Any safe way to sell a game overseas? Italy?

pacman71

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 17, 2007
Messages
2,169
Reaction score
193
Location
Iowa
someone wants to buy my space ace. Is there a completely safe way to sell this game to him. If this was a 50 dollar part I wouldn't be concerned, but a 1200 dollar game not so eager. I have not committed to selling the game at all. does anyone have any experiences good or bad?


Paypal? sent as a gift?

My inner voice tells me not to sell to anyone overseas?


My son wants a four wheeler maybe I should put it up on craigslist as a barter.
 
I can't recall how many "Will not ship to xxx, xxxxxxx and Italy" I've seen on Ebay auctions etc. Just Google "Shipping to Italy"...

Italy's postal and customs services seem to be somewhat of a black hole, with 50%+ packages never reaching their destination.

Now this is a big item, but nonetheless...

If you're going to do it, you need to make it clear to the buyer that shipping arrangements are to be made in full by THEM.
Take lots of pictures, take pictures of the shippers leaving with the game...record serial numbers.

I can't say I would ship anything to Italy myself, just seems way too risky...BUT a big item like this isn't a little bubble envelope either.

Edit: If you DO ship it, don't accept Paypal or Credit Card based payment. If it does wind up disappearing, you don't want to have the money taken back from you.
 
Last edited:
italy is apparently one of them blacklisted places for a lot of ebay sellers,someone who knows more will chime in i am sure.i see it too many times,sellers not wanting certain countries buyers bidding on their items,italy is one of them.
:)
 
Thanks for the input guys. The first 3 posts are enough to cement my policy of cash in hand.

The only time I have ever been taken was with a bad check, and I have been screwed for 20 bucks on paypal once. I am just going to stick to my guns. Cash and carry.

Thanks for the insights.
 
Hi Guys,

I am Maverick from Dragon's Lair project

I'm Italian and All my customers always get paid - if we find an agreement (I am not perfect but I make my best to run always smooth transactions, the best I can even if Im not anymore in US)

I 'm the guy Mike was talking about, I saw his game unsold, asked him if it was still available (I am a huge collector of lasergames- I also saved DL serial n.1 from the split last year)

and I want to precise something not clearly expalined before:


1) soon as I understood Mike doesn't feel safe for paypal I offered him a wire bank transfer

(anyway any suggestion for his payment in this case it is more than appreciated)


2) I said since the beginning that I Take ALL the responsability for shipping of the game (even the pick up) handled by NAVL (paid and organized by me)

I never asked to ship the game internationally neither any responsability to Mike


But on 1 point I have to underline that:

I agree with you guys that there are lot of problematic people around the world as here in Italy but please not ALL italians are like that!


I am open anyway for any safe kind of payment so I can save that little baby

and see Mike happy, get paid soon and his son happy too

Have a nice day

Yours,
Mav
 
Last edited:
Have him wire the money, and use NAVL. Your covered that way.



Thanks for the input guys. The first 3 posts are enough to cement my policy of cash in hand.

The only time I have ever been taken was with a bad check, and I have been screwed for 20 bucks on paypal once. I am just going to stick to my guns. Cash and carry.

Thanks for the insights.
 
We've had HUGE problems selling cameras to Italy (through ebay). I got to the point to just say no. It was NEVER worth it. Basically, everything got stolen before it ever got to the buyer.

With a ginormous pinball machine? Hmmm...

You pays your money and takes your chances.
 
Have him wire the money, and use NAVL. Your covered that way.

I agree with you

He got no responsability AT ALL.

---------
For Super8man:

I agree with you some dishonest customers exploit paypal's system to get rid of us (I am 100% customers feedback with 80 transactions and I am really proud of that - everybody is happy with me)


I sell sometimes on ebay and last month I sold a pristine Super Famicom and got back an old one!

Also I had to give him back even the money otherwise I was also getting a bad feedback!

I don't think this Ebay's policy is Right for Us Sellers - we are explosed to these kind of black mail and it is not right

"We" make Ebay, if we don't pay for the fees I'd like to see Mr. ebay how long it can he goes


Anyway when I have got the feeling that the buyer is not safe or not trustable I ask bank transfer or directly the western union's money order to avoid any problem and see if he got money for real (sometimes some buyers do not have money ready, in this way you can be sure of that)

My experience,
Mav
 
Last edited:
People always mention the horror stories of shipping to Italy, but how about shipping from Italy to the United States? Good idea to back off? I always see to be searching out vinyl albums, and often times they show up in Italy on ebay (italo disco, btw).
 
