Shipping an amp to Europe for Craigslist?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Spaceboy
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Spaceboy

Spaceboy

Well-known member
Someone has been talking to me via Craigslist about having an amplifier shipped to Europe for them. They are going to send payment and all that, but it still sounds sketch. Has anybody shipped to Europe, or is there any known scams on Craigslist like this? If they send money first, could there be any issues?
 
Use PayPal for money transfer and USPS EMS for trackable shipping. I'm from Russia and found that this way is it best and most affordable.
 
I've shipped things overseas...Russia, Australia, Greece, Germany...

If I'm dealing with someone on a forum who has been around, I'd take paypal. Dealing with someone on a craigslist deal, I'd only take Western Union. Once you have the cash, you can't lose. A bank wire would be fine too, but some are skiddish about giving their banking info out (though there really isn't any risk to you in doing that).
 
Shipping an amp or guitar overseas is a pain in the ass......period. I shipped an amp to Spain once, and a guitar to Germany, I believe. The paperwork for customs and whatnot is confusing and the Post Office is not very helpful. I just try to avoid it now. Getting your money is one thing, actually shipping it is another.
 
gtrwun":y5c95y4v said:
Shipping an amp or guitar overseas is a pain in the ass......period. I shipped an amp to Spain once, and a guitar to Germany, I believe. The paperwork for customs and whatnot is confusing and the Post Office is not very helpful. I just try to avoid it now. Getting your money is one thing, actually shipping it is another.
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I always keep reading that "paperwork for customs" is such an problem.
What actually You guys in USA have to write? Is that really so much? :confused:
It's a hinest questio, I juts don't know.

If I ship something outside EU i need only write what's been shipped (i.e. "guitar", "effect pedal" etc.) and a value.
That's all.
 
I don't think customs paperwork is a big deal. Hell the clerk will tell you exactly what you need to do if you don't know. It's the size constraints when shipping with USPS that become the problem. Size isn't necessarily a pproblem with UPS or Fedex, but they are way more costly.
 
The usps customs form is one page, very easy to fill out.

That said I would rather put a fire out on my face with a hammer than ship an amp overseas, I would do it for several guys that I have known for years but that is it.

Hell, I hate shipping amps period :lol: :LOL:
 
Thanks guys! I thought it's BS from people who just don't want to ship overseas :lol: :LOL:
 
Whatever you do, dont try to mark it as a gift or low value because if the package gets damaged in shipping you will be the one responsible. If they payed with Paypal, Paypal will side with the buyer plus it is fraud and you could actually end up getting audited by the IRS over it if you get caught.

There was a member at another forum who got caught doing this and the customer in Europe got the guitar confiscated, destroyed and was fined something insane like 5000 Euros. The EU notified the IRS and they went over all his prior Ebay sales, plus Paypal transactions to see if he had commited customs fraud before. On top of it all they audited his federal income tax, went back 5 years too. :lol: :LOL:
:doh:
 
I would get the money wired by bank transfer. Once it's in your account you're safe. If he doesn't trust you, he can buy locally in Europe at a higher price. If the risk is worth his lower price with your offer, he will do it. But you didn't factor any risk in your selling price, so you shouldn't take any.
 
I've decided against the overseas sale. There's too much hassle and risk involved, from the sounds of it.
 
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