Shipping Cards Over Seas

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wwjd10

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Hey everyone

I got a quick question. I have made a deal with a HI member who is in Finland. The card that this member is sending me has a value of $150. So my question is should I pay the extra $15-20 for insured tracking postage or just the normal postage. I have sent cards worth about $1000 over seas first class and havent had a problem. Just lmk what you guys and gals think?

Thanks

Matthew
 
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wwjd10 said:
I have sent cards worth about $1000 over seas first class and havent had a problem.
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WOW! I think if I was the recipient of those cards Id have paid extra for the insurance FOR SURE.

I guess its up to the recipient if he/she wants to pay the extra, I know I would on a $150 (as per the OP) card, let alone cards worth over a grand.

Just my opinion.
 
Matt,

Never can be too safe with cards going overseas, especially of such high value. If the other party won't chip in for insurance/registered mail for cards over 75, I usually do it myself to cover my backside.

Julian
 
A while back I had a small collection (400+ cards) of Selanne that I sold for $300 to a guy in Finland. I told him that shipping with tracking/insurance was $60. He aggreed. (Shipping turned out to be like $63 or something)

You got to remember, if the card(s) don't show up, he/she will be expecting a refund!
 
It's actually in the best interest of the sender in Finland to work out shipping (ins. & tracking) with you. You guys can work that part out. In the end, if you don't receive the card, he'll have a harder time proving you got it.

In my experience, I've received stuff from Europe pretty quick and safely with just regular mail. But it wasn't super high end (Marks of Obsidian Salming auto.)
 
registered letter oversize air mail with advice of receipt is sufficient and should cost around $20 max if the package is under 100 grams.
 
Hi, tracking and insurance is the best option...but as a buyer´s point-of-view that is also a clear message to customs to stop that shipment for inspection. That means in the end that buyer must pay VAT 22% tax for the paid value of that card (must have print of trade thread or paypal reciept to show the customs) + shipping cost.
That is why many of us here in Finland take the risk and ask without insurance/tracking. It is just to avoid extra customs (VAT) fees. From 150 USD + 30 USD shipping = 180 USD it will be 39,60 VAT if customs stops that letter. :badmood:
I have made 150+ trades here in HI + 400 in eBay. Only 2 times I have had my packages with tracking and both times I have visited the customs. Out of all of these deals I am missing one (1) envelope...all others have arrived safely without any problems or missing shipments. I took the risk, so I never asked for a refund or any compensation!
I also understand that buyer does not want to pay that extra 20-25 USD for tracking if it also means at the same time 35-40 USD taxes.
Hope that You will find an easy solution for this!
Marko, Finland
 
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but once a letter leaves it's country of origin, I don't think there is any way you can truly track it. The last card I bought from Canada with tracking only said it reached it's destination COUNTRY. Once it does, that's pretty much it for the tracking.

Would like to have some input on this for future reference.

Thanks guys!
 
Thanks for the help everyone. I think I will pay for the shipping as well. Whats $15 for a $150 card. Also the cards worth $1000 that I sent overseas were shipped regular because thats how the buyer wanted them sent. I asked him about insurance and tracking but he didnt want it.
 
BlueShirts said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but once a letter leaves it's country of origin, I don't think there is any way you can truly track it. The last card I bought from Canada with tracking only said it reached it's destination COUNTRY. Once it does, that's pretty much it for the tracking.

Would like to have some input on this for future reference.

Thanks guys!
Click to expand...

if you ship registered mail from USA to Canada, the package is signed for and scanned EVERY time it changes hands. USPS online will let you know when it makes it to Canada, how long it spends in customs (down to the minute- time in and time out), and when it is delivered. worth it for higher dollar cards, especially if you sell on ebay.
 
Isn't global priority just $12 total for shipping with tracking anywhere for something card sized?
 
I think the staff in the post offices are kinda funny in U.S and Canada. Usually when I receive tracked mail the stamp says $12-$15. But sometimes they have charged (or tried to) $54:Confused: from the sender.

That's just amazing. Don't they know what they are selling?
 
BlueShirts said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but once a letter leaves it's country of origin, I don't think there is any way you can truly track it. The last card I bought from Canada with tracking only said it reached it's destination COUNTRY. Once it does, that's pretty much it for the tracking.

Would like to have some input on this for future reference.

Thanks guys!
Click to expand...

That's pretty much true - I did an overseas deal way back in September and it just showed as being in Russian customs for about 6 weeks.
 
Overseas shipping can be somewhat unpredictable occasionally. Sending small packets/packages is one thing, but when I sent a parcel that supposedly never reached it's destination in the UK...

If I were selling something again overseas of high value, it's probably going registered mail w/ advise of receipt for backup.
 
i send all my overseas packages DHL, way better/faster than the post office and cheaper. and you get a tracking number automatically, because they need a sig upon receipt. i'll see you wednesday evening at mls Matt, give you the low down.
 
chefjason said:
i send all my overseas packages DHL, way better/faster than the post office and cheaper. and you get a tracking number automatically, because they need a sig upon receipt. i'll see you wednesday evening at mls Matt, give you the low down.
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how much does it cost to use them for a bubbleope?
 
I would work it out with the buyer from Finland. I have had numerous deals on here with folks from Finland (Tommi, Matias, etc...). I think in the end the best thing to do is send Air Mail, declare the card at $10 and keep the postal receipt. I have never had a problem that way. Shipping registered ALWAYS causes me grief because customs will hold the card forever at each stop along the way. In the end, there is NO tracking either and declaring the full value just guarantees the buyer on that end gets a 30% upcharge, just makes no sense to do it.
 

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