You know, for some of us, this is a non-issue. After close to 1000 ebay transactions, and almost always good, but sometimes bad experiences, I have formed a pretty reliable policy on shipping out of the U.S.A. Why bother?
Although I've shipped to Canada, Japan, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Finland, England and even Singapore (and others) , I've simply decided that it's not worth the effort.
Yes, maybe filling out customs forms, and later dealing with a buyer that has had to pay duty that he/she didn't expect to pay, is not such a big deal. But., when your spend all your business day sitting in front of the computer, taking care of business, who needs the extra hassle when you consider that there are millions of people right here in the USA without worrying about people in other countries. Customs officers are people that I don't want affecting my life. My 2 cents. YMMV.
John in Boise, who was once a cop but doesn't want to have to deal with the border patrol.
keep it clean.
> (snip):
> ..But having an item delayed, dutied and taxed are all issues for buyers
in
> ..Canada. How are these things issues for the seller? Once the customs
docs
> ..are filled in and the item is gone....?
>
> ..Also looking forward to hearing from folks on their experiences, because
I
> ..really need to know.
>
> ..David Bilenkey
> ..in warm and wet
> ..Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
>
> (end snip)
>
> I have shipped to Canada quite a few times. The only real problem I
> encountered was the receiver having to pay additional amounts to receive
the
> package. A couple of them let me know how much extra it cost them when I
> noted the full "normal" value of an auction item that was won at an
unusually
> low price. After that, I simply make sure to note to the buyer that
shipping
> costs cover my expenses only, and I also declare only the exact item cost.
> The USPS shipping documents I fill out ask the same basic questions as
the
> discussed Canadian paperwork. Surely, not a big deal, as the moment taken
to
> fill out this form is worth the opening of my market to worldwide
prospects.
> I embrace my international fellow bicyclists!
>
> The American Heritage Dictionary gives one definition only for the
> following questioned word:
> _
> boner (bo'ner) n. Slang. A blunder.
>
>
> Best regards,
> Mark Agree
> Detroit MI