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Last Post Aug 10, 2009 1:57 AM by: americanfs
Replies: 185
laylas@ebay.com
Posts: 42

Best Practices for International Trade and High DSRs

Feb 28, 2008 2:31 PM
Hi Everyone:

We would like to share some suggested Best Practices for high detailed seller ratings (DSRs)

Selling internationally is a growing trend among eBay sellers. Here are some suggestions to help you create more international appeal for your products, minimize questions from international buyers and improve your ratings.

Describing your item
Provide global sizes and other product specifications when available. Include foreign sizes for clothing and provide measurements in metric units. Some electronics and media may not work in all countries due to differences in voltage, plugs, or formats. Offer this information prominently in your listings to avoid confusion or buyer dissatisfaction and avoid listing your item in countries where the item will not work.

Clearly state any international limits to your return policy or warranties. For example, if you don't cover international return postage or have specific warranty limitations, spell it out in your listing and other communications.


Research trade restrictions. It may not be legal to trade your item in some countries or you may need a special license, especially for foods, weapons and some branded items. Please review eBay's policies on prohibited and restricted items as well as the UPS Global Advisor and the USPS International Mail Manual for more information.
Communicating

Be clear about international response times. Mention in your communication policy that it may take a day longer to respond to buyers in different time zones. Use the Time Zone Converter to help customers gauge your business day.

Communicate more with your international buyers. Go the extra mile and make sure your communications address common concerns such as shipping time. Consider having a special email & FAQs for your international customers.


Emphasize your international experience. International buyers are looking for sellers who are experienced with international selling. If you have expertise in selling to certain markets or specialize in any international services, make this clear in your listing.


Include an international section in your listing. Presenting your international trade, shipping and other details in one easy-to-find, prominent area can help attract more buyers, minimize confusion, and help with a smooth transaction.


Take care with your terminology and avoid slang. Keeping your descriptions clear and simple makes it easier for your international buyers to understand and translate.
Shipping time and charges

Specify shipping destinations and rates. Be clear about the specific regions or countries you ship to, and your international shipping costs, in the "Shipping Details" section of your listing. Use eBay's Global Shipping Calculator to make country-specific pricing easier and more visible. Listings with shipping costs specified in the Shipping details have higher conversion rates and receive better detailed seller ratings (DSRs) for shipping and handling costs and shipping time.


Explain customs, duties & tax responsibilities: Let international buyers know they may be responsible for customs fees and experience longer shipping times due to customs-related delays. Let them know they can find more help with customs forms from the USPS, UPS, and World Customs Organization sites.


Represent the value of the item (closing price) accurately on customs forms. And don't mark an international item as a gift on customs forms. It's against the law.


Offer multiple shipping services. Some buyers will pay more for fast, trackable service, while other buyers may prefer a longer shipping time to save money. Offering a trackable service can dramatically improve the customer experience, especially for international buyers.


Offer trackable shipping services for higher priced goods. Tracking can provide an extra layer of protection on higher priced goods. Buyers feel more confident when you provide them with an electronic delivery confirmation, which is required for PayPal's Seller protection program. Shipping services that provide international tracking numbers include USPS (both International Priority and International Express), UPS (all services), FedEx (all services), and DHL (all services).

Other international trade best practices:
Use PayPal for international payments. With coverage against unauthorized charges in over 190 countries, PayPal makes international payments safer than ever.


List on eBay sites in multiple countries. While international buyers often come to the U.S. site to buy, they are also often browsing other eBay sites for the item. Listing in all your main trading markets gives you greater exposure and more bidding activity. Your eBay ID works on all eBay sites, and PayPal allows you to list in 17 currencies. When selling across borders, be aware of country regulations and restrictions.
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d.borges
Posts: 410
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Best Practices for International Trade and High DSRs

Mar 5, 2008 7:32 AM
Thanks.
SigSeBAyW

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laylas@ebay.com
Posts: 42
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Best Practices for International Trade and High DSRs

Mar 5, 2008 3:19 PM
Glad you liked the information. Are you planning on doing some international trade soon?
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sofree123
Posts: 97
(3 of 185)

Best Practices for International Trade and High DSRs

Mar 5, 2008 8:25 PM
Being a seller , I am concerned with the higher cost of shipping internationaly, including Can. .

Is there some way of researching what sells and does not
in Canada or international ?
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volcatius19
Posts: 2,199
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Best Practices for International Trade and High DSRs

Mar 7, 2008 3:37 PM
Use PayPal for international payments. With coverage against unauthorized charges in over 190 countries, PayPal makes international payments safer than ever.

What makes Paypal safer than a bank transfer or a money order?

