WTF is with all the ConUS only sales? (1 Viewer)

[hod]

I've never had an issue buying chips etc from the us (including some posters in this thread) in 10 years of this sickness.

USPS to the uk always gives tracking, and is very efficient, apart from the eternity packages sit in customs for.

I've no issues with sellers not wanting to post outside of the US. I'm aware it is more of a hassle and depending on the destination an increase in risk. I don't ask for parcels to be under priced for caustic purposes either, a gamble I never want to take!

Here was my latest shipment tracking, express delivery until it met uk customs!

 

[Meddler2]

For me it's simple. I hate going to the post office and dealing with long lines and forms.

 

[mike32]

I don't sell much, but it has always been CONUS. I honestly even look past all international sales when I'm buying as I am cheap and I don't want to pay extra for chips I don't need. It's not nationalistic for me, it's cheap and lazy. It ain't exactly hard to sell nice chips in the US, hell I know that @detroitdad has sold several sets locally. I guess we are pretty spoiled here in the US with this crazy chip market. I have read about a couple international horror stories and right or wrong decided years ago international ain't for me.

 

[Blaster]

.. I never understood the listings where sellers mention they ship USPS / flat rate box, & then put "CONUS" ..
The same Price, insurance and optional Signature etc are all the same to Hawaii, AK, Guam zipcodes etc ..why just CONUS in those cases?

 

[atomiktoaster]

.. I never understood the listings where sellers mention they ship USPS / flat rate box, & then put "CONUS" ..
The same Price, insurance and optional Signature etc are all the same to Hawaii, AK, Guam zipcodes etc ..why just CONUS in those cases?

I wonder if @AK Chip has run into issues with CONUS-only sales in cases like that?

 

[mipevi]

I've seen alot of threads lately regarding people trying to influence how people sell their chips. It's not that your second class chippers - it's just that getting my chips from me to you across a vast ocean is a pain in the ass and involves more risk. If people don't like that, use proxies that take responsibility for the financial burden of the next hop over the water, but I don't think anyone should be trying to strong arm people into doing something they don't want to do.

So we agree then... I thought I made it 100% clear I have no problem with ConUS only sales, and that in such a case I'd just use a reshipping company.

What I have a problem with, is telling me yeah I can buy the chips, but that I'd have to wait in line first to see if any US residents want to cut in front of me. Either ship international or don't, but that's not cool.

 

[Trihonda]

I'm in the US only camp. I used to be an eBay seller, and lost a ton of money shipping overseas. I couple years ago, I shipped some expensive chips to Europe, and stressed for the entire three-four weeks until finally hearing from the buyer that they received the chips. There was no delivery confirmation available, and the insurance required me to have delivery confirmation/tracking, else I risk losing any claim.

My most recent offering, the Fat Tire sample set, I made this conus only. This was primarily for ease (call it lazy, I don't care). I will be reshipping 30 packages, and want the process streamlined. It will still be a bit of work involved (which im willing to do), but I was trying to make things as simple for me as possible.

 

[orsonberger]

Hey guys, in my personal experience I have never had problems in shipping by vendors USA, I have been shopping with many professionals and individuals including some who wanted only send conus if I commented my interest in buying ever told me it was not possible despite my bad English.
Since Paulson chips have risen in price, only buy small amounts attempt to send in small boxes USPS and have never lost any but if it did not reclaim to the seller they do me the favor of sending so.
I thank all who have helped feed my addition to casino clay
Thanks

 

[detroitdad]

I've sold a ton of samples and whole chip sets internationally without any problems. I've shipped to Finland, France, and Australia to name a few. Probably the biggest pain in the ass (still not that bad) was shipping to a military member that was on a ship.

As long as the purchaser assumes all responsibility once I ship it I'm fine with it. I always pack them with the utmost care. The only concern is if it was lost.

 

[Mental Nomad]

Several people have pointed out many valid reasons - greater risk, extra beauracracy, lengthy waiting (worrying) periods... This summed it up well:

I am not anti-global shipping, and I will do it; but I admit it is a PITA compared to CONUS.

The amount of time necessary for a first-time shipper to a particular country to figure things out is already an extra investment, never mind the extra time wasted at the post office or elsewhere... and there's a strong bias against charging for your time to manage the shipment, especially in things like group buys.

It's completely understandable that those who are in-the-know don't like to do it, and that those who aren't in-the-know don't want to try... and that's before considering the fact that most sellers assume that international buyers will be far less interested because of the cost of shipping, anyway.

