Some advice please - from Americans in particular!

[kc8ufv]

I have ordered internationally a few times. I've never had customs duties added with any of my international purchases, but have had some of the best experiencies with TokyoFlash.com. They have their site designed where it makes an educated guess on your currency (their site supports USD, Euro, GBP, and JPY) based on your IP address, and can select your preffered currency from a dropdown. Their exchange rates are updated automatically, giving me the impression that they have something pulling that info from their processing companies, as most times I visit their site, the USD price is slightly different for the same item (they base their prices off JPY, of course)

Probably my worst experience was with amazon.co.jp, who refused to even allow me to order 3 or 4 items with the batch of manga I was ordering. Also, the first time ordering from them, they had economy shipping available with their estimated ship time being 4-6 wks to N. America (I wasn't in a hurry). It ended up arriving in about 2 wks. I ordered more about 6 months later (it was the only place I could find to get what I wanted) and had to pay shipping on each item that cost about half the item price. 300JPY shipping on each 600JPY manga is expensive, and that was on top of the initial 1800JPY for the first manga and the package.

[fortcollinsjerry]

I think your upgrading service is a good idea. Especially looking for feed back from the Colonies. I too like the one PayPal transcation. But, a plan like this will certainly up tick the labor at your store.

I would like to mention that two summers ago when I was at the Gathering I boxed up a bunch of attire that I didn't want to carry around any more and wouldn't be using and sent them from the Post there in Glasgow. Perhaps the rules are different for a business, but my stuff arrived home weeks befor I did.

I've had occasion to mail merchandise to the UK, Canada, France and I alway's used the Post Office. I've never lost anything. Is there a reason you are shy of using the Post?

OTOH, if someone wants an item next weekend, he pay's the freight and it's his shortsightedness not to order it far enough ahead of time to avoid special handling fees.

[Mark Stephenson]

As a customer of yours, I would like to have a choice. Give me the option of an all-inclusive price or allowing me to choose my own mailing option and handle import duty (if any). I do not like the idea of having to ferret through exchange rates etc.

BTW - some of your U.S. competitors advertise that their prices are higher but that the U.S. consumer does not have to pay duty. So, if you do develop an all-inclusive pricing option advertising that shipping and duty are included could well offset concerns about raising your prices.

[CDNSushi]

As a customer of yours, I would like to have a choice. Give me the option of an all-inclusive price or allowing me to choose my own mailing option and handle import duty (if any).

This!

From what I know of Americans in general, including and especially many of my own friends, if there's any ONE thing that is valued even more than ease of use, simplicity, and convenience, it's freedom of choice.

[MacLowlife]

I believe that most people using the web and ordering from another country are inclined to check exchange rates. Even if one can't figure the exchange, there is a site that can, and the worst mistake a vendor can make is to offer items at a lower price in one currency than in another- without explaining why.

VAT is foreign to most Americans ( so far) and knowing that UK citizens are being charged VAT makes this American wonder why my price is isn't lower. I am all in favor of a predictable one-price arrangement so long as I am not being charged extra to get that certainty. It is fine and good to know that my purchase isn't going to be affected by 1-3% shifts in the relative values of two currencies, but I don't want to be the guy who paid a whole lot more to avoid some simple arithmetic.

That is only my own lowlife opinion. Americans in general are notorious for wanting things to be simple and convenient, even if it costs more. This holiday season has been interesting with a proliferation of free shipping offers from several major (US) catalogue sellers. At least one of them used to sell everything with shipping included all of the time. Again, I think the average consumer can figure pretty quickly when the left hand is giving and the right hand is taking away. Free shipping is one thing. Postage Included is another.

I have had good luck with Royal Mail to the Southeastern US, by the way, including tracking, I think.

Have you considered embedding that handy calculator feature that shows how much duty will be charged/ paid? If I can see that without ordering, or at least without pushing the CHARGE MY CARD button, I think I would feel better about paying my delivery person when the goods arrive.

These are only opinions, with no basis in anything but my own thoughts. Good Luck.

M'Ll

[OC Richard]

Right after reading this thread the other day I heard a commercial/advert on a local radio station which went something like:

"You want your coffee rush in the morning. Make your own? Who has time for that? The lines and hassels at a coffee shop? No way! Pop open a _______ Energy Drink! It's the FAST and EASY way to get what you need!"

The very words I mentioned in my post above! (note that price was never mentioned.)

Another thing that points in the same direction was a conversation I had with a friend who had recently quit his job at a computer firm to hang out his own shingle.

When he was in negotiations with his first client for his first solo job he wasn't sure how to price his services so he gave a low quote. The client said "yeah, yeah... but WHEN can you get it done?"

The next client, he doubled his price. The client says "yeah, yeah... but WHEN can you get it done?"

The next client he doubled his price again. The new client said "yeah, yeah... but WHEN can you get it done?"

He discovered that he could pretty much charge anything. The clients didn't care about that. Their only concern was how quickly the job could be finished.

[davedove]

I think that most Americans are more concerned about "hassels" than they are about the price.

There is a lot of truth to that, but ther is also the desire for certainty. Many will pay a little bit more just for the convenience of knowing what the final price will be. I know I would, so long as it wasn't excessive.

For overseas purchases ther are many factors:
1. The base cost of the item.
2. The current exchange rate.
3. Shipping costs.
4. Customs fees.

The current Scotweb system handles the first three very well and customers can see their cost up front.

Number four is where the problem comes in. Will there be any fees at all? How much will they be? We just don't know, althugh we can make an educated guess. I personally think that if it were an option to get the whole price up front, with a breakout of what the different fees were, American cusotmers in general would be very happy with it. You could always keep the current system as another option for those who want to work the system.

[AstroBen]

All inclusive shipping + handling charges is pretty much how we do things over here. I believe it will be a welcome change.

[Leonard (MacGregor)Tinker]

I recently purchased a complete package (kilt, Prince Charlie jacket, ghillie brogues, sporan, etc from Scotweb. I had checked with US Customs and was told clothing for personal use was not subject to duty, nevetheless I was billed for about $65.00 for duty paid by DHL. In that the total was $1200 or so I thought it was a small percentage so I didn't argue. Also I got (seperate order) a clan creast semi dress sporan and it arrived after being held by US Customs in MNemphis, TN, even though it was clearly labled seal skin and should have been stopped!

Leonard (MacGregor) Tinker