eBay: Shipping Internationally From home - Can it be Done?

[wingzrow]

I don't ship internationally, but the way I do things here in the states is this.

item is purchased
I enter in the weight on eBay
My label printer prints out a label
I put it on the package
I put that package in any mail box in country and the postal system takes it from there
ebay gives me free tracking and i'm able to prove where my item went and when it arrived

For international sales I can't seem to do that because eBay requires you to have tracking with all your items (which is stupid expensive overseas), and I would need to ship in 24 hours to get the 20% final face value discount. Without the tracking it's impossible to verify when you shipped your item with eBay, and on top of that you would have to manually fill out international forms with ink and paper each time, instead of printing out a simple label.

Is there a way to ship items from home, internationally AND get the discount?

I'm just not seeing it, and if there isn't, that seems extremely unfair.

TLDR: is there a way to make international sale shipping labels from home with a label printer?

[Porksta]

If you make the label through Ebay they give you the customs form to print out. All you do is sign and date it and you are set. You still have to manually take it to a post office though, although your PO may not enforce that. No tracking is included though, other than the customs number that doesn't track once the package leaves the US.

Keep in mind Paypal takes 3.9% (as opposed to 2.9%) for international payments.

What is this about a 20% discount? I have never heard of such a thing.

[wingzrow]

eBay is requiring all sales to ship in 24 hours, have a 14 day return policy, and have tracking, in order to get their 20% off final face value discount.

It's horrible.

[Porksta]

So what is the 20%? Where can I find out more about it? I always ship my items within 24 hours with DC and haven't ever gotten 20% off. Was this just introduced?

[theclaw]

ebay's web form allows printing first class international labels. (unlike even paypal!)

However the problem is out of their hands, USPS doesn't offer tracking on that slowest service. You must charge buyers the expansive special rates to have it. I forget which service...

[chrisballer]

So what is the 20%? Where can I find out more about it? I always ship my items within 24 hours with DC and haven't ever gotten 20% off. Was this just introduced?

Yes this is recently. You also have to give at least a 14 day return policy. All the info is on Ebay's site. I am surprised you have not heard of this because Ebay has been spamming my account inbox for awhile about it. I saved $75 last month because of it. All you have to do is set your auctions to 14 day return policy, next day shipping, and if you print your labels through Ebay it automatically sends the tracking so at the end of the month Ebay sees which of your auctions meet the requirements, and then automatically gives you the discount. Hope this helps.

As to selling internationally it is absolutely no more work than signing the label when you print it out at home. You do not have to hand fill out all the custom forms. From my experience I make even more profit from selling internationally. Most items of mine that sell high or higher than normal go to buyers abroad.

[wingzrow]

Hmm, but I would still have to drop it off at the post office, thereby getting rid of that 24 hour shipping speed. I can't drop off packages at the post every day of the year.

What about tracking too? Is there a way to require tracking for international sales?

[theclaw]

I'm pretty sure the only thing you can do is specify a service costly enough to include tracking.

[Jaruff]

ebay's web form allows printing first class international labels. (unlike even paypal!)

However the problem is out of their hands, USPS doesn't offer tracking on that slowest service. You must charge buyers the expansive special rates to have it. I forget which service...

Priority always includes tracking numbers. That's what *everyone* should use for International shipments if they wish to protect themselves. The only First-Class International package I ever did was a couple of small PS3 parts to Canada for a DP member. All of my international eBay transactions goes straight to Priority.

[FanOPants]

Hmm, but I would still have to drop it off at the post office, thereby getting rid of that 24 hour shipping speed. I can't drop off packages at the post every day of the year.

What about tracking too? Is there a way to require tracking for international sales?

Yes, by only offering Priority Mail International. Note that tracking is NOT included with the small flat-rate box and the flat-rate envelope...they're tricky like that.

Agree with another user re: higher prices to int'l buyers. Definitely worth the hassle (no hassle with a regular printer though).

[Porksta]

I charge a small handling fee to international buyers since I have to stand in line to mail something to them.

[wingzrow]

So if I make my only international shipping service "Priority Mail International" that would solve the tracking problem? Is free tracking included with international priority shipping?

Also, I would still have to drop these off at the post office even if I printed from home right? I can't just drop off international packages in a regular mail box?

[FanOPants]

So if I make my only international shipping service "Priority Mail International" that would solve the tracking problem? Is free tracking included with international priority shipping?

Also, I would still have to drop these off at the post office even if I printed from home right? I can't just drop off international packages in a regular mail box?

On the first point, yes. You could add service for the Medium and Large flat-rate boxes as well if it makes sense (heavy items, combined shipping).

I can't speak to the second point as I drop everything off at my local post office anyway.

[Porksta]

It depends on if the PO cares or not. The label says that it must be dropped off at the actual post office, but YMMV.