They will not ship outside of the U.S.

[freddy]

Although I have only been a member for a short time, I have seen how helpful and knowledge the members of this site are, so I am asking for some advice or suggestions.

I happened to have seen a secondhand ring that I love on a companies website that is based in the Unted States. I live in Australia, and contacted this company to be informed that they do not ship outside of the U.S., however if I knew someone in the US they would ship there on my behalf.

I was wondering if anyone has been in this type of situation before, and what they ended up doing, as I do not have anyone living there that I know.

I find it strange that people/businesses etc still have issues with shipping internationally, I have purchased several items over the years from USA without any problems, and mentioned this to them without having any luck in persuading them to change there mind.

Maybe it just was not meant to be for me to purchase this ring? Even with the australian being up high compared to the US dollar at the moment, it is so much cheaper to purchase jewellery items from overseas.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Circe]

One thing that you could do it to have the ring shipped to an appraiser, who would then ship it to you: I''m pretty sure I''ve heard of them providing such services. There''s a list of PS-approved appraisers under "resources" ....

 

[stone-cold11]

Probably they are afraid of credit card fraud or just do not have the shipping set up for international shipment.

Agree with checking out the independent appraisers. https://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx

 

[arjunajane]

Can I ask who the company is? Seems pretty archaic not to ship to Aust - it's not Nigeria or something

There are US and AU based "shopping companies" that have been established for consumers to access products that are not shipped outside the US, kinda like a mediator. I haven't used them and can't recommend one though, sorry.

I second using one of the appraisers - likely more trustworthy, plus they can let you know if the purchase is what you expect before you go to the trouble.
At top of the page, go to Resources > Appraisers..

 

[WinkHPD]

I remember the first time I had to ship outside the US, it was an intimidating process. CC fraud every one warned would destroy me. It takes a bazillion transactions to make up for one fraud, the cc companies would take too much for an overseas transaction, it will get lost in transit, etc etc.

In rode the heros in their white hats.

Wire transfers are simple, and the fee is eaten by both the sender and the recipient. Usually costs the sender about $30 and the recipient about $15, much better than the 3-5% usually paid for CC fees and who knows what the exchange rate will be that day. They are safe if a few reasonable precautions are used. The information given to the sender is no more than is on every single check that we send out.

Fedex handles the customs for the sender, collecting from the buyer any fees that are due. The sender just goes on line and fills out the international shipping label and puts a few thousand copies in the label pouch for the customs people to play with. If your vendor is doing any volume of Fedex mailing he should have a secondary insurance available to him via someone like Parcel Pro. If not have him contact me and I will make the appropriate introductions so that he can insure the package in transit.

I know, I know, it is not often that the banks are considered heros, but for safe easy international transfer of money, they are the best and the cheapest. Fedex has always been one of my heros, starting with the unlikely audacity that brought it into existence in the first place.

Wink

 

[denverappraiser]

I do this regularly for international clients. It also has the advantage of allowing an independent inspection before it leaves the country and before it goes through customs. If there’s any reason to return it, this can save you on time, shipping and taxes.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[mike76]

You could try a parcel forwarding company. There are different ones like Myus, bongus or Shipito. I used Shipito in the past because they were cheaper and they can receive your order in the US and ship it to you.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 12/1/2009 8:13:18 AM
Author: Circe
One thing that you could do it to have the ring shipped to an appraiser, who would then ship it to you: I''m pretty sure I''ve heard of them providing such services. There''s a list of PS-approved appraisers under ''resources'' ....

I like this option because you need to make sure it is what you want before it leaves the US since it is difficult to do a return overseas... not impossible but certainly more difficult.