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General Philatelic/Newcomer Cnr : Buying material from abroad

 

Author
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Guthrum
Members Picture


20 May 2015
01:46:16pm
For years I have done postal business with a select few stamp dealers from my own country (the UK) and one from the Netherlands (Postbeeld). The latter has a Paypal option which converts British money to euros, which I pay on a debit card.

Now, is it that easy if I want to do business with dealers in the USA (or indeed elsewhere)? What about dealers on SOR? And what about insurance for expensive items?

And a supplementary: could a UK resident easily contribute to SOR's approvals scheme? Or would postage, etc., make it not worthwhile?
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amsd
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Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads

20 May 2015
02:04:25pm
re: Buying material from abroad

Ian, I don't see why you couldn't easily participate, even if the bulk of buyers are US. We do have UK and continental members, too, of course.

as to buying from the US, I don't believe we have insurance available outside the US through USPS, although private insurance might be available, assuming I understand your question correctly.

I routinely buy from Canada (closer, geographically, but postally on the other side of the world) and trade with Europe and Indian subcontinent.

it's all about having ... or wanting ... the others' goods.

David

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Jansimon
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collector, seller, MT member

20 May 2015
02:04:47pm

Approvals
re: Buying material from abroad

I am Dutch and sell a lot through the approvals. I do not have the impression postage costs are chasing away the customers.

The only downside is that the money one receives (mostly on Paypal) needs to be exchanged to Euros and that costs a bit, but when you take that into account when establishing the selling price of your items, there are no problems. With the fluctuating exchange rates there are even moments you have unexpected extra profit (a few months ago, when the Euro was extremely weak) and sometimes the end result is a bit less.

Postage from the Netherlands to the USA is about as expensive (or even cheaper) than sending from Canada to the USA or from the USA to the UK.

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michael78651

20 May 2015
02:41:45pm
re: Buying material from abroad

"I don't believe we have insurance available outside the US through USPS"



Yes it is on Global Express Guaranteed, Priority Mail Express International, and Priority Mail International. Coverage is up to $5000, which varies by country, and many countries are excluded.



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amsd
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Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads

20 May 2015
03:39:02pm
re: Buying material from abroad

thanks for the correction, Michael

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"Save the USPS, buy stamps; save the hobby, use commemoratives"

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Martyn

20 May 2015
03:46:35pm
re: Buying material from abroad

Guthram, I am in the UK and have bought from many sellers in the USA both here on SOR and elsewhere and touch wood have never had a problem, unlike a couple of UK transactions that have been problematic.

As for selling on SOR again no problem, it is only the lack of time which prevents me from selling now

regards
martyn

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Jeredutt3

20 May 2015
05:18:03pm
re: Buying material from abroad

Hi All,

As a french colony collector I have quite a few dealers and auction houses I work with in France for more expensive items. As a WW collector I have made purchases from all over the globe on stamp sites, ebay, delcampe just about any source you can imagine for less expensive and bulk material. I have always used paypal and have not had 1 ( knock on wood ) problem.

I have had several more expensive items show up as forgeries and have had no problem working out an arrangement with the seller.

Hope you find the same !
Jere


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auldstampguy
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Tim
Collector, Webmaster

20 May 2015
06:30:16pm
re: Buying material from abroad

Hi Ian,
I live in Minnesota USA and have bought many (many, many) items from the UK, France, The Netherlands and even the Crimea and have never had any problems. Postage generally takes about 10 days. Cost of postage is a little more expensive from the UK, but when you want that stamp ... you just want that stamp. Penny Blacks have been my downfall. Day Dreaming The slowest postage that I've seen has been from the Philippines, closely followed by Canada. The fastest postage, can you believe it, was from the Crimea(before their current problems).

Regards ... Tim.


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2010ccg

20 May 2015
07:49:37pm
re: Buying material from abroad

I just received an envelope from India and another from the Ukraine...no problems US to Canada seems to have been my longest and slowest delivery....Postage charged by US sellers have also been the most expensive.It is cheaper for me to have US purchases sent to a friend in Vermont and she remails them to me for half what the original seller charges...I saved 20$ several weeks ago to make a Penny Black purchase

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Guthrum
Members Picture


21 May 2015
05:40:59pm
re: Buying material from abroad

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. The broad answer seems to be that, yes, it is that easy! Good. The bank balance is preparing to diminish as I write...

