XXX Country Buyers Only

1. Have you ever refused to sell outside your own country? Outside your continent? Would you?
Nope! I won't refuse anyone simply because where they live (though I've heard of issues with Italy). If people are willing to pay the shipping, why deny them what they want? To be honest, at least half of the items from my doll shop have gone overseas! In a hobby and community that's so worldwide, it seems silly to put limits on things.

2. What are some reasons people limit potential buyers geographically?
Probably worries about items being lost or damaged overseas, high shipping prices, having to fill out customs forms, or customs fees in general.

3. Do you think buyer education plays a part in the decision? I.e. do people prefer not to ship internationally to avoid angry buyers saying “You’re charging how much for shipping?” What about seller education? Are sellers preferring to stay in-country to avoid educating themselves about international customs requirements? Because they are un-informed or mis-informed about shipping options in their own country?
Oh definitely. International shipping prices seem insane if you've never shipped or bought overseas, so I can see why people might be afraid that they are being overcharged and therefore not want to deal with that person (because maybe they think they are being dishonest?). I myself am often afraid about my shipping charges since they do seem a bit high for things so light (~$4 overseas) but people always forget that shipping out of the country is already expensive, plus the cost of packing materials. No one has had an issue with my costs yet though! ...And then it took me a while to figure out all the procedures for shipping overseas so I can see why people might just outright avoid selling or buying outside their country.

4. Does a seller’s willingness to ship internationally (if stated) influence your decision to buy from them?
Well...if they won't ship to my country (and I'm international) then yes! Because then I can't buy from them XP Other than that, no. If they will ship to me, and I'm buying, why would it bother me who else they are willing to ship to?

 

1. Have you ever refused to sell outside your own country? Outside your continent? Would you?

As a general rule of thumb, I won't ship dolls outside of North America. Canada Post charges INSANE shipping fees for packages with tracking that are shipped outside of the continent. I found this out the hard way when I went to ship out a head to an international faceup artist and was told that it would cost me $80 to ship it using a method that wouldn't take 3 months and which came with tracking. I have had people contact me about shipping to a country on another continent, but when I told them the shipping fees they understandably backed out.

In conclusion: Canada Post's prohibitive fees ($150 for shipping an SD-sized doll to both England and countries as far as Japan? Why is the fee the same for such vast differences in distance? WHy is it so freaking expensive!?) have made me decide to just ship within the US and Canada.

I would like to add that I would be willing to ship outside of the continent on request, so long as the buyer would pay the fee. Both most people just send an incredulous PM back that implies that I'm surely overcharging them. >.< I could kill Canada Post for charging such ridiculous fees. Seriously.

What are some reasons people limit potential buyers geographically?

Well, as stated above, if the shipping fees are too high then no one wants to pay have their items shipped! I would imagine the fear of an item being lost might prevent some from shipping internationally as well. I've had a couple of packages "eaten" on the journey from the US to Canada.

I've also heard that some countries (e.g. Italy) have very strict rules at to what can be mailed or not, and that people shipping packages to these countries have had problems. If I were shipping to a country like this I would be reluctant to do so unless the buyer was very aware that it was not my responsibility to replace items lost that didn't make it through customs.

3. Do you think buyer education plays a part in the decision? I.e. do people prefer not to ship internationally to avoid angry buyers saying &#8220;You&#8217;re charging how much for shipping?&#8221; What about seller education? Are sellers preferring to stay in-country to avoid educating themselves about international customs requirements? Because they are un-informed or mis-informed about shipping options in their own country?

I can't really say I have an opinion on this question, sorry.

4. Does a seller&#8217;s willingness to ship internationally (if stated) influence your decision to buy from them?

I do get very annoyed when people in the US say they'll only ship within their country. What exactly is preventing you from shipping to poor Canadians up here? I can understand if people in, say, Europe only want to ship within their continent or the like, but seriously... USPS' fees to Canada are very reasonable and Canada Customs forms are not THAT hard to fill out. If it's a dolly trade I can also understand not wanting to be hit with more customs fees, but otherwise I just don't get it.

Luckily most people are quite willing to ship outside of the US if you ask.

