Ebay to offer soon a cheap and secure shipping option? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Rick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2013, 10:31:32 pm
content: I have heard today from a seller that soon ebay will ship the items itself (or get them shipped by some company) so the shipping costs will be reduced with no liability for lost packages. Sellers would only need to ship packages to a center in USA and they will be forwarded from there to their final destination.If true that would be an enourmous advantage for US sellers and good news for us.Has anyone heard about that?-----------------------------------------Actually I may be mistaken, the guy did not mention ebay's name. He only said that he will ship the items to a center for forwarding abroad, without liability for him. I don't understand how that is possible though.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2013, 10:39:02 pm
content: Sounds like another monopoly for them to get in on.No doubt in a few years time the only option will be via eBay at a mandatory $x charge.

author: Rick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2013, 10:47:53 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on January 02, 2013, 10:39:02 pmIt might be cheaper for buyers.Because some sellers want to ship only by UPS or USPS express mail.

author: jamesp15
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2013, 10:56:13 pm
content: Sounds like a load of BS from the seller to me.If items have to be sent to an ebay "place" to be reshipped from there, that would surely add on a few days to delivery time. "Someone" would still have to pay to ship it to the ebay place as well as from the ebay place to your doorstep. Also who would be the actual carrier and deliverer? likely USPS (in the US) just like before. I dont see ebay investing in the required manpower, vehicles, planes, etc needed for them to be the actual deliverer.If it were true, IMO there would no gain, and only losses, to both sellers and buyers.

author: Spikee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2013, 11:00:09 pm
content: If the shipping from usa would get reasonable to Europe it will be a great success for ebay and dhl , fedex will have to compete again !There is alot of stuff on ebay that i wont buy just because of the ridiculous shipping rates.More sales -> more money for ebay that is easyebay will get a big discount just by the enormous volume they will need to process .They wont do the work them self they just use subcontractors to do it for them. The price advantage will be because of the big volume that needs to be moved continuously.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2013, 11:34:31 pm
content: It might result in more auctions with international shipping if the seller can just ship local and doesn't have to worry about customs forms etc (because they're done by ebay itself).Of course it may also mean that international packages get the correct customs value instead of the usual $30. So you may end up paying more.

author: Rick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2013, 11:49:00 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on January 02, 2013, 11:34:31 pmCustoms duties are nothing (20% in our country) compared with the shipping costs offered ($150, $182, etc for a bench multimeter. In another case I wanted to buy a lot of 10 bench multimeters to fix, the guy asked $382 for an item price of $190, the customs duty would be $38 in this case).Most US sellers declare the correct price to the customs so... For China that may be true though.

author: JoannaK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 12:56:01 am
content: If they get this service to Europe, I'll be delighted. Especially UK area sellers seems to have totally absurd delivery rates and area restrictions.Which seems quite odd when one compare those to companies like Amazon or Play.com. Those offer stuff to entire europe with reasonable shipping prices.

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 01:51:34 am
content: eBay Australia has pretty good integration into our postal service; in addition they offer special discount rates too, that said, without the special discount rates, it's kinda nuts.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 07:24:31 am
content: Repeat after me:There is no such thing as a free lunch!Taking into account what a crocked company eBay/PayPal is, they will use such a service to squeeze more money out of buyers and sellers. They will find borderline criminal ways to make sure you have difficulties to prove you haven't received a shipment and they will hold money indefinitely.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 07:43:46 am
content: Well, yeah. eBay has basically zero competition in the open market. They only compete a little with companies like Amazon but they still get away with a lot more than they should. How long until we see a genuine competitor to eBay?

