My AA Tavian is sold next week. A person from Italy wants him. I told her I would find out about shipping and her best options and OMG! UPS wanted $225. to ship their best and $150.USD to pack and ship their CHEAPEST way. I told her I could get it cheaper through the postal if I didn't do my usual in US boxing so I went and found the smallest box I could but still safely and nicely package him and it is $75. USD insured What the heck is UPS wrapping him gold? I don't get the price difference. She was real thankful that I checked all options and said to go with not so fancy packaging to keep the price down. I just don't get it I could fly to Florida for that price and this is just a box. No movie no lunch no snack.
Judymae

Judymae postage is a terrible price stops a lot of international sales Im sure, but congratulations on another sale. Its ok making them but we need to sell some don`t we. I have had a block since Christmas just started another yesterday but only because I was teaching a friend I have relisted two on ebay again last time they only went up to £150 didnt meet there reserve I have dropped the prices slightly so fingers crossed, its so expensive when your not selling.

Your right the shipping has stopped a couple of sales for me lately. It's awful.
Thank you on the sale. Well the economy don't help sales any either. People feel it's not a good time to buy luxuries I guess. I have only painted one since CHRISTmas and I have 2 more to do but Have waited seeings I got so many ahead for a slow CHRISTmas season. I miss doing them but don't need too many hanging around. I'm running a sale on mine to try to sell some and get the newer ones that have come out.
I will say a prayer for your ebay sales the sales do look like they might be picking up a little.
Judymae

Congrats on another sale Judymae! And yes shipping is a killer, a lady msged me today on ebay wanting to bid on Caleb but she said she checked into shipping and customs fee's and they were incredible. Even just buying reborn supplies atm I noticed that some of the suppliers are charging a fortune in shipping!

Kylie xx

I know. I felt bad about not boxing the baby all up like normal but it saved her like $60. If I could keep the box size down. So I asked her if this was what she would want me to do first and she said yes. I'm still going to try to make it so He looks nice when she opens him but it won't be able to do it like usual. The box and all also had to stay under 10. pounds. Oh ya and no fabric softner in the bub.
Judymae

International shipping is a joke alright. I get countless sales on my website from international customers and as soon as they see the Australia Post postage rate during checkout they just leave the orders hanging and never come back.

I find international postage a killer so on my site I set it at half the cost and I pay the rest myself. Insurance is also very expensive so I insure for only $120 which means the new mum has no duty or tax to pay and I always send express post as it is not very expensive and although the time is takes to arrive is not a whole lot less I am able to track it the same as if it was registered.
Sometimes it is better to pay half the postage as people will pay the smaller amount and you get a sale and in these hard times everything counts when it comes to savings.

cheers

well done on your sale Judymae
yep postage sure is a killer,
I always send express post as well Andi for my peace of mind because I can track it and gee I have heard some horror stories about sellers have customers claiming items iunrecived and its just makes me nervous so thats why i use express post, its only like $5.00 more than airmail or something like that.

I know italy is considered a "high risk" country to post to i don't know if thats maybe why its costs so much to send things there?

Has anyone ever used a courier for international postage? just wondering if thats any cheaper.

hugs gayle

Thank you Gayle
I checked courier and they were a lot more. I have signed package which is a signature from the mail courier when the package is delivered and it is only $5. more but eliminates the chance of a customer saying they never got it. For $15. I think it is we can have the customer have to sign. Here the postal service is still the cheapest. Just not flat rate as you would have to wrap the baby's legs up around it's head to fit it in the largest flat rate box and that might be a little shocking for a customer to open Tehehe! :-) It will be around $75. USD to ship through our postal have the price of courier.
Judymae