 

I have been selling for many years on eBay and etsy and had a very costley leasons about shipping overseas. I made reborn dolls for years and sent one off to AU. After the buyer had not recieved the doll in over a month it took me a week to track the doll down as it was being "held" in customs. Apparently the glass beads used to weight the doll were thought to be sand and they would not release the doll to the buyer until the doll was dismantaled, the beads removed and they were left with a torn to shreads doll. Since I stated in my return policy I would take returns for anything that was "Not as Advertised" it cost $59 for me to have the doll shipped back, the buyers were furious and and I was out over $500! I also hate the paperwork as I'm quite lazy. I always sell to Canada as I have never had any problems. If someone asks if I will ship to to their country I almost always say yes but I always put 'No international Shipping' in my ad. Of course most of the things I buy are from overseas but what the heh.

 

I've never had a problem with shipping internationally. I think it comes from living on a tiny little island in Asia. XD Generally, it's not at all complicated, and the post office people are quite helpful in pointing out the most cost-effective method of shipping (bafflingly, it was apparently cheaper to ship a package using EMS to Australia than using registered airmail O_o? It was faster too. O_o!!).

Perhaps, part of the reason why people may be reluctant to ship overseas is because their local post offices are not as friendly/helpful?

Sometimes, I do think I'd rather sell locally to avoid paypal fees/getting ripped off by the exchange rate, but our market is just tiny. XD

 

I must be honest, it drives me crazy when people won't ship outside the USA. Or, worse, they charge $30.00 to ship one tiny item of clothing or a pair of socks. It's like saying "Oh you're all a bit dodgy outside of America so I'm going to send this tiny item tracked so you can't say you didn't get it." When in reality I've yet to EVER have anything go missing when sent from overseas in the whole time I've been buying on the internet.

I've sent to lots of places. Spain and Italy and Canada spring to mind as places where I've sent and received items very quickly despite what's said about things to and from those countries.

I've never understood why people use the internet to sell and then cut off 95% of the world from dealing with them, but it's the sellers loss - there are very few items which don't come up again from more understanding sellers.

 

Cherryredx: I don't think it's the buyers we (Americans) distrust so much as the overseas post service / customs. :/ I would never send anything out of the country without full tracking, because I've had way too many experiences with scary international post. However, I'd also never ask an international seller to ship me anything without tracking, because I know US Customs is just as scary and evil.
-Pere

 

As I'm eventually starting a fantasy parts company, I figure I'll answer here...

1. Have you ever refused to sell outside your own country? Outside your continent? Would you?
I haven't, and when I start sales, I won't. A buyer is a buyer. I'll just make sure they're aware of how EXPENSIVE shipping can be.
2. What are some reasons people limit potential buyers geographically?
Mostly the cost/time/risk of shipping, I'm sure.
3. Do you think buyer education plays a part in the decision? I.e. do people prefer not to ship internationally to avoid angry buyers saying “You’re charging how much for shipping?” What about seller education? Are sellers preferring to stay in-country to avoid educating themselves about international customs requirements? Because they are un-informed or mis-informed about shipping options in their own country?
I don't doubt it, on either side.
4. Does a seller’s willingness to ship internationally (if stated) influence your decision to buy from them?
If I were out of their country? Yep!

 

1. Have you ever refused to sell outside your own country? Outside your continent? Would you? I would sell overseas on the condition the item is sent via tracking and insurance.

2. What are some reasons people limit potential buyers geographically? If there are, I don't know why. Overseas shipping is a pretty safe thing to do.

3. Do you think buyer education plays a part in the decision? I.e. do people prefer not to ship internationally to avoid angry buyers saying “You’re charging how much for shipping?” What about seller education? Are sellers preferring to stay in-country to avoid educating themselves about international customs requirements? Because they are un-informed or mis-informed about shipping options in their own country? Goods are shipped all over the world, every day and all day. It's a pretty sophisticated system so I wouldn't put it down to ignorance, rather to laziness and a certain snob factor of selling to someone in one's own country.

4. Does a seller’s willingness to ship internationally (if stated) influence your decision to buy from them? I ask if someone doesn't mention selling overseas. Then I am prepared to pay top dollar for safe shipping methods and let the seller know. I'm not a scrooge when it comes to shipping costs. I just want the doll home, safe and sound.

 

I don't think that's it, though. I'm sure shipping overseas becomes easier after someone does it a couple of times, but for people who don't do a lot of selling, it's just plain easier and a lot less worry to sell within your own country -- not because the buyers are any less trustworthy, but over concerns with shipping and customs. If the sellers have plenty of buyers in their own country, then they aren't standing to lose anything by staying within it. No one is obligated to sell their items to the entire world. Despite the amount of international commerce that happens everyday, there are companies that never end up selling overseas. Why should individuals be any different? It's not anything personal against people from other countries. Selling items can be a real hassle and stressful enough as it is without adding a whole nother dimension to it.

