What we collect!

 

Stamporama Discussion Board Logo
For People Who Love To Talk About Stamps
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Stamporama Discussion Board Logo
For People Who Love To Talk About Stamps
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Stamporama Discussion Board Logo
For People Who Love To Talk About Stamps



What we collect!
What we collect!


General Philatelic/Gen. Discussion : INTERNATIONAL MAILING

 

Author
Postings
capetown

20 Aug 2017
08:28:13pm
Maybe someone has some suggestions regarding mailing stamps overseas safely at a reasonable price, without having to pay an arm and a leg for registration charges. Many times I have sent stamps overseas and the recipient said they never received the envelope. Some countries are worse than others, but it is very frustrating to have this happen. Maybe some of the sellers in the auction have some ideas on how they deal with this problem with their international buyers.
capetown
Like
Login to Like
this post
GMOUKEH

21 Aug 2017
03:59:20am
re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

Dear Sir;
this is not solution you provide, this is escape from facing the problem and find some solution. I am international buyer from world-wild seller (USA, Canada, Netherlands, Greece, Serbia, France, GB, Chezh, Slovenia, Egypt, Spain, etc) the USA seller have advantage that they have forwarding company and give good solutions (including gathering shipments) fro international buyer, and located in states without taxes (OR, DE), and to be sure you can ship it with tracking number to that USA address with small extra fees, and after delivered with tracked number, that is responsibility of buyer to ship it outside States, you can recommend your buyer to make that accounts in that companies (for example: ship to box, shipito....)
Best

Like
Login to Like
this post
Jansimon
Members Picture


collector, seller, MT member

21 Aug 2017
04:24:41am

Approvals
re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

I try to minimize sending stamps to certain countries (India, Greece, certain South American countries etc.) but when I do, I found that following certain guidelines minimizes the risk of the letter getting lost (read: stolen) in the mail.
1. make sure the envelope is as flat as possible. Bulging envelopes are attention drawers
2. do not use philatelic postage. Many colourful large stamps are also attention drawers. Instead use postage meter or simple definitives.
3. disguise your letter as business mail: no handwriting and use a fake company name combined with your own address as sender.

This of course only helps when the receiving buyers are bonafide. If the buyer wants to steal from you, they will do so and none of the above will help.

best wishes,
Jan-Simon

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.

www.etsy.com/nl/shop/itsallmadeofpaper/
snowy12
Members Picture


21 Aug 2017
06:20:53am

Auctions
re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

I have been in the same boat .I started an exchange with a gentleman in India it was fine for a while ,but then my sending's would go missing ,in the end I had call an end to the exchange.
I see a lot of eBay sellers will not ship to certain countries or they will only send registered and tracked.
You can check the buyers record ,the same as you can check the seller's.Personally I will not buy from any eBay seller who has his feedback set to "Private"
Brian

Like
Login to Like
this post
stokesville
Members Picture


21 Aug 2017
09:41:24am
re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

I do not ship overseas on any auctions I conduct on Ebay. Too many "lost" shipments over the years. However, I have never had a problem here on SOR. Our moderators tough stance and means of pursuit on such matters allow me to ship anywhere in the world with confidence. To answer the question at hand- if there is a consistent problem shipping overseas identify the selling platforms (ebay, others, etc.) and only ship domestically when there is a track record of problems on that site.

Like
Login to Like
this post
cougar
Members Picture


21 Aug 2017
02:16:56pm
re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

Jansimon has nailed it.

Make the envelope as flat as possible. The best way to do so is to have a stock card inside and an envelope that matches its size. This adds some 20c but will help both with fraud as well as with postage costs. Canada post has letter thickness limitations - if the letter doesn't go "easily" through a slot they have, postage becomes more expensive.

With small items we all take a chance. No way around it.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Stampme

21 Aug 2017
07:07:54pm
re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

Check out Shipsaver Insurance.

I send all of my foreign mail using that insurance company.

