help with usps customs forms

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sbwertz

sbwertz

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Phoenix, AZ
I sold some camera equipment on EBAY and I specified US shipping only. Now the person who won the auction is in Canada on an extended vacation and has asked me to send the box to him in Ontario. He is willing to pay the postage.

My problem is, I have never mailed anything internationally and the customs forms are formidable!

There is a camera, five lenses, a flash, batteries, chargers, etc. in the box. Do I have to list every item, and its value, size and weight individually? I received some stuff for my RV from Canada recently and it just said "Used RV Parts" on the label. Can I just list "used camera equipment" and the total price he paid for it?

I'm about to tell him I will ship it only to his home address in the US.
 
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Sharon,
You can list it as a "used camera system, with lens, batteries and charger" (or "with accessories")... Canada isn't as particular as some countries.

The most problem you may have is with the batteries... if they are Lithium, they are considered hazardous materials and that's a whole new ball game... you may have less trouble to keep the batteries and let the buyer supply his own at destination.
 
If I might add ............ PROTECT YOURSELf!!!! Several years ago my PayPal account was hacked. The hacker used a very similar story to purchase items off ebay. Luckily for me I was protected by PayPal but the person selling the items lost. Hope this is not the case but unless the Canada address is verified by PayPal, if that is the payment method, I'd advise against it.
 
Sharon if you are using PayPal you can use their international shipping program and they will take care if it for you. You send the package to their designated address and the buyer pays them and they ship it to the buyer. Good luck.
 
sbwertz said:
I sold some camera equipment on EBAY and I specified US shipping only. Now the person who won the auction is in Canada on an extended vacation and has asked me to send the box to him in Ontario. He is willing to pay the postage.

My problem is, I have never mailed anything internationally and the customs forms are formidable!

There is a camera, five lenses, a flash, batteries, chargers, etc. in the box. Do I have to list every item, and its value, size and weight individually? I received some stuff for my RV from Canada recently and it just said "Used RV Parts" on the label. Can I just list "used camera equipment" and the total price he paid for it?

I'm about to tell him I will ship it only to his home address in the US.
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It looks like you would have to ship it in a medium flat rate box or perhaps even larger which would cost a small fortune. I would tell the buyer that the auction clearly states no international shipping
 
Smitty37 said:
sbwertz said:
I sold some camera equipment on EBAY and I specified US shipping only. Now the person who won the auction is in Canada on an extended vacation and has asked me to send the box to him in Ontario. He is willing to pay the postage.

My problem is, I have never mailed anything internationally and the customs forms are formidable!

There is a camera, five lenses, a flash, batteries, chargers, etc. in the box. Do I have to list every item, and its value, size and weight individually? I received some stuff for my RV from Canada recently and it just said "Used RV Parts" on the label. Can I just list "used camera equipment" and the total price he paid for it?

I'm about to tell him I will ship it only to his home address in the US.
Click to expand...
It looks like you would have to ship it in a medium flat rate box or perhaps even larger which would cost a small fortune. I would tell the buyer that the auction clearly states no international shipping
Click to expand...

It won't even fit in a large flat rate box....it weighs 11 lbs. But he is paying the postage.
 
Jim15 said:
Sharon if you are using PayPal you can use their international shipping program and they will take care if it for you. You send the package to their designated address and the buyer pays them and they ship it to the buyer. Good luck.
Click to expand...

Thanks. That is how I will go.
 
cal91666 said:
If I might add ............ PROTECT YOURSELf!!!! Several years ago my PayPal account was hacked. The hacker used a very similar story to purchase items off ebay. Luckily for me I was protected by PayPal but the person selling the items lost. Hope this is not the case but unless the Canada address is verified by PayPal, if that is the payment method, I'd advise against it.
Click to expand...

He has been on ebay for ten years with 1100 transactions and a 100 percent satisfaction rating. It looks like he buys used camera outfits and resells them piecemeal.
 
sbwertz said:
Jim15 said:
Sharon if you are using PayPal you can use their international shipping program and they will take care if it for you. You send the package to their designated address and the buyer pays them and they ship it to the buyer. Good luck.
Click to expand...

Thanks. That is how I will go.
Click to expand...

Sharon I should have said that is what works for me. I sell old vinyl records all over the world but I choose that option in my listing when I make it. I don't know if it will work as an after sale option. I hope you can do it as it makes it very easy for you.
 
Sharon,
International shipping is no where near as intimidating as most people make it...'course I'm talking from 40 years in the international shipping industry. I do know that the regulations and procedures are constantly changing. (And I've been retired for over 10 years and out of the business) The last time I shipped to Canada (last month), when you go into the paypal postage system, the Canadian custom forms come up and you can list your items on line and it will print on the mailing label... that's all you may need. They've done away with the old Nafta and Canadian invoice system which was a little more complicated. If you have a good sized post office near your or go to the airport post office, the clerks should also be able to give you some guidance.

Biggest thing on international shipping for individuals such as yourself, have your money in hand and secure BEFORE you ship. Even in our commercial shipments, more often than not the customers had confirmed payment or confirmed letters of credit before they shipped.
 
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Oh, I'll make sure I'm paid before I ship. But I need to determine how much it is going to cost so I know how much to bill him for shipping.
 
First thing I'd check is where the PayPal "confirmed shipping address" is, if you send it anywhere else....you are opening yourself up for the "it didn't show up and I want my money back".

I would stick to my "No international shipping", tell eBay about it and have them cancel the winning bid. I've had too may 'shady dealings from buyers' on eBay....and they are not there to help you-it's all about the buyer and the fees they get from them.

BTW, even if you have the funds in your hands, eBay can put a 'lean' on your PayPal account and get the money back from you.....don't ask me how I know, the scammer took me for a $250.00 item, shipping, and the fees. He signed for the item and eBay still gave him a refund! He never returned the item, eBay told me 'sorry'.


Scott (sounds fishy too me) B
 
Jim15 said:
Sharon if you are using PayPal you can use their international shipping program and they will take care if it for you. You send the package to their designated address and the buyer pays them and they ship it to the buyer. Good luck.
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What Program is that Jim? I would like it but can't find any thing like that at PayPal?
 
Jim15 said:
Smitty37 said:
Jim15 said:
Sharon if you are using PayPal you can use their international shipping program and they will take care if it for you. You send the package to their designated address and the buyer pays them and they ship it to the buyer. Good luck.
Click to expand...
What Program is that Jim? I would like it but can't find any thing like that at PayPal?
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PM sent.
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Just to clarify it is an eBay program not PayPal...that's where my confusion was.
 
I let EBAY print the shipping labels and charge my paypal account. I still had to take it to the post office, because I wasn't sure how many of the four pages it printed actually had to be attached to the package (3 of the 4). Which was a good thing because I discovered that my bathroom scale weighs 2 lbs light! I had to pay an extra $5 in postage. (So I REALLY weigh 2 lbs more than I think I do? Bummer!)

Anyway it is on its way and it was really relatively painless.
 
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