author: aghp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 08:45:27 am
content: Taobao is still growing. 2010 it have nearly 400million members and still fast growing.It is not so much but not small: Taobao sold an average of 480,000 items per minute in 2010.There is weak signs it will grow to global and when it come there may be some turn point that eBay is in big troubles. (What year this happend... no one know but "something" is coming).It may also have some advantages over ebay. But there is also cultural differencies and how you implement in western coutries that you can realtime chat with seller in system. Western sellers want be very tightly unavailable from buyers. There is big cultural differencies between china and asian and western "americanized world". In China there is still this "family" based culture and old business culture where buyer and seller is face to face. Rests of this can see also in Taobao. Then it is also nearly free from fees. But how long it take to "Asianize" western peoples. Today there is still going on something like "Americanize world"... but how long it continue before it turns - if it turns.http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-01-07/article/42553/taobao_registered_users_reaches_370_mln

author: syncytial
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 09:05:41 am
content: Yes, this is real. I've got one package enroute to me now.There are pros and cons...- It is described as "International Priority Shipping"- Some sellers might be more willing to sell internationally.- The process is easy for the seller, and in the single case I have details for, it added only two days at the front end.- The seller doesn't know what the "international charges" are.- The buyer doesn't know what the additional charges will be until you've already committed to buy. The listed shipping cost is similar to Priority International Mail, but the "import charges" are unknown (*see below)- So far, the tracking number can only be checked when logged in to the US eBay site, and the tracking detail is poor.- Actual carriers and delivery time/performance is yet to be seen. A delivery ETA is provided, but it may/may not be reliable.- The actual customs handling fees and tax/duty etc. were reasonable compared to Postal Mail - not like the outrageous UPS/FedEx fees.- Most packages that are sent by Postal Mail don't get assessed and come in without extra charges (in my country) - the new way always has the charges.- There is a separate PayPal payment to Pitney Bowes for shipping and customs clearance.* You'll see "Customs services and international tracking provided" in search results, and within the listing "Import charges To be provided at checkout".So... the jury is out. It may be OK, but in my case, I'd prefer simple postal mail for most packages. Some high-value items warrant more costly handling, but I suspect this new process won't help the non-US buyer unless more people sell outside the US because of it. I expect it'll just add net cost.If anything truly good or truly bad occurs, I'll update the thread.- Syncytial.References:http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/shipping-globally.htmlhttp://pages.ebay.com/shipping/globalshipping/seller-tnc.htmlhttp://pages.ebay.com/shipping/globalshipping/buyer-tnc.htmlHere's the complete tracking info, so far...Global tracking #:UPAAA00000000000001 (no, that's not the real number!)Carrier:Multiple CarriersStatus: IN TRANSITShipped from US Shipping Center to International DestinationDec-22-12, 21:23 PM, ErlangerCustoms Documentation and LabelingDec-22-12, 00:04 AM, ErlangerProcessing at US Shipping CenterDec-21-12, 18:13 PM, ErlangerArrived at US shipping CenterDec-21-12, 08:48 AM, LATONIA, KY 41015In Transit-Depart USPS Sort FacilityDec-21-12, 00:00 AM, CINCINNATI, OH 45235In Transit-Processed through USPS Sort FacilityDec-20-12, 12:18 PM, CINCINNATI, OH 45235ETA is given as Dec. 27 - Jan 14.PayPal's blurb:"Explanation of Payments for the Global Shipping ProgramThe Global Shipping Program is a global shipping solution that helps your international purchases on eBay clear customs and get delivered to you quickly and efficiently.If your purchase was shipped through the Global Shipping Program, the final price you agreed to pay at the time of purchase included the total price of your item(s) plus shipping & handling and import charges. PayPal then separated this total price into two payments: one to your seller and one to the Program’s technology and shipping provider, Pitney Bowes.As the customer, you will see these two payments listed separately on your PayPal transactions page, but there is nothing you need to do. These two payments together equal the same total price you agreed to pay at the time of purchase – you were not charged more than this amount.How Your Total Payment is DividedThe seller receives payment for the price of the item(s) plus the price of shipping to a U.S. shipping center. Pitney Bowes receives payment for import charges and the price of shipping from the U.S. shipping center to the final destination. These two payments together equal the same total price you agreed to pay at the time of purchase.Below is an example:Purchase from seller:$100 – Price of item(s)$15 – Shipping & handling1 ($5 shipping within U.S. + $10 shipping & handling from U.S. to final destination)$10 – Import charges2$125 – Total purchase price you agreed toYour transaction details in PayPal:$105 – To Seller ($100 for item + $5 shipping within U.S)$20 – To Pitney Bowes ($10 Import charges + shipping & handling from U.S. to final destination)$125 – Total payment (equals total purchase price you agreed to)"