For example, it only costs me $1 for items that are valued up to $100. I am here in the USA so I do not know if the company offers insurance for sellers outside the USA. A seller is anyone by the way who is selling stamps.

I believe that for the next $100 in value, the amount I am charged is an additional $1.

The company will not cover mailings to these countries so I exclude them too for obvious reasons:

Excludes: Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Venezuela, Mexico, Angola, Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Congo, Republic of the, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan Republic, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine

I am required to keep the post office receipt which also matches on it, the customs receipt number I also am required to retain.

Shipments outside the USA must wait 40 days before a claim can be submitted.

The receiver is also required to electronically sign an online form stating he/she did not receive the item/items.

I mail most of my shipments International First Class Non Machinable Letter Rate, costing me in the vicinity of $2.34 postage and $1 for insurance.

And, the company does pay out claims in a timely fashion.

Bruce

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
BenFranklin1902
Members Picture


Tom in Exton, PA

21 Aug 2017
10:09:21pm
re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

I will agree to non-descript packaging. I note that the biggest sellers I buy from on eBay have a plain envelope with non-stamp address, and a postal indica as postage.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Check out my eBay Stuff! Username Turtles-Trading-Post"
GMOUKEH

23 Aug 2017
06:05:19am
re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

Dear Anglophile;
when I suggest the forwarding companies, I mean the cost/risk will be on buyer, and for the buyer he can decrease the cost by using forwarding companies which GATHER your shipments and send it one time together (after collecting the items for 30-45 d in company's stores).
Just opinion, and I am happy to learn more from your experience.
Ghamez

Like
Login to Like
this post
capetown

23 Aug 2017
11:55:32pm
re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

Thanks for all your responses to my enquiries regarding international mail. I use stamps.com for first class/package and they are very reasonable. They also provide a tracking number and proof of mailing or mailing label that you need in order to use an insurer like Shipsaver. Trouble is I find that for the post office this kind of mail is VERY LOW PRIORITY. It takes about TWO MONTHS for the receiver to get their envelope, which for me is unacceptable. So I need to find another way to send mail overseas safely. Is anyone familiar with certified mail? Many of the satellite post offices do not offer this service...one has to go to a post office to get this done. I know if I have to use registered airmail, with insurance added, it can cost around $18.00 for just a one ounce letter. There has to be some other way...either that or just take a chance and hope for the best, which doesn't work for many countries. Hope someone out there has something to add to this. Best wishes, capetown

Like
Login to Like
this post
snowy12
Members Picture


24 Aug 2017
07:44:05am

Auctions
re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

We used to have certified mail here in Australia, it was only available for delivery of items in Australia.Australia Post stopped the service several years ago.
Image Not Found
Brian

Like
Login to Like
this post
TuskenRaider
Members Picture


24 Aug 2017
01:31:07pm
re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

Hi Everyone;

I have shipped stamps successfully to the following nations:

Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Dubai, England, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Ukraine, and 23 of the 48 US states.

I have had only one problem with a buyer in Bombay India. He explained to me that he was aware of the institutionalized corruption in the mails and customs there. He therefore said I was not responsible for the loss. He has dealt with lots of lost shipments from the US.

Fortunately I had duplicates of all the coins and stamps he ordered. He had a Indian friend here in the states that was planning a trip to India. So he paid in full, for replacements to the lost items, and had me ship to his friend. Everything arrived just fine.

Jansimon is correct, tho I would like to add this. To his number 3 suggestion; ship in a long #9 business envelope, with an address window. You can print the address on a computer printer. By having the address showing thru the window, this avoids it getting scuffed off and becoming unreadable. Also make up a phony business name, followed by "LLC", but with your return address underneath. This will give it a much more businesslike appearance.

I sold costume jewellery, coins, banknotes, and of course thousands of stamps. This covered a period from 2007, with my first sale being in Finland, to the present. It has been a lot of fun, and I've made friends all over the planet.

