How to ship international cheaply?

[ithelps]

I'm trying to ship something small that weighs 1oz and usps wants to charge me $15 to Norway. How are people offering free shipping internationally with free shipping? What's the secret?

[yankee]

Flat thought right Phaz?
Cant be a package at all.

[agent006140]

you mean large envelope flat has tracking and converted to priority?
and the package can be 2 inches thick?

[agent006140]

Originally Posted by ithelps

I'm trying to ship something small that weighs 1oz and usps wants to charge me $15 to Norway. How are people offering free shipping internationally with free shipping? What's the secret?

Chinese sellers offer free intl shipping with 99 cents item,other than that I havenot seen any seller offer free intl shipping,

[agent006140]

Originally Posted by ithelps

I'm trying to ship something small that weighs 1oz and usps wants to charge me $15 to Norway. How are people offering free shipping internationally with free shipping? What's the secret?

norway is sparsely populated and mail seldom get lost,and folks are honest,you can try his approach !
if it is one oz and pretty flat

[agent006140]

I wonder why they want to slap priority label on first class flat?
how many cases have you seen ?
I once send a small pendant to Australia,using first class envelope,there is no tracking,the buyer claimed he did not receive it and I lost.
(I pirnted the shipping label )

[phaz0rz]

I have no idea. I just know that's the way they started handling First Class International Flats when postage rates went up in 2018. It took a few months for me to understand what was happening. The label prints out with a long numerical domestic tracking number + an international tracking number (UM 123 456 789 US). You'll want to upload the one starting with UM. That number will show tracking updates before and after the Priority label is applied. The domestic tracking number will only show updates until the shipment is delivered to USPS's sorting facility where it's relabeled.

Maybe it's because it costs USPS the same amount to transport the shipment either way and they know it will have better tracking in the destination country with a Priority Mail shipping label on it.

I've had at least 10 shipments come back that way. It's been over a year now.

It's also worth noting that I'm only given access to the International Flats category when shipping merchandise on 2 of 3 stamps.com accounts.

[agent006140]

some countries refuse to scan tracking number of first class package (box) because it takes work,so I wonder why they are willing to do so for first class envelope??
and if they are doing so because our USPS slaps a priority sticker on them,are they being compensated for extra work?

[phaz0rz]

I'm sure they aren't. If anything, they are obligated by international postal treaties.

[SaiJin]

You know, I’ve been accidentally using the global shipping and so far it’s been good.

[agent006140]

You mean Ebay GSP which is run by the outfit in Erlanger,Kentucky?

[SaiJin]

Yes that one

[Pedroalva]

Originally Posted by agent006140

Chinese sellers offer free intl shipping with 99 cents item,other than that I havenot seen any seller offer free intl shipping,

Yes but it takes months to receive if.arrives.they don't gift you nothing you know

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by Pedroalva

Yes but it takes months to receive if.arrives.they don't gift you nothing you know

That's funny. Every shipment I've received from China has been marked as a gift.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by phaz0rz

That's funny. Every shipment I've received from China has been marked as a gift.

Smart to avoid duty tax

[phaz0rz]

Tax threshold is $800 here.. but still very nice of them I guess.

I'm not brave enough to send all of my Int'l shipments as gifts.

[degsey69]

Originally Posted by SaiJin

You know, I’ve been accidentally using the global shipping and so far it’s been good.

Global shipping is a great service for international sales. You only have to provide tracking to their Hub in Kentucky if the customer does not receive in a country with no tracking (like most of South America) then eBay swallow the cost. if a customer opens a return and you can not send them a shipping label for that country eBay does on small value items will refund them themselves and not require them to send it back.

I also have had goods refused by customs in other countries and eBay swallow that as well.

Great service.

[phaz0rz]

Yeah, I've loved GSP since the beginning. Never really understood people here not liking it.. just assumed those are people who won't ship internationally at all.

[agent006140]

not all categories qualify for GSP,also it costs more,so most buyers will find other sellers who have the same or similar items.

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by agent006140

not all categories qualify for GSP,also it costs more,so most buyers will find other sellers who have the same or similar items.

eBay gets better international rates than me in many cases. I'll offer GSP and regular Int'l shipping and let the customer pick.

One thing I've noticed customers don't like is that eBay won't fudge the customs declaration to help customers with import duties like most individual sellers would do if they printed the label themselves. eBay will declare a $99 purchase as a $99 shipment and force the customer to pay max taxes.

[ithelps]

Originally Posted by phaz0rz

Yeah, I've loved GSP since the beginning. Never really understood people here not liking it.. just assumed those are people who won't ship internationally at all.

How do i apply for it and enable that option when shipping international? I only can activate it and list items if im listing from my inkfrog.

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by ithelps

How do i apply for it and enable that option when shipping international? I only can activate it and list items if im listing from my inkfrog.

It's always just shown up as an option in the advanced listing tool when making listings on my laptop.