2. misc-audio
  3. 1240500070

US only sales WHY???

As a UK based audiogon member, i'm constantly surprised at items only being offered to the US, and not worldwide as most ebay items are now, why is this?

After all if the payment is received in full in $USD via Paypal or bankers draft,including the designated shipping fees, what difference does it make to address the item to a non-US address, most items are either picked up by the carrier or taken to the post office and if the seller asks for it to be sent to a foreign address, it takes no more time other than filling out a customs declaration form--Thats It!!, it makes perfect sense to offer worldwide sales and sell items quicker to a [Much Larger] audience.

So the next time that you fill in the for sale details, please give us a chance guys, Thanks!
largeyo

Showing 3 responses by ironmine

ironmine
41 posts
 
During the last 1,5 years, I have bought about 8-10 expensive items (from $200 to $1000) from Audiogon, Head-Fi, eBay. I live in Russia and I've never had a problem receiving stuff from U.S, Australia, South Korea, Canada. I contact the buyer, ask him for a shipping quote, then ask him to kindly specify the invoice value as $200-$300 (including the shipping charges). If he agrees, I pay through PayPal and in 4-6 weeks I always receive what I want. The biggest problem is persuading the buyer to sell internationally. They always fear something unreasonably like small children, I cannot understand it. It seems to me that it's the buyer who bear all the risks, not the seller. So, if I am willing to take these risks, why does it matter to the seller?
ironmine
41 posts
 
"Asking a seller to undervalue their product on the invoice exposes them to a potential loss in the event of shipping damage as shipping companies generally will not payoff more than the items declared value." - Why will a seller need a payoff? Nobody is foolish enough to ship an item before he receives the full payment for it. If a shipment is lost, it's a buyer who suffers.

"Declaring a lesser value is fraud" - Lesser than what? What's the reference point? If two people agree on a price, it's their private business, nobody can override their decision. If you want to sell your $800 amp for $200, and a buyer agrees to buy it for $200, it's nobody else's business.
ironmine
41 posts
 
Trelja,
Did I offend you? How? Probably you are just not used to how people outside the US express their ideas, that's all.

Fpeel,
I want to live in the world which offers me a choice. In the world where I don't have to pay for the false righteousness of others. Your outlook is a result of your income. If you earned as much as people normally earn in Russia and similar countries, you would reconsider your ideas. You can afford to pay to the customs, but I cannot, so I choose the second world. Luckily, there are enough open-minded audiogoners who are willing to help to their audiophile brothers whenever they live, rather than finance the customs budgets. So, business opportunities go to such people, not to "US only" crowd.
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