Take Your Auction Business Global - By Christine Crowley

Do you sell on auction sites and are wondering how to create more business,a bigger sales base and get the most from the items you sell? Have you read that selling internationally is the way to increase sales and quickly development a larger sales base but you are afraid to sell internationally because of the confusion with customs and paperwork? Are you concerned about how to calculate consistent and accurate shipping charges each and every time you ship internationally? Do you know how to package to deter theft?

Here are some helpful tips to ease your international shipping experience. First we will talk about paperwork. Depending on which shipping company you choose, you will be given a shipping form or address label asking for shipper and recipient information , contents,value and basic information that pertains to the delivery of the package. Now depending on where your package is going, it's contents and value you may need to use a commercial invoice.

A commercial invoice is the primary document that customs uses to clear a package and it declares to the country of import what you are sending. The commercial invoice will ask for the same information that most shipping forms ask for and the information on both should match exactly. On the commercial invoice and your shipping form you will be asked to describe your item and the way you describe your item will in most cases either make for a smooth transaction or will hinder the clearance of your item.

The way you describe your item should answer a few questions for customs rather quickly. Customs should immediately understand what the package contains, how many pieces or items are inside, why the package is being imported, and what it is used for.

Here is an example of a poor description ..computer parts. That description is not telling customs what they are looking for.Here is an example of a complete description: computer keyboard,1 xyz brand/refurbished for personal use only,not for resale. That description is telling customs exactly what is in the package a computer keyboard, a brand name if applicable, how many are contained within the package the condition the keyboard is in,and why it's being imported. The way you describe your item is imperative to a smooth transaction. Take the time to give customs the information they need to clear your items as quickly as possible.

We will now cover how to calculate accurate and consistent shipping costs. I have read many times that auction sellers are surprised how easily their profits are diminished by higher shipping charges than what they thought they would be but here is a way to calculate consistent and accurate shipping charges. First have a dedicated scale that you will use each and every time you weigh your package. Be sure to weigh the package in its final and complete stage, in other words, the actual package you will be taking to the shipping service. Bring your completed package to your shipper of choice and have them weigh it using the scale that they base billing on. Then go home and weigh that same package on your dedicated shipping scale. If the package weighs less on your scale, then calibrate your scale to match the shipping company's scale. Remember that the shipping company is going to calculate shipping costs by whatever the package weighs at their location not by what it weighs at your home. If you use the same shipping company each time this process will be easier since your own scale will be calibrated accordingly.

Next we will talk about how to deter theft. This is pretty simple but very effective. Remove any old labels on the packaging that you use. Do not leave any information on the outside of the package that indicates there is something other than what is actually contained in the box,this is also useful for customs clearance because you don't want customs thinking there is a computer inside a box that actually contains,for example, childrens clothes.Next trick is even easier because you simply tape all the seams of the box. This will deter someone who should not be opening your package from doing so. This will also help maintain the integrity of the package which helps prevent damage to the contents.

I hope you found this information useful. Get shipping internationally it's easier than you think.

I am the author of "international shipping a guide to auction success" (which can be found at http://www.globalshippingguides.com). I have worked in the shipping industry for 14 years with 5 years in the international division.