author: syncytial
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 09:14:01 am
content: Just a quick follow-up...There is a seller currently offering a Fluke 44/100A fuse, as used in many Fluke Meters. The Fuse is priced at $US 25.00 and the shipping to me for the fuse is $US 115.72.For a fuse...By First Class Mail, it'd be under $US 2.00.- Syncytial.

author: chickenHeadKnob
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 09:43:20 am
content: Quote from: syncytial on January 03, 2013, 09:14:01 amThanks for this information, it would be even better if we knew what country you are in. U.S.A? I suspect no but can't tell.

author: Rick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 10:33:01 am
content: It's really hard to convince some US sellers who have no international shipping experience or have bad experience that USPS priority mail can be fully tracked and they are covered in case the parcel or box is lost. I wonder if it is a lack of good will, and they want to make money out of shipping or make the return of the product more difficult, but for us here USPS priority mail can be tracked all the way down to the addressee's home, especially the more expensive options which start at $39 ($39, $47, $60).

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 11:19:38 am
content: Sounds like eBay will cause more trouble than before. Another improvement in the wrong direction. But I don't care because I boycott them & PayPal already for some while.

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 12:17:50 pm
content: Quote from: Rick on January 03, 2013, 10:33:01 amI've been selling on eBay for years... thousands of shipments per year.I can tell you from first hand experience that shipping internationally is a huge hassle. Priority Mail most certainly does not have full tracking, and the seller is not covered in the event the package is lost. The only service which offers full tracking and insurance is Express Mail, and a flat rate envelope starts at $38USD, and an actual box/package starts around $60USD.The problem with shipping internationally is that everyone complains about the price... then they complaint that there is no tracking information, then they complain that you didn't falsify the customs documents and lie about the value... then they complain that it's been 2 weeks and they haven't gotten it, so it must have been lost.For the seller, you are really hanging your ass out in the wind by shipping internationally. If the buyer says they didn't get it, you're screwed. You pretty much either offer them a refund, or they go to PayPal and get a refund anyway. The only way to fight a refund is if you ship it Global Express Guaranteed which gets a signature from the receiver... and that service costs a lot more than even UPS/FedEx.It's really difficult for sellers... they are in between a rock and a hard place. This new eBay service looks really interesting!

author: JuKu
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 12:46:52 pm
content: For me, this would be really great, except:Quote from: syncytial on January 03, 2013, 09:05:41 amThis is a huge dealkiller, and in principle, makes offering the service in Europe illegal(!). On the other hand, if there is a "no more than" clause it is ok, orQuote...if the charges are this reasonable, I'm fine. Still, I would say they'd better find a way to show the buyer the fees before final commitment.

author: aghp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 01:15:56 pm
content: Quote from: Corporate666 on January 03, 2013, 12:17:50 pmYes it is hard work and maybe very difficult specially in some countries.But we can buy from China and Hk, they do not have shipping troubles and problems.They do not tell to customers how terrible and difficult is selling to foreign countries.Why it is so specially difficult in USA.

author: iloveelectronics
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 01:43:02 pm
content: I sell on eBay (from Hong Kong) too and I hope this is not going to affect me in any way as I'd hate to have to pay eBay/PayPal any more money than I already am!I usually ship with ordinary Air Mail that doesn't come with any tracking and so far things have mostly turned out alright. For customers who want tracking I'd offer to use registered air mail for an extra $2, though tracking details aren't the best it does offer some very basic tracking.I am already forced to use a USPS/Hong Kong Post joint service, which is basically a streamlined version of registered air mail, for my US shipments which has added additional costs for my US-bound packages. I haven't passed these costs to my US customers though as I'd like to keep things simple for everyone. The downside though is that I actually literally lose money on some smaller US salesThis was forced upon me because they started to reduce my quota to list items, but the worst part was they never let me know there was this policy for all US sales until I saw my monthly limits reduced and had to call them to ask! As a seller I've found eBay to be a pain to deal with

