Shipping out of the USA


I was asked to ship a heavy component outside the USA. I never did this before and I guess once I have cleared funds what could go wrong right?

Well I am asking what your experiences are and how to ship something that is 150-200lbs. Do I have the buyer arrange for the item to be picked up so that he has the insurance in his name?

Now I am clueless!!!

Thanks and Happy Listening.
bigkidz
Depends on what country you plan to ship to. I shipped a pair of Magnepan MGIII speakers to Canada in December. For Canada you have to arrange for a "broker" on the Canadian side to shepherd the shipment through customs, pay tax, duty, and "broker fees". If anything like that is applicable in your case, be sure and agree at the outset, who will be responsible for arranging these services and paying the fees. Also, make sure the shipping company is clear on who will be paying these fees as well. Case in point: in our case the speakers took 3 days from Phila. to Toronto, then languished in customs for almost 2 full weeks while the "broker" moved the paperwork.
Slipknot, just curious why you had to deal with all of the B.S. when shipping an American made product to Canada. I thought that NAFTA removed most of these procedures. Am I wrong?
About a year ago,I had occasion to ship something to the British Virgin Islands. The BVI has outrageously expensive and complicated import duties.

The person in the BVI to whom I was shipping had me send it UPS ground to an address in Orlando FL. From there,a company he hired picked up the package,shipped it to West End,Tortola,delt with customs,paid the duty,and delivered it to him---for a fee. The middleman was bonded against shipping damage.

That made(and makes) sense to me. Let the middleman earn his fee.