posting abroad safely from uk

[dburnside]

i dont normally post abroad but getting quite alot of queries recently, who i the best supplier to send abroad from uk? i will be needing tracking nums for paypal queries thanks

[bode]

Worldwide postage used to be great, I posted a lot overseas, but ebay reduced visibility and now sales are about 5% overseas. I think it costs an extra £3.50 for Royal Mail International signed for but I heard that the customer doesn't actually have to sign for it...get some advice about this and make sure this method is Paypal safe.

I had to block Italy from my listings due to the sheer amount of buying fraud and missing parcels....wasn't worth it. When I set up my new ID shortly, I think I'm going to go UK only for the first time in years. Signed for isn't suitable for me though.

[GreenBean]

Consider 'where' abroad. Consider if it is worthwhile. In the EU alone, France,Italy & some former Eastern bloc countries are royal pains.

Tracking numbers are not the B all and end all. There's the likelihood of language problems, fraud happens.

Is your ebay account strong enough to withstand problems? You have to think of that before venturing into international shipping.

[oompaloompa]

yes international signed for, is good in general but you are at mercy of the foreign postal service, and as alot of people live in flats, they dont get signed for sometimes. I have never had a problem with it to be fair. Avoid high priced items that attract scammers...

[dburnside]

at the minute its just a couple of austrailia buyers i going to deal with and im hopeing it will mean regular business to austrailia, am more concerned about the whole item arriving safely rather than being conned

[oompaloompa]

never had probs with Oz, arrives quick with normal airmail (within a week), but depends on your goods whether you opt for expensive tracking.......

[dburnside]

do u use the extra tracking option? i no that its an extra £3.50

i once posted something to norway with no tracking or sign for and guy put in claim about the same time it was due to arrive, thats what puts me off internetional dealings

[bode]

I get more sales from Austrailia than I do from the US. I've had several problems there also in the last 2 months, that's why I'm having to rethink the whole international selling thing. Packages get returned unclaimed and you're out of pocket...the rest I don't know? Maybe buyers want to recoup the international postage fee?? If I'm going to relist worldwide, I'm going to ask for bank transfer, but I don't think that's going to work in practise.

I don't want to put you off, but hopefully someone will chime in with a safe method of delivery. If you have a high profit margin these losses can be swallowed up and the odd loss will not be problem.