Help Shipping Packages ?

[shr0olvl]

I have an old Clairinet that Im trying to sell off to some guy in the Netherlands for $500. But I don't know how to go about shipping it to him and how the payment should go. Should I make him mail me a check for $500 and then I mail the Clairinet to him after I get the check or is their a easier/more fair way ?

Also, when shipping the clairinet. How do you go about doing that ? Do you just goto the local Post Office and tell them that you wanna mail this to this address and will they package the clairinet or do you gotta do all that stuff youself ?

[pimento]

There a money transfer companies that can handle that side of things, or something like Paypal could be used. As far as shipping goes, the case should protect the instrument enough so that it could be placed in a box with some padding and be shipped that way, your local post office should have the right materials and advice for that.

[my porsche]

the fact you asked $500 and hes offering $2000 is a little odd to me, and also the line about giving you the money and you taking it to ppeople or whatever, not sure thought

and happy senior member!

[Matra et Alpine]

I wouldn't use ordinary mail for that
Too many fingers interested in making a quick $$

Go to one of the carriers - UPS, DHL etc - and send it door-to-door and properly packaged. Your local DHL./UPS/etc will advise on the best price and packaging. Clarinet is going to need some serious packaging. I presume it is in it's own music case and it's a hardcase ? If yes, then just add a few small trips of foam to prevent it moving at all in the case. The pack the case in a box with 2-3" gap around all sides and fill with packing foam, packing chips or bags.

MOST shipping companies go by weight and size, if you go to their sites the all have transport cost calculators.

Get the buyer to send you all the money if you can. International bank transfer is easiest JUST make sure he knows he has to pay all the charges and tell his bank that. US banks are not used to doing this and often they will charge YOU for the transfer costs !!

oh, and when you ship it you will have to declare it's value. MAKE sure the buyer realises that as you will ahve to put the amount on the tag then he MAY be liable for taxes on receipt. AN easy way to TRY to avoid this is mark it as "DEMO INSTRUMENT" - most excise folks assume it's not a purchase

[shr0olvl]

He said he was just going to mail me a check and once I get the check to email him back that I've recieved it so he can send someone from his company or something to come pick it up from my house.

I guess this could work.

[NAZCA C2]

You shouldnt have any problem shipping by the US Postal Service. Call them post office they can tell you how much it will cost to ship and how long it will take to get there and all that good stuff. You might have to fill out a customs form since its going overseas. Make sure there is enough insurance on the package when you send it.

[Matra et Alpine]

I ship lots of stuff back and forward.
Sometimes the pick-up services like UPS and DHL are actually cheaper than postal service for heavy/bulky items and as I said, with them there is much less "damage or missing" items

[johnnynumfiv]

They have postage calculators on thier sites here:
http://www.usps.com/tools/calculatep...lculatepostage

http://wwwapps.ups.com/calTimeCost?loc=en_US

I couldn't find the calculator at fed ex, you have to sign up to be a member. I tend to use fedex for US shipments because they are the cheapest for ebay stuff, I dont know how thier international rates compare though.

[Niko_Fx]

Well.. 1st of all I wouldn't pay $h*t if a third party such as paypal wouldn't be holding the money while the transfer is being processed... But anyway:

If you can pack it just go to Fedex or UPS and get it done... Maybe even the USPS if the box isn't too big.

If you don't have it packed and don't have the materials go to a "PakMail" <--- (I work at one) and they'll pack it and send it through any available carrier... DHL offers some great international deals.

[Blue Supra]

never had to send anythign internationally but from my parents experience, wrap it tight and wrap it tough.

[shr0olvl]

Well, he's mailed the check and said that once I recieved the check to email him back so someone from the postal company can come pick it up ?? Never heard of a postal company picking up packages at somebodys house.

Is this right ?

[Matra et Alpine]

Originally Posted by shr0olvl

Well, he's mailed the check and said that once I recieved the check to email him back so someone from the postal company can come pick it up ?? Never heard of a postal company picking up packages at somebodys house.

Is this right ?

It'll be UPS or DHL or similar, if they're coming to do pickups.

"ordinary" postal doesn't but parcel delivery do.

[shr0olvl]

This is what the dude told me...

"The payment of $2,000 only is coming on your way while you will assist me to
forward the balance of the payment which is $1,500 to the shipper that will
be coming for the pick up via western union or money gram, so that the
shipper can receive the fund fast and make the pick up done asap they
confirmed their service payment ok, expect the payment this weekend friday
or saturday ok......Thanks have a nice time."

Does this mean he wants me to wire money to the shipper or what is he saying?

[Quiggs]

Something about this doesn't smell right to me. It sounds like he's giving you a check for $2000, and wants you to wire $1500 back to the shipper. Check out the address of whoever he wants you to send the $1500 to, and make sure it's legit. PayPal might be your best bet with something like this, as you're covered if he's trying to defraud you.

There's a lot of shady people who do stuff like this on eBay, usually with stolen accounts and high-end cars. They send you an amount over the price of the auction, then have you wire back the rest. The money shows up in your account, but hasn't actually cleared since it's an international check. A few days to weeks later, the check bounces and you're out several thousand dollars. And you get to explain how you bounce a $10,000 check to your bank. Maybe I'm just being overly skeptical.

[shr0olvl]

Thanks for the info. I think ill just tell him that I'll mail him the package using usps or ups and just use the fastest mailing service which is like $72 ? to get there in 2-3 days ?