When buying in the United States in 2004, the favourable dollar exchange rate was accompanied by additional costs which quickly consumed the supposed bargain: express shipping came to around 40 euros, and to this were added import duties of about 30 per cent on the value of the goods plus the shipping costs. The exchange-rate advantage usually did not offset this burden.
Conversely, where the highest bidder is abroad, a seller should clarify before dispatch who bears the costs of the payment transaction, for example in the case of transfers from outside Europe, of cheques or of payment through a payment service, who assumes the customs charges and who bears the higher shipping costs; in addition, the shipping method appropriate to the destination country must be chosen. These incidental costs can quickly exceed the value of a writing instrument, so that a sale abroad may in some circumstances not be worthwhile.