The Zeiss Ikon Contax Camera Repair Website - Shipping Packages From Germany

Index

Shipping Packages From Germany or EuropeTo You

If you're interested in using this service you can contact me using this link:

If you have no experience in having items shipped to you from Germany please keep in mind that there are some big problems that this service seeks to overcome.

A. The first is that no matter what you do it's always going to be much more costly than shipping in the USA. I don't know why, but it is and there's no way around it. Ebay sellers who do ship to the USA regularly charge anywhere between 18 Euros to as much as 58 Euros for small items. Here's a recent example of an Ebay Germany auction showing how expensive shipping to the USA can be:

The savings offered by this service come from buying rare, special and valuable items that are available for delivery only in Germany. In some cases there are German sellers who will ship only in the European Union. Here's an example of a mint quality Contax IF with an extremely rare Contax I model 50mm f2.0 Sonnar that is available for delivery only inside the European Union at a very reasonable price:

B. The second problem is that it is my sad experience that many Ebay sellers in Europe tend to try to make a profit on shipping and take short cuts with the quality of packaging and the quality of the shipping service. They will charge an express rate and then ship by ground, package the item improperly using cheap materials; and it arrives damaged after a long delay. This is a very common problem.

My shipping company ships your package(s) to you by express delivery and so it will arrive with you two to three days after it arrives at the shipping company or after it is shipped. Also, your package will be over packed professionally before being forwarded so that you can be sure it won't be damaged on its trip from them to you.

This shipping service is an option for you that will make it possible for you to obtain choice, special, rare and specially priced items that are available only in Europe and deliverable only in Europe. Compared to shipping by priority mail or UPS in the USA it is expensive. But sometimes an item is so rare or it is so well priced the cost of shipping is a necessary part of the package and the overall cost is very reasonable.

Another thing to consider is that shipping inside Germany or the European Union is relatively inexpensive running about 8.00 Euros or less per package. If you buy an item on Ebay Germany consider automatically that if it could be sent to you directly by the seller you would pay him about 45.00 Euros for him to do it.

Your package will be delivered to my drop box in Germany as it was prepared by your seller. It will not be opened but will be securely over packed for express delivery. If it is delivered here and then forwarded to you it will not be opened here but will be sent on to you after being removed out of the combined shipping box from Germany. If it is over packed here for U.S. Mail shipment your package will not be opened except under exceptional circumstances; but will be over packed (if necessary) or sent on as it was delivered here.

You must inform me of the contents of the package along with their value for the purposes of invoicing and insurance by the forwarder in Germany. This information will be provided to the freight company in Germany. You agree that these statements will be honest and complete to the best of your knowledge and belief and that you are solely responsible for them.

C. Payment for Ebay Items in Europe:

In the USA most people allow payment by PayPal but in Europe most sellers who will ship only in Germany or the European Union accept only direct bank transfer. This method of payment is usually expensive if you go through your local bank. It is also not often used in the USA and so few people have any knowledge of it. But it's available, easy and quick. The direct bank transfer site XOOM can use a Credit or Debit card to accomplish direct bank transfer to any Ebay seller in Europe. Opening an account is easy and immediate and you can start up an account and accomplish a transfer in about15 minutes. Here's a link to XOOM:

XOOM Global Money Transfer Service

D. Ebay Germany Auction Closing Times and Dates:

Germany is 9 hours ahead of the USA. Ebay auctions in Germany are under German (METZ) time. To find the time an auction will close in Pacific Daylight Time just subtract 9 hours. For example if an Ebay Germany auction will close at 2200 METZ it will close at 2200 - 0900 = 1300 hours PDT or at 1:00 in the afternoon or 1:00 PM.

In Europe the date format is different than in the USA. In Ebay Germany auctions the date is shown as Day/Mo/Yr.

E. The Language Barrier:

Typically an Ebay seller who will ship only in Germany speaks only German. If he ships to the European Union only he probably understands written English. If you are in doubt just check the seller's feedback. If he's got some compliments in English it's safe to write to him using simple English. If not or if he replies to state he doesn't understand English just use the Babelfish Internet Translation Engine to construct emails in German or the other European language you need. It's easy to use and free.. When using it keep your sentences short and simple. Sometimes, if you're trying to communicate something complex its best to just translate one sentence at a time and then build up an email one translated sentence at a time using cut and paste. Here's a link to the Babelfish Translation Engine:

Babelfish Translation Engine

You can also use Babelfish to translate entire Ebay pages into English.

The Forwarding Service Fees, Prices and Terms

There are three to five costs in this service depending upon your needs.

1. A basic subscription fee to have access to the drop box in the City of Berlin, Germany. This fee is $50.00 per person per 12 months. If you choose not to subscribe but only want to use this service once the cost will be a temporary subscription fee of $20.00 per package delivered to the forwarding company. Once you are a subscriber you will be provided with the shipping address to use to send your packages to the drop box.

2. The German forwarder will charge an over packing cost of between 5 to 10 Euros per over package. You can buy a number of items, allow them to accumulate for up to a month, and then have them consolidated into one box for about 10 Euros in order to have the weight savings shown in the next paragraph.

