The MLP Arena

TCB => Trader & Shipping Support => Topic started by: mercynova on March 05, 2012, 07:34:57 AM

Title: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: mercynova on March 05, 2012, 07:34:57 AM

Hi all!
 
Selling some (non-pony) items on ebay and someone has messaged me saying that they are honestly a legitimate bidder and will I post to Italy?
 
Well I've seen a lot of auctions stating that people wont send things there... What's the reasoning behind this? I would like to say yes to this person but ebay has not treated me too well in recent months and I don't want to make a mistake.
 
Cheers!

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: Oneleo1 on March 05, 2012, 08:11:27 AM

Italy's custom agents tend to be a bit corrupt...and packages that are not tracked end up missing on a regular basis. If you are lucky enough to get a package through customs, it can take ages (like months) to get to where it needs to go.

Post Merge: March 05, 2012, 08:12:38 AM

Tracking can more than double the shipping price, and many buyers don't want to pay that much for shipping.

SoSilver can shed more light on it, he lives in Italy :)

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: lovesbabysquirmy on March 05, 2012, 08:23:53 AM

Also there is a certain way you have to fill out the customs form, as toys are prohibited in some form or another. 

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: tinrobo on March 05, 2012, 08:27:56 AM

Yikes, I had no idea about that. Guess I've been lucky so far o_o

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: Izrabeth on March 05, 2012, 08:41:18 AM

Italian customs agents are thieves and scoundrels. I can only confirm.
The most big problem is when a package comes from extra EU countries, they hold it at least 1 month, they ask you fees that often are more than the value of the object, they calculate these fees over the value of goods + shipping costs.
Packages from EU countries aren't really a problem, I receive regurarly packages from UK, they tend to arrives after 2/3 weeks but no fees and no problems.
Honestly I had some problems of waiting 2 months and pay fees but I always got my packages.

I would suggest you anyway to ship in registered letter and tell to the customer that may takes 2/3 weeks from EU or up to 4 weeks from US

And about the forbidden toys, yes it's true there are laws about...but on my packages I saw plastic toys really often and they always pass...so it's just poop they say. They are just interested in add those damn fees

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: willa on March 05, 2012, 09:04:51 AM

They don't allow leather items or plastic toys to be imported x

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: Brightglowpony on March 05, 2012, 09:46:03 AM

I've actually shipped to Italy before and had no problems :)  I sold a non-pony item (a necklace) on ebay and the buyer agreed to have it shipped insured with tracking and it arrived with no issues and did not take too long either.  But I understand why you would be cautious, it seems as though lots of people run into trouble when shipping there.  Maybe it really depends on the item you are sending and the wording on the customs form, but I'm not too sure.  Good luck! 

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: ponylady on March 05, 2012, 10:40:49 AM

I have shipped to Italy many of times with no problems.
I am always leary though because of what I have heard about customs.  But usually I am just extra careful how I word what the item is and it's worked so far.

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: Stormy31685 on March 05, 2012, 12:27:42 PM

I have heard that there can be problems with Italy's customs, but I have never had an issue.  It seems most issues are avoided by shipping Priority.

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: kCherry on March 05, 2012, 12:30:48 PM

I have also shipped to Italy with no problems in the past, but I won't take the chance with high-value items.

  I think Izrabeth's post says it all....

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: Binkyfinder on March 05, 2012, 04:07:48 PM

I don't think I can add any additional reasons that haven't already been mentioned here.  I haven't really had issues with things disappearing, but I've sent several packages that have taken forever to arrive.  Luckily, most of the buyers are aware of customs delays - but not all of them are.  It helps if you tell your buyer upfront that it may take several weeks for their item to arrive.

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: Oneleo1 on March 05, 2012, 04:31:55 PM

I've had a few take more than 2 months (from the US to Italy), but have never had any go missing. I have heard the horror stories though!

Yes, you must be very careful how you describe the items not only because of the items that are not allowed, but also to keep those pesky customs agents from stealing the box. So don't mention 'collectable' in your description :)

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: wystearya on March 05, 2012, 04:36:31 PM

Quote from: willa on March 05, 2012, 09:04:51 AM

They don't allow leather items or plastic toys to be imported x

Really?   Plastic toys are banned?  That doesn't make any sense.  :/

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: babystarz on March 05, 2012, 04:53:20 PM

Just for future reference, would it be easier for me to send a package from the U.S. to a middleman in the U.K. before shipping the package on to Italy? Or would the cost of shipping it twice cancel out any benefit of that strategy?

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: Ringlets on March 05, 2012, 07:03:24 PM

A lot of people will not ship to Italy because of possible problems with customs as the others mentioned :relaxed:
babystarz it depends on the size/weight of the item as to whether it might be best to use a UK "middleman" , or whether it will work out too expensive. There is also the time factor to consider as sometimes it can take 4 weeks from US to UK and the same again to get to Italy from the UK.
 TBH in the UK it is easier for us to ship there because we dont have to fill in a customs form to send items to Italy ,and normally the items get there just fine ;) In fact I have sent items to Italy over the last few weeks without tracking and they have got there fine. For more expensive items I do tend to use tracking :awake:

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: tikibirds on March 06, 2012, 06:55:16 PM

Everything I have ever sent to Italy has gone missing and shows up all battered and destroyed on my doorstep a year later.  The package was ripped in half, had all sorts of dirt inside and god only knows what else and something in italian stamped on in pink and was returned to me well over a year after it was postmarked  :mad:
 
I refuse to ship to italy

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: Ringlets on March 07, 2012, 03:14:04 AM

eesh!  :crazy: sorry to hear that Tiki! :hug:  I guess it may depend on who checks it, where its come from , and also what is written on the customs label, as to whether it arrives safely. Thats why its easier for Euro/UK peeps to send items to Italy without much trouble - there are no customs forms

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: mercynova on March 07, 2012, 06:10:17 AM

Thanks for the advice and help guys :) What a great forum!

