Buying LEGO from other countries on BrickLink.com may sound intimidating, but some international sellers, particularly in Germany and Poland, offer fantastic prices and higher quantities than United States sellers. International sellers may also offer rare or out of production LEGO parts not available from sellers in the United States.
Ready to take the plunge and buy from an international seller? Great! I know it’s scary, but many new things are scary, aren’t they? Let’s walk you through some key things to consider when buying from an international seller.
1. Finding out shipping prices
Yes, international shipping is often more expensive than domestic shipping. Make sure you have a sense of what you will be paying for shipping. Shipping prices vary vastly from country to country. Many sellers post shipping charts in their store terms. Leave several ounces of buffer weight for packing material–typically the weight shown in shipping charts INCLUDES packing material. When in doubt, contact the seller in advance and ask them for a shipping quote.
2. Spotting Paypal or Handling Fees
Legally, United States sellers CANNOT charge buyers a “Paypal fee” for paying with Paypal. The same laws do not apply in other countries, so some international sellers on BrickLink charge buyers for paying with Paypal. Common Paypal fees from international sellers range anywhere between 2 and 5%. Look for Paypal fees in the seller’s “Store Terms & Conditions” section as well as their “Payments Accepted” and “Payment Methods” sections.
3. Dealing with a Language Barrier
If you’re afraid of running into a language barrier, consider that many international sellers know at least some English. Also, although translating programs like Google Translate are far from perfect, they should work well enough for you to get your point across with a seller. In over 10 years of buying and selling items around the world, I’ve never experienced a total communication breakdown due to a language barrier with a buyer or seller.
4. Learning about Customs Fees
Currently, there are no customs fees for goods under $200 entering the United States. That said, I’ve ordered LEGO worth $250 or so and never been hit with extra forms or fees. But maybe I’m just lucky. For more information about customs fees, please read the U.S. Customs and Border Protection page about internet purchases.
5. Understanding Currency Conversion Fees
Whenever possible, pay for your Bricklink orders in U.S. dollars (or your local currency). Some sellers only accept payments in their own local currency (e.g. Pounds, Euros, Zloty, Kroner, Won, etc), so you don’t always have the option to pay in dollars. But if the seller does accept U.S. dollars, pay in U.S. dollars.
Here’s an example of why you should pay in your local currency. I made an order from a Polish seller. If I paid in U.S. dollars, the price is $146.30. If I paid for the same order in Polish Zloty, 555.93 PLN, that would cost me $157.13. Why are the prices different? If I’m converting my U.S. dollars into another currency like Polish Zloty, Paypal charges me currency conversion fees.
6. Coping with International Returns
International returns suck, plain and simple. Save yourself the expense and hassle of international returns by researching ahead of time and making sure you’re buying exactly what you want for the price that you want. I’ve made hundreds international orders over the years and never needed to return anything.
If the seller makes a mistake and sends you the wrong item or shorts you some pieces, it’s their responsibility to fix it. Since international shipping is expensive, many international sellers will offer a refund or store credit for missing items. Ask for a refund. Why should you be obligated to buy from that seller again? The seller is the one who screwed up.
If you’d like to return an item to an international seller because you don’t want it anymore or because you found it cheaper somewhere else, you typically must pay for return shipping. The cheapest international package rate, via USPS First Class International, is $6.55 retail (slightly cheaper online) for up to 2 ounces.
7. Allowing extra time for shipping and potential customs delays
Don’t ever count on speed when you order internationally. Most standard international shipments arrive anywhere between one week and one month after you pay for your item. On occasion you might have to wait even longer than one month. Even if you pay extra for expedited shipping, your order could get delayed in customs. If you need an item fast, you’ll probably want to stick with a U.S. seller. Domestic shipments through USPS First Class or USPS Priority Mail usually arrive within a zippy 1 to 3 days after mailing.
Further Reading:
8 Reasons NOT to Ship Internationally (BrickingTips.com article)
How Packages Can Be Delayed Beyond Your Control (BrickingTips.com article)