Good points, David. International shipping can be *very* expensive. Make sure you get some agreement up-front if possible.... Caveat Emptor applies, as always.
I just shipped a camera lens to Taiwan last week - it cost $44.00 US to ship USPS Insured Global Express (boat shipment would still have been $37.00). On the other hand, I've had smaller items shipped to me from Europe (uninsured, at my risk) for $4-6.00, so it depends on a lot of factors.... Small items can often be shipped around the world for just a few dollars, but the key is it has to be small (under a pound or so), and uninsured.
As far as exchanging money, some International sellers will take US Dollars in cash, but again, that involves some risk on the buyer's part. If you buy a ten-dollar item, and either purchase local currency or an International M.O. in local currency, your ten-dollar item can total up to fifty dollars with all of the other costs. Figure these into your bid if possible.....
BTW, I have yet to fail to receive an item from any eBay deal (Domestic or International), but you do need to be as informed as possible, and do your homework up-front to help minimize surprises IMO. Speaking the local language can help a lot, as I'm sure it does in Steven's case.
(So far, I've purchased from the US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, Holland, Greece, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and probably a couple others I can't remember right now....). It's a gas!!
Regards,
Greg "eBay-aholic" Parker A2 MI USA
> Message: 7
> From: "David Bilenkey" <dbilenkey@sympatico.ca>
> To: <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 12:15:02 -0500
> Subject: [CR]International eBay transactions
>
> All this recent talk of dealing in International eBay auctions has led me to
> write this little cautionary note. I recently won this auction:
>
> http://cgi.ebay.ca/
>
> MODOLO BREMSSATZ AX 90 ÄHNLICH CAMPAGNOLO Item # 1980492864
>
> Thinking the $20 CDN bid was reasonable and expecting shipping might be
> another $10-12. Figuring I'd probably be outbid and that was fine too, I
> didn't 'need' these I just thought they looked kinda neat. Not really paying
> enough attention to the payment methods I suppose, because there it states:
> "Email Money Transfer, or cash on pickup."
>
> Well I just got back from the bank having done a wire transfer of $35 EUR to
> the seller's bank. End cost to me (so far) is $71.25 CDN!! :-( Hopefully I
> won't get hit with anything else when they finally make it here. So far this
> is the most expensive 'deal' I've had.
>
> So be careful out there folks, there are deals to be had I'm sure, but the
> transaction and postage/shipping costs can really change how much of a deal
> your win really is.
>
> David "about to give up eBay bidding as a New Year's resolution" Bilenkey
> Ottawa, Ontario, Canada