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: Izrabeth on March 07, 2012, 09:27:18 AM

Quote from: tikibirds on March 06, 2012, 06:55:16 PM

Everything I have ever sent to Italy has gone missing and shows up all battered and destroyed on my doorstep a year later.  The package was ripped in half, had all sorts of dirt inside and god only knows what else and something in italian stamped on in pink and was returned to me well over a year after it was postmarked  :mad:
 
I refuse to ship to italy

Wow, you hadn't much luck  :shocked:
I bought lot of things from US and UK and other countries, ponies and non ponies and I only had to wait or pay feesspeaking of troubles

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: naylastar on March 07, 2012, 09:35:51 AM

Plastic toys are banned? That makes on sense at all. Does that mean we're breaking the law posting ponies to Italy? A couple of my best customers live in Italy *smiles at Izrabeth* and I've never had a problem *fingers crossed*. Although one package was sent back to me but that was because the customer had given me an invalid address:(

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: ponylady on March 07, 2012, 10:13:04 AM

Quote from: naylastar on March 07, 2012, 09:35:51 AM

Plastic toys are banned? That makes on sense at all. Does that mean we're breaking the law posting ponies to Italy? A couple of my best customers live in Italy *smiles at Izrabeth* and I've never had a problem *fingers crossed*. Although one package was sent back to me but that was because the customer had given me an invalid address:(

Yes, I believe so  :huh:
http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/il_008.htm (http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/il_008.htm)

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: Eskara1862 on March 07, 2012, 12:05:33 PM

Quote from: naylastar on March 07, 2012, 09:35:51 AM

Plastic toys are banned? That makes on sense at all. Does that mean we're breaking the law posting ponies to Italy? A couple of my best customers live in Italy *smiles at Izrabeth* and I've never had a problem *fingers crossed*. Although one package was sent back to me but that was because the customer had given me an invalid address:(

And that is exactly why I won't ship to Italy.  I feel bad for the Italian collectors, but I don't want to be doing anything illegal.  Besides that, I want to respect the rules of foreign governments when it comes to imports/exports and would hope others would do the same for my country.

The reason toys can't be imported to Italy is because they have their own small toy manufacture industry (Italian ponies, anyone?).  By sending toys there, we are supposedly harming their industry.  It's the same reason you can't ship lace, leather goods, or footwear.

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: ThriftyPony on March 08, 2012, 07:01:41 PM

A lot of my etsy customers are from Italy, weirdly enough... I always have a nerve-wracking time shipping there. Packages take months to arrive at times and get lost occasionally. :/ I would say that I won't ship there but they make up a good chunk of my business.

Edit: Oh my goodness...

Now I realize I've been breaking the law! I have shipped so many things that are banned.

"

trimmings and lace; handkerchiefs; scarves; shawls, needlework including stockings and gloves; bonnets, caps, and hats of any kind."

Jewelry is on there too. And leather. Ugh. Could I get in trouble for that?

There goes that. Maybe I should block Italy? I just shipped jewelry there, like two weeks ago and it has yet to arrive. UGH!

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: medleysong on March 08, 2012, 07:23:22 PM

I am also one of those sellers that won't ship to Italy. I have had 3 packages over 6 years (which may not seem like much but can cost a pretty penny...) go missing or destroyed to Italy. Also, because they tend to hold them in customs for an eternity I have had two sellers from Italy (who bid without reading my restrictions) mark down my star rating because shipping was slow. It ended up leading to my dashboard falling below standard and now paypal holds my money for 21 days before they release it to me. It sucks, so no way will I ever ship to Italy again...too many problems.

Title: Re: Why wont some people send things to Italy?
Post by: Izrabeth on March 09, 2012, 01:08:00 AM

Quote from: ThriftyPony on March 08, 2012, 07:01:41 PM

Jewelry is on there too. And leather. Ugh. Could I get in trouble for that? There goes that. Maybe I should block Italy? I just shipped jewelry there, like two weeks ago and it has yet to arrive. UGH!

No, no worries Thrifty. I buy all my jewelry from USA, something from UK too. I always received my packages without problems :) and sellers never had a single problem too
I know there are those restrictions but I also notice that our customs doesn't care much unless you are shipping food or chemical products (this from non EU countries), guns, knives...all the rest is ignored.I also bought a dress from China which is like to challenge the fate!!! LOL The customs just sent me a letter where I had to declare that I was buying that dress for my personal use and not to re-sell it  :)
I buy almost everything outside Italy and receive lot of packages from all the world so I think I can freely speak about all this matter
As I said in my previous post, the only troubles a buyer can have is that you have to wait 4/5/6 weeks your packages that comes from non EU countries since those packages stop by the customs, sometimes they also calculate those pesky fees but it's the buyer that pay them, not you!
Packages from EU normally takes 2/3 weeks to arrive to Italy and they don't stop in customs, they don't bring fees.

For sellers: the worst cases are that you receive back the package if you put a wrong address or the buyer refused to pay the fees, or, that the package got "lost" which means stolen...but I never had such issues honestly

I would just suggest you sellers to write in your sales that packages can take up to 4 weeks to arrive and that you are not responsible to customs fees added. Maybe ship in registered letter, or make sure you have some papers that show you have shipped..this just to avoid stupid italian buyers that leave you negative feedbacks for ignorance: they exist, yes!

As for custom forms on my packages I saw many times: My little pony toys, custom pony toys, plastic horse toy, plastic doll, handmade jewelry...and have to think to the rest LMAO

Feel free to pm me or post here if you need help, I hate this situation where sellers refuse to sell to Italy due to those things :huh: