I'm another Aussie, that can't say enough good things about Ken, I have bought a couple of things from Ken and I have to say everything was a pleasure.

Awesome communication, great shipping at the post office cost, well packaged and super prompt! He has shown us how pain free oversea's shipping can be, and the nice thing is, from what I can gather, it is done out of williness to make this hobby accessible to all corners of the globe. (strange expression "corners of the globe"...what the...)...sorry for the little rant..just think credit where credit is due.

I will say this for overseas shipping. It does take a considerable more amout of time to get everything packaged under the country's shipping requiremnents.

I have had more problems wiht the UK than anyplace else. I had a set of wheels come back to me after 6 months that I shipped - said undeliverable. I had to pay the shipping twice and did get them back. The buyer understood and opted to just leave them here as is... I paid $132 total shipping to get a set of wheels delivered right back to me.

I had one guy in Singapore that bought a complete bike. I shipped and had all records when he filed a dispute after 3 weeks of paying for the item. It did show up but PayPal gave back his $250+ back plus hse got the bike.

Overall - PayPal is maybe the factor and selling a set of Profile cranks to the UK was a little hazy but now I just have to loook at feedback. If BMX is what they usually buy, then it seems to be okay. If BMX or new to eBay you will more than likely get screwed since PayPal will usally wait until they respond and say everything is okay.

Overall everything has been great - usually people out of the country pay more all around. TO buy the item, to pay for shipping and the waiting game. I think we are all taking chances but overall seems like most buyers and sellers are fair in actions.

I did have one item kicked back due to the USPS saying wrong customs forum. I personally feel this was rejected on the other side since the USPS uses a computer to tell them which fourm to scan in in order to process.

Waza is the biggest pain in the *** to ship to since he always buys so much...LOL Hey dude, what's up!

Think or say what you will Subwax.

I've shipped plenty of parts, frames and complete bikes all over the world for years, never had anyone claim they were over charged, gouged or mislead...and they always get it quickly and packed well.

Selling overseas cost money and time. Undoubtedly always begins with the tire kickers asking for a shipping quote....my time clock starts ticking while researching every countries rates, measurement regulations and customs for some bozo that can't even afford the bid.

You can go to USPS.com with the size and weight just like the seller, educate yourselves. While your at it read the consequences the sellers are taking when you ask them to mark your package as a gift so you can escape the taxes.

LOL , best i got this week was a buyer telling me
"i want my money back, cos these grips are dusty. You said they were NOS"..... Grrrrrr

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
and you all wonder why I dislike the human race.

Waza, I would have told him that the dust was extra and you forgot to charge him, so PAY UP SUCKA.

[ August 04, 2007, 01:41 PM: Message edited by: BRIAN HAYS ]

It's funny. I'm a UK buyer and I sell on ebay too.

I've been buying/selling for nearly four years and have never thought twice about shipping abroad (mainly US).

I like the idea that a bit of old bike (and old memories) is flying around the world somewhere to someone who really wants it, the same way I get excited when I see something I've been methodically and religiously searching for, for months or longer on ebay and I stick in a bid to stand a real chance of securing it.

Until now, I really didn't know that shipping overseas from the US could be such a headache. I always thought it was just because some sellers didn't wan't a prized item leaving the U.S for whatever reason. Case in point would be a nice loop blue quad frameset about 8 months ago on ebay. Listed for 1500USD and I was happy to bid that. Contacted the seller for UK sale. No bids from abroad. I seem to remember it was listed a few times afterwards...

That said there are a few US guys here I buy from and have sold to (e.g Brian Hays). Brian's a top ebayer as are all the US guys I've had dealings with. So far, I've never been stung for excessive postage from anyone or had to wait months for an arrival from anyone.

Someone said foreign buyers will pay. It's probably true (I tend to, if I really want it) and the exchange rates have been good for a while UK-US.

Personally, I believe it's worth persevering with, you're not just selling something, you're helping to cultivate a smaller world. Nothing is 100% sure but you can do your homework, cover the extreme possibilities and still ship out.

Example #1: Mid School (really long 1995 ELF XL) frame (with forks and headset) from West Coast to East Coast (Oregon to North Carolina) via USPS Priority Mail. 38x12x3 were the package dimensions, Postage was $20.55 plus insurance (to cover $125 value)
of $2.45 for a grand total of $23.00

Packaging was two and one third Flat Rate Priority Boxes "merged" together. After merging them, you need to cover up the Flat Rate portion of the boxes as some clerks mis-read postal regs and think you cannot use Flat Rate boxes for anything but Flat Rate. The actual rule is, once you modify a FR box, it cannot be used for Flat Rate.

