Buying from the UK - Procedure?

[SillySod]

Hi all,

I'm currently looking for a (mostly) complete warmachine/hordes army. Stock problems in the UK are making it a pain to actually buy an army so I figure the best way forwards is to just buy an army off of someone else and hey, it might be cheaper and save me some effort painting the damn thing too

Anyway...

While I'm keen to pick up an army I'm also completely new to this kind of trading - especially buying items from foreigners and all of the tax and import problems that may entail. Normally I'd just give it a go and see what happens but it seems that a) things can go wrong on Bartertown and b) a whole army is worth a reasonable amount of money hence I want to know exactly how the process works so I can sort things out with minimum fuss. Since I'm looking for warmachine I'd guess that I will end up getting stuff from someone in the US.

Sorry if this information is already on the forum - I could only find a sticky detailing postage to canada.

[tordeck]

Concept is the same regardless of its the UK or Canada. Actually shipping costs and possible taxes on your end are the only real differences.

[MagickalMemories]

Things can go wrong, regardless where you're trading.
Bartertown has some of the -if not THE- most experienced game traders online as members. We ship a ridiculous amount of packages each year.
I've only got a minute before heading home, so this won't be NEAR complete.

1) Research your partner. If he's not well vetted, move cautiously. Not to say low rated traders aren't trustworthy; the vast majority are... they just haven't had time to prove it.

2) Pay via PayPal. Do NOT pay as a "gift" unless you're waiting to pay when you RECEIVE the stuff. PayPal disputes are nearly impossible on "gift" payments.

3) Tracking, tracking, tracking. If it's not worth paying the extra for International Tracking, don't bitch when it gets lost.

4) Packages coming from the US that are marked "Used Game Toys" have NEVER been charged customs fees when I sent them that way, and I do NOT lie on customs forms. I claim the proper value... which leads me to #5.

5) Don't expect your trade partner to lie on a Customs form. Despite the fact that he's unlikely to get caught, it's STILl a Federal crime. I'm not saying not to ask. Just don't get p!ssy if he refuses.

Well, that's a good start.

Eric

[SillySod]

Cheers, all handy stuff!

I'm definately not planning on demanding fraud - actually I'd be annoyed if a trading partner did that because its likely to be my stuff that they are putting in Jeopardy.

Ok, so one big question remains: How do you guys usually handle the £->$ conversion? I guess who swallows the cost depends on the haggling but I'm curious who would normally pay the actual exchange fee. Oh, and how much would you expect this kind of item to cost to send to the UK? (just looking for a rough range)

[porkuslime]

well, when I use paypal the money is auto converted, and I always offer to pay the conversion rate if I am buying. If I am selling, generally the buyer pays it, OR if the amount is small I cover it.

Haggle it out with your partner.. make it part of the deal, maybe... but check with your bank if you are not using paypal.

[SillySod]

I've waded my way into some trades and things seem alot clearer, thanks guys!

3) Tracking, tracking, tracking. If it's not worth paying the extra for International Tracking, don't bitch when it gets lost.

Is there a strong reason to pay for tracking over "coverage for damage/loss"? I'm not too worried about the amount of time it takes packages to get to me but I want to avoid a situation where a package just goes missing (or at least, I want that situation to be possible to resolve). Are the mail companies geniunely offering coverage for losses or is the reality that they'll only offer to pay that after you send them lawyers with guns?

[kturock]

there are only 3 mail companies.
UPS. Fed Ex. and the government in each country. IN the US it's USPS. In the UK it's Royal Post. In Canada its Canada Post.

So. If you want to track your item, pay for it. not all companies or even countries offer it, on international shipping.
If you want to pay for protection, pay for it. Not all companies or even companies offer it, on international shipping.

Some counties, add a number or insurance makes it 'special' and is almost gauranteed of being opened and/or stolen. Some countries even open every package.

[MagickalMemories]

I've waded my way into some trades and things seem alot clearer, thanks guys!

3) Tracking, tracking, tracking. If it's not worth paying the extra for International Tracking, don't bitch when it gets lost.

Is there a strong reason to pay for tracking over "coverage for damage/loss"? I'm not too worried about the amount of time it takes packages to get to me but I want to avoid a situation where a package just goes missing (or at least, I want that situation to be possible to resolve). Are the mail companies geniunely offering coverage for losses or is the reality that they'll only offer to pay that after you send them lawyers with guns?

Insurance, technically, covers YOU.
So, say you send something via USPS. Well, I'm not even sure what you've got to do to get an INTERNATIONAL package shipped...
But with one sent into the US, if you have it insured and make a claim on it, they pay YOU the money. So, what are you going to do from there? You're going to give the money to the guy you sold it to. Right? Great. He's repaid. He's "made whole."
Where are your models? What do you have to show for the transaction?
You've got nothing in that case, except some missing models.

Get it tracked, so you can prove it was delivered.


Eric