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

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herb3bay
Posts: 13
(5 of 185)

Best Practices for International Trade and High DSRs

Mar 8, 2008 11:55 AM
Very Informative and I will have to check out the USPS international mail manual. I have now had an individual from Japan and one from Russia wishing to bid on an old Garrard turntable-cartrige head shell. I sold this to a US bidder for $38 and it was originally listed for around $5. If I had allowed the international folks to bid on this item I may have gotten more, who knows. And again I had someone from Brazil ask if they could bid on an old Ross CB radio I had listed which did not sell again I might have at least sold it.

You made a statement about researching regions of the world that I might sell to internationally. Since I am just selling things around my home on an auction basis (more like a small yard sale), where can I find information about what regions of the world are safe to sell to internationally on eBay?

?:|
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dtmedin
Posts: 1,172
(6 of 185)

Best Practices for International Trade and High DSRs

Mar 8, 2008 5:28 PM
I read the tips. I sell about 30 percent of my items internationally now, off of the US site.

Most of the tips are good, common sense and in fact are the way I've discovered things work over the years. They are very useful. There are two, however, that need comment:

Use PayPal for international payments. With coverage against unauthorized charges in over 190 countries, PayPal makes international payments safer than ever.

This is substantial misinformation. If you are not a Powerseller, there is limited protection for US sellers in only a few countries, and you have to use very expensive shipping options (with electronic delivery confirmation) to even qualify for that. I know this news is not "good," but this should be clarified if the tips represent official ebaY information. I'd suggest the Cross-border team check with the Paypal team to state the protections and requirements accurately before setting expectations or throwing numbers around.

List on eBay sites in multiple countries. While international buyers often come to the U.S. site to buy, they are also often browsing other eBay sites for the item. Listing in all your main trading markets gives you greater exposure and more bidding activity. Your eBay ID works on all eBay sites, and PayPal allows you to list in 17 currencies. When selling across borders, be aware of country regulations and restrictions.

This needs more of a "how to" for those of us only familiar with the US site. What about the other sites? How can we transfer our current auctions to these sites or cross-list? How do we set up for accepting local currency and converting it to dollars through Paypal? Any other auction management knowledge required? Just telling us to list on other countries' sites is not as helpful as ebaY could be in working with us to expand our cross-border offerings. I'd encorage your team to flesh this help out.

One last comment, and that is that the Cross-border team needs to speak up louder within ebaY so that those of us that sell cross-border don't get penalized on the inevitable shipping time and shipping cost category DSR hits involved in international sales--both parameters highly out of our control, especially if we have to choose premium shipping to qualify for Paypal's protection programs. Do you really expect to encourage sellers to expand internationally when they have to endure the obscenely high 4.6 DSR requirement to be considered a "good" seller? I don't envy your jobs with the way things stand, but hope that ebaY can come up with some fair solutions that ease the transition to international sales for US sellers. Right now, I find the environment and policies discouraging rather than the other way around.
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texasbaywatcher
Posts: 403
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Best Practices for International Trade and High DSRs

Mar 8, 2008 6:14 PM
Use PayPal for international payments. With coverage against unauthorized charges in over 190 countries, PayPal makes international payments safer than ever.

Totally incorrect. US, UK and Canada only at the moment with more to come soon hopefully, but not now.

Shipping services that provide international tracking numbers include USPS (both International Priority and International Express),

Also incorrect, Only Express can be online tracked in a manner acceptable to Paypal.

I too suggest getting the real facts before offering advice, although I appreciate the efforts.
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dtmedin
Posts: 1,172
(8 of 185)

Best Practices for International Trade and High DSRs

Mar 9, 2008 10:46 AM
I guess, if I had to summarize what texasbaywatcher and I had to say regarding your tips is that the different teams at ebaY and Paypal need to get together and actually set coherent policies with specific goals in mind that AGREE with each other, then present them accurately. Otherwise, you get different policies and advice coming from different parts of ebaY that is in total conflict and perfect to stoke seller rage when someone finds out they lost money in an international transaction that was not covered as they were told.

I can't practically get Paypal protection anyway, because if I charged for the class of international shipping required to get protection, I'd likely take a huge hit on my shipping cost DSR. If that sole DSR gets below 4.5 (and mine is close), I'd lose Powerseller status (if I had it to begin with), and thus I'd lose ALL the additional countries of Paypal Seller Protection as a result. With the low DSR, I'd also be getting denigrated by Best Match Search in all markets. Catch-22? Seems like that doesn't make sense to you? Doesn't to me either. That doesn't even include when sellers lose the ability in May to leave negative feedback for fraudulent buyers, I can't potentially spot repeat frauds before I ship. I will be shipping completely blind, and international buyers will be fully aware that to get their money back yet keep the goods, all they will have to say is that they didn't get their shipment. Scary. I'm sorry, but with my past experience with ebaY "Customer Service", I don't trust the assurances that frauds will somehow be combed out of the system before they get to me.

I won't even go into having to put up with the vagaries of Customs delays. Ever ship to Italy? One package makes it in a week, while an identical package takes 14! Who do you think the buyer holds responsible? My shipping time DSR quivers in fear, unprotected. Instead of holding a carrot in front of me for international expansion, ebaY holds a big DSR stick held above my head.