The internet has made the world a little smaller - I love that chippers all over the world can chat and share here on PCF. But the actual world hasn't gotten smaller, and the internet has not had a huge impact on cross-country border policies, etc. I hope things get better in the future.

 

[MaxB]

 

[12thMan]

Nationalistic and lazy. Huh. Learn something new every day.

 

[detroitdad]

I so don't mind shipping internationally that I have helped out several members by allowing them to order/ship to my house, and then re package it and re ship to them.

This community is awesome. If its a small way I can help out. Then so be it.

B

 

[<°)))><)]

It's not "nationalistic." It may not even be lazy. Consider the possibility that these sellers were thinking about any or all of the following:

• not being able to insure their items going to a foreign country
• not being able to confirm delivery and fearing a false claim of "I never got the stuff."
• fearing a true claim of "I never got the stuff."
  
• not trusting the security or integrity of foreign customs services or delivery services -- at least not enough to risk the value of the box.
• not trusting that the package will survive the long international trip, and not wanting the hassle from the customer when it doesn't.
• not wanting to deal with requests to lie on the customs forms to save the buyer some of the VAT.
• not wanting to document the details and values of the deal on a U.S. government customs form, or deal with the shipping or postal clerk and the other angry customers behind them when they (invariably) fill out the first form wrong, or the wrong first form.
  
• fearing they might get in trouble if they fill out that customs form wrong. (The threats are printed right on it.)
• not wanting to get the foreign destination address format wrong. (Many are nothing like America addresses.) Maybe they'll just look stupid. Maybe they'll lose the whole shipment and their money.
  
• not wanting to give more of their money to Paypal or E-Bay because the money is moving internationally.
• not wanting to deal with questions and complaints from the buyer about how long it is taking to arrive. (Continental U.S? Two or three days. Elsewhere? Two to three weeks.)

No doubt it's an extra pain, I agree with all of the above.
But as long as the buyer assumes the financial risk (and doesn't ask to fraud customs), I kinda hope buyers will make the extra efforts to help the buyer. Chiper solidarity worldwide
I personnally sent many parcels abroad, and it sure took more time than domestic.
I also bought quite a lot myself, never had a problem, but shit can happen. eBay's policy is (was? I haven't tried for long) utterfly unfair to the seller, but it's different here where the buyer and seller can agree on the risks prior to the shipping.

I've used the services of reshipping companies in the past to get what I want. Not just from the US, but from France and Germany too. Costs a bit more but has worked great.

So post your ConUS only sales, I understand it makes things easier for you, and if I want the item bad enough I'll still buy it from you. But don't post a sale giving priority to US residents over others, that makes the rest of us seem like second class chippers.

Totally agree with that: as long as the shipping address is domestic, the sale should be open to all.

 

[guinness]

I always list my prices as CONUS shipped included but I'm always willing to ship outside of the US with a HUGE caveat that all shipping fails are at the risk of the buyer. Shipping chips to longer distances is like shipping rocks to longer distances. I'm always worried but willing to do it.

 

[Anthony Martino]

I'm lazy, that's my reason

 

[Trihonda]

I'm lazy, that's my reason

Lol

I went back and forth on this, when deciding whether to offer intl shipping for my CPC samples... I didn't want to exclude anyone, but in the end I chose to limit the sales. Shipping out 30 packages in itself, will be a chore. Keeping track of everything (book keeping) is even more work. I was willing to do this, as many others have, but I didn't want to deal with the angst and worry (and added headache) I've had with intl shipping in the past. The alternative was simply not offering the samples... that would have been the easiest (laziest) thing to do. No slight was intended towards my international chippers.

 

[k9dr]

I have shipped many chips and sample sets overseas and have purchased two large sets from overseas. I had no issues shipping overseas and only experienced a long delay in receiving my package from Germany. Meatboy mentioned that the German postal service was on strike at the time and to expect delays. The box finally arrived a month later and was wet and beat to pieces with a gaping hole in the side. Fortunately all contents were safe and undamaged.

I would not hesitate to ship internationally as long as the buyer assumes all risk after the package is shipped.

 

[David O]

I have shipped many chips and sample sets overseas and have purchased two large sets from overseas. I had no issues shipping overseas and only experienced a long delay in receiving my package from Germany. Meatboy mentioned that the German postal service was on strike at the time and to expect delays. The box finally arrived a month later and was wet and beat to pieces with a gaping hole in the side. Fortunately all contents were safe and undamaged.