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 02:05:02 pm
content: Quote from: aghp on January 03, 2013, 01:15:56 pmYour premise is incorrect (that China/HK do not have shipping troulbes). I see a lot of HK/China vendors being "very clear" in their eBay descriptions... and I've heard the same sob stories I have that tells me they have the same problems as anyone else with international shipments.I suppose for some Chinese vendors, the stuff is so cheap that they maybe don't mind losing out a percentage of their sales to fraud/returns/missing/scrapped stuff? I also find that "wheeling and dealing" is more culturally accepted than in the USA, so the incessant requests to assist buyers commit tax fraud may be less of a problem for them?

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 02:09:03 pm
content: if this only affects US sellers, ie their merchandises will be sent to central ebay facility for intl shipping, i think its good since some great stuffs are from US, but we buyers from another planet will be charged by some razor blade sellers with high USPS cost, or they wont ship intl at all. but if it affects china or hongkong sellers, that their merchandises will need to go to US and then slingshot back to my place here, then its not good.

author: Rick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 02:18:30 pm
content: Quote from: Corporate666 on January 03, 2013, 12:17:50 pmThis is true above $250 may be, because then you need the signature.But so far I have ALWAYS been able to track my items (with priority mail), first on ebay and as soon as they arrived here, on the Turkish postal website.I can even tell the date of the delivery with +/- 12 hours precision. That may not be true for every country, but here it is.

author: Rick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 02:29:31 pm
content: Quote from: Corporate666 on January 03, 2013, 02:05:02 pmYou do not need to request, it is automatic.They write a percentage of the price without anybody asking them and they win.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 03:44:45 pm
content: This attempted tax fraud, esp. writing "gift" on the CN22 form is an invitation for local customs to check twice. Customs isn't as stupid as people think. I mean, really, is any customs in the world so stupid to believe there are coming so many "gifts" out of China?In fact, I have a hard time convincing Chinese sellers to provide a correct declaration, instead of these attempted frauds. Local customs has the right to estimate a value if the declared value is not believable. And I can tell you, they know how to estimate. And it is never to the government's disadvantage when they start to estimate. To still get the item I have to pay the estimate and if I wish I can go through the trouble to officially protest the decision and maybe negotiate them 10% downAs with shipping out of China it is a hassle for me as a buyer. Some stuff takes ages. Stuff advertised as air mail ends up in sea shipping containers. I can tell from the customs office location if it went via a harbor or an airport. Tracking is a joke, incomplete and sometimes weeks delayed. It is never clear who will be the final carrier, i,.e. what color the truck driving up the driveway will have, and how much courier extortion money (sorry, handling fee) they will ask for. Especially unpredictable is EMS China. They seem to do the final delivery with everything from pidgins, sling shots, global courier service companies, local courier companies, to local postal service. I have refused free EMS upgrades in the past to avoid having to deal with their caprices.And don't get me started on Chinese packing "ingenuity". If I need a year's supply of bubble wrap, I'd buy some random items in China. I just have to throw the outer layer of the bubble wrap away, because it is "sealed" with a year's supply of tape. Is there an extreme shortage of cardboard boxes in China, or why is everything made into a bubble wrap American football?Buying stuff from Hong Kong is a bit better. They seem to have a functional postal service and know how to get stuff on planes and boats. Unfortunately, some eBay sellers prefer to lie about the origin of there wares and state Hong Kong when in fact they are shipping out of mainland China.Buying from the US works ok, although I avoid several robber baron carriers like UPS, because of the handling fee they ask for. USPS works, but even their air mail is sloooow. Fed Ex ocassional gets their knickers in a twist so I avoid them if there is a viable alternative, i.e. not UPS.Buying from Canada is rather pleasant. So was buying from Japan (haven't bought something directly from Japan for some time now).

