I Have Had Enough - International
That's correct. I have had enough with responding and justifying to people outside the United States who complain that my international shipping fees are too high, because other sellers only charge a dollar or two and send their stamps letter, not parcel, rate.
The postal rules say that ALL merchandise MUST be sent using a package service, and must include a customs form. Evidently people outside the US don't care about the rules as they don't want customs forms on the mailpiece either, because they don't want to pay taxes that their country imposes. That's called smuggling. Of course if their order gets confiscated at their border, they'll scream to me that they want a refund.
No more! Until the matter with postal rates gets cleared up to my satisfaction, or HipStamp management requires all sellers to comply with postal regulations to make it an even playing field for all sellers who abide by the rules, I will no longer sell to anyone outside the United States.
The postal rules say that ALL merchandise MUST be sent using a package service, and must include a customs form. Evidently people outside the US don't care about the rules as they don't want customs forms on the mailpiece either, because they don't want to pay taxes that their country imposes. That's called smuggling. Of course if their order gets confiscated at their border, they'll scream to me that they want a refund.
No more! Until the matter with postal rates gets cleared up to my satisfaction, or HipStamp management requires all sellers to comply with postal regulations to make it an even playing field for all sellers who abide by the rules, I will no longer sell to anyone outside the United States.
Comments
For those who do buy, without reading my shipping terms, I get a nasty message, and then they pay. When they receive their order and see the $15, $20 paid in postage, they respond back that such costs are crazy. I do agree with them on that point, but it is more a pain in the rear end and a waste of my time to have to justify myself every time I sell or get an inquiry from someone outside the US.
Before the change in the rules, my international sales were about 1/3 of my sales. They have been next to nothing now anyway, so I'm not losing any more than I had since the changes went into effect. At least now I won't have to answer the emails about this any more.
When I first started selling here, after reading these forums I soon discovered that Hipstamp buyers don't like paying for expensive postage/shipping. So on this site I send orders using un-tracked postage.
Just as a matter of interest, is this working the other way round too ?
I have now sent two packages to USA with a post office printed customs declaration and the correct UK postage appended, but these have not been received. Have not had any gone a stray for years on all my other sites and not having issues with other countries?
Just curious please
David
https://www.hipstamp.com/store/the-stamp-cave
Although it's not the people but the politicians not doing the peoples will. look out at election time!
Just an overprint of the 2015 GB Comedy Greats Issue is required!
It obviously has no perforations - or they would separate much more easily
It must be self adhesive as it sticks to anything
Must admit I cannot decipher the phosphor used - it looks like a bright red - or is that we Brits embarrassment ?
Our politicians could not organise a round of drinks in a brewery
Does anyone have a contact telephone number for Guy Fawkes ?
David
https://www.hipstamp.com/store/the-stamp-cave
I had already read what you wrote on Hipstamp but I wanted to know if you had the shamelessness to confirm your lies.
1. ALL can read the rates of Canada Post. If you do not know them, read the link below
https://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/far/business/findARate?execution=e1s2
2- Few weeks ago I received letter containing 100 stamps from Canada by my exchanger Rein Hanisch. I enclose below the scans. The letter has a postage of CAD 2.53.
It remains a mistery the reason you ask USD 8.00!!
Dear sir, I am a 72 y.o. man who collects stamps from more than 60 years.
I buy and I also sell stamps on many sites on Internet from more than 15 years.
I received dozens of letters from Canada, perhaps hundreds.
I never met sellers who ask so high cost, as you ask, of the shipping for a normal letter from Canada to Italy.
So, I think you write a lot of talking.
There can be only an explanation about it: perhaps I met a very avid person or a person who thinks people are stupid.
Surely it can happen some of your buyers paid such sum, surely they didn't read the cost of the shipping BEFORE.
I met in my life whatever sort of sellers. I must say some of them were really pathetic, some other really obtuse and irritating.
I had put about 150 stamps in the cart for a high total of money, though I see many of your prices are ridicolous for a real expert of philately.
I lost my time, patience!! I'll spend my money elsewhere with other more serious sellers.
I have large number of contacts and I'll write about you.
Good luck (with other buyers)!
See Michael I told you these guys are out there. But of course all of us Americans are stupid and everyone else is , well everyone else Lol.
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Has anyone else had experience like this??? The USPS has just had a price rise to $4.06 to send a normal packaged envelope with cardboard over the ounce but i still charge my old price of $3.85...I add tracking with all packages...Is that welcomed in this site before i start listing items for sale?? Also do i have to have a shop or can i just list on the site like ebay let people do...Regards OIO
We are not complaining about the USA postage rates. we are complaining about the imposition of those rates upon the USA by the Universal Postal Union.
If you send postage stamps through international mail, and you state that there are photos inside, and you do not use a customs form, then you have misdeclared the contents, which is against the law. What you write on the envelope for domestic delivery, that's up to you, unless you include insurance on your parcel, or send the package by registered mail. It appears from the conversations that have occurred here regarding the international shipping requirements, that many "honest" sellers here are all right with violating the law.
You are incorrect regarding the postage rates for a first class parcel. The US domestic postage for a first class parcel weighing not over 4 ounces varies from $3.66 to $4.06, depending on the zone to which the parcel is shipped. If you are charging $3.85 for first class parcel shipping, then you are losing money on your sales after you figure in all of the fees and expenses associated with selling.
Buyers grumble when you use stamps for postage that they don't want (they don't pay for the stamps by the way). Some complain when you do use stamps. Don't waste time trying to figure it out.