I always used only 1st class USPS domestic and international mail. Never used insurance, but I kept my mailings plain and NO fancy stamps on the envelope, just like Jansimon said.

Just sortin'....
TuskenRaider

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.

www.webstore.com/store,pgr,37572,user_id,37572,ac,shop
        

 

Author/Postings
capetown

20 Aug 2017
08:28:13pm

Maybe someone has some suggestions regarding mailing stamps overseas safely at a reasonable price, without having to pay an arm and a leg for registration charges. Many times I have sent stamps overseas and the recipient said they never received the envelope. Some countries are worse than others, but it is very frustrating to have this happen. Maybe some of the sellers in the auction have some ideas on how they deal with this problem with their international buyers.
capetown

Like
Login to Like
this post
GMOUKEH

21 Aug 2017
03:59:20am

re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

Dear Sir;
this is not solution you provide, this is escape from facing the problem and find some solution. I am international buyer from world-wild seller (USA, Canada, Netherlands, Greece, Serbia, France, GB, Chezh, Slovenia, Egypt, Spain, etc) the USA seller have advantage that they have forwarding company and give good solutions (including gathering shipments) fro international buyer, and located in states without taxes (OR, DE), and to be sure you can ship it with tracking number to that USA address with small extra fees, and after delivered with tracked number, that is responsibility of buyer to ship it outside States, you can recommend your buyer to make that accounts in that companies (for example: ship to box, shipito....)
Best

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Jansimon

collector, seller, MT member
21 Aug 2017
04:24:41am

Approvals

re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

I try to minimize sending stamps to certain countries (India, Greece, certain South American countries etc.) but when I do, I found that following certain guidelines minimizes the risk of the letter getting lost (read: stolen) in the mail.
1. make sure the envelope is as flat as possible. Bulging envelopes are attention drawers
2. do not use philatelic postage. Many colourful large stamps are also attention drawers. Instead use postage meter or simple definitives.
3. disguise your letter as business mail: no handwriting and use a fake company name combined with your own address as sender.

This of course only helps when the receiving buyers are bonafide. If the buyer wants to steal from you, they will do so and none of the above will help.

best wishes,
Jan-Simon

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.

www.etsy.com/nl/shop ...
Members Picture
snowy12

21 Aug 2017
06:20:53am

Auctions

re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

I have been in the same boat .I started an exchange with a gentleman in India it was fine for a while ,but then my sending's would go missing ,in the end I had call an end to the exchange.
I see a lot of eBay sellers will not ship to certain countries or they will only send registered and tracked.
You can check the buyers record ,the same as you can check the seller's.Personally I will not buy from any eBay seller who has his feedback set to "Private"
Brian

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
stokesville

21 Aug 2017
09:41:24am

re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

I do not ship overseas on any auctions I conduct on Ebay. Too many "lost" shipments over the years. However, I have never had a problem here on SOR. Our moderators tough stance and means of pursuit on such matters allow me to ship anywhere in the world with confidence. To answer the question at hand- if there is a consistent problem shipping overseas identify the selling platforms (ebay, others, etc.) and only ship domestically when there is a track record of problems on that site.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
cougar

21 Aug 2017
02:16:56pm

re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

Jansimon has nailed it.

Make the envelope as flat as possible. The best way to do so is to have a stock card inside and an envelope that matches its size. This adds some 20c but will help both with fraud as well as with postage costs. Canada post has letter thickness limitations - if the letter doesn't go "easily" through a slot they have, postage becomes more expensive.

With small items we all take a chance. No way around it.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Stampme

21 Aug 2017
07:07:54pm

re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

Check out Shipsaver Insurance.

I send all of my foreign mail using that insurance company.

For example, it only costs me $1 for items that are valued up to $100. I am here in the USA so I do not know if the company offers insurance for sellers outside the USA. A seller is anyone by the way who is selling stamps.

I believe that for the next $100 in value, the amount I am charged is an additional $1.