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 04:02:57 pm
content: USPS is tracked till it is handed over, then it is in a black hole tracking wise. It takes 3 days USPS air to any international destination, then it is no longer trackable, only listed as handed to 3rd party carrier. Can be 2 weeks for the delivery from that point. internally you have a tracking code, but that code is not entered on a web visible system and linked to a US tracking number. you only get it when delivered, then you can look at the history and see where it was delayed.I always ask for the true value to be declared, as I generally get a postcard asking me to collect it from Customs office ( they are 1k from me, but used to be 200m down the road) so I also bring along the confirmation email with the price paid and the shipping costs, then they look up the tariff and I pay the rate on the item and not the shipping, plus the VAT and any Ad Valorum. Try to mess them and they will look up the highest applicable tariff and charge this on the full value because you tried to rook them. Often they will do it NC if you are honest and forthright, and they can find a no duty category for it.

author: Rick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 04:50:12 pm
content: Quote from: SeanB on January 03, 2013, 04:02:57 pmBut you can see on the USPS website that the item was delivered, this is true for the priority mail.Besides that you can prove with the local website that it is delivered. I am not sure if ebay accepts it as a proof but our local website shows the item all along its path. I have a few examples but I don't want to post them here, as this is a public page.Both the local webpage:http://www1.ptt.gov.tr/tr/interaktif/kayitliposta-yd_yeniweb.phpand the USPS show the same delivery time with the usual time difference.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 04:51:12 pm
content: i transacted many items online. only once and i remember it like yesterday that i had to pay tax many years ago maybe due to some commercial value to the item. the tax was calculated nearly the cost of (declared item's price + shipping cost) why the hell the shipping cost got into the calculation anyway? and all declarations are as precise as my newly bought lindstrom Ex575 cutter. iirc its USPS and the shipping cost nearly = item's price. so i ended up paying quadruple the item's price, and the item was not cheap. very good business!from thereon i swear by "gift" chinese items and super cheap EMS service which USPS not better than (for my place) at fractions of the cost.

author: Rick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 04:58:46 pm
content: I edited the Tracking numbers as well as time and hours sorry.The second part has no English version.But the 1st pic shows it was delivered.

author: Rick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 05:06:16 pm
content: You can find the following info on the USPS website and ask for detailed information.

author: ve7xen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 05:08:19 pm
content: Quote from: Corporate666 on January 03, 2013, 12:17:50 pmIt doesn't sound to me like there's any problem with shipping internationally, but that buyers have totally unreasonable expectations (since when is that new...). I'd never complain about any of these things, and certainly not ask for falsified customs documents. However, I refuse to buy any items where the seller insists on using UPS or FedEx, especially small value items. For large ticket items I might compromise and have them shipped to a receiver in the US by whatever means the seller wants to use, but there are plenty of items I just pass up because of the shipping requirements, and I've entirely given up on using UPS or FedEx to import items direclty unless the seller is offering 'express' service for free/cheap (which includes brokerage).UPS is worse than eBay/PayPal (if that's possible) when it comes to raping customers with unreasonable fees and anti-consumer practices they can't avoid. FedEx not so much, but it's still much more costly.No idea where the break even point is, but sellers are definitely losing opportunities by insisting on UPS/FedEx when USPS would do for 1/3 the price and 1/10th the hassle. You almost may as well not even offer international shipping if you're going to insist on UPS, because any international customers you do get are going to get screwed and be unhappy in the end.I'd welcome this service from eBay if it makes life easier for sellers in the US shipping to Canada as long as the cost is reasonable. I don't mind paying the tax (I owe it, after all), even if most of the time Canada Post doesn't bother assessing it. If that's what I have to pay for a wider pool of potential broken gear to fix, I'm all for it. Prices for items coming out of Canada are on average considerably higher than the same gear in the US, and rarer as well.PS. Once USPS hands off the package, you can track it on the Canada Post site with the same tracking number. I'd assume the same is true of the national post in other countries.

