IronPlanet welcomes sellers and buyers from around the world to participate in its weekly Featured Auctions as well as the Daily Marketplace. This creates a larger pool of equipment for bidders to choose from, making it easier for them to find the goods they need. While it does provide benefits, purchasing equipment internationally can also make the shipping process a bit more complicated.Whether buying domestic or purchasing construction equipment and agriculture equipment from another country, the buyer is responsible for arranging transportation.
Finding a shipping company
IronPlanet can provide buyers with a list of third party transportation partners that are capable of processing international orders. The online auction company does not, however, arrange any of the transportation details. Shipping is left to the buyer, who can request non-binding cost estimates from any of the international companies before and after an auction has ended. This allows the bidder to get an idea of how much it will cost to relocate equipment from another country, which allows them to make informed decisions prior to placing bids.
Arranging international export
When removing big ticket items such as forklifts, aggregate equipment, backhoes and cranes from one country and sending them to another, there are a few details that will be needed during the checkout process on IronPlanet's website. For example, when exporting equipment from the U.S. to a European country, the buyer will need to have the port of export as well as the foreign delivery address prepared. The exact specifications for a particular situation can be found by contacting the shipper or a customs broker.
Financial details
When exporting equipment, buyers will not be required to pay sales tax should they provide IronPlanet with the proper documentation. They will need to send the company a copy of the Bill of Lading, which is issued by the carrier and contains shipment information. This document ensures that sellers receive payment and the buyers receive the equipment. IronPlanet will also need copies of export documents that detail the port of export as well as the final shipping destination. It is important to make sure both documents contain a description of the item as well as its serial number. The sales tax is not waived for goods purchased from Mexico or title vehicles that are sold from Florida. However, IronPlanet will issue a refund once the documents have been sent to the company.
Time constraints
The buyer will receive the shipper's information to arrange pickup once the sale price has been paid in full. At this point, the buyer has eight days to remove the equipment. After this period, the seller is allowed to charge a storage fee to the buyer. After 60 days, the item is considered abandoned, and the buyer is still responsible for paying any storage fees as well as IronPlanet's commission from the sale. In the case of abandonment, the buyer will not be able to waive any sales taxes on future purchases made through IronPlanet until the debt is settled.
Once the winning bidder makes the payment and the seller receives these funds, IronPlanet will provide the buyer with the seller's contact information. Some sellers may be willing and able to help out with dismantling equipment for a fee, but this is not required of the seller, so buyers may need to make other arrangements if dismantling or other special services are necessary. Many of the transportation companies affiliated with IronPlanet offer such assistance for an additional fee.
