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I've doing a few commissions recently, keeping most of it local. This was mainly to avoid big shipping/packing woes, but it seems like more and more people are poking me about work abroad.

So my question is: have you ever had to ship large armies? The models have to arrive perfectly intact obviously, but shipping costs need to be as low as they can be (both good for me an customers).

Also, I've never actually sold anything on e-bay, so people with experience in that field, feel free to share your knowledge...

Any advice on this? Any particularly good services you can recommend? And good tips on packaging? I'd love to know!]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/538438/5821952.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/538438/5821952.page GMT
Packaging
Post offices can be a bit rough! I'd recommend spending some time ensuring that things won't move with a firm shake. How you achieve this would be up to you, but I tend to wrap each individual model in kitchen paper, then pack the edges and spaces with bubblewrap or newspaper.
You might also use sticky tape to secure larger or fragile models to the side or edge of the box.

The most important thing is to get a sturdy box that can stand up to rough handling.


Shipping
I tend to ask that the buyer pays for shipping. I've found it a fairly good indicator of whether someone is serious about buying a substantial-sized army. I prefer trackable shipping; or, if the buyer is reluctant to pay for that, written notice from them that the parcel is being sent entirely at their own risk.

However the buyer wants it shipped, I always ask for a proof of receipt of postage from the post office (Royal Mail, in my case) for my records.

When sending abroad, I check the Royal Mail website for different options on tracked and signed-for method of getting the parcel to the recipient, then check with the recipient which method they'd prefer – some people prefer to pay more to receive it more quickly, others are happy with a longer wait and a lower outlay.

Once I've heard back, I'll ask for the payment to be sent through then take the parcel down and speak to the postal assistant – the prices quoted online are often overestimates, so you can sometimes save the buyer a few quid. Once I have the tracking number and receipt, I'll take a photo of both and send it to the buyer, along with a refund of the postage if it was cheaper than estimated.

National mail or courier service?
Generally, I check both. I've used DPD, Royal Mail's track-and-trace and various other methods over the years. Nowadays, I tend to use the Royal Mail as it's easier to speak with someone face to face. Obviously this'll depend on the country you're sending from (and to), so a little research is recommended.


Beware!
Certain countries have a bad reputation for postal fraud/poor service, particularly Italy. If I have a buyer from one of these countries, I make doubly sure they're happy to accept the risk, and get that written in an email before I'll send. Some sellers choose not to sell to these countries. Don't feel awkward if you're uncomfortable. You're under no obligation to sell to anyone, so if you don't feel right about it, just politely decline the commission.


General rules
Because I tend to sell to forumgoers, I'll make a decision on whether to send the parcel without receiving the money. If someone gives me a good vibe, I'm happy to send the parcel and be paid on receipt (I always have the signed-for proof, if anyhting goes wrong). If I'm less certain, I'll ask for the balance before I'll post it. I have a good reputation on various fora and good buyer's feedback on eBay, so I'm always willing to point nervous buyers to those. A good reputation is its own reward

When discussing the commission or sale, I'd always recommend being as open and clear as possible: do not send anything, or enter into a contract without making sure both of you are clear on the process and cost. Being sensible doesn't mean you can't be friendly, and a professional attitude will protect both you and the buyer.

Hope that helps, and good luck with your sales ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/538438/5822265.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/538438/5822265.page GMT