Ebay.com Import Charges!

[itfciain]

****!! Only just seen this thread.

Just won something on ebay from a US Seller, never noticed the import charges on the listing and now when I come to pay they want an extra $16!!


Watching another US auction, but no mention of charges on that listing so I presume Okay and won't be charged if I win that auction.

Yeah, I think it only applies to sellers that have opted into this scheme - you could try messaging the other seller and asking if he will send you a paypal invoice for the eBay item rather than pay through eBay and have to cover the charges

 

[Stormtrooper37]

Thanks for the advice Iain


But for once a helpful seller

E-mailed seller about this and they said can't alter invoice due to blah blah blah etc..............

Then get another message from seller saying they have contacted E-bay and say if I request an invoice they are able to over-ride the charges and create a new invoice.

I requested a new invoice, seller updates invoice, removes import charges

 

[Bramistuta25]

When is it gonna end... Soon its gonna cost $50 EXTRA to buy something that costs $30 to buy.

Absolute joke... Soon e-Bay will be upstaged by a new company who's not as greedy!!

F**KS SAKE!!

 

[wrighty]

I have found a way round it. You first log onto ebay.com instead of ebay.co.uk, then go to shipping and change it to US and give a postcode like 90210 etc. You will then find the import tax thing disappear. only thing left is for you to convince the seller to declare at the value you want to avoid the import tax when it gets to the UK. Hope this helps, I have been doing this for a few months with no problems.

 

[rob71]

I've been getting things sent to my myus US shipping address. I can then consolidate shipments from there, and as long as items plus freight come to less than $400NZ (£200) they can come in free. If not you get screwed a minimum of $120! (Kiwis - well their government at least - love nothing better than charging you handsomely for **** all :evil: )

The other way to possibly avoid it is if you are buying things you want AFA to grade. You can then get the items sent from the shipping address to the AFA. Once graded, AFA only declare the value of the acrylic cases etc (the figures are still insured but privately so they dont get declared - according to their website). The other important thing is that goods are marked as your RETURNED items, not newly bought.

 

[tiefighterboy]

You have US shipping address???? How does stuff ship from it?

 

[Wild Whiphid]

Seems as though the Netherlands are not eligible for this option.
Probably explains why I have never seen this before.

Whenever I get something of eBay I try and make sure it's marked in such way it won't be stopped by customs.
While I can see the point behind the import taxes, the amounts they charge you are just ridiculous.
It's not only the VAT you have to pay, but also their "service". The extra costs are anywhere in between +26% and +77%...

 

[wrighty]

In the UK, its 20% of the declare value on anything declared £36 (so nothing really) or above plus Royal Mail / Parcelforce will charge £8 for service. I am sure the different courier companies will charge the service fee differently.

 

[rob71]

You have US shipping address???? How does stuff ship from it?

There are quite a few options but I settled on myus.com, who have been ok so far. I pay $7 a month for the "service". Its an address in Florida I've used to get Amazon purchases, xmas presents for the wife etc sent to (and now vintage Star Wars 8) ). Once it all arrives you just choose to consolidate as much or as little as you like into one shipment, and everything just gets sent by DHL or UPS whichever is the cheapest (usually DHL). Far cheaper than sending stuff separately. The only thing to look out for are the New Zealand GST charges over a certain amount (and they add the shipping cost to the declared amount as well!)

 

[rob71]

In the UK, its 20% of the declare value on anything declared £36 (so nothing really) or above plus Royal Mail / Parcelforce will charge £8 for service. I am sure the different courier companies will charge the service fee differently.

And I complain about New Zealand! It's easy for me to think about old Blighty with rose-coloured specs after 6 years, but yes there are just as many if not more shysters over there (most of them connected to the HMRC! :lol: )

 

[weasel]

As far as I can see the Gov seem to think the fairest tax rate is 101% of your annual income.
It would save a lot of ****ing about if they'd just amalgamate all these daft taxes, income, NI, VAT, Duty, Inheritance etc into one flat 101% tax and get it over with.