By the way, the high shipping costs are to help insure that nothing goes wrong. There's nothing wrong with wanting to protect oneself -- people get mightily upset if their item gets lost in the mail (heck, I sure as hell wouldn't be happy about it), and making sure the package is insured with tracking can head off a lot of trouble. Remember, the doll companies and many of the clothing companies are all overseas -- most of the time when I'm buying new and direct, I pay high shipping to bring things to the US -- even smaller clothing items. You're not alone in this. And while you might never have had something go missing, if you look around at various threads, other people have. It can and does happen.

That could certainly be a factor for some folks. I've had past dealings with my post office that left me quite frustrated -- all the more reason to keep things as simple as possible.

 

1. Have you ever refused to sell outside your own country? Outside your continent? Would you?

No I've never refused and Its unlikely I ever will... but I will always charge the appropriate amount - such as I'm happy to send anything up to $50 in value uninsured as I can re-claim that if its lost... anything over that and you HAVE to pay insurance - if insurance isnt available to the country I am mailing to then I insist on EMS as its the most reliable way to ensure a package actually arrives...

2. What are some reasons people limit potential buyers geographically?
Size and weight I think are the only reasons I can think off and why I'd prefer to sell within a country - for example if I ever sold my Soom Monzo I'd prefer a buyer in Australia only because internationally he'd be well over $150 to post... thats huge!!

3. Do you think buyer education plays a part in the decision? I.e. do people prefer not to ship internationally to avoid angry buyers saying &#8220;You&#8217;re charging how much for shipping?&#8221; What about seller education? Are sellers preferring to stay in-country to avoid educating themselves about international customs requirements? Because they are un-informed or mis-informed about shipping options in their own country?

fear of the unknown perhaps..? I travel A LOT so I see no restrictions and I've visited most of the countries hosted here on DoA so I have no fear of posting - I think its less to do with being informed and more to do with a reluctance to "deal" with the potential fiascos that go with international mail... if you post within your own country you are familiar with the laws that protect you... not so internationally..... maybe..?

4. Does a seller&#8217;s willingness to ship internationally (if stated) influence your decision to buy from them?

No not really - If I want something fast I'l look for sellers in my own country and if someone states a preference for mailing in the USA - I'll only ask them if they will ship to Australia if I am serious about buying it....

 

1. Have you ever refused to sell outside your own country? Outside your continent? Would you?
-Nah. But I respect the decision.

2. What are some reasons people limit potential buyers geographically?
-One word; customs. You have literally break the law (marking down values is super illegal) in order to ensure buyers in some countries will get their package within this century. Its just insane.

3. Do you think buyer education plays a part in the decision? I.e. do people prefer not to ship internationally to avoid angry buyers saying “You’re charging how much for shipping?” What about seller education? Are sellers preferring to stay in-country to avoid educating themselves about international customs requirements? Because they are un-informed or mis-informed about shipping options in their own country?

-I think bad experiences are a huge part of sellers decision to not sell out of country. There are so many things that can go wrong with all the distance, and all those government rules.

4. Does a seller’s willingness to ship internationally (if stated) influence your decision to buy from them?
-No. It's a totally legit decision.

 

Or, you know, it costs that much to ship it with tracking. Tracking protects the buyer as well as the seller. Just go take a look at the problem transactions forum -- there are some iffy sellers out there, and getting that tracking data helps prove the seller isn't just taking your money and running with it. Additionally, considering the volume of transactions done through paypal, from what I recall, paypal wants that tracking data or it won't provide protections for sellers. Tracking costs extra within the country in many cases as well, so this notion that having package tracking is an insult to people from other countries is a bit ridiculous.

If I'm shipping or receiving a package, I want tracking on it. If that means the $30 shipping fee for a pair of socks, so be it. It has nothing to do with thinking a buyer or seller is dodgy -- it has everything to do with having long-term, actual experience with my post office being extremely dodgy, and losing an actual business to post office theft some years ago. People have many reasons -- all of them wholly valid -- for using tracked shipping methods that have absolutely nothing to do with an insult to someone who lives outside of their country. Truly, I think interpreting things in that manner is only looking to be offended in a wholly insensible fashion.