I've shipped to Italy a gazillion times, had 3 problems....on something like this with a trusted member and he's willing to wire, I don't see the problem.
 
....on something like this with a trusted member and he's willing to wire, I don't see the problem.

Thank you very much guys for the trust and support, I really appreciate.

I received an email from Mike that after seeing the first negative posts decided to turn down my chance.

I hope he can think about what you said, and hope for the best.

That's the maximum I can do.

Sincerly,
Mav
 
Last edited:
Import regulations to certain countries are more of a pain than to others. For example, it is almost (legally) impossible to ship anything into Brazil. For Italy, I can find the following information:

1. All electronic equipment (radio, TV, VCR, etc.) require an Import Permit from the Italian Ministry of Posts and Communications

or

2. Antiques, pictures, works of art, carpets etc. require Fine Arts inspection and special Import Permit from the Fine Arts authorities at extra cost, payable by Customer

However there appears to be nearly 10 documents required from the person in Italy receiving the shipment to produce before he can even pick up the item. I might be reading it wrong. Still, doesn't look as bad as other countries. I may have even shipped to Italy, I can't remember but if so it would have been a long time ago.
 
Guys,

I know Marco/Maverick and have sold him a DL and SA without issues. I'm in the UK.

When you ship a game you use a shipping company that does sea and air freight. Someone like SBS Worldwide for example. You do NOT USE the Italian Postal service!!

He can be trusted and the only real issue you have is palleting the game - but that can be done by their forwarder also.

My 2 cents.

Oliver
 
Maybe this does not belong here ... But i live in the netherlands and i too want to import cabs from the us. Since things like nintendo cabs simply impossible to find. Would it be an idea to start a topic for ppl selling to the EU maybe specifying countries if they feel like it? I know there is extra effort in packaging and stuff, but we are not evil :)
 
Wow,

Oliver (my new papa' XD

I never imagined to find you right here!

Thanks for the feedback I appreciate it very much,

L'et's hope this can help Mike to let me save that space ace for a good place to be for the next 30 years almost (in the end I don't ask too much)

and yes, for sure it will not be shipped by the postal service! XD

Yours,
Mav
 
Import regulations to certain countries are more of a pain than to others. special Import Permit from the Fine Arts authorities at extra cost, payable by Customer

However there appears to be nearly 10 documents required from the person in Italy receiving the shipment to produce before he can even pick up the item. I might be reading it wrong. Still, doesn't look as bad as other countries. I may have even shipped to Italy, I can't remember but if so it would have been a long time ago.

Thanks tripredacus,

That's true,

Costs are REALLY heavy even from the rest of Europe.

But if you pay all the special permit (as I have always done) you have no problem

.. The only problem is that (if we consider that a problem..) 1 game costs 3 TIMES

I pay now $1,200 to Mike (the seller)

$475 for pick up and shipping within USA

$800 for deliver to Italy

20% of VAT on the Total ($1,200 + 475 + 800= 2,475) = 400$

so I paid it 2875 an another 5% for import from OUTSIDE EU (european community)

Here is how you pay $3000 (for a game of $1,200!)

I justify ALL this just for 1 cause: PASSION AND PRESERVATION as I do.

Mav
 
Last edited:
@mavrk maybe its cheaper just to ship to another european country and get it by car or something? Maybe pauls 50s in germanyncan help yoi since he imports big containers to germany from america with arcades and jukeboxes? He sells nintendo cabs for around 1000 euro...so my guess is that the cabinet you want to import is a lot cheaper and safer imported by him.

Like i said, it might be a good idea for is europeans to unite?

Right now i am waiting on an answer from paul on some questions i asked him. I want to start a import service from the US to europe, if i can i want to use his company. Don't get me wrong it's not commercially from my side.

http://www.pauls50s.de/
 
Last edited:
You sir, are crazy, and I mean that as a compliment. :)

.

Thank you JC ;)

When I decided to preserve Dragon's Lair serial N.1 and spent around $10,000 last year many told me the same,

but you know, if we don't do it when we can, who does it?

The only remorse I have sometime is that I am not able to save everything that really deserve attention.

When I bought the DL serial N.1, the sidam Space ace and in US a rare MINT White Turbo Outrun DLX at the same time, I was not able to save A MINT Atari Space Ace who was bought by an another guy (now a great friend of mine in UK) who had an accident with it and BROKE IT for ever 2 weeks later.

That's what really get me crazy sometime..

But anyway I hope to do even better,

The best I can, when I can

Mav

Yeah Crazy! but Are the craziest people who change the world, isn't it ?! ;)
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom