Why CONUS only? For selling items.

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Just wondering why so many US sellers in the exchange specify CONUS Only. I have yet to sell anything here, so hopefully some of experienced traders could clarify for me. I totally understand not wanting to sell internationally with unknown knife laws, and potential import duties/taxes/fee's etc. But does the USPS not deliver to Alaska and Hawaii the same as any other state? What am I missing?

Just something I think about when surfing the exchange. Not really the biggest issue for my buying as I live in the lower 48. But when I decide to sell something in the future, I don't want to exclude some domestic locations without having a good reason for doing so. I would guess that many may list their ad that way just because they see it listed that way on so many other listings.

Mods, if this is in the wrong section, please feel free to move. I just wasn't sure if anyone wanted to see selling/shipping questions in the exchange, or just listings. Just thought general was the best place as it may be of interest to future exchange sellers/traders.
 
International sales increase the seller's risk of grief. The package is more likely to get lost, because it may be travelling via multiple carriers and going longer distances. The buyer's country may have import limitations, they may open the package for inspection and will sometimes confiscate the contents - lawfully or otherwise. Who gets screwed when this happens? Often the seller, because the buyer will just (honestly) tell Paypal that he never got the package. Scammers may be more difficult to avoid at long distance too.

There have been countless international sales on Bladeforums that worked out fine. But it increases the risk of something going wrong, and risk-avoidance is a good thing.

Just my take on things having watched this stuff over the years. I will not ship internationally, because there is no good reason to do so when you have plenty of CONUS buyers (though CONUS is a misnomer, as it excludes Alaska and Hawaii). This is not a moral isssue, as we are not talking about selling potatoes during a famine. If a guy in Russia really wants he knife, he can get one in Russia. I have no moral compulsion to send him one, especially when there is a real risk that I could lose a knife in the process. Rock on.
 
powernoodle said:
International sales increase the seller's risk of grief. The package is more likely to get lost, because it may be travelling via multiple carriers and going longer distances. The buyer's country may have import limitations, they may open the package for inspection and will sometimes confiscate the contents - lawfully or otherwise. Who gets screwed when this happens? Often the seller, because the buyer will just (honestly) tell Paypal that he never got the package. Scammers may be more difficult to avoid at long distance too.

There have been countless international sales on Bladeforums that worked out fine. But it increases the risk of something going wrong, and risk-avoidance is a good thing.

Just my take on things having watched this stuff over the years. I will not ship internationally, because there is no good reason to do so when you have plenty of CONUS buyers (though CONUS is a misnomer, as it excludes Alaska and Hawaii). This is not a moral isssue, as we are not talking about selling potatoes during a famine. If a guy in Russia really wants he knife, he can get one in Russia. I have no moral compulsion to send him one, especially when there is a real risk that I could lose a knife in the process. Rock on.
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Truth
 
Yeah, I totally understand the international part. We do ship some international from my office, and some turn into a real headache. But I wondering mostly about the exclusion of Alaska and Hawaii. As the term CONUS is specifically an acronym for Continental United States, or as some may call, the Lower 48.
 
I put "CONUS only" out of habit. I used to buy/sell/trade golf clubs and they cost as much to ship to AK & HI as they do going to Europe. I have no problem selling to someone in AK or HI. Or Puerto Rico or Guam for that matter. A flat rate box goes to all of those places for the same $.
 
Between forum knives, a favor or three for non-conus friends here and a handfull of higher end knives that I have sold out of my collection I have shipped between 30 to 40 over the last 10 years to non-conus folks without a failure (yet) :D.
 
I've shipped out of the US 5 times and 3 of those times I've had issues. That's all it took for me to start saying US ONLY. [emoji4]
 
I usually state "U.S. only". Keeps the Alaska and Hawaii buyers in there without them having to inquire.

As for international, I haven't shipped anything outside the U.S. yet. I don't plan to either, I agree with powernoodle in that regard.
 
powernoodle said:
When people say CONUS only, I think they really mean "shipping to America only".
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That was one of my suspicions. People adding it merely because they see it everywhere, not really understanding it's meaning.

So I guess I should just make a plea that everyone start using US Only. Unless of course someone can tell me how a knife in a flat rate box is any different in shipping cost and/or liability when going to Alaska or Hawaii.

Sorry to our international friends. I'm not trying to specifically exclude you, but there are many issues to be dealt with, with international shipping. No doubt most sales would go through without a hitch. So if the seller has the time or experience to ship worldwide, I would encourage anyone to do so. But limiting to within ones own country does alleviate some selling pitfalls.
 
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I'll ship US. As long as you use flat rate boxes, it is all the same price. Non flat rate go by zones and will be more expensive sending to AK and HI. International has not been very kind to me. I have lost a fairly high % of my shipments(30%+). I will only ship international to a few friends. It just isn't worth the pain. Even if I say I will not be responsible for the shipment if lost, I land up feeling bad about it and pay something. It lands up being to costly. I wish it weren't so, because there are many fine foreign members.
 
Just an FYI, APO & FPO addressed are also considered US, and have US zip codes. I bought a bunch on knives while I was deployed.
 