 

1. Have you ever refused to sell outside your own country? Outside your continent? Would you?

No, no, and probably. (See answer to #2)


2. What are some reasons people limit potential buyers geographically?

I've seen it for a couple reasons.
a. Language barrier- some people are afraid to deal with buyers with whom communication may be an issue. (I see this in Japan a lot- sellers don't want to ship outside of Japan because they are afraid of misrepresenting an item they sell.)
b. Reliability- Some countries have very unreliable shipping. If you look on a lot of online merchants, they will say something like EMS: No Italy, no Brazil, etc. Sellers are often afraid of their packages getting lost for reasons outside of their responsibility.
c. Cost/hassle- International shipping can be a pain! I hate having to go get customs forms...


3. Do you think buyer education plays a part in the decision? I.e. do people prefer not to ship internationally to avoid angry buyers saying “You’re charging how much for shipping?” What about seller education? Are sellers preferring to stay in-country to avoid educating themselves about international customs requirements? Because they are un-informed or mis-informed about shipping options in their own country?

I doubt it has to do with willful ignorance. In a lot of cases, it's just not worth the trouble to have to ship internationally.


4. Does a seller’s willingness to ship internationally (if stated) influence your decision to buy from them?

Only if they don't ship to where I live....

 

Personally I have found it to difficult to ship outside the us on my schedule.

 

1. Have you ever refused to sell outside your own country? Outside your continent? Would you?

No. I have always shipped worldwide. Honestly, it's up to the buyer to foot the shipping cost. If they're willing, why should I say no? The customs form takes less time to fill out than it does to package up the item. Yes, sometimes stuff sits in customs but... again. That's not really my issue. That's just something the country does. The buyer would have to deal with that whether I was in the equation or not.

I haven't really had any problems with loss of packages shipped internationally either.

2. What are some reasons people limit potential buyers geographically?

Too lazy to fill out customs form. Don't know how to fill out customs form. Language barrier. Any or all of those.

3. Do you think buyer education plays a part in the decision? I.e. do people prefer not to ship internationally to avoid angry buyers saying &#8220;You&#8217;re charging how much for shipping?&#8221; What about seller education? Are sellers preferring to stay in-country to avoid educating themselves about international customs requirements? Because they are un-informed or mis-informed about shipping options in their own country?

I haven't really had a problem with that. Either people are willing to pay the cost or they aren't. I tell them up front how much shipping is.

4. Does a seller&#8217;s willingness to ship internationally (if stated) influence your decision to buy from them?

Yes and no. I'm in the US and most places are willing to ship to the US. The only exception is some places in Japan. But if I want the item that much, I'll just go through a proxy service. However, going through a proxy automatically makes the item cost more. So if it costs too much, I might not buy it.

I actually have MORE of a problem from buying from people that are in certain countries even if they do ship internationally. For instance, Australian shipping is very expensive. I don't buy stuff from people in Australia unless their price for the item itself was lower, just because of that high shipping making the total cost way, way too much.

 

I always am happy when a buyer comes from my country. There are many reasons. One is that I have to fill out a long customs form for international buyers. Another is that it takes the post people about three minutes to take care of a package in my country, and about ten for them to take care of an international one. Yet another is that I worry more about the doll being lost when it has to go further. Another still is that international buyers sometimes complain to me about the cost of shipping, when obviously it is out of my control. And the biggest reason of all is that automated postal units do not accept international packages. Since I work full time, this means I can only ship international packages on Saturday. Boooo.

However, I don't think I've ever marked a listing as "my country only." I would rather deal with the stuff anf get the doll to a new home.

 

When I first started this doll hobby I sold to people internationally. I never had a problem and I still wouldn't mind continuing doing it that way but I'm very inexperienced when it comes to shipping out items especially to international buyers. I've only done it a couple times. I'd very much prefer selling to people within the US but a buyer is a buyer. I'm gonna also say this goes for the items I buy. I'll do a good search to try to get the item shipped from within the US so I can avoid high price shipping and not having a long wait and to worry to much. But in the end its hard to do that. So Ill just suck it up and deal with it to get what I want.

 

Well, until now I very honestly avoided buying dolls internationally - this means outside the EU. My first doll came from the companies (hybrid), and this was exciting enough.

I was lucky or patient enough until the dolls of my dreams appeared in UK and Finland. I did not fear the higher shipping costs (I already knew of these), and there was no customs clearance and all that jazz.

My latest doll, a pretty big guy, will also arrive from UK. A very convenient method. I have seen a similar one even for a tad less offered from Australia, but I guess if shipping and customs are added, he will be more expensive.

