shipping account, so just share the number. As the buyer usually (unless differently stated in the sales add) is responsible for shipping, he can decide what makes financially most sense. Also they usually provide packaging material, usually free or if specialized boxes like for computers, for a very reasonable price.

 

Customs... that's a sticky one. Very much depends on the destination country, the declared item and value and very often the kind of breakfast the customs agent had that morning or if he just had a fight with his wife... I have paid no import tax on a $2000.- item and got taken to the cleaners on a $50.- useless spare part (paid $150.- tax on it). Also insurance is up to the buyer... what if it gets damaged in shipping and the buyer claims that you send him a faulty piece of equipment (happened to me). You can always declare it for way less then it's worth, but then again if you want to insure it, that doesn't work... also you might run into trouble in Europe if you want to sell equipment that you didn't pay import tax on... might bite you in the ass down the road.

Also important is the wording of what is getting shipped. High precision one of a kind High intensity green screen versus used TV set... you get the point. Rarely anybody know what that stuff is that we are shipping. But again be sensible... trying to declare an i-phone as a used video cassette... will get you either a big tax bill or if you pissed of the wrong agent... big ass trouble.

 

Customs agents are usually very nice guys unless you lie to them or they think that you are dishonest with them... then it get's very quickly very expensive... The fine for trying to "smuggle" (meaning anything that is taxable and you don't declare it when asked) taxable item into the country is the now presumed import tax (determined by the now pissed off agent) plus 200% of that determined import tax as fine. So triple the amount, if that fine reaches $5000.- it can be determined as a fellony... and then you are really in trouble... (that what I learned while being detained at a customs office a couple of years ago... was very enlightening and expensive)...

 

The best packing material is the original box, or the custom made shipping case... if nothing is available go with a very sturdy box (like you would get from Box City or equivalent, if using a shipping company, they will provide a box free of charge)... don't skimp on the box air cargo is a dangerous place for our equipment... And use generous amounts of bubble wrap (preferably not popped) ... Pelican case left over foam... etc. Picture a disgruntled employee playing soccer with your package and you'll be fine.

 

Hope that helps,

 

Fly safe,

 

Erwin

[Victor Lazaro]

Someone mentioned doing a maintenance at a shop before transaction and have the shop holding the sled untill funds are transferred. Would that work?

[RobinThwaites]

Hi Michael

Is this used or new gear?

 

 

Robin

[Michael Craven]

Thank you for the reply Erwin, we should sticky that.

 

@robinthwaites; Yes this is used gear.

 

I also was hearing I should gift wrap it and say merry christmas.

[Charles Cowper]

Hello guys I'm the buyer for the item in question and hopefully Robin can vouch for my character as I spent three days with him last week! Hello Robin!

I don't want to skimp on shipping so I think it should be declared at its sale value but marked as a gift. Does this sound sensible?

I'm happy to get a FedEx account of you all agree that will make the process more straightforward.

 

Thanks everyone for their input :)

 

Charlie.