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sheepshanks
Members Picture


21 May 2015
05:49:29pm
re: Buying material from abroad

I have just collected a registered package that was posted in UK on 11th. May and arrived in Manitoba this morning. More Machins to add to the collection.
Have had no problems with post from Hong Kong, South Africa, Spain, Greece, France, and Australia. Some in Uk will not post abroad so have to get posted to daughter in Salop who then sends them onward.
Vic

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seanpashby
Members Picture


21 May 2015
11:31:26pm
re: Buying material from abroad

I received a registered package today in California that was mailed in Hungary on April 29th. I was beginning to worry.

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bobstew617
Members Picture


22 May 2015
08:09:42pm
re: Buying material from abroad

I have been fortunate with my overseas purchases, including UK, Netherlands, Spain, and Australia (including snowy12 right here on SOR Thumbs Up. (And, of course, CANADA, again no issues here. Big Grin )

I recently bought a bunch of stamps from Belgium on the "big site" and the envelope was franked VERY nicely with Belgian stamps. I received it within a week of purchase. Thumbs Up

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HungaryForStamps
Members Picture


26 May 2015
09:38:30pm
re: Buying material from abroad

I've purchased from many different European countries, Sweden, Hungary, Romania, UK, Italy etc. Used EBay and PayPal every time and postage costs were negligible compared to cost of the stamps. However, as I recall, Canada postage costs are a different story.

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Blaamand
Members Picture


WW collector at heart

27 May 2015
09:46:01pm
re: Buying material from abroad

I'm sharing the same experience as most of you. I'm in Norway, and all the items I have purchased have been from abroad. I started 'carefully' with western countries, and expanded east with a slight bit of concern for never receiving an item. By now I have purchased hundreds of items from all continents - even from 'low'rated sellers from far-away places - everything has arrived promptly. So, I have no concern anymore at all.

And even better - I always request the seller to use nice stamps or souvenirs for postage, which most of them do.Thumbs Up That makes the postage cost a bit less annoying.
Jon


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"Don't worry - be stampy!"
smauggie
Members Picture


28 May 2015
11:16:50am
re: Buying material from abroad

I've bought material from women before. No problem.

Kidding aside I have not had any problems either. The postal service in Minnesota seems to work smoothly.

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Bobstamp
Members Picture


28 May 2015
12:02:48pm
re: Buying material from abroad

I have recently been buying quite a lot of material from sellers on Delcampe.com, most of whom are Eastern Europeans, with no problems at all. Shipping costs are far more reasonable than what many eBay sellers charge. When I first started buying on Delcampe, about five years ago, there were occasional difficulties resulting form the lack of a common language, but that doesn't seem to be a problem now. And most dealers accept PayPal payments.

Bob

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snowy12
Members Picture


11 Jun 2015
10:14:42pm

Auctions
re: Buying material from abroad

I live in Australia and I think our postal charges are very high ,but by the same token we can send up to 50 grams before the weight and cost go up.
I sell in the auctions and in the approvals (which I don't have any at the moment, reverse self advertising lol)
I do hold lots so members can get cheaper postage and have no trouble selling my spare or unwanted items in both auctions and approvals.
Brian

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Stevo45
Members Picture


07 Sep 2015
04:42:33am
re: Buying material from abroad

Hi Folks,

I'm in Australia and have been selling and buying "on Line" for over 15 years - very few problems which, can be solved with good communication between buyer and seller.

The postage issue is ok if you buy 50 to 100 stamps - ( you might have to do a "sample Buy' to see how your seller packs and presents the stamps and to see how his/her quality is).

Postage time CAN be up to six weeks from some places - Above all, talk to your seller and you should have no real issues.

Remember you can get a lot of very good quality stamps for $20.00 these days from almost any country.

Steve.

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www.ebid.net/au/stores/Stevos-Stamps
        

 

Author/Postings
Members Picture
Guthrum

20 May 2015
01:46:16pm

For years I have done postal business with a select few stamp dealers from my own country (the UK) and one from the Netherlands (Postbeeld). The latter has a Paypal option which converts British money to euros, which I pay on a debit card.

