Comments on: Craft Venture: ship globally without fear http://papernstitchblog.com/2009/10/12/craft-venture-ship-globally-with-no-fear/ Business Tips for Creative Entrepreneurs, DIY Craft Projects, and Handmade Shoutous Thu, 24 May 2012 09:26:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Craft Venture: holiday marketing on the web | papernstitch http://papernstitchblog.com/2009/10/12/craft-venture-ship-globally-with-no-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-122173 Craft Venture: holiday marketing on the web | papernstitch Wed, 19 Jan 2011 23:12:10 +0000 http://papernstitchblog.com/?p=10703#comment-122173 [...] for the holidays?  Do you understand some of the basic terminology and dates?  Did you read up on international shipping and you’re now ready to expand your business with global sales with first class shipping?  [...] [...] for the holidays?  Do you understand some of the basic terminology and dates?  Did you read up on international shipping and you’re now ready to expand your business with global sales with first class shipping?  [...]

]]> By: Kiley Gogovivi http://papernstitchblog.com/2009/10/12/craft-venture-ship-globally-with-no-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-11360 Kiley Gogovivi Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:22:54 +0000 http://papernstitchblog.com/?p=10703#comment-11360 I am an American, but I live in China and I run my Etsy business from China. I have been here for a year. I almost closed my Etsy business altogether when I came here because the Chinese postal system is, unlike that of Japan mentioned by Jacqui Mee a Bee, completely incomprehensible and not at all reliable. I went to the Post Office with an interpreter to get a chart of standard international delivery rates. I left in tears an hour later because the rates they quoted were astronomically high and they had no standardized rate chart so I would never be able to predict how much I would pay for shipping. As a last resort, I emailed an Etsy "friend" in Shanghai and he directed me to a shipping agent that skips the Chinese system altogether and uses the Hong Kong postal system, which is many times more reliable and half the price. Since then its been a breeze...thank goodness for Etsy friends helping each other out! I am an American, but I live in China and I run my Etsy business from China. I have been here for a year. I almost closed my Etsy business altogether when I came here because the Chinese postal system is, unlike that of Japan mentioned by Jacqui Mee a Bee, completely incomprehensible and not at all reliable. I went to the Post Office with an interpreter to get a chart of standard international delivery rates. I left in tears an hour later because the rates they quoted were astronomically high and they had no standardized rate chart so I would never be able to predict how much I would pay for shipping. As a last resort, I emailed an Etsy “friend” in Shanghai and he directed me to a shipping agent that skips the Chinese system altogether and uses the Hong Kong postal system, which is many times more reliable and half the price. Since then its been a breeze…thank goodness for Etsy friends helping each other out!

]]> By: Brenda http://papernstitchblog.com/2009/10/12/craft-venture-ship-globally-with-no-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-11304 Brenda Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:26:35 +0000 http://papernstitchblog.com/?p=10703#comment-11304 Hi Kate! If you use an online postage service, you'll fill out the customs form online, which makes it a snap. Then the label that you print will be a combined label with customs form and postage! By online, I mean Endicia, Click N Ship, Stamps.com or Paypal. Customs doesn't affect the cost of your postage, but your customer or recipient may be assessed a duty (fee or tax) on the package. The key thing for you, as a seller, is to not succumb to the temptation of marking your customs form as a gift in order to avoid being assessed customs duties. If you're going to fill out paper customs forms, rather than purchase and print your postage online, you can pick up a stack at your local post office OR, better yet, order them online from http://www.usps.gov (free!). I'd recommend picking up a small stack and ordering a stack in addition. You don't know how long your order will take to arrive. If you watch this video that Lisa from Savor Soap created, you'll see how to fill out a customs form/shipping label for first class international! http://www.youtube.com/user/savorsoap#p/u/1/rFyX4N9-EWs Hope this helps you, if not, let me know! :) Hi Kate!

If you use an online postage service, you’ll fill out the customs form online, which makes it a snap. Then the label that you print will be a combined label with customs form and postage! By online, I mean Endicia, Click N Ship, Stamps.com or Paypal. Customs doesn’t affect the cost of your postage, but your customer or recipient may be assessed a duty (fee or tax) on the package. The key thing for you, as a seller, is to not succumb to the temptation of marking your customs form as a gift in order to avoid being assessed customs duties.

