sell a kite online (question)

abkite · Since 25 Jun 2011 27 Posts

I have someone that wants to buy a kite from me using paypal and shipping it. Everything seems just fine but I just wanted to ask if anyone has had any problems with scams.
Also how much should shipping a kite cost? $70 insured kinda' seemed like a lot to me.
Thanks for your help!

borntofli · Since 29 Apr 2010 90 Posts

It never costs more than 25$ to ship a kite anywhere in usa.....paypal is great.....

blancoh2o · Since 15 Mar 2005 1154 Posts Oregon Phishy

Paypal is ok, I would not say it is great if you are selling an item worth more than you are willing to loose. There is a certain risk that the buyer is a scammer and disputes the charge with their credit card company who then in turn retracts the payment to PayPal. Then PayPal removes the credit from your account. In that case you don't have your money and the scammer still has your kite.
That being said, I have never had a problem selling items and taking Paypal. I am leery about a recent offer I had for a truck I am selling and that made me research Paypal scams. Proceed at your own risk. Shipping is easy, It shouldn't be anymore than $45 with Fed Ex Ground.

wylieflyote · Thu Sep 22, 11 4:35 pm

And be aware that PayPal will cost you (the seller). See this:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_display-receiving-fees-outside&countries=

The safest, most fool-proof way to complete a transaction? Box it up, weigh it, compute shipping cost at UPS.com (or USPS), tell him to send you a US Postal money order for the full amount. I sell on ebay and almost never do this, and I've been burned on rare occasions.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1861 Posts XTreme Poster

most I ever paid to ship a kite was $35 for a complete 12m to New York with insurance to $900. $70 is out to lunch. I use PayPal all the time. Know that you will pay about 3% of the transacted cost, though.

krazedkiter · Since 08 Jun 2009 183 Posts Florida Stoked

Get your dimensions down on your box. Fit it into the smallest box you can. Size does matter in shipping, more then weight. Use the shipping tools and play around with the box dimensions.

Scriffler · Since 03 Jul 2005 581 Posts LYLE Addicted

Depending on where you are shipping and what service he is using, 70 dollars sounds ballpark for UPS or Fedex, anywhere in the US. USPS on the other hand should be about half as much fully insured up to about 50 dollars. If it is coming from Hawaii about 50 to 90 dollars to anywhere insured. I would just pay the 70, he is packing it up and taking the trouble to ship you a kite. I am sure you got a killer deal anyway, what is 70 bucks?

safetychek · Since 07 Nov 2006 72 Posts Hood River

Be aware that shipping insurance on the postal service is only worthwhile
if you have an original receipt for what is being shipped.

My wife shipped (and insured) a 30+ pound box of books and cds/dvds cross country.
The contents of said box was stolen and the post office insurance was worthless,
since we didn't have original receipts.

We now use UPS.

abkite · Since 25 Jun 2011 27 Posts

Thank you everyone for your help! Many great tips and I am so glad to know about USPS now! We went with UPS and it did cost about $34.00 properly insured with signature.

And Scriffler thank you so much for your help BUT I was asking to save the person I was shipping FOR. I wanted to save HIM money. Thanks though. You always seem so helpful.