Now, is it that easy if I want to do business with dealers in the USA (or indeed elsewhere)? What about dealers on SOR? And what about insurance for expensive items?

And a supplementary: could a UK resident easily contribute to SOR's approvals scheme? Or would postage, etc., make it not worthwhile?

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
amsd

Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads
20 May 2015
02:04:25pm

re: Buying material from abroad

Ian, I don't see why you couldn't easily participate, even if the bulk of buyers are US. We do have UK and continental members, too, of course.

as to buying from the US, I don't believe we have insurance available outside the US through USPS, although private insurance might be available, assuming I understand your question correctly.

I routinely buy from Canada (closer, geographically, but postally on the other side of the world) and trade with Europe and Indian subcontinent.

it's all about having ... or wanting ... the others' goods.

David

Like 
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.

"Save the USPS, buy stamps; save the hobby, use commemoratives"

juicyheads.com/link. ...
Members Picture
Jansimon

collector, seller, MT member
20 May 2015
02:04:47pm

Approvals

re: Buying material from abroad

I am Dutch and sell a lot through the approvals. I do not have the impression postage costs are chasing away the customers.

The only downside is that the money one receives (mostly on Paypal) needs to be exchanged to Euros and that costs a bit, but when you take that into account when establishing the selling price of your items, there are no problems. With the fluctuating exchange rates there are even moments you have unexpected extra profit (a few months ago, when the Euro was extremely weak) and sometimes the end result is a bit less.

Postage from the Netherlands to the USA is about as expensive (or even cheaper) than sending from Canada to the USA or from the USA to the UK.

Like 
4 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.

www.etsy.com/nl/shop ...
michael78651

20 May 2015
02:41:45pm

re: Buying material from abroad

"I don't believe we have insurance available outside the US through USPS"



Yes it is on Global Express Guaranteed, Priority Mail Express International, and Priority Mail International. Coverage is up to $5000, which varies by country, and many countries are excluded.



Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
amsd

Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads
20 May 2015
03:39:02pm

re: Buying material from abroad

thanks for the correction, Michael

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Save the USPS, buy stamps; save the hobby, use commemoratives"

juicyheads.com/link. ...
Martyn

20 May 2015
03:46:35pm

re: Buying material from abroad

Guthram, I am in the UK and have bought from many sellers in the USA both here on SOR and elsewhere and touch wood have never had a problem, unlike a couple of UK transactions that have been problematic.

As for selling on SOR again no problem, it is only the lack of time which prevents me from selling now

regards
martyn

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.

"Collect whatever YOU like, not what someone tells you."

www.facebook.com/gro ...
Jeredutt3

20 May 2015
05:18:03pm

re: Buying material from abroad

Hi All,

As a french colony collector I have quite a few dealers and auction houses I work with in France for more expensive items. As a WW collector I have made purchases from all over the globe on stamp sites, ebay, delcampe just about any source you can imagine for less expensive and bulk material. I have always used paypal and have not had 1 ( knock on wood ) problem.

I have had several more expensive items show up as forgeries and have had no problem working out an arrangement with the seller.

Hope you find the same !
Jere


Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
Members Picture
auldstampguy

Tim
Collector, Webmaster
20 May 2015
06:30:16pm

re: Buying material from abroad

Hi Ian,
I live in Minnesota USA and have bought many (many, many) items from the UK, France, The Netherlands and even the Crimea and have never had any problems. Postage generally takes about 10 days. Cost of postage is a little more expensive from the UK, but when you want that stamp ... you just want that stamp. Penny Blacks have been my downfall. Day Dreaming The slowest postage that I've seen has been from the Philippines, closely followed by Canada. The fastest postage, can you believe it, was from the Crimea(before their current problems).

Regards ... Tim.


Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.

"Isaac Asimov once said if his doctor told him he was dying, he wouldn’t lament, he would just type a little faster. "

mncancels.org
2010ccg

20 May 2015
07:49:37pm

re: Buying material from abroad

I just received an envelope from India and another from the Ukraine...no problems US to Canada seems to have been my longest and slowest delivery....Postage charged by US sellers have also been the most expensive.It is cheaper for me to have US purchases sent to a friend in Vermont and she remails them to me for half what the original seller charges...I saved 20$ several weeks ago to make a Penny Black purchase

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Guthrum

21 May 2015
05:40:59pm

re: Buying material from abroad

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. The broad answer seems to be that, yes, it is that easy! Good. The bank balance is preparing to diminish as I write...

