eBay Global Shipping Program: Selling Internationally

eBay Global Shipping Program: Selling Internationally

Expanding your resale business beyond domestic borders can feel like a monumental task. The thought of navigating international shipping logistics, complex customs forms, and different return policies is enough to deter many sellers. However, reaching a global audience represents a massive opportunity to grow your sales and connect with millions of new buyers.

Fortunately, eBay has streamlined this process significantly. The eBay Global Shipping Program, now known as eBay International Shipping, is designed to remove these barriers, making it easier than ever for US-based sellers to tap into the international market.

This in-depth guide will cover everything you need to know about the program, from its core benefits and eligibility requirements to the step-by-step process of shipping your first international order. We will also explore how to ship internationally if you choose to handle it yourself and how you can leverage powerful tools to scale your operations efficiently.

What is the eBay International Shipping Program?

The eBay International Shipping program is a service designed to help US sellers reach buyers around the world without the complexities of managing overseas shipping, customs, and returns themselves. Think of it as a bridge between you and your international customer, with eBay managing the most difficult parts of the journey.

Currently, the program is available for eligible US sellers, with eBay planning to expand it to more sellers soon. If your seller account is eligible, you will be automatically opted into the program. This means your listings will become available to buyers in almost 200 countries.

For sellers who don't offer any other international shipping services, eBay International Shipping will become the default option on their listings. eBay will even automatically add the service to your existing eligible listings, instantly expanding your market reach.

If you already have your own international shipping options set up, buyers will see both your self-shipping method and eBay International Shipping at checkout, allowing them to choose the service they prefer.

The Core Benefits of Using eBay International Shipping

Choosing to use the eBay International Shipping program offers a powerful suite of benefits and protections designed to give you peace of mind and save you money. It shifts the most significant risks of international commerce from your shoulders to eBay's.

Unparalleled Seller Protections

One of the biggest anxieties of international shipping is the risk of items getting lost or damaged on their long journey. The program provides a robust safety net.

• Full Protection on Lost or Damaged Items: Once your item is accepted at the domestic shipping hub, your job is done. If a buyer reports that an item was lost or damaged during international transit, or it's damaged at the hub, eBay works directly with the buyer to resolve it. You are protected from the obligation to refund the buyer, and you get to keep the sale.
• Case Protection: You are protected from eBay Money Back Guarantee cases, payment disputes, and chargebacks related to "item not received" claims once the package is scanned at the domestic hub.
• Feedback Protection: Negative or neutral feedback related to item handling during international shipping will be removed. This ensures your seller metrics aren't unfairly impacted by issues outside of your control. Similarly, you are protected from open "Not as described" returns in your service metrics if the issue is related to item handling during international shipping.

Cost and Time Savings

The program is designed to be efficient for your wallet and your schedule.

• No International Fee: Sellers save on selling fees for international transactions. Critically, you will not be charged an international fee when using the program, which can be a significant saving.
• Simplified Handling: All international returns, refunds, and customs clearance are handled on your behalf. This frees you from the administrative burden of managing these often complex processes.
• Cheaper Insurance: You only need to insure your package for the first leg of its journey—from your location to the domestic US shipping hub. eBay handles the rest.

Operational Convenience

The program simplifies your day-to-day workflow, allowing you to focus on sourcing and listing.

• Easy Shipping Process: When an item sells, you simply ship it to a domestic shipping hub address provided by eBay. The rest of the international journey is managed for you.
• Automatic Tracking: Once your package reaches the hub, international tracking is automatically added, which both you and the buyer can use to monitor the item's progress.
• Time Away Integration: If you schedule Time Away, the program automatically updates the estimated delivery date on your listings to reflect your absence, managing buyer expectations for you.

Eligibility: Can You Use the Program?

To ensure a smooth experience for both buyers and sellers, eBay has established clear eligibility criteria for sellers, items, and transactions.

Seller Requirements

To be eligible for the eBay International Shipping program, you must meet the following criteria:

• Your seller performance level must be Above Standard or Top Rated.
• You must be eligible for seller protections.
• Your service metrics must be Low or Average.
• You must be in compliance with all eBay rules and policies.

Item & Package Requirements

The items you sell must also meet specific requirements to be shipped through the program.

• Location: The item must be physically located in the United States and listed on eBay.com.
• Export Eligibility: The item must be eligible for export and not fall into a restricted category.
• Value: The total cost of the order must not exceed $2500 USD, including shipping.
• Dimensions: Packages should not exceed 48 inches in length or 84 inches in length and girth combined.
• Weight: Packages should not exceed 44 lbs in billable weight for most countries, or 66 lbs for items shipped to Canada.

Transaction limits may also apply to some seller accounts.

Restricted Items and Categories

Due to export laws, transportation regulations, and country-specific restrictions, certain items cannot be sent using eBay International Shipping. This includes items that fall under eBay's hazardous, restricted, or regulated materials policy or its international trading policy. Measures are also in place to prevent items non-compliant with UK regulations (like CE Certification) from being sold to UK buyers through the program.

The list of restricted categories is not exhaustive and may be updated. Here are some of the key categories that cannot be shipped with the program:

How to Ship Internationally on eBay: The Program Step-by-Step

The process of using the eBay International Shipping program is designed to be as simple as a domestic sale. Once you're set up, here’s how it works from sale to delivery.

