US only sales WHY???

I too dislike selling out of the U.S., especially since most of the items I sell are rather high priced items, and if there is a problem, I am out big bucks!

I don't want to deal with customs, or excessive insurance, or especially, bogus paypal payments. Once the item has left the U.S., there is little we, as U.S. sellers, can do from a legal standpoint should the seller lie and say he did not receive the item, or that it was broken, etc. Paypal usually believes the buyer, and screws the seller in those instances.

(I have sold a couple items to non-U.S. buyers, (out of desparation to sell items at a decent price, to be honest), but I have insisted on bank transfers in those cases.)

My two cents worth.

PS And no offense, but if I choose to limit myself to U.S. buyers only, that is my business and my business alone. I really don't need anyone telling me what I can and/or have to do. The U.S. is not a complete socialist state. Well, at least not yet - maybe next year though!

Taylor514,

To answer your question: "Do you sellers that restrict your sales only to the U.S. ever buy from international sellers or do you only buy from the U.S.?"

The basic answer is: No, I don't buy "equipment" internationally, and Yes, I only buy from U.S. sellers.
I do make a small exception, as I will buy LPs from international sellers, but that is it.

It really is a matter of how much hassle and risk one wishes to put up with when buying and selling gear. Personally, I will take a lesser price and sell domestically, rather than make a bit more money and sell internationally. And to take it a step further, I also further discount my equipment sales when the seller is local and I can eliminate shipping althogether!
(Man, I hate shipping large items, especially speakers - although, I will admit, that I did sell and ship speakers recently, and actually had a semi-pleasant experience, unlike my first time!) And conversely, I much prefer to buy from local sellers to eliminate the hassles of shipping (incluidng the shipping costs, insurance costs, and of course the possible damage from shipping). I have had enough insurance hassles to last me a lifetime, thank you very much!

I look at this as a hobby, and as a hobby, I want to enjoy it, and not spend time fretting over shipping charges, shipping insurance, shipping damage, insurance claims, fraudulent buyers and sellers, and all the other potential hassles that are involved in the buying and selling of gear. (So adding another layer of potential problems by including international buying and selling is just not in the cards for me!) Perhaps that is why I tend to hang onto gear longer than most people. The average lifespan of the gear (in my system), is somewhere between five and ten years. Well, except for cartridges, which tends to be about eighteen months. But now that I have found the Dynavector XV-1S, that is going change! I'm done looking! :-)

Anyway, my two cents worth!

It is buyers like David12 that I would, (and have on the rare occassion), sell to who are outside of the U.S.
I like buyers who understand that there are hassles in selling internationally, and they, as the international buyer, assume all the responsibilities for the hassles, problems and costs associated there with!

Good Job David!