Wileyone 

Why am I seeing so many C&V for sale Ads that say Continental US only? It's really not difficult or painful to ship to Canada or the rest of the World. You take the package to the Post Office declare the value and what the item is and "Bob's yer Uncle". If we are paying the Postage what's the problem? Just wondering.

Wildwood 

Damage. Claims. Fear of Scams. Bad review. Language issues.

FBinNY 

All of the above, plus weight and dimensional limits that vary by country, and the higher cost of dealing with a possible return.

It's also something of a pain if you don't have a mailing system and are doing it by hand.

In all fairness, Canada is less of an issue, so you might email a seller with CONUS only and ask if he'll sell to you in Canada.

Vonruden

Add price, international sticker shock.

Wileyone 

None of that in the States?

FBinNY 

There's some but much, much less. One big difference is that all packages are tracked with confirmed delivery in the USA, but so far only 12 or so countries have reciprocal systems for confirming delivery.

When I ship to Canada or the UK I can track my package to the door. Not so with most countries where tracking ends at the local airport facility. So for many countries the seller is at risk with paypal or other credit cads because while he can prove shipment, he can't prove delivery.

One other reason not mentioned, is that a decent number of packages are abandoned in customs. These come back eventually, but you're still out the postage.

Wildwood 

In the last few years, of 3 European shipments on framesets, only 1 has been good. 1 damage (Bel), 1 lost in customs (Fra), 1 good (Spain). No probs from Boulder or San Diego or StL to Seattle.

Smaller package int'l shipments from UK & a couple of IT suppliers = all OK.
Bigger boxes for framesets/complete bikes and the use of multiple carriers is the biggie.
Not a show stopper for me to buy international, but I am very specific of packaging and handling if buying big box from individuals or small companies.

EDIT: PSA, look for good framesets in the bigger Colorado cities. Someone(s) must be sweeping nice parts - not just Campy or DuraAce.

miamijim

It's mostly paranoia and... Most people ship with PayPal as 'friend or personal' so they can avoid fees. If that's the case there's zero recourse even if there is a scam so it's kind of a b.s. argument.

The absolute most simple easy was to sell International is to accept payment as 'goods merchandise'. If accepted as goods/merchandise sellers can print international labels from home thus avoiding any perceived hassles with hand writing labels and waiting in line at the post office.

It's my very cynical view that most sellers who only accept cash, checks or Paypal as friend/personal are the same people who....ok, I'll be polite and hold my tongue..

I'll ship anywhere that usps or fedex allows to ship with few exceptions. I won't ship to Russia...F Putin, or N Korea, certain Middle East countries and Africa except S.Africa.

crank_addict

With many countries, you really don't have a solid insurance to back or for reimburse. Nor do the ones that offer make it easy for the claimant.

Wish it was cost effective and more trading with our fellows in Australia. Absurd costly to ship. Though selling to them is a beautiful thing. They're awesome and my type. Takes really long but a few times received payment by pristine ironed green in an envelope.

Contrary to China. Hilarious because you don't expect some items to be exact as described, forget thinking returns. But... they ship for free or pittance, skips customs and arrives in a few days! Have shipped fragile wheels to Japan and a few other things but no way would I sell to other Asian countries.

Crazy how that happens.

Wileyone 

It's just frustrating when you place a WTB Ad and people respond with what your looking for but as soon as they find out your from Canada you don't hear from them again. I ship to the States and the UK often and nary a problem. The only country I have had a problem with was Spain.

canklecat

The only problem I've experienced shipping to Canada is that most prospective buyers asked me to understate the price to reduce their fees. If the seller does this and the item is lost, stolen or damaged we can't claim the full insured value if we've falsified the value in shipping. So I've confined my transactions to Canada to items that don't cost much and won't be a major loss, but I won't falsify the actual value.

The farthest I've shipped items were to Holland. Took several weeks but there were no problems. One buyer mailed cash in advance, but we'd been virtually acquainted for a few years via another hobbyist forum.

vtchuck

I've shipped a bike to Australia, using BikeFlights / FedEX. Once or twice to Canada. If its an eBay deal, I use their international shipping program.

Wileyone 

I think that is asking a lot from the seller and myself would never do that. Reason being we rarely get dinged for Customs/duty on anything under $200 and sometimes not on items over $200. Seems to be hit and miss in that respect. I also would never ship anyway other than USPS/Canada Post. Courier/brokerage charges both ways across the border are ludicrous.

Wileyone 

The International Shipping program is a Major Scam. I will not deal with any Ebay sellers that use it. If there are no Customs/Duty charges Ebay and Pitney Bowes just pockets that Money. Major ripoff.

Vonruden

Wasnt aware bikeflights shipped overseas, i have a prospective buyer for my Jack Taylor in Germany, may need to check cost.

sloar 

I'm friends who own a local FTL shipping store. They really take care of me, they are professional at packing bikes and frame, find the lowest prices . But they don't ship outside the U.S.

miamijim

I've used these guys to Australia several times.

$161 to Germany after membership..

https://www.myus.com

vtchuck

It won't be cheap, but my bike arrived in 5 days (from Vermont) in perfect condition. Although it might have helped that I used 20' of foam pipe insulation, bubble wrap & blocks/spacers/wire ties etc. Its not as much weight as it is size, so whatever you can do to reduce the size of the box helps.

Kilroy1988 

I sell most things on Ebay and do continental US only because it's easy. Shipping local via USPS is cheaper, involves no custom forms, and insurance and tracking provided on all priority packages, etc... There are plenty of potential buyers within the US for the things I am selling, so why bother with the extra hassle?

When I sell my personal crafted goods via other sites with niche markets, I cater to an international crowd because my clientele are often of that ilk and that's how I make money.

vtchuck

Maybe for the buyer, but in my experience as a seller, it is one few things that eBay does to the benefit of the seller.

(Not to aggravate my friend to the North.... I may be up there watching Molson Hockey Night, depending on what happens in November)

Spaghetti Legs 

Customs forms and going and waiting in line at the PO (which around here is open 10-4 with a 1+ HR lunch break) instead of printing off postage on line and dropping off. That being said I don't expressly not sell to Canadians I just quote a shipped price to USA because I know how much it will cost.

fietsbob

Saves the Uncompensated headache of calculating international Shipping and Customs fees By the seller in initial listing,

so the Price can seem less.

Rollfast

Only in P&R.

Big Block

To Australia there are easy customs duties. Less than $A1000 there are none.
We have a reliable shipping system with tracking.
And as a collector in Australia, most parts need to come from overseas, for me it is generally England. So I am well aware of the shipping costs.

What disappoints me is the occasional refusal to go that little extra.

tmh657

Exactly this for me. Add bikeflights for ease of use. I have sold to Canada when the potential buyer asked and was willing to pay whatever it costs to get some NOS 7700 brifters to him for what seemed like an insane amount of money.