Selling Online Internationally: Canada and Beyond

[Kristijntje]

Some e-tailers are better suited than others to sell outside the U.S., Graham says.

If a merchant hopes to sell overseas, it must consider "the ratio of the pain to the size of the order," he says. "And the pain is transportation, taxes and duties." In other words, an order's dollar value must be big enough to offset hefty international shipping costs.

The best products for non-U.S. sales are high price-point, low-weight items — this keeps shipping fees small as a percentage of order value.

Unique products are particularly good candidates for overseas sales. "If you're the only one who's got it, it'll be worth it," for customers to pay high shipping fees, Graham says. The classic case was Levi's, back when the jeans weren't sold legally outside the United States. "Even if a $20 pair of Levi's had another $20 in shipping, people would pay it," he says.

On the other hand, "if a commodity product is available world wide, why would customers pay the extra money to get it?" ...

full article: http://www.ecommerce-guide.com/solutions...hp/3591111