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
sheepshanks

21 May 2015
05:49:29pm

re: Buying material from abroad

I have just collected a registered package that was posted in UK on 11th. May and arrived in Manitoba this morning. More Machins to add to the collection.
Have had no problems with post from Hong Kong, South Africa, Spain, Greece, France, and Australia. Some in Uk will not post abroad so have to get posted to daughter in Salop who then sends them onward.
Vic

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
Members Picture
seanpashby

21 May 2015
11:31:26pm

re: Buying material from abroad

I received a registered package today in California that was mailed in Hungary on April 29th. I was beginning to worry.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
bobstew617

22 May 2015
08:09:42pm

re: Buying material from abroad

I have been fortunate with my overseas purchases, including UK, Netherlands, Spain, and Australia (including snowy12 right here on SOR Thumbs Up. (And, of course, CANADA, again no issues here. Big Grin )

I recently bought a bunch of stamps from Belgium on the "big site" and the envelope was franked VERY nicely with Belgian stamps. I received it within a week of purchase. Thumbs Up

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
HungaryForStamps

26 May 2015
09:38:30pm

re: Buying material from abroad

I've purchased from many different European countries, Sweden, Hungary, Romania, UK, Italy etc. Used EBay and PayPal every time and postage costs were negligible compared to cost of the stamps. However, as I recall, Canada postage costs are a different story.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Blaamand

WW collector at heart
27 May 2015
09:46:01pm

re: Buying material from abroad

I'm sharing the same experience as most of you. I'm in Norway, and all the items I have purchased have been from abroad. I started 'carefully' with western countries, and expanded east with a slight bit of concern for never receiving an item. By now I have purchased hundreds of items from all continents - even from 'low'rated sellers from far-away places - everything has arrived promptly. So, I have no concern anymore at all.

And even better - I always request the seller to use nice stamps or souvenirs for postage, which most of them do.Thumbs Up That makes the postage cost a bit less annoying.
Jon


Like
Login to Like
this post

"Don't worry - be stampy!"
Members Picture
smauggie

28 May 2015
11:16:50am

re: Buying material from abroad

I've bought material from women before. No problem.

Kidding aside I have not had any problems either. The postal service in Minnesota seems to work smoothly.

Like 
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
Members Picture
Bobstamp

28 May 2015
12:02:48pm

re: Buying material from abroad

I have recently been buying quite a lot of material from sellers on Delcampe.com, most of whom are Eastern Europeans, with no problems at all. Shipping costs are far more reasonable than what many eBay sellers charge. When I first started buying on Delcampe, about five years ago, there were occasional difficulties resulting form the lack of a common language, but that doesn't seem to be a problem now. And most dealers accept PayPal payments.

Bob

Like
Login to Like
this post

www.ephemeraltreasur ...
Members Picture
snowy12

11 Jun 2015
10:14:42pm

Auctions

re: Buying material from abroad

I live in Australia and I think our postal charges are very high ,but by the same token we can send up to 50 grams before the weight and cost go up.
I sell in the auctions and in the approvals (which I don't have any at the moment, reverse self advertising lol)
I do hold lots so members can get cheaper postage and have no trouble selling my spare or unwanted items in both auctions and approvals.
Brian

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Stevo45

07 Sep 2015
04:42:33am

re: Buying material from abroad

Hi Folks,

I'm in Australia and have been selling and buying "on Line" for over 15 years - very few problems which, can be solved with good communication between buyer and seller.

The postage issue is ok if you buy 50 to 100 stamps - ( you might have to do a "sample Buy' to see how your seller packs and presents the stamps and to see how his/her quality is).

Postage time CAN be up to six weeks from some places - Above all, talk to your seller and you should have no real issues.

Remember you can get a lot of very good quality stamps for $20.00 these days from almost any country.

Steve.

Like
Login to Like
this post

www.ebid.net/au/stor ...
        

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