Puerto Rico

[Oakenfold]

I sold something on ebay, buyer lives in P.R.
In my auction I state that I ship to the U.S.A. only.
I don't think I would be required to ship to P.R. would I? It's a territory, it's not part of the USA.
Let's hear your thoughts folks.
In case you are wondering why I don't want to do this.
A. The buyer paid via check when I told them in the auction terms I do not accept checks (I've already sent it back). Only money order or paypal. They have advised me that they will send a money order in it's place but I don't want to ship to P.R. given that a money order can be forged or stopped. -

B. Refer to A. This sounds like a scam.

 

[tami]

so what's the problem if you sent the money back?

 

[sonz70]

Ebay Feedback

 

[Oakenfold]

Originally posted by: tami
so what's the problem if you sent the money back?

Sorry, I updated the post.
The buyer has agreed to send out a money order however I have advised them unless they provide a USA address I am not shipping. I've got a bad feeling about this situation, I'm not really concerned about feedback however I want to know if I am listing my auction terms incorrectly by stating that I ship to the USA only, does that include P.R.?

 

[bunker]

Just make sure you have the money order cashed and money in hand before shipping. P.R. uses the US postal system. It won't cost you any extra to ship to them.

 

[pjcolon]

YES, PR is included in the USA as it s a commonwealth under the protection of the US.
nullLook under 1917

 

[WildHorse]

Shipments to PR are not exports. Shipments from PR are not imports.

The Customs territory of the USA includes the 50 states, Wash. D.C. and PR.

 

[DeviousTrap]

If you cash or deposit the money order there is no way for them to stop it. If you want added security, tell them to use a US Postal Money order, and go and cash it in any post office as soon as you receive it.

 

[EKKC]

when i write my listings, i distinguishly say only 48 lower contiguous states. AL, HI and PR will be charged extra if I do decide to ship there.

 

[ironcrotch]

Who cares if the buyer is paying for shipping?

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: EKKC
when i write my listings, i distinguishly say only 48 lower contiguous states. AL, HI and PR will be charged extra if I do decide to ship there.

You charge extra to ship to Alabama?

 

[bamacre]

When I shipped to PR via FedEx, I had to do an Int'l shipment, it was a PITA, and expensive. I never ship to PR now.

 

[marvdmartian]

AND the Virgin Islands, AND Guam. They're ALL part of the USA, and you would have protection under ebay's "safe harbor" shipping to any of them.

Not to get on the OP, but it amazes me that people that have graduated from high school don't realize that all 3 territories of the USA are part of the USA (doesn't ANYONE remember their history or geography lessons???), that the residents of those territories are US citizens, and that they can ship to any of those areas via USPS domestic mail, the same as they could ship to California or Alaska. Double check with the USPS to see if you need to put a customs declaration on the package before you send it (some of their rules are a bit funky), but be reassured that you're sending it to the USA.

I know this after having lived in Guam for 7 years, back in the 90's. Had a seller that put a "will only sell in the USA" statement on their listing, I won the bid, then they tried to back out of the auction because they MEANT the continental USA. I told them they could either sell me the item, or I'd report them to ebay for not following the auction's stated terms, that THEY had set. He moaned and whined, and sold me the item, after he called the PO and found out everything I had told him was true, and he didn't have a leg to stand on!

 

[franksta]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy

Originally posted by: EKKC
when i write my listings, i distinguishly say only 48 lower contiguous states. AL, HI and PR will be charged extra if I do decide to ship there.

You charge extra to ship to Alabama?

Our roads aren't paved thus it's a bit more expensive.

 

[EKKC]

Originally posted by: franksta

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy

Originally posted by: EKKC
when i write my listings, i distinguishly say only 48 lower contiguous states. AL, HI and PR will be charged extra if I do decide to ship there.

You charge extra to ship to Alabama?

Our roads aren't paved thus it's a bit more expensive.

yeah. there's a katrina-surcharge.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: marvdmartian
AND the Virgin Islands, AND Guam. They're ALL part of the USA, and you would have protection under ebay's "safe harbor" shipping to any of them.

Not to get on the OP, but it amazes me that people that have graduated from high school don't realize that all 3 territories of the USA are part of the USA (doesn't ANYONE remember their history or geography lessons???), that the residents of those territories are US citizens, and that they can ship to any of those areas via USPS domestic mail, the same as they could ship to California or Alaska. Double check with the USPS to see if you need to put a customs declaration on the package before you send it (some of their rules are a bit funky), but be reassured that you're sending it to the USA.

I know this after having lived in Guam for 7 years, back in the 90's. Had a seller that put a "will only sell in the USA" statement on their listing, I won the bid, then they tried to back out of the auction because they MEANT the continental USA. I told them they could either sell me the item, or I'd report them to ebay for not following the auction's stated terms, that THEY had set. He moaned and whined, and sold me the item, after he called the PO and found out everything I had told him was true, and he didn't have a leg to stand on!

PR is a protectorate, right? So its residents would not be full US citizens.

 

[timelapse]

Hello. I am from PR...