 

CherryredX: I've never had problems shipping to Canada either but have had lots of problems with very long waits (4 months!) and exceedingly high shipping charges when I have bought items from Canada, so much so that I sadly no longer consider buying from that country. Spain: no problems but I personally know people who have had absolute nightmares shipping to and receiving while they are in Spain. Italy I have had a living nightmare shipping to once: I couldn't get insurance and told the buyer I would only send to Italy if they agreed it was their liability, they did, they then reported the doll was lost and I had a very angry customer and Paypal took their side, so not only was I out the money but I had also lost a doll that no-one was going to pay me for. As most reliable trackable shipping methods won't insure parcels sent to Italy, I no longer ship there because I am not willing to take that risk again.


1. Have you ever refused to sell outside your own country? Outside your continent? Would you?

I am in the UK and while I haven't actually refused to sell to International buyers, I have sometimes stipulated that buyers from outside the EU have to take the doll unstrung and sometimes split between two boxes. This is because the size and weight of larger SD dolls can make it impossible to use many reliable shipping methods to send dolls to non EU destinations in their original cumbersome boxes and un-split. They exceed the weight limit and size of box these shipping services allow and alternative services simply cost too much or would involve me having to drive for an hour or more into a busy City to drop off the parcel at a depot... no thanks!

Also, I could use a courier service, one of the well known global US based companies that are often suggested by US customers, most US customers are not aware that in the UK, those courier services demand that you have an account with them and ship x amount of goods each month... on top of being very expensive! having to explain all this over and over to non-EU potential buyers gets pretty wearing, so I can understand why some sellers simply say NO OVERSEAS BUYERS!

2. What are some reasons people limit potential buyers geographically?

The reasons listed above play a big part but also there is Custom's Tax to consider also. Some people new to International buying cannot get their head round the fact that when you buy from someone overseas you become an "importer of goods" and are liable to pay tax on what you import. Countries like the US are pretty relaxed about those fees, the UK and many other EU countries have very strictly applied and costly Customs charges and in the UK, these "imports" are also liable for VAT! Those taxes are worked out on the total cost of the item PLUS shipping, so can become very expensive indeed. Imagine you are a US seller and you're newbie customer in the UK is now angry at you because they got a bill for $200 on top of what they already paid you for the doll and shipping... because they are new and don't understand that the BUYER is liable for the TAX they start to harass you, the seller, thinking you are somehow to blame? Selling Internationally has a lot of pitfalls, which is why some people prefer not to get involved.

3. Do you think buyer education plays a part in the decision? I.e. do people prefer not to ship internationally to avoid angry buyers saying &#8220;You&#8217;re charging how much for shipping?&#8221; What about seller education? Are sellers preferring to stay in-country to avoid educating themselves about international customs requirements? Because they are un-informed or mis-informed about shipping options in their own country?

Yes, I imagine all of that is exactly why people don't want to sell Internationally and even once you have been educated to understand the many complications and ever changing rules and shipping charges, the varying Customs Taxes of different countries, the fact that some countries Customs clearance can hold onto parcels for 3 months or more, the fact that no UK postal delivery service will insure parcels to another very well known EU country, etc... once educated you still have to be prepared to negotiate all of those minefields and accept the high costs.

4. Does a seller&#8217;s willingness to ship internationally (if stated) influence your decision to buy from them?

Well obviously if you are in a different country to them! If they are also in the UK then why would I get all hot under the collar that they won't sell out of the UK? More dollies for me

 

ooohhh..I love this topic because it puts fire under my belly too! I am also Canadian. I have an on-line shop and I will mail my packages anywhere somebody is kind and inspired enough to a) buy my goods and b) pay for the shipping. Here's the kicker.. Many times my packages arrive in overseas destinations before they are received in the USA. It's ridiculous. I have had packages received in the U.K., Germany, and even Hong Kong before they arrive in the US. I know it works exactly the same in reverse as well. I have many friends in the US and we exchange goods all the time and in fact a friend in South Carolina just sent me a package and it took 3 1/2 weeks to get here! Anyhow, my point being, the wait time is irrelevant because it exists and most people buying internationally (most of us surely) are fully aware of it and prepared for the wait, so why limit yourself? The currency issue makes zero sense to me when most of the transactions occur using Paypal and if you ask $1 for your item in a specific currency, that is what you will get. Paypal is just a crooked as the next big guy and plays the currency markets to their advantage as well. At the end of the day, it is purely a limiting move and you can chalk it up to laziness as well. OMG I have to look up shipping amounts on-line and I have to fill in a form..that takes sooooo much time