I sold once to a forum member located in Spain. I was hesitant to do so, but ultimately did. I shipped USPS priority. The package didn't arrive. The tracking never worked. I was (kind of) accused of scamming the member. After one month and some change, the package arrived back at my house via the return address. I refunded the other member, and apologized for the inconvenience. This is an entirely true story. I don't know to this day why the package was not delivered, or where it was for that month. I've shipped probably 100 packages within the U.S., and (knock on wood) never had a problem. From what I know now, I'll never ship outside of the U.S. again. It's also incredibly expensive to ship outside the U.S. Just that one small package cost me over $20. As for Alaska, Hawaii, etc, I don't see any issue. Flat rate boxes go there. They take longer to get there, but they still go there.
 
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USPS tracking for some countries will only show up to the item leaving the US. After that it usually can be tracked using that countries tracking system, if it has one. Chances are that your package was refused by customs entering spain and it was held until it was decided to be returned or destroyed.

I've done a number of International sales. As long as one does the research on what is allowed to pass thru customs in the destination country, properly documents the shipment and insures it for proper value, there is usually not much to worry about. Lapse in any of these things and you could be setting yourself up for headaches.
 
powernoodle said:
International sales increase the seller's risk of grief.
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From the U.S. mailing to Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Puerto Rico, etc. is not international nor are those locations CONUS. Items mailed from CONUS to those places never leave the U.S. Post Office system. IIRC USPS flat rate priority mail to those locations cost the same as to any CONUS location.
 
I agree as I've had problems shipping International in the past...I've used CONUS as well but maybe US only is a better term.


powernoodle said:
International sales increase the seller's risk of grief. The package is more likely to get lost, because it may be travelling via multiple carriers and going longer distances. The buyer's country may have import limitations, they may open the package for inspection and will sometimes confiscate the contents - lawfully or otherwise. Who gets screwed when this happens? Often the seller, because the buyer will just (honestly) tell Paypal that he never got the package. Scammers may be more difficult to avoid at long distance too.

There have been countless international sales on Bladeforums that worked out fine. But it increases the risk of something going wrong, and risk-avoidance is a good thing.

Just my take on things having watched this stuff over the years. I will not ship internationally, because there is no good reason to do so when you have plenty of CONUS buyers (though CONUS is a misnomer, as it excludes Alaska and Hawaii). This is not a moral isssue, as we are not talking about selling potatoes during a famine. If a guy in Russia really wants he knife, he can get one in Russia. I have no moral compulsion to send him one, especially when there is a real risk that I could lose a knife in the process. Rock on.
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As an international recipient I completely understand the reluctance of some to ship outside the US. While technically it may be the seller's responsibility to ensure the package arrives I very strongly believe the obligation needs to be shared, especially when the buyer lives overseas. For example I have a general rule that if a seller sends an item to the right address, packaged properly and with a truthful declaration I take responsibility for the item once it leaves the US. That way it's clear that if it gets confiscated by customs because of my ignorance it's on me. I have also pointed a number of makers to relevant customs info for their satisfaction or future use. Thankfully not one seller has refused to ship to me so far. I have bought numerous knives in at least 15 individual transactions and the only real delay was caused by a sender getting the address wrong (the package made it home and then on to me in the end :) ). I have had packages opened by our customs and just a courtesy note left - nothing ever seized or turned around.

For those who are happy to sell internationally - and thank you - there are some red flags to consider. I would suggest steering clear if they show complete ignorance of their local laws. Also there are a few people who will ask you to mislead customs by either lying on a declaration or by disguising the knife. I have heard a few people suggest circumventing restrictions on certain folders by shipping it with the blade open in the hope it will look like a fixed blade because "they will only see what an xray sees". These people are asking you to take all of the risks so they can have something they probably shouldn't. Don't be afraid to ask the buyer to point you to the right information. I know it's a bit of extra work but that could lead to future opportunities.
 
I used to only sell to the USA lower 48 only then a member copied and pasted the info on that for me to show that the prices (Flat Rate USPS Priority) was the same to the US Territories and Alaska and Hawaii.

takes a little longer to get there but prices are the same.

But I still wont go outside of that to other Countries.
it is a pain in the a$$.
 
I don't sell much through here. But do a number of mailed returns of sharpened and my custom knives.

I state in All of my sales. Will ship to all 50 states and most of WESTERN EUROPE.

THE 4 times I'VE HAD ISSUES, HAVE BEEN TO RUSSIA OR FORMER SOVIET UNION COUNTRIES and once to Australia to someone with a Russian name. That was only once out of well over 50 sales to Australia.

I'll ship to Down Under but a big no to the former EB.

Don't mean to pile on the good former Eastern Bloc folks. Unfortunately these has been my experiences

I will no longer ship anything to these places and haven't for a few years now.
 
I once had to ship something from CONUS to UK and the buyer asked me to vastly understate the value on the customs declaration for VAT reasons. I refused (moral and legal reasons) and it was a hassle but we eventually worked out an accommodation. Do you guys agree I was right to stay away from that?
 
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