Need info about shipping to Canada and the UK

pendragon1998

Hi y'all,

I'm considering selling some coins on eBay that I'd like to open up to bidders from Canada and the UK. I currently only ship to the US, so I've got some questions about the process of shipping out of the country. Can someone help me out? Essentially, I would only be selling individual, raw coins (possibly some small lots, but mainly singles) that will probably go in the $20-$40 range. I was looking around on the usps website some more, and I came across "Global Priority Mail, small envelope" that goes to the UK in 4-6 days for $5.25 and Canada for $4 and change. I've got several questions about that:

(1) Do I just use a standard bubble mailer or do I use their mailer instead?
(2) How much does insurance run for that dollar amount?
(3) What kind of delivery confirmation should I use to avoid PayPal charge backs? Cost?
(4) Are coins / bullion coins a dutiable item, and if so, which customs form should I use?
(5) How does PayPal work with UK or Canadian currency?
(6) How do taxes like the VAT get paid when shipping to the UK?
(7) Anything else I'm missing?

Is it worth shipping to the UK or Canada if I'm going to have to charge shipping around $6-$8, for items in that price range?

Thanks!
-Michael

mrpotatoheadd

Do I just use a standard bubble mailer or do I use their mailer instead?

For Global Priority Mail, I believe you need to use their mailers.

How much does insurance run for that dollar amount?

Insurance is not available for Global Priority Mail.

What kind of delivery confirmation should I use to avoid PayPal charge backs? Cost?

Delivery Confirmation is not available on international shipments.

Are coins / bullion coins a dutiable item, and if so, which customs form should I use?

For the price range you noted, you'd use the square green customs form (Form 2976).

How does PayPal work with UK or Canadian currency?

All the payments I've received from international buyers have been converted into $US in my account.

How do taxes like the VAT get paid when shipping to the UK?

I don't know, but as the seller, that's not your problem.

it worth shipping to the UK or Canada if I'm going to have to charge shipping around $6-$8, for items in that price range?

If you use bubble mailers and ship by airmail letter post, postage for a single coin to Canada should cost $0.76/$0.90, Great Britian would be $0.97/$1.70 (1 to 2 oz. package).

pendragon1998

<< <i>
it worth shipping to the UK or Canada if I'm going to have to charge shipping around $6-$8, for items in that price range?

If you use bubble mailers and ship by airmail letter post, postage for a single coin to Canada should cost $0.76/$0.90, Great Britian would be $0.97/$1.70 (1 to 2 oz. package). >>



Wow - I didn't realize it could be done that cheaply! That's hardly more than US shipping by First Class.

Thanks for the info!

Icecube

Pretty close for postage amounts, one ounce to Canada is 63 cents, altough a padded mailer will probably be another 24 cents. The theft/loss rate to Canada is very low, but the shipping times are up to 4 weeks, depending on the customs. Custom forms must be filled out, the green ps form 2976. England first ounce is 84 cents and then I think $1.70 for 2 ounces. The theft/loss rate for the UK is about as low as it is to Canada. Global priority is actually a wonderful service for mailing a few rolls of coins as you can save money and get expedited service.

Postmaster, Canadian Penny collector, and pcgs fanatic!

mrpotatoheadd

<< <i>Pretty close for postage amounts, one ounce to Canada is 63 cents, altough a padded mailer will probably be another 24 cents. >>

1 ounce and less in a bubble mailer to Canada is 76 cents- 63 cents + 13 cents nonmachinable fee. The 13 cent fee applies to domestic shipping of 1 ounce and less, too.

Nonmachinable fee definition

6.4.2 Nonmachinable Flats and Parcels
Nonletters (flats and parcels) that weigh 1 ounce or less are subject to the nonmachinable surcharge (see 133.1.9) if any one of the following applies (see 601.1.4, Length and Height, for how to determine the length and height of a mailpiece):

a. The piece is more than 1/4-inch thick.

b. The length is more than 11-1/2 inches or the height is more than 6-1/8 inches.

c. The aspect ratio (length divided by height) is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5.

pendragon1998

Someone PMed me and mentioned that coins and bullion can't be shiped to the U.K unless sent by registered post. Is this correct?

pendragon1998

ttt

eric1509

Hello!

If I may add some words to this threat!
I´m a colector in germany and have bought and also sold many coins "Oversea".

It is fast, but also a bit more expensive but also faster to send with global piority instead of "normal" airmail.

The green costum form:
I was never asked to fill it out on a normal letter I have send, but I know that all mail from the US come with this label.
Mostly I have asked the seller to write somethink like "numismatic item" or "coins" or "collectible" or "Token" and a lower
value. But this is more interesting for the buyer, because sometimes he had to pay import taxes for mail from out of Europe, for your bidders from UK.
I have orderd a lot of coins, also goldcoins, from the US and the most seller are good to work with what they write on the label. Except one, who was a very trustful christian and because of that he could not write a lower value!?! Hope he is not in this forum?! ;-)
Anyway, if the costum in that country is interested in what is inside, they will open it and look inside, what ever it would says on the label!

Best wishes

Eric