author: McMonster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 06:37:38 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on January 03, 2013, 07:43:46 amMore a curiosity, but eBay virtually doesn't exist here in Poland, it lost to local (well, owned by a South African concern now) competitor called Allegro, which also operates in some of the central and eastern European countries. There is a Polish eBay site but focused almost entirely on selling abroad with all the sellers I've checked (selling electronics components) functioning primarily on Allegro.I doubt they'll ever try to compete on a wider scale with though, but this shows at least that it is possible to challenge eBay and win, so you can hope for a better future.I've actually never used eBay mostly because almost anything that's interesting and hard to get locally comes with insane shipping costs. In fact buying anything not available locally from abroad is a pain here as far as shipping costs, customs, taxes etc. are concerned. Except maybe for some stuff from China, but I've never needed to try this.

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 11:56:27 pm
content: Quote from: Rick on January 03, 2013, 02:18:30 pmIt's not just above $250. If you buy something from an eBay seller, than claim you did not receive it and file a PayPal dispute, the seller must provide a signature of receipt to eBay. UPS and FedEx offer a signature (you can go online and see the actual signature). The only US Postal service which offers that us Global Express Guaranteed, and for a 1lb package (for example) to Turkey costs about $100USD. It's a real problem, because if the buyer claims they never got the package, but it says it was delivered - PayPal will give the buyer their money back.As for tracking, it depends on the receiving country - you are lucky that Turkish post seems to be pretty good and reliable! Unfortunately, not every country is the same. From my experience... Brazil is terrible. It takes 4 to 6 weeks to arrive. The Netherlands is bad too. The UK can be bad... sometimes it takes 5 days, sometimes it takes 3 weeks. As a seller, I know that almost every customer in Brazil will complain because I will ship and it will be weeks until they get it... and the tracking will only say "arrived in destination country". They are sure it's lost and will demand I send a replacement... I try to placate them for a few weeks, then I get an email where they are very happy to report it arrivedIt's just very difficult for a seller to ship internationally without causing yourself a lot of hassle with unhappy customers, lost-package claims, negative feedback, etc. I hate to pay UPS/FedEx/DHL prices, but I love the service... I order on Monday in China, I have it in my hands on WednesdayCrazy prices, but great service. Express Mail flat rate is very good too - 3-5 days anywhere in the world, but $38USD for a flat rate envelope and about $60USD for 1lb packages.

author: ve7xen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2013, 12:09:27 am
content: It occurs to me that part of the problem seems to by PayPal's overly lenient refund policies. And look who it is swooping in to solve the problem...Not to say there isn't a gap to be filled here, but it's a little stinky.

author: Rick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2013, 01:29:32 am
content: Quote from: Corporate666 on January 03, 2013, 11:56:27 pmYes they are. That's quite amazing. Even some 1st class mail is shown on that website as delivered. But not always because they assign a new number to the parcel on arrival.Then tell me, how come sellers accept to ship my 2 multimeters by priority mail? They said they are covered. So obviously the signature is required beyond $250.

author: richms
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2013, 08:33:44 am
content: Then bug USPS to get a usable international signature service then?I order heaps from ebay, DX, price angels, tomtop and ali express. If its more than a few bucks worth it comes registerd, and I get a card in the PO Box to get it from the counter and have to sign for it. Same for EMS items, when the sellers will accept a PO Box address - some seem to think they can only EMS to a street address which I avoid for the usual reasons.

author: Rick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2013, 12:55:56 pm
content: The usual reasons? What are they?

author: richms
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2013, 10:32:50 am
content: Noone being home so a card is left that means I have to pick it up from an inconvenient location 30 mins away only open during hours when most people are at work, or else for a short time on saturday morning when I would rather be at a computer shop or something.