If you’re going to fill out paper customs forms, rather than purchase and print your postage online, you can pick up a stack at your local post office OR, better yet, order them online from http://www.usps.gov (free!). I’d recommend picking up a small stack and ordering a stack in addition. You don’t know how long your order will take to arrive.

If you watch this video that Lisa from Savor Soap created, you’ll see how to fill out a customs form/shipping label for first class international! http://www.youtube.com/user/savorsoap#p/u/1/rFyX4N9-EWs

Hope this helps you, if not, let me know! :)

]]> By: papernstitch http://papernstitchblog.com/2009/10/12/craft-venture-ship-globally-with-no-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-11299 papernstitch Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:05:57 +0000 http://papernstitchblog.com/?p=10703#comment-11299 of course you can quote us polprav. thanks for asking. of course you can quote us polprav. thanks for asking.

]]> By: Kate (Birdcage Cards) http://papernstitchblog.com/2009/10/12/craft-venture-ship-globally-with-no-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-11295 Kate (Birdcage Cards) Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:00:06 +0000 http://papernstitchblog.com/?p=10703#comment-11295 I'm so gad to find this article! International shipping has scared me since the day I opened my Etsy shop back in May. But, now that the holiday season is starting, I really want to offer it. Can anyone share some info about theses custom forms? Where do I get them? Does customs affect rates for international charges i.e.) duty fees/rates? Any advice would be greatly appreciated :) I’m so gad to find this article! International shipping has scared me since the day I opened my Etsy shop back in May. But, now that the holiday season is starting, I really want to offer it. Can anyone share some info about theses custom forms? Where do I get them? Does customs affect rates for international charges i.e.) duty fees/rates?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)

]]> By: naomi http://papernstitchblog.com/2009/10/12/craft-venture-ship-globally-with-no-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-11033 naomi Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:28:49 +0000 http://papernstitchblog.com/?p=10703#comment-11033 wow brenda! thank you so much for this information!! will definitely check out endicia. to be able to first class ship from home...wonderful! thank you! wow brenda! thank you so much for this information!! will definitely check out endicia. to be able to first class ship from home…wonderful! thank you!

]]> By: paper n stitch – Craft Venture: shipping for the holidays – packaging - A daily dose of handmade, design, and style inspiration http://papernstitchblog.com/2009/10/12/craft-venture-ship-globally-with-no-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-10952 paper n stitch – Craft Venture: shipping for the holidays – packaging - A daily dose of handmade, design, and style inspiration Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:02:00 +0000 http://papernstitchblog.com/?p=10703#comment-10952 [...] Designs on Etsy and 1000 Markets, and Phydelle Designs on Etsy.  Last week, we talked about international shipping as part of our series for the  retail season:  the holidays.  This week, we’ll talk about [...] [...] Designs on Etsy and 1000 Markets, and Phydelle Designs on Etsy.  Last week, we talked about international shipping as part of our series for the  retail season:  the holidays.  This week, we’ll talk about [...]

]]> By: Polprav http://papernstitchblog.com/2009/10/12/craft-venture-ship-globally-with-no-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-10874 Polprav Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:17:32 +0000 http://papernstitchblog.com/?p=10703#comment-10874 Hello from Russia! Can I quote a post in your blog with the link to you? Hello from Russia!
Can I quote a post in your blog with the link to you?

]]> By: Jacqui Mee a Bee http://papernstitchblog.com/2009/10/12/craft-venture-ship-globally-with-no-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-10789 Jacqui Mee a Bee Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:22:37 +0000 http://papernstitchblog.com/?p=10703#comment-10789 Wow, I had no idea postage was so complicated from the USA. I don't live there but this article made it very clear and easy to understand. I'm in Japan where we have a world class postal system. I am pretty sure all sellers from Japan ship internationally as it is really easy and not very expensive. If you are shopping on Etsy try the "Shop Local" page and buy something from Japan! Thanks Brenda, this is a very informative and well-written article. Wow, I had no idea postage was so complicated from the USA. I don’t live there but this article made it very clear and easy to understand.
I’m in Japan where we have a world class postal system. I am pretty sure all sellers from Japan ship internationally as it is really easy and not very expensive.
If you are shopping on Etsy try the “Shop Local” page and buy something from Japan!
Thanks Brenda, this is a very informative and well-written article.

]]> By: Freshie http://papernstitchblog.com/2009/10/12/craft-venture-ship-globally-with-no-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-10786 Freshie Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:51:31 +0000 http://papernstitchblog.com/?p=10703#comment-10786 Cool! Thanks! Cool! Thanks!

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