Shipping out of State?

[Robhood23]

I am wondering if any of you have sold bows to anyone out of country? I have a bow for sale that a guy from France wants to buy using paypal. I have no idea what I should do. Is it safe? I have told him that if I decided to do it I would have no control once it left the post office. He would like it shipped usps. Any help would be much appreciated.
          Thanks, James

[Robhood23]

I should add that I just got another email wondering if I would ship to Hong Kong!

[vermonster13]

France with Pay-Pal payment is pretty safe and USPS is the best way to go. Is the bow a takedown or one-piece? Takedowns are much easier, one-piece you need to know the length restrictions. I've sent a few overseas and haven't had any troubles yet.

[ks_stickbow]

Don't lie on customs forms

double check shipping charges

paypal is your best bet...I transfer money to my bank before I ship

No personal checks

No money orders

be scepticle (as you already are) and CYA (cover your A$$)

make sure pack very very very very well PVC tube if...$7 at home deopot.

take every precaution at post office...if you can insure, delivery confirmation, signature....do all you can.

[Robhood23]

Thanks guys, it is a one piece recurve. What is the best way to ship a one piece recurve?
   Thanks again, James

[ks_stickbow]

a PVC tube....do not let any of the bow touch the tube...Kind of suspend it in the tube with shredded paper/peanuts....whatever you ship with.

I would also go get some bubble wrap and get a good wrap over the bow.

you'll probably pay a oversize fee....MAKE SURE YOU PHYSICALY GO TO THE POST OFFICE AND CHECK THE RATE BEFORE QUOTING A PRICE!!!!!

yeah all caps for a reason!

[TradAlaska]

Greetings ks-stickbow -- You say no money orders, are there problems with money orders?  I don't know squat about this stuff, but I just sold a bow to a fellow in Australia.  He sent me a Western Union money order to pay for the bow.  I took his money order to the bank, the clerk smiled and handed me the money.  Only asking because I may sell another bow one of these days and I would like to do it in a secure way.

Cheers from Alaska

[vermonster13]

Money orders from over seas and even Postal money orders here are easily counterfeited. The PO has a # they call now when you cash a MO there to check it's legitimacy. There is a running scam of overpayment and the buyer asks you to send them back the overpayment in a MO or bank transfer from here. By the time the original MO you get is bounced as a counterfeit or no funds you have already sent the "overpayment" back in real funds.

Caution and awareness are key in any transaction with someone you don't know or doesn't have any history here.

[ks_stickbow]

exactly what vermonster said.....to many scams out there...the person your probably dealing with is no scammer, but it takes getting burned once to leave a bad taste in your mouth.

I sell alot on (auction site). I usualy get a couple emails telling me they will pay triple what I want for it if I end the auction now, and will pay with money order. I'm no genious, but I sure can smell something fishy when It's rubbed on the tip of my nose.

[Dean Marlow]

My biggest problem sending bows or wood over seas is the shipping. Most countries have a 60" lenght limit using USPS. You can ship UPS but hold on to your wallet. Check what the length limits are to that country using the postal system.I got burned sending a stave to Germany a while back. I thought I could send the stave for around fifty dollars with USPS when I took the stave to the Post Office  they said sorry to long. Ended up paying 180.00 with UPS. And you know who had to eat the difference. Me. Dean

[Robhood23]

Thanks for all the help guys! I really appreciate you guys taking the time to help me out!

[foudarme]

I have bought many bows (30) on trad, stickbow or **** and I am from france..the best way for both of us is paypal (immediate and safe payment) and USPS airmail shipment with a tracking number..usps doesn't accept packages higher than 60", but in such a package you can put a 64" bow in bending it in the package if it is large enough (width + length shall not exceed a 106" total)...You have to know that we pay 30% of import taxes on the declared value at the arrival...so it's always kind to lower it a little bit...some would think that's lying, but is it really normal to pay the same import taxes on used produces (no warranty) that on new one, I don't think so...so in france we already have a very high level of taxes on everything (the highest in europe and maybe in the world: a liter of gaz for our cars costs 2 dollars        :mad:       , our global incomes can been taxed as far as 65% of the total               ), so please don't participate to increase our misery!!!!
I never got any shipment problem (I buy all my archery's produces and hunting clothes and shoes in your country, 2-3 invoices each month)...USPS is quite safe...When you send a bow towards us you have to consider that all the risks are for us, cause in case of whatever, you, you have your money but us we have...nothing, so make strong packages and all will be allright !

[Falk]

Foudarme - thank you very much for your posting! I was pretty close to do something similar myself!    

I think most of our American friends don't have the slightest clue how we over here get constanly ripped by our governments!?!
For example: we have to pay the customs and taxes (25% in GER) even on the postage (!) - not only on the declared value of what is inside the package! Customs is legalized robbery - nothing else! Any attempt to get to a real "gentlemans aggrement" (that is: any deal between to TradArchers) should be made here IMHO.

Consider, that TradArchery and at least Bowhunting is a pretty exclusive "sport" anywhere on this planet BUT America. So if you go outside North America you are more likely to deal with the "créme de la créme" then fraudulent people ...

[foudarme]

Originally posted by Falk:

For example: we have to pay the customs and taxes (25% in GER) even on the postage (!) - not only on the declared value of what is inside the package! Customs is legalized robbery - nothing else! Any attempt to get to a real "gentlemans aggrement" (that is: any deal between to TradArchers) should be made here IMHO.
 

our 30% taxes are too for the total value, including of course the shipments fees...more of that...UPS takes a 45 usd add for their own fees as soon as  (each time, in fact) they collect the 30% taxes amount...cause of that once it occured that I payed more of taxes than the total value of my invoice !!!! since I refuse UPS...

[vermonster13]

Well this has gone from his original question which has been answered to a discussion of taxation and government policies. Time to say goodnight Irene.