If you aren’t selling internationally, you are missing a huge part of the ecommerce buying market. According to www.internationalworldstats.com there are 1.1 billion internet users around the globe. If you aren’t offering international shipping, you might want to reconsider.International shipping is not hard or complicated.
It just requires a different procedure. You’ll prepare your package just the same, and the post office now offers free international mailing supplies. If you want to use your own packaging, you can get very reasonably priced poly mailers all over the internet. You can also get free boxes from your local grocery store or liquor store. You can use the free mail supplies from the post office, but I have found that shipping First Class International (you can’t use the free supplies for this mail class) is much cheaper and just as efficient (for lighter weight packages). I sell on eBay, and ship 5-10 packages a week abroad. The items usually arrive within a week, without a hitch.
Once your package is prepared, all you need is a customs form.They are available at the post office or through usps.com. If you aren’t sure what to do, just ask a clerk. They are always glad to help. Filling out the customs form only takes a minute, and then you are on your way. Some of my best customers are international. You’ll have an edge over the competition because alot of sellers don’t offer international shipping.
If you offer Paypal on your website, Paypal does all the currency conversions so you don’t have to do any complicated math – you just get paid! If you run into a language barrier with an international customer, try www.freetranslation.com - a free on-line translation service. You can have your message translated into about 10 different languages, free of charge. The translation may not account for slang or expressions, but at least you will be making an effort to communicate with your customer and he will appreciate your effort.
Through my eBay travels and several hundred international transactions, I have discovered that people in other countries love American products. Ironically, they also love products made in their own country, but it is often cheaper for them to purchase them over the internet than to purchase them locally. For example, I sell apparel in my eBay store. Many items are made in Italy, where some of the finest apparel in the word is made. Often times, items made in Italy are purchased by Italians, and shipped right back over to where it came from! The sales taxes in Italy and some other countries are astronomical, so these international customers have learned that buying on the internet is a cheaper alternative than buying locally.
Bottom line: Give international selling a try. You might be surprised at the results, and make some new interesting contacts in the process.
Suzanne Wells is an eBay Power Seller, eBay Consultant, and single stay at home mom of 2 in Atlanta.
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