Work/Jobs - - International Business

chiquitita · #1 09-03-2002, 11:23 AM

I wonder... what is everyone's view on doing photo restoration internationally? If your business has a website, you are inevitably going to get restoration requests from other countries. What are the ups and downs to doing business internationally? Are there legal issues associated? Tax issues?

thomasgeorge · #2 09-03-2002, 12:59 PM

I think it sounds like a idea worth investigating!! Perhaps the Chamber of commerce would be a good place to start...They could point you in the right direction, at least as far as who else to contact....keep us informed of what you find out! I think you have an excellent idea!! Tom

Sanda · #3 09-03-2002, 03:41 PM

I've done quite a few international orders. Canada is the main place my international customers come from. Ocasionally I get some from the USA.
I had one recently everything went fine until I requested payment. She simply didn't send the cheque this is the first international customer who has defaulted in payment. She must have changed her mind, I believe it was because my postal address in Australia but I can't prove that.Maybe she didn't realize I was here, I just don't know. I have done the work but have not sent it to her so all I'm out is my time. But I'm a little peeved about it. It's clear that I'm in Australia on my web site in my contact information, which she used to contact me in the first place.

gland · #4 09-03-2002, 03:46 PM

Sandra,I wonder what difference it would make where you live. If you do the work at the contracted price, I guess I don't see the problem.

Dealing with the public can be frustrating sometimes.

Sanda · #5 09-03-2002, 04:03 PM

I might be being over critical of this particular situation. Maybe she would have defaulted where ever I was.

chiquitita · #6 09-03-2002, 06:17 PM

I guess I am wondering how it works if someone in Pakistan or China sends you a check - how does the bank read that and how would you know if it is for the correct amount?

Sanda,

Would the customer send you a check for the equivalent of your price in canadian money or USD? I think the key with international orders is to require a deposit, that way at least you won't loose all the money if they don't pay the remainder.

Sanda · #7 09-03-2002, 06:33 PM

I quote my prices in $US and ask for payment in $US for all international orders, it's too difficult to convert different currencies. My bank has no probelm with $US they do charge me a conversion fee but I take that into account when I quote.

Doug Nelson · #8 09-03-2002, 07:10 PM

I recently finished a job for a man in Argentina. He paid by cc and emailed me a scan, and I emailed back the finished work. Couldn't ask for a better client.

Sanda · #9 09-20-2002, 04:01 PM

Just had a new expreience with international orders. My client said she was paying by cheque but sent a money order instead. This poses a problem, the money order can only be cashed in the USA. So I have to work out what to do with it. I'm not sure if I send it back to her if she will be able to get a refund as the money order is made out to Photo Renovate. I just don't know what to do. Any suggestions or anybody know if money orders are refundable to the purchaser?

CJ Swartz · #10 09-20-2002, 06:33 PM

I'm not well-versed about money orders, but the Western Union website mentions that there is a fee for refunding a money order, so it sounds like they allow it for ones they write out. There is a Western Union office in Queensland that is listed as doing payouts IF the money order is one of theirs.

Western Union - AU

Sanda · #11 09-20-2002, 07:41 PM

Unfortunately it's not a Western Union one

it's a United States Postal Service one. I've been told that because it has "Negotiable only in the U.S and Possessions" that there is no way I can cash it here in Australia. It looks like I'm going to have to send it back to the client, wait till somebody I know goes to the US to cash it or forfit the payment.

Blacknight · #12 09-20-2002, 10:59 PM

If it's made out to YOU, Sanda, how could someone cash it for you? If I could somehow, I would be more than happy to. I'll be in the US for a couple more weeks. Let me know. I can send you the money with pay pal if you can figure out how I could cash it for you. What a hassle, huh.

Blacknight · #13 09-20-2002, 11:01 PM

Just had a thought. Is there an american embassy there? That is considered american soil. Perhaps they could figure out a way for you...

CJ Swartz · #14 09-20-2002, 11:16 PM

Didn't find an embassy, but perhaps the U. S. Consulate could answer your questions --
U. S. Consulate - Sydney

Sanda · #15 09-21-2002, 12:09 AM

I'll try the consulate and see what they have to say.
I think even sending it back to the customer will be a problem as it's made out to my business name.