I hope that the Cross-border team can help pull the other ebaY teams in the same direction so that those of us trying to make a go of things internationally can do so without huge risk, which we sellers now have to bear
largely on our own backs. Ebay's recent policy changes have only added to the burden, and have left me wondering whether ebaY is really encouraging or discouraging Cross-border trade. I'm hoping that the Cross-border team can give the organization perspective.

Thanks.
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ballsofsteel-inc
Posts: 10
(9 of 185)

Best Practices for International Trade and High DSRs

Mar 10, 2008 2:05 PM
"List on eBay sites in multiple countries. While international buyers often come to the U.S. site to buy, they are also often browsing other eBay sites for the item. Listing in all your main trading markets gives you greater exposure and more bidding activity. Your eBay ID works on all eBay sites, and PayPal allows you to list in 17 currencies. When selling across borders, be aware of country regulations and restrictions."

I am just considering international trading, and after reading all these forums I am SOOO confused. I don';t know whether to take the risk or not.
I now understand that when I state that I will ship to more than the US, mjy listing will appear in that country .
I understand that I can place an ad direct in another countries E-bay. I tried that with the UK.
Wha do I do when I come to the shipping section, as all the choices offered are as if I were in that country, and not in the US. How do I list it.
Also in Paypal, you can state very specifically countries you will ship to and accept payment from. Yet I don;t see the same choices in E-bay. It's either 7 options, or worldwide.
Do I set all my countires in PayPal also.
Is there ANYWHERE a comcise instruction manual on selling outside the US and the best way to do it?

ANy help from anyone with experience in overseas sales would be greatly appreciated.
THanks

Alan
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ballsofsteel-inc
Posts: 10
(10 of 185)

Best Practices for International Trade and High DSRs

Mar 10, 2008 2:06 PM
Sorry for all the spelling errors. I forgot to spell check, and I was typing too fast!
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imojojojo
Posts: 40
(11 of 185)

Best Practices for International Trade and High DSRs

Mar 15, 2008 8:58 PM
Now that the dollar is lower than ever, International Bidders can benefit greatly on purchases in the US. Unfortunately for sellers is a lot of work to sell International unless you charge the high Priority prices, and have the postmaster pick up your packages. I don't like to use Priority Mail for International is too expensive. Does anyone know what service is comparable to First Class international under 5 lbs?
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robmorrison
Posts: 34
(12 of 185)

Best Practices for International Trade and High DSRs

Mar 18, 2008 12:48 AM
I have to agree that it is EXTREMELY disingenuous for eBay to breezily recommend selling internationally, and list all the best practices, including using shipping methods that include tracking and insurance.

The ONLY Postal Service method that includes tracking and insurance is Express Mail, and by insisting on that for international sales, my shipping-cost DSR has been RUINED. I have had International Priority and Registered Mail international shipments get lost or arrive empty, and with those methods there is NO insurance and NO tracking. The buyer can file a complaint with Paypal, and Paypal simply takes the money back from the seller.

Just tonight I had a buyer complain to me about the high shipping to Israel, implying that I was cheating him when I sent an invoice for the USPS International Express Mail amount that was perfectly accurate, and was clearly stated in the item description.

Ebay puts us in an IMPOSSIBLE position by giving no protections for other shipping methods, basically requiring that we use Express Mail, and then on the other hand requiring the high DSR number for Powerseller status.
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mycar78
Posts: 1,048
(13 of 185)

Best Practices for International Trade and High DSRs

Mar 18, 2008 5:08 AM
What fees do I have to pay if I list on an International site? For instance, if I have an item listed on ebay US, can I also list it on ebay UK or will I be running two auctions for the same item if I do that? I already ship internationally but I need essential info on procedure and any extra fees for listing on ebay USA and simultaneously listing say in Canada or UK at same time. Please help.
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dcheif
Posts: 6
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Best Practices for International Trade and High DSRs

Mar 25, 2008 2:32 AM
As I am located in Israel, all of my sales are international sales. (I have very few Israeli buyers). The dsr rating for shipping time is a serious problem for me, as well as for other foreign sellers on eBay.com.
Buyers generally do not give me the highest rating for shipping time, even though I mail the item within a day or 2 of receiving payment. Therefore my dsr for shipping time stands at 4.4, compared to 4.7 for the other categories. My general feedback is 100, after 10 years on eBay. In effect, eBay is discriminating against me and other overseas sellers. Today they are having a promotion that excludes me because I have one dsr of under 4.5. This rating for shipping time is a direct result of being located overseas and the longer shipping times, which is totally out of my control. And, as eBay is planning to use these dsr statistics more in the future, the discrimination will just get worse and worse. I suggest that all overseas sellers complain to eBay about this unfair discrimination.
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