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So, You're Ready To Become An International Jewelry Dealer

Sounds pretty cool, right?  In Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3, we covered organizing your shipping supplies, developing a professional shipping process and various methods of shipping vintage costume jewelry domestically.  But, there's a whole world out there!  Where do you start if you want to do business on a global scale?

Cost Effective International Shipping

Many Sellers shy away from shipping internationally.  Big mistake!  Approximately 20% of my total sales are international – and 40% of my sales over $100 are international.  I would be cutting myself off at the knees if I didn’t ship internationally.  And, it's not at all difficult!

The best options I've found for shipping vintage costume jewelry internationally are Global Priority Mail (GPM) and Airmail Letter Post (ALP).  As with domestic shipping, I prefer to ship GPM. 

I usually ship my international packages GPM variable weight Tyvek envelope.  The big roomy envelope allows me to pack my jewelry in a sturdy box.  The postage is determined by the country you are shipping to and the weight of the package, but it is usually about $8.25 per package.

The USPS also has a GPM Small Flat Rate Envelope which is usually only about $5.25 to ship!  That's quite a bargain, considering domestic Priority Mail is $4.05!  The Small Flat Rate Envelope will usually accommodate a padded gift box, well wrapped in bubble wrap.  Just be sure to use the excellent packing skills you learned in Part 2. 

The GPM Small Flat Rate Envelopes and variable weight Tyvek envelopes are available at the Post Office, you can order them for free (including free delivery) at usps.gov, or you can access them through ebay's USPS Shipping Zone.

Unfortunately, GPM is not available to all countries, but ALP is an excellent alternative.  ALP postage is determined according to package weight and the country you are shipping to (some are much higher than others). 

International Shipping Restrictions on Jewelry

There always seems to be some confusion about restrictions on shipping costume jewelry to other countries.  Most countries only restrict imports of fine jewelry with precious metal and/or gemstones.  But, when in doubt as to exactly what type of jewelry imports are restricted, you can find a complete list of restrictions, by country at pe.usps.gov/text/Imm/Immctry.html (copy and paste this into your browser bar to search). 

Customs Forms

ITEM DESCRIPTION:

To avoid any confusion with foreign customs inspectors about the content of the package, be sure to mark the Item Description space on the customs form as “Used Fashion Accessory”.  If you are shipping vintage jewelry, this is an accurate description of the contents and is not designed to deceive foreign customs.  Writing Vintage Jewelry in the Item Description space may seem to be a more direct description.  However, it is a surefire way to have your package selected by customs for inspection and delayed for several weeks (which probably won’t lead to Positive Feedback). 

An international ebayer was kind enough to provide the following clarification as to why it is so important not to use the word jewelry on your international packages:  "I live in Sweden and would just suggest that the reason for not writing the word jewelry on the customs form is because non-native speakers of English define the word as meaning REAL jewelry such as gold, silver, diamonds, real gems etc.  In other words, jewels are real jewels.  Another thing, it is crucial to write that the item is USED!  No customs system is particularly interested in anything used since it is pretty much non-taxable.  Used Fashion Accessory is always very good." 

She also suggested that the Seller check the customs site of the country to which they are shipping to learn the specific import limit before duty is applied.  For instance, the import limit to Sweden is 300 SEK (approximately $40 US).   You can usually find this information by googling:  (Country Name) Customs Import Limit.

Thanks for a perspective from the other end of international shipping, Jean!

WHAT CUSTOMS FORM DO I USE?

The following information is taken directly from the usps.gov website, applies to both Priority Mail and Airmail letter post packages, and takes the guesswork out of selecting the appropriate customs form for your package:

• If the value of the contents is less than $400.00, affix Customs Form - PS Form 2976 to the exterior of the mailpiece.
• If the value of the contents is $400.00 or more, affix the upper portion of the green customs label Customs Form - PS Form 2976 to the exterior of the mailpiece and place a completed Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note - PS Form 2976-A inside the package.  
• Letter-post items weighing 16 ounces or more, and all potentially dutiable items regardless of their weight, require the applicable customs forms.

These forms are available at the Post Office, you can order them for free (including free delivery) at usps.gov, or you can access them through ebay's USPS Shipping Zone. 

Hurray!  You’re now ready to ship vintage costume jewelry like a pro to anywhere in the world!  Good luck!

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