I would not hesitate to ship internationally as long as the buyer assumes all risk after the package is shipped.

I agree! Especially since we like to be able to purchase theirs as well.

 

[Puggy]

I've shipped and received chips from 2006 both in Europe and overseas. I guess I've been extremely lucky, since I've never lost a single package.
When shipping the last three away, I was a bit more nervous than before, even if I managed to get an insurance from my own insurance company.
They were the most valueable single packages I've ever shipped. Luckily, they all too managed to make it to the buyers.

I think the time of my big buys are over, since the combined cost of chips, current shipping rates and taxes raises the cost too high.
I only have one CPC set in mind, that might of might not happen. We'll see.

I also want to thank everyone, who has agreed to ship chips (and clothing ) to me overseas during all these years.

 

[Craig D]

I've only had one package go missing

I sent it to the USA....

 

[Trihonda]

I've only had one package go missing

I sent it to the USA....

 

[pltrgyst]

I wonder if @AK Chip has run into issues with CONUS-only sales in cases like that?

Last time I checked, AK was in North America.

Most Americans don't know the difference between the "continental United States" and the "contiguous United States."

Myself, barring a personal connection to the buyer, I don't sell outside the US because I don't like the way chip prices double or triple when they're offered for sale from Europe, independent of shipping.

 

[Quicksilver-75]

Nationalistic and lazy. Huh. Learn something new every day.

Who said that?

 

[CdnBeerLover]

I can't argue with anything stated in the thread regarding the rationale. And I know that if the seller states that the sales are ConUS only, I won't ask to buy them, no matter how much I want them. I probably won't revisit the thread at all. I've asked that before on other forums for other products, and received enough "Are you too dumb to read? ConUS only." responses to last a lifetime. All I ask is that the seller state their intentions in the ad itself...it drives me nuts to see chips I'm interested in marked ConUS only in the ad, and later find a post buried in the thread during a search stating that they'll gladly ship to Canada as well. It's normally after I've allocated the funds to something else.

I'm curious, though...if a European seller restricted sales to members in EU countries only (say, Paulson GCR, GCOP, Crystal Parks) for the same reasons, would there be any griping from US members? I don't think I've seen it, as the US market is almost too large to ignore, but I'm wondering if there would be any comments made.

 

[Trihonda]

I'm curious, though...if a European seller restricted sales to members in EU countries only (say, Paulson GCR, GCOP, Crystal Parks) for the same reasons, would there be any griping from US members?

I could care less... To be honest, it's someone's property for sale, and they're able to sell/do with as they please. Why should I get upset at what someone does with their stuff...? I don't really have a right to care...

If someone says they don't ship to the US due to crazy untrackable/uninsurable (added hassle) reasons, who am I to complain. Now, if they made comments like I don't ship to filthy americans, then that's an entirely different conversation.

 

[BGinGA]

I'm curious, though...if a European seller restricted sales to members in EU countries only (say, Paulson GCR, GCOP, Crystal Parks) for the same reasons, would there be any griping from US members?

No griping from me, but if it were an item I wanted badly enough, I'd reach out to my EU contacts and make arrangements for it to be purchased/shipped locally and then sent overseas to me. Which is what several non-CONUS members do here, when wanting an item that is listed as CONUS only. I sell to Canadians and Europeans all the time, although I rarely ship directly to those locations.

 

[BGinGA]

And I know that if the seller states that the sales are ConUS only, I won't ask to buy them, no matter how much I want them.

Oh, and another point, Dave: If you ever find something of interest in a sale thread of mine, please contact me privately. I promise I won't belittle your comprehension skills, and will work with you to try to find an affordable shipping solution that works for both of us. I always make allowances for established chippers in good standing with the community.

 

[Quicksilver-75]

I feel I need to clarify something before anything else is misconstrued. I didn't create this thread to start pissing matches. I wondered if there was a legit reason for American sellers to not want to ship to other countries. In one post I ended the question with words Nationalistic OR lazy. Not both used to describe anybody, group or person. In fact the "laziness" I referred to was a bit of a wink-wink-nudge, nudge to Mr. Martino's (Gnu's) post from a while back when he listed his CPS's. Obviously no one here is not going to ship to Canada because of some disdain....I hope. I also wasn't looking for what-if scenarios. I was simply interested to know the why's. Which in some cases were valid.

 

[Anthony Martino]

. Obviously no one here is not going to ship to Canada because of some disdain

I wasn't interested in being paid in Maple Syrup or Moose Knuckles, which is why I don't do business with Canadians