question for ebayers re: international sale. - GoFuckYourself.com

dyna mo · 10-16-2009, 08:02 AM

i sold an item for $500, shipping from u.s. to great britain. i insured the package for $500.

the buyer is saying uk postal/customs has blocked delivery, wanting 73 pounds. now the buyer is asking me what i am going to do about it. moreover, she's provided no proof of this.

either way, isn't that an import tax? how does ebay view this? any thoughts?

thx.

rowan · 10-16-2009, 08:05 AM

In general customs duties are the responsibility of the receiver. I'm not sure why the buyer would expect you to pay for them.

Maybe she's complaining about you declaring the actual value of the item rather than some bullshit figure.

dyna mo · 10-16-2009, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rowan

In general customs duties are the responsibility of the receiver. I'm not sure why the buyer would expect you to pay for them.

Maybe she's complaining about you declaring the actual value of the item rather than some bullshit figure.

thx, that's how i understand it all too, do you know how ebay views such things?

DateDoc · 10-16-2009, 08:17 AM

eBay and/or paypal will probably view it as you do, however, they may ask if you mentioned in the listing that you are not responsible for any taxes/import fees. They say on their International shipping page, "Generally, buyers pay additional costs such as duties, taxes, and customs clearance fees." Generally is kind of vague though.

http://pages.ebay.com/help/pay/ship-...ationally.html

Scott McD · 10-16-2009, 08:18 AM

Ebay won't do anything. The person you sold it to will have to pay it. If you didn't know about the import tax then there's nothing you could do. Either way, if you did, then the person would still have had to pay, but at least they would have had a heads up before buying.

dyna mo · 10-16-2009, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DateDoc

eBay and/or paypal will probably view it as you do, however, they may ask if you mentioned in the listing that you are not responsible for any taxes/import fees. They say on their International shipping page, "Generally, buyers pay additional costs such as duties, taxes, and customs clearance fees." Generally is kind of vague though.

http://pages.ebay.com/help/pay/ship-...ationally.html

nice, thank you. i didn't find that page prior.

rowan · 10-16-2009, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DateDoc

eBay and/or paypal will probably view it as you do, however, they may ask if you mentioned in the listing that you are not responsible for any taxes/import fees. They say on their International shipping page, "Generally, buyers pay additional costs such as duties, taxes, and customs clearance fees." Generally is kind of vague though.

That wording does make it seem more likely that he'd win a dispute (if it went that far), but it may not prevent the buyer from leaving negative feedback...

I guess the best that the OP can do is try to find a couple of sites that will help educate the buyer and show that he's not trying to rip her off; she could be genuinely unaware of duties levied on international imports.

beemk · 10-16-2009, 08:22 AM

i used to sell clothes on ebay to people in england (they cant get our brand names and will pay way over asking price). i must have shipped 1,000 shirts there and never had a problem.

ContentPimp · 10-16-2009, 08:24 AM

she can order customs to ship back the item to you

aka return to sender...

then she wont have to pay fees, and you will get your item back

-other way- the buyer is responsible for import duty

Si · 10-16-2009, 08:30 AM

You as a seller are not responsible, if she opens a dispute saying she isn't happy because she has to pay import taxes, they will maybe review it for a day or 2 then close it in your favour.

Don't be a fool and give her anything, it's her problem.

Also declaring the package to be of a different value, e.g. it was $500 and you marked it at $30. If found out you would be in trouble.

Either way, let her get on with it

rowan · 10-16-2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Si

Also declaring the package to be of a different value, e.g. it was $500 and you marked it at $30. If found out you would be in trouble.

I've received a few international packages over the years and all of them have said "gift" or "sample of no commercial value." Makes me wonder how they get away with it...

10-16-2009, 08:02 AM	#1
dyna mo The People's Post Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: invisible 7-11 Posts: 63,905	question for ebayers re: international sale. i sold an item for $500, shipping from u.s. to great britain. i insured the package for $500. the buyer is saying uk postal/customs has blocked delivery, wanting 73 pounds. now the buyer is asking me what i am going to do about it. moreover, she's provided no proof of this. either way, isn't that an import tax? how does ebay view this? any thoughts? thx.

10-16-2009, 08:17 AM	#4
DateDoc Outside looking in. Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: To Hell You Ride Posts: 14,243	eBay and/or paypal will probably view it as you do, however, they may ask if you mentioned in the listing that you are not responsible for any taxes/import fees. They say on their International shipping page, "Generally, buyers pay additional costs such as duties, taxes, and customs clearance fees." Generally is kind of vague though. http://pages.ebay.com/help/pay/ship-...ationally.html __________________

10-16-2009, 08:18 AM	#5
Scott McD Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 67,795	Ebay won't do anything. The person you sold it to will have to pay it. If you didn't know about the import tax then there's nothing you could do. Either way, if you did, then the person would still have had to pay, but at least they would have had a heads up before buying. __________________ I Buy My High Quality Traffic Here, You Should Too!

10-16-2009, 08:22 AM	#8
beemk CLICK HERE Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 20,829	i used to sell clothes on ebay to people in england (they cant get our brand names and will pay way over asking price). i must have shipped 1,000 shirts there and never had a problem. __________________ I host with Vacares

10-16-2009, 08:24 AM	#9
ContentPimp Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3,184	she can order customs to ship back the item to you aka return to sender... then she wont have to pay fees, and you will get your item back -other way- the buyer is responsible for import duty __________________ Blog Post Writing and Reviews are 2 cents per word & Titles and Gallery Descriptions 1 cent per word We also write Pay Site Reviews, SEO and Mainstream text www.contentpimp.info Contact me on ICQ at 400792466 Payoneer, Paxum and Paypal Accepted forms of Payment by the Pimp

10-16-2009, 08:05 AM	#2
rowan Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 17,393	In general customs duties are the responsibility of the receiver. I'm not sure why the buyer would expect you to pay for them. Maybe she's complaining about you declaring the actual value of the item rather than some bullshit figure.

10-16-2009, 08:30 AM	#10
Si Such Fun! Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 13,900	You as a seller are not responsible, if she opens a dispute saying she isn't happy because she has to pay import taxes, they will maybe review it for a day or 2 then close it in your favour. Don't be a fool and give her anything, it's her problem. Also declaring the package to be of a different value, e.g. it was $500 and you marked it at $30. If found out you would be in trouble. Either way, let her get on with it