We are 100% US citizens, otherwise all those nice federal agencies (NSA, DIA, DOE, etc...) wouldn't have come to our job fair last week looking for US citizens

For payment, accept the money order, check it with the bank and then ship via regular mail/USPS.

There are crooks in PR, just like everywhere else, so watch out

Oh, and we eat people!

 

[nd]

PR is a protectorate, right? So its residents would not be full US citizens.

They are US citizens, but cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections.

 

[AnyMal]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: marvdmartian
AND the Virgin Islands, AND Guam. They're ALL part of the USA, and you would have protection under ebay's "safe harbor" shipping to any of them.

Not to get on the OP, but it amazes me that people that have graduated from high school don't realize that all 3 territories of the USA are part of the USA (doesn't ANYONE remember their history or geography lessons???), that the residents of those territories are US citizens, and that they can ship to any of those areas via USPS domestic mail, the same as they could ship to California or Alaska. Double check with the USPS to see if you need to put a customs declaration on the package before you send it (some of their rules are a bit funky), but be reassured that you're sending it to the USA.

I know this after having lived in Guam for 7 years, back in the 90's. Had a seller that put a "will only sell in the USA" statement on their listing, I won the bid, then they tried to back out of the auction because they MEANT the continental USA. I told them they could either sell me the item, or I'd report them to ebay for not following the auction's stated terms, that THEY had set. He moaned and whined, and sold me the item, after he called the PO and found out everything I had told him was true, and he didn't have a leg to stand on!

PR is a protectorate, right? So its residents would not be full US citizens.

Yes, they are citizens. The kicker is, they don't pay any federal taxes. Sweet for them eh?

 

[CaptnKirk]

Originally posted by: scott
Shipments to PR are not exports. Shipments from PR are not imports.

The Customs territory of the USA includes the 50 states, Wash. D.C. and PR.

A few years ago when I was making wings for dragsters, I had 3 customers from PR that bought my parts. I made them in Florida & shipped them to PR - they had to go through import customs and the purchaser was responsible for paying the import tax.

PR is the 'unofficial' 51st state, they have voting rights in the US National Elections for their representatives.
Vote Puerto Rico

 

[Jzero]

If it doesn't cost you extra to ship and the money order clears and you have the cash in your hand, then no big deal.
Next time specify "Continental US ONLY."

 

[Oakenfold]

Originally posted by: marvdmartian
AND the Virgin Islands, AND Guam. They're ALL part of the USA, and you would have protection under ebay's "safe harbor" shipping to any of them.

Not to get on the OP, but it amazes me that people that have graduated from high school don't realize that all 3 territories of the USA are part of the USA (doesn't ANYONE remember their history or geography lessons???), that the residents of those territories are US citizens, and that they can ship to any of those areas via USPS domestic mail, the same as they could ship to California or Alaska. Double check with the USPS to see if you need to put a customs declaration on the package before you send it (some of their rules are a bit funky), but be reassured that you're sending it to the USA.

I know this after having lived in Guam for 7 years, back in the 90's. Had a seller that put a "will only sell in the USA" statement on their listing, I won the bid, then they tried to back out of the auction because they MEANT the continental USA. I told them they could either sell me the item, or I'd report them to ebay for not following the auction's stated terms, that THEY had set. He moaned and whined, and sold me the item, after he called the PO and found out everything I had told him was true, and he didn't have a leg to stand on!

Thanks for all the input guys, this is what I wanted clarification on. I know it's a territory but wanted to get opinions on what shipping to USA only means to you.

Originally posted by: Jzero
If it doesn't cost you extra to ship and the money order clears and you have the cash in your hand, then no big deal.
Next time specify "Continental US ONLY."

Indeed, now I know what I need to change my terms to, I'm not worried about the cost of shipping just the scam factor.

 

[spartacus321]

From my experiences, shipping with USPS is usually the same price as if you were shipping an item within the CONUS. With FedEx and the others however, they regard PR as an International shipment and thus charge more.

I've had ebay sellers as well as AT members from the FS/FT section mail me stuff in PR via USPS Priority mail and everything went smoothly and at no extra cost.

I guess it's up to your discretion to decide whether or not you'd want to ship there, and if you do make sure you clearly state your terms to avoid any problems again.

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: timelapse
Hello. I am from PR...

We are 100% US citizens, otherwise all those nice federal agencies (NSA, DIA, DOE, etc...) wouldn't have come to our job fair last week looking for US citizens

For payment, accept the money order, check it with the bank and then ship via regular mail/USPS.

There are crooks in PR, just like everywhere else, so watch out

Oh, and we eat people!

Don't lie, man. You profile clearly states that you are from Alberta, Afghanistan.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: nd

PR is a protectorate, right? So its residents would not be full US citizens.

They are US citizens, but cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections.

Then they shouldn't be referred to as citizens, IMHO. I'm not trying to give the Puerto Ricans a hard time, it's just a simplicity thing; if you can't vote, then you are not a citizen. Residents of a commonwealth should have a different classification, a "commoner" or a "national" or something like that, that recieves the same protection under US law but lacks the voting power. Having to make a distinction between citizens that can vote and those that can't is a PITA, we just need to call them different things.