Paypal insurance for purchases in the US

[Bramistuta25]

Hi guys,

I am looking to buy an expensive figure in the US and the guy has offered to send it at a value of $30, if I have purchased the item through Paypal will the package still be insured to the value of what I bought it as?

If not, is there anyway I can buy the figure through Paypal, avoid customs charges and have insurance if it does go missing?

Thanks.

Bram

 

[edd_jedi]

Basically, no. You have 2 options:

1) Mark the value at $30 and pay no tax, but have no insurance
2) Declare the full value, have insurance, but pay tax

You cannot have it both ways I'm afraid.

 

[plantman]

Yep edd is correct, especially if the payment is gift ect you have absolutely no comebacks.

if the payment is via ebay you could actually claim..but that wouldnt be fair on the seller, its best to come to an agreement.

if its an expensive figure it may be worth letting it hit customs or maybe even putting some value on it like say

the figure was worth $800

but mark it up at $250

that way you will get hit (or not if your really lucky) but its not as bad, and if it gets lost your not as screwed.

Andy

 

[Bramistuta25]

Thanks mate.

What if I got it sent to my friend in the US and then he sent it to me as a GIFT? Would that work?

Or am I being stupid? :?

Bram

 

[plantman]

Not really, its the same situation for you, if its sent with a value of $30, thats all you can claim if it gets lost.

if you buy it off ebay and the seller marks it down then he is taking a massive risk that you dont screw him over.

like i said, if you pay via gift ect you cannot claim as there is no actual proof of sale to claim against.

weigh up if its worth it, how much are we talking?

 

[Bramistuta25]

Its not huge amounts... Its $530... but for me thats quite a big chunk of change.

I was gonna get it sent to my mate, but he knows nothing about star wars figures so couldn't tell me if the figures are good or not,plus he's not over til June and I can't wait that long!!

What's my best play?

Thanks.

Bram

 

[itfciain]

Just a thought here but is the value of an item connected to the value that you put on the customs form. I know that in the UK the customs form is completely separate from postage insurance

 

[PGowdy]

Do bare in mind that if the package doesn't arrive the seller still has to refund you. Whether you asked for it to be sent insured or not. The insurance is really for his benefit. It has very little benefit for you.

 

[plantman]

if it was me i would probably have it marked down to half at least

if you leave it at $530 that £330

so your charges would be

VAT 17% £57
Import Duty 20% of the value £66 TAX (i dont know if they do this after or before vat so one of these values will be lower)
£18 handling fee

wont actually be as much but you can see how bad its gonna be.

 

[plantman]

Just a thought here but is the value of an item connected to the value that you put on the customs form. I know that in the UK the customs form is completely separate from postage insurance

you have to put the value of the item in order for the claim to be valid, both amounts have to match up or your claim will fail.

 

[Bramistuta25]

Do bare in mind that if the package doesn't arrive the seller still has to refund you. Whether you asked for it to be sent insured or not. The insurance is really for his benefit. It has very little benefit for you.

This isn't the case if I pay by GIFT though? Right...

Its a deal outside of eBay.

 

[Bramistuta25]

Am I just best off sending it to my mate in the US and then getting someone to bring it back, saving of £75 I guess!

 

[plantman]

Am I just best off sending it to my mate in the US and then getting someone to bring it back, saving of £75 I guess!

if its gift you have absolutely no comebacks, again, you could screw the seller but dont lol.

if you mean get someone to bring it back by hand then you are in a better position yes.

 

[itfciain]

Just a thought here but is the value of an item connected to the value that you put on the customs form. I know that in the UK the customs form is completely separate from postage insurance

you have to put the value of the item in order for the claim to be valid, both amounts have to match up or your claim will fail.

I am not sure how they will be able to tell - unless they check at postage - I am only speak for the UK but I have never seen anyone at the Post Office check the amount that I declare on the customs form

 

[PGowdy]

Do bare in mind that if the package doesn't arrive the seller still has to refund you. Whether you asked for it to be sent insured or not. The insurance is really for his benefit. It has very little benefit for you.

This isn't the case if I pay by GIFT though? Right...

Its a deal outside of eBay.

I never do a "gift" for that kind of money. I think it's madness when the paypal fee is relatively small. That IS a worthwhile expenditure. I hear that sob story all the time and i have little sympathy.
If you want to pay as a gift and not mark the item with it's value and not pay insurance then just sit and pray.

 

[Bramistuta25]

Do bare in mind that if the package doesn't arrive the seller still has to refund you. Whether you asked for it to be sent insured or not. The insurance is really for his benefit. It has very little benefit for you.

This isn't the case if I pay by GIFT though? Right...

Its a deal outside of eBay.

I never do a "gift" for that kind of money. I think it's madness when the paypal fee is relatively small. That IS a worthwhile expenditure. I hear that sob story all the time and i have little sympathy.
If you want to pay as a gift and not mark the item with it's value and not pay insurance then just sit and pray.

Gotcha, so if I pay via paypal for the goods and pay the fees, that will insure my items with no problem, its then up to the seller if he is happy to put $30 on the items...

All his risk then I guess!

 

[itfciain]

In all honesty (and I guess I am a risk taker) - I would always as the seller to mark the customs form as a 'gift' with a value of $35 - as long as they send the item tracked then you have to be pretty confident that it will turn up or at least it can be traced.

If you are talking about sending the money as a paypal 'gift' then again I would do this providing I think I can trust the seller - you will have no comeback through paypal but if the seller lets you down then that is his reputation go - you can always send it through normal paypal and pay the additional 4% fees - that way you do have comeback if the item doesn't arrive

 

[Bramistuta25]

In all honesty (and I guess I am a risk taker) - I would always as the seller to mark the customs form as a 'gift' with a value of $35 - as long as they send the item tracked then you have to be pretty confident that it will turn up or at least it can be traced.

If you are talking about sending the money as a paypal 'gift' then again I would do this providing I think I can trust the seller - you will have no comeback through paypal but if the seller lets you down then that is his reputation go - you can always send it through normal paypal and pay the additional 4% fees - that way you do have comeback if the item doesn't arrive

Well, I have bought off him before with nor rpoblems, but that was a 3rd of this value so I was happy to take the risk!

I might just take a punt.

Cheers guys.

Bram

 

[plantman]

I always have mine marked as gift, id rather lose it than have £100 go into tax and be fed back out to deadbeats who dont work.

There is also a risk that they "investigate" the parcel too, its happened to me before but it was just resealed with tape telling me.

they can actually get a re-evaluation of the value if they feel you are screwing the system, but ive never heard of it happening.

probably only with packages that contain watches for resale ect.

 

[plantman]

Just a thought here but is the value of an item connected to the value that you put on the customs form. I know that in the UK the customs form is completely separate from postage insurance

you have to put the value of the item in order for the claim to be valid, both amounts have to match up or your claim will fail.

I am not sure how they will be able to tell - unless they check at postage - I am only speak for the UK but I have never seen anyone at the Post Office check the amount that I declare on the customs form

The claim is made through USPS ect, and if you submit a claim for $500 on an item you decalred $30 value they would get refused and probably done for tax fraud lol.