The company will not cover mailings to these countries so I exclude them too for obvious reasons:

Excludes: Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Venezuela, Mexico, Angola, Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Congo, Republic of the, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan Republic, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine

I am required to keep the post office receipt which also matches on it, the customs receipt number I also am required to retain.

Shipments outside the USA must wait 40 days before a claim can be submitted.

The receiver is also required to electronically sign an online form stating he/she did not receive the item/items.

I mail most of my shipments International First Class Non Machinable Letter Rate, costing me in the vicinity of $2.34 postage and $1 for insurance.

And, the company does pay out claims in a timely fashion.

Bruce

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
Members Picture
BenFranklin1902

Tom in Exton, PA
21 Aug 2017
10:09:21pm

re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

I will agree to non-descript packaging. I note that the biggest sellers I buy from on eBay have a plain envelope with non-stamp address, and a postal indica as postage.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Check out my eBay Stuff! Username Turtles-Trading-Post"
GMOUKEH

23 Aug 2017
06:05:19am

re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

Dear Anglophile;
when I suggest the forwarding companies, I mean the cost/risk will be on buyer, and for the buyer he can decrease the cost by using forwarding companies which GATHER your shipments and send it one time together (after collecting the items for 30-45 d in company's stores).
Just opinion, and I am happy to learn more from your experience.
Ghamez

Like
Login to Like
this post
capetown

23 Aug 2017
11:55:32pm

re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

Thanks for all your responses to my enquiries regarding international mail. I use stamps.com for first class/package and they are very reasonable. They also provide a tracking number and proof of mailing or mailing label that you need in order to use an insurer like Shipsaver. Trouble is I find that for the post office this kind of mail is VERY LOW PRIORITY. It takes about TWO MONTHS for the receiver to get their envelope, which for me is unacceptable. So I need to find another way to send mail overseas safely. Is anyone familiar with certified mail? Many of the satellite post offices do not offer this service...one has to go to a post office to get this done. I know if I have to use registered airmail, with insurance added, it can cost around $18.00 for just a one ounce letter. There has to be some other way...either that or just take a chance and hope for the best, which doesn't work for many countries. Hope someone out there has something to add to this. Best wishes, capetown

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
snowy12

24 Aug 2017
07:44:05am

Auctions

re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

We used to have certified mail here in Australia, it was only available for delivery of items in Australia.Australia Post stopped the service several years ago.
Image Not Found
Brian

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
TuskenRaider

24 Aug 2017
01:31:07pm

re: INTERNATIONAL MAILING

Hi Everyone;

I have shipped stamps successfully to the following nations:

Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Dubai, England, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Ukraine, and 23 of the 48 US states.

I have had only one problem with a buyer in Bombay India. He explained to me that he was aware of the institutionalized corruption in the mails and customs there. He therefore said I was not responsible for the loss. He has dealt with lots of lost shipments from the US.

Fortunately I had duplicates of all the coins and stamps he ordered. He had a Indian friend here in the states that was planning a trip to India. So he paid in full, for replacements to the lost items, and had me ship to his friend. Everything arrived just fine.

Jansimon is correct, tho I would like to add this. To his number 3 suggestion; ship in a long #9 business envelope, with an address window. You can print the address on a computer printer. By having the address showing thru the window, this avoids it getting scuffed off and becoming unreadable. Also make up a phony business name, followed by "LLC", but with your return address underneath. This will give it a much more businesslike appearance.

I sold costume jewellery, coins, banknotes, and of course thousands of stamps. This covered a period from 2007, with my first sale being in Finland, to the present. It has been a lot of fun, and I've made friends all over the planet.

I always used only 1st class USPS domestic and international mail. Never used insurance, but I kept my mailings plain and NO fancy stamps on the envelope, just like Jansimon said.

Just sortin'....
TuskenRaider

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.

www.webstore.com/sto ...
        

Contact Webmaster | Visitors Online | Unsubscribe Emails | Facebook


User Agreement

Copyright © 2024 Stamporama.com