1. An Item Sells: eBay will notify you when an item sells to an international buyer through the program.
2. You Ship to the Hub: eBay provides you with the address of a domestic shipping hub. Your only job is to send the sold item to this US-based address before the estimated delivery date. You may see different hub addresses for different sales, as there are multiple locations.
3. Add Tracking: You must add tracking details for this domestic leg of the journey. If you create and print your shipping label on eBay, the tracking and a unique reference number (which must be on the label) are added automatically.
4. eBay Takes Over: Once the package is received and accepted at the domestic hub, your responsibility ends. eBay's logistics experts manage the entire international shipping process, including handling customs clearance and providing international tracking for you and the buyer.
5. Delivery and Returns: eBay manages the final delivery to the buyer. If the buyer initiates a return, it is also processed on your behalf. According to international legal requirements, buyers can return items for up to 30 days, and eBay automatically applies this policy. When a return is opened, eBay refunds the buyer, and you keep the sale. Returned items may be inspected at a hub and may not be sent back to you.

How Costs and Fees Work

Understanding the cost structure is simple because, for the seller, there are no extra program fees.

For the Seller:

• There is no extra charge to use eBay International Shipping.
• You are not charged an international fee on the sale.
• You are responsible for the cost of shipping the item to the domestic hub. You can pass this cost to the buyer just as you would with a domestic sale.

For the Buyer:

• Domestic Shipping: The buyer pays for any US domestic shipping and handling costs that you specify in your listing.
• International Shipping: The buyer pays for international shipping costs, which are determined and charged by eBay.
• Import Charges: The buyer is responsible for all import charges, which include customs duties, taxes, brokerage, and other fees. These charges may be collected from the buyer at checkout or upon delivery by the carrier or customs agency.

Manual International Shipping: The Alternative Path

If you choose to opt out of the eBay International Shipping program or want to offer additional options, you can set up international shipping yourself. This gives you more control but also comes with more responsibility.

Before you start, you should read eBay's International trading policy and be aware that you may be asked to sign an International Selling Agreement, acknowledging that your listings must comply with the policies of the eBay sites where they appear.

Setting Up Your Listings

You can add international shipping options using either the quick or advanced listing tool.

• Using the Quick Listing Tool: In the "How you'll ship it" section, select "Create your own international shipping option." You can choose to charge the actual cost calculated by eBay or a flat cost for all international buyers. Then, you select the destinations and carrier service.
• Using the Advanced Listing Tool: Go to the Shipping section and edit or create a shipping policy. Here, you can select specific international services, set flat or calculated costs, choose destinations, and create exclusion lists for locations you don't want to ship to.

The Challenge of Customs Forms

When you ship internationally yourself, you are responsible for accurately completing customs documentation to comply with US export regulations. Failure to do so can result in your package being held for inspection.

Your carrier will provide the necessary forms, which typically require:

• Sender and Recipient Information: Your name and address, and the recipient's.
• Detailed Content Description: You must be specific. "Men's cotton shirt" is correct; "clothing" or "samples" is not.
• Value and Weight: The value of each item in U.S. dollars and the net weight of each item, plus the total package weight.
• Country of Origin: The country where the goods were manufactured.
• Harmonized System (HS) Tariff Number: A 6-digit code for classifying products, if known.
• AES/ITN or Exemption Code: For shipments, you'll likely need an Automated Export System/Internal Transaction Number (AES/ITN) or an Exemption and Exclusion Legend (EEL). An ITN is required for items valued over $2,500 or those needing an export license. For most shipments under $2,500, you can use an exemption code like "NOEEI 30.37(a)".

It is illegal to falsify customs declarations, such as marking a commercial item as a "gift" to avoid fees. If a buyer asks you to do this, you should report it to eBay.

Scaling Your eBay Business with Reeva

Whether you use the eBay International Shipping program or manage it yourself, growing a resale business requires efficiency. The more time you spend on manual tasks like listing, managing inventory, and administrative work, the less time you have for sourcing products and scaling your sales. This is where we can help.

Our platform is built for resale businesses looking to accelerate growth with ease. We understand the challenges of selling on eBay, especially the tedious data entry required for listings. As one of our customers, Northwest Fab Finds, noted, our platform presets "tedious eBay fields," which is a "HUGE time saver."

List Smarter, Not Harder

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If you're looking to expand beyond eBay, you can publish your items to multiple marketplaces like Poshmark, Mercari, and Depop with a single click, all without switching tabs. This has helped sellers like Hiview Reloved easily expand to eBay and other platforms, creating more listings in a few months than they did in an entire year on their own.

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Scaling requires automation. Our platform handles repetitive tasks that boost visibility and maximize sales. The auto-delist feature instantly removes sold items from all marketplaces, preventing overselling. It's a feature that AlistairBP, who now sells 10-15 items a day, says he "couldn't live without."

From relisting stale products to sending personalized offers to buyers, our automation tools work for you in the background. This is how Vintage Vault WV increased its sales by 372% in just three weeks. By automating these tasks, you can focus on what truly matters: growing your business.

Manage Your Business Like a Pro

As your business grows, so does the complexity. Our platform provides powerful business management tools to help you scale. You can update hundreds of listings in bulk, track sales and profits with business analytics, and even give team members access with multi-user account options. Resellers like TUFFNY have cut their admin time by 30%, allowing them to source more products and expand their offerings.

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Conclusion: Go Global with Confidence

Selling internationally on eBay is one of the most effective ways to grow your resale business. The eBay International Shipping program removes the biggest obstacles, offering incredible seller protections and simplifying the entire process down to a single domestic shipment.

By understanding how the program works, its benefits, and its requirements, you can confidently open your store to millions of new buyers worldwide. You'll handle less admin, take on fewer risks, and save on fees.

And when you're ready to take your efficiency and growth to the next level, a platform built for resellers can make all the difference. By automating tedious tasks and streamlining your entire workflow, you can spend less time working *in* your business and more time working *on* it.

If you're ready to simplify your operations and accelerate your growth, start your free 7-day trial of Reeva today.