We have written quite an elaborate chapter about international customs with links to the original resourses over at the EtsyWiki (and it's still growing) - it shouldn't miss here, I think: http://etsywiki.com/index.php?title=Customs

This is very true. I spent a number of years in Shipping and Logistics for a small company based in the USA. Going in, I had minimal training. As a result, I spent a good portion of each day on the phone with FedEx, DHL and international customs brokers. If I had to guess, I would say I've spend at least two years on the phone, just on the phone! The link that is provided above is a very good link. I hope people use it!

I have been thinking about shipping globally and would like to thank you for the advice. I hadn't even considered that this is important. Thank you.

any Canadians out there who ship internationally that can give advice?

Hmmm,The above link is gone or missing, to bad. It seems that shipping outside the US is so expensive... I'm not sure how it is affordable to my potential clients. Any tips?

Has anyone actually sold anything on this site?

I've done a lot of international shipping, more for things I've sold on eBay than on Etsy, but it's all the same at the post office! Be sure to declare the actual value of the item. In the U.S., it's a federal offense to undervalue an item for customs purposes (that means it's a bad, bad thing). I'm guessing that this is probably the same in other countries ... Shipping from the U.S. to Canada *can* cost about the same as shipping from California to Maine. Shipping from anywhere in the U.S. to anywhere in Canada will cost the same, regardless of where you live; it'll cost the same to ship from Miami, FL to the Northwest Territories as it would from North Dakota, which is a heckuva lot closer. The clerk(s) at your local post office will be happy to help you fill out the customs forms. You can pay for international postage via PayPal, but only for International Priority and Express Priority, not International First Class; for that, you'll still need to stand in line at the P.O. USPS is the most affordable way to ship international ... BY FAR. I've checked UPS, FedEx, and DHL over the years. I did ship to the Philippines via DHL once, but that was because the customer had a DHL account and was paying for the shipping that way ... so nothing out of pocket for me! I do wish it were easier to set up international shipping when listing items on Etsy. eBay has it figured out.

Prairie, What does ebay do that etsy is not doing YET? I am having international buyers contact me but you are right, it is sooooo.......expensive. I have to wonder how it is feasable? I know I cannot carry the cost for shipping. I am passing the shipping cost directly to the buyer. YIKES!

Thanks why I have not went international. I had someone contact me twice.... went to the post office and asked how much to ship to.. for this item? Wow so came back and emailed them with the price and that was the end of that. So still to this day I don't know how to ship internationally and find customers that want to pay for that expensive shipping cost. I would love to learn more on this.

I would like to find out a formula and offer prices for international shipping when I list an item.If someone convos me I get back to them with a price, but I'm sure I miss out because buyers want instant info.I have shipped to japan and Ireland.It was easier than I thought.So much to learn!!

I find the shipping costs to the US with the extra charge over 460g makes a sale there almost impossible without lowering your price to make is attractive. Working out the cost is a nightmare. I thought AUS was bad.