Example #2 is exactly what Brian is having problems with. Race Inc. (same as FMF, Laguna GTA, Cycle Pro Foiler, etc.) with forks, (even a chainring in this package). I purposely cut this box a little bigger than normal to "test" the USPS clerks on Priority Mail International as this box is headed to Stuart in Australia.

36x12x3 on one end, 36x12x4.5 on the other end. Weighs in at 7 pounds, 6.8 ounces. Base rate was $48.80 (I then added $6.00 for insurance to cover value of $350) for a total of $54.80 This should reach Australia in a week or so.

This box was just fabricated (10 minutes prior to shipping) out of an oversized box that I broke down to a flat sheet of cardboard. I then simply scored and folded in the correct areas to be pretty snug on the frame. Forks get wrapped on several layers of plastic (frame is also wrapped in plastic) and are then stuffed through the small end of the box.

Remember, it is EASY to cut down boxes to better fit packaging requirements and frame sizes. Just take 30 seconds and a standard box cutter.


By the way Stu, that is your tracking number on the last image :-)

I've used the Pliska method of box stacking many tmies and it works quite well.

The beauty of Priority Mail is FREE mailing supplies. The boxes are free if you use the service.

Hey Ken, thanks for the step by step photographic illustration of packaging my purchase...looks great!

thanks heaps Ken, that is pefect example that its not that difficult and ALSO that frames still can be shipped for about $60-$70USD express airmail

Hey Brian hays, I think something suxs with your post office!!!

Okay well, this is how painless it can be. Thanks Ken, you are a great example of how things can be done. The frame/fork/ sprocket arrived and is perfect!

The condition the box arrived in:



The tracking on the internet...as I just picked it up it hasn't shown it has been collected (it will later today)...however to all those that think tracking doesn't work..this shows it does and it is effective too. The shipping time was only 6 days (as we are a day in front). Postage cost $54.80!

I'm a UK buyer and I too sincerely appreciate all the efforts that people make by sending internationally. I sell OS too but I have found that its less painful to arrange the delivery online so that I know I won't be hulking a large box to the PO and standing in line only to argue at the counter with staff that don't give a hoot.
The furthest I'll ever have to go is to the front door when the DHL guy arrives to pick it up lol.
Communication too is the key, as long as I know it's been shipped and I can track the item I have no problem.
So, does anyone have a Tuf neck stem that is willing to ship to the UK???

[ August 14, 2007, 07:34 AM: Message edited by: Superkav ]

yep most peeps that have shipped to me in uk have been great and goods came in good time as well . cheers to them peeps

I have always shipped small packages overseas and now today, because of this thread and all the positive advice I'm proud to say that I signed up on USPS.com, paid postage online and shipped a looptail PK frame and fork to the UK today for $49.88. I had charged the buyer $100 freight so I was able to refund him $50 today through Paypal.

Waza, have Scotty get ahold of me soon. I'm gonna rebox the FMF and parts and check the info to his address and go from there. I need to know that his addy is still the same as last Dec. Where's he been since then?????

Thanks again guys. Here's a lesson to be learned :
This same buyer was willing to pay $1200 PLUS freight for JUST the round top tube frame BUT , I told him no overseas ship. After this thread, I had it advertised for $800 INCLUDING NOS Cycle Pro/SE forks and headset and he asked again. This time I said Sure. It was simple with the online postage. Basically I cost myself $600 (diff in asking price between auctions plus cost of forks and headset) because I was using the discruntled old ladies in the East Peoria IL post office and didn't want the hassle.

Way To Go Brian!!!!!!

Very interesting thread. I have sold & bought to/from a few of you on here, and will continue to do so. I've had one bad experience, it was with a set of cranks going to Oz. The tracking number had it leaving the country via Chicago, and there was no more. Apparently, the box fell out of the plane over the South Pacific.

Anyway, of course, my buyer was upset, but I said, "what can I do?" I haven't heard from him, so I assume the cranks eventually showed up.

Anyway, this has me thinking that I will require insurance be purchased on all overseas shipments.

Is postal insurance really effective? Has anyone ever tried to collect?