3. A shipping cost to forward your package to you directly or to me by Express delivery as follows:

1 kg: 90,40 €
3 kg: 117,30 €
5 kg: 144,20 €
8 kg: 168,20 €
10 kg: 184,25 €
15 kg: 215,80 €

A less expensive alternative is to specify Deutsche Post shipment:

1 kg to 5 kg: 53,50 €
5 kg to 10kg: 74,00 €
10kg to 20kg 103,50 €

You have to be more patient when useing Deutsche Post because it takes up to six weeks for a package to arrive. My experience is that it will take anywhere from two weeks to six weeks. In all cases of my experience the packages have arrived safetly and in good condition.

If you intend to buy a number of items over a period of time it is possible for you to allow your items to be consolidated in the Berlin drop box along with the items purchased by others over a period of up to six weeks. In this case a combined shipment will be sent to me and I will then accept the consolidated package and forward your item to you by U.S. Post Insured Priority Mail a few days after the delivery arrives here.

The total cost of the combined shipment will be shared by all who participate in it by weight. For example, suppose I receive a box with three packages in it for three people and it weighs 5 kg and cost 10 Euros to over pack.. The shipping amount charged to each person will be 144.20 Euros + 10 Euros divided by three or 48 Euros per person which is about $73.00.

4. If you have your item delivered here and forwarded to you by U.S. Priority Mail the cost for me to forward the package to you from here by U.S. mail will be either:

a. $25.00 plus postage and insurance per package if I have to repackage it to meet U.S. postal regulations or to ensure, in my opinion, that it will not be damaged between here and your delivery address.

b. $15.00 per package plus postage and insurance if the box can be used as it is.

5. There may be customs duties. My experience over the years has been that I've been assessed customs duties twice in 20 years. It is highly probable there will be no customs duties but it can happen and you should allow about 10% of the value you declare for your item for duties in the event they are assessed and charged.

Keep in mind that you cannot ask for insurance that is in excess of the value you have declared. If you under declare and therefore underinsure an item and it is damaged or lost you are solely responsible and liable for any difference between what you paid and what the insurance claim will pay.

Terms of Service:

By paying a subscription fee you agree to the following Terms of Service:

1. My sole responsibility is as an intermediary shipping agent for you. I have no responsibility for any and all losses you may incur, for any reason, through your use of this service.

2. You agree that only items purchased by you on Ebay will be delivered to the forwarder and shipped using this service.

3. Your sole remedy for any and all losses, shortages and/or damages is the insurance provided by the Ebay seller who ships your package(s) to the drop box in Germany, the forwarder in Germany or the U.S. Postal service, as applicable. In the event of any claim against me as a result of your package(s) you agree to pay all my expenses.

4. You agree that any and all matters concerning the item(s) that do not directly involve the processing of an insurance claim are between you and that person exclusively.. I cannot and will not act as an intermediary in any way between or with you and any other person involved in your purchase transaction other than to cooperate in an insurance claim..

5. I am the only person who will communicate with the forwarding company in Germany. I will forward to you any communications concerning the arrival or shipment of your item(s) within a day of their arrival here. If you have your Ebay seller register your shipment I will be notified when it arrives at the forwarder and will then notify you. I will notify you when your shipment has been sent by the forwarder for delivery in the U.S.A.

6. You agree to pay any and all taxes, fees and duties on your items.

7. In the event of an insurance claim against the shipper in Europe, the forwarder in Berlin, or the U.S. Mail I will fully cooperate but cannot sign to certify any facts or statements about which I have no direct personal knowledge.

8. If you have your package delivered here I will not make any judgments concerning its condition or contents and will not open it for any reason unless it presents an imminent obvious danger or presents a cause for concern regarding a conflict with Postal Regulations concerting the shipment of goods prohibited for shipment by U.S. Mail. If the package is a danger or is not shippable by U.S. Mail you agree to pay all costs of disposal or shipment by other carrier who will accept it.

9. You will not use this service to attempt to import any goods prohibited for entry to the U.S.A. or which are otherwise illegal in the State in which they are to be delivered. This includes, but is not limited to: chemicals, inflammable liquids or gasses, pharmaceuticals, drugs, stolen goods, fireworks, corrosive, hazardous or inflammable substances as defined by Federal Regulations, and anything that would present a danger to anyone or anything during shipment.

10. You agree to pay all charges applicable to your package, including any assessed taxes, fees or duties billed to me, before it is shipped to you. Payment is due immediately upon request and you agree to submit payment here within seven working days of a request for payment. If payment is not received within seven days ownership of your package(s) is transferred to me entirely and permanently and that you relinquish voluntarily any and all future interest in it and any proceeds from its sale or disposal.

11. You assume complete and total liability and responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any statements you may make to me and/or which I may forward to any other person on your behalf. You agree to be the applicable party in any official investigation or proceeding concerning any package sent to the forwarder in Germany addressed to you. I will fully cooperate with any International, State, Federal or Local Authority concerning any shipment or package and you agree that I am authorized to provide to them, upon their request, any and all emails or other documents or statements provided to me by you or sent to you by me and/or which concern you and/or your shipment(s). You agree to pay any and all of my expenses, fees, or fines assessed to me as a result of your shipment.

12. The total combined liability of the forwarder for the contents of the drop box at any one time is a maximum of 16 Euros and no supplementary insurance is available. If you allow your packages to accumulate in the drop, and do not have them forwarded as they arrive in the drop box this is at your own risk and I am not liable for any loss due to any cause including but not limited to: burglary, theft, breakage, loss, damage or any other cause.

13. These terms of service may be changed without notice based upon experience.

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Zeiss Ikon Contax Camera Repair