Avoiding customs charges.2447
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
| There is an uptick in foreign customers buying items, and THEN deciding to negotiate about things like falsifying customs declarations to avoid paying customs charges. It's getting annoying. If someone from a foreign country approaches you, especially AFTER they've bought an item, and asks you to declare an item a "gift", I would heavily advise you to not do it. Not only are they stealing from their countrymen, but they are putting you at risk by not being able to insure an item for its full value...and if it gets lost or damage, you will almost certainly be on the hook for it. I recently had a buyer make an offer, which I accepted, for 14 slabs...only to then be asked if I could 1. declare the slabs a "gift" ($2,000 worth. mind), and, barring that, 2. if he could complete the transaction off eBay, and split the fees, so I could "get more" and he could "pay less", and then 3. trying to continue to negotiate the shipping, which was included in the deal. All, mind you, after he made an offer, and I said "done." About to go on the blocked bidder list, he is. |
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jrs private msg quote post Address this user | |
| That's terrible. Hopefully he doesn't ding your feedback if the transaction isn't completed. Good luck. | ||
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I_AM_IRON_MAN private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by DocBrown I would agree that this case rather extreme. HOWEVER, you don't understand because you are in the US. It is really difficult to maintain a margin when shipping from US to Canada. Something that might cost 6$-8$ to ship in the US can cost anywhere from 20$-30$ and I'm in Canada. People on Ebay abuse international shipping. I guess I'm just trying to say see it from the other side. You are well with in your right to say no to his requests, but he is well within his rights to request them. 2k and 14 slabs isn't the kind of customer I would block. Do you negotiate at the flea market? Isn't Ebay a giant flea market? Have a heart, realise that internationals do pay substantially more. Not your problem, but it explains the annoyance. |
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Having done business internationally for 20 years, I do understand, quite well. The answer isn't to cheat the system, but to change the system...and, barring that, move to where the tax burden isn't so punitive. No one is "well within their rights" to ask to steal by committing customs fraud. No matter how many times I've heard it...and I've heard it perhaps hundreds, if not thousands, of times...and the answer is still the same: it's still stealing. |
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
| As for "2k and 14 slabs" not being a buyer you would block...I would far rather sell those 14 slabs for $1900, to people who aren't going to try to renegotiate after a deal has been struck, especially when the buyer has already chiseled me down from the price they started at. I'm willing to put up with a lot...IF a buyer is willing to pay. But if they're going to lowball (he started at $1750!), and add customs fraud, and eBay fraud, and then trying to renegotiate shipping on top of it all...? No thank you. |
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SpiderTim private msg quote post Address this user | |
| To put it mildly he won't cheat customs anymore and you won't sell your slabs either! So its a win win for the government and for you, NOT! | ||
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BrianGreensnips private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @DocBrown Sounds like a real headache. I deal with customers similar to that in my business. Trying to work you down on the price and then wanting extra things thrown in. I don't blame you for being frustrated. | ||
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Redshade private msg quote post Address this user | |
| This is a constant headache for me too but from the opposite viewpoint. "Books, comics and magazines" are specifically EXEMPT from sales tax, import charges and any other import fees or duties into the UK. Some sites, such as ebay's Global Shipping Program automatically (and wrongly) add on such fees (which can amount to 30%-35%) as well as postage. Trying to talk to such sites can be difficult at best of times and after multiple complaints about this to them have only succeeded once in obtaining a refund. I have had items from ebay where the seller did not use their GSP and provided the items were clearly declared as comics so far have had no problems with customs charges. I have never had this problem with the three lots I have sent/received from CBCS as they clearly state on the import form " These comics are the customer's own ... etc" and I have never been charged said fees. So, in the UK at least (and I think Canada also) asking for books to be declared as gifts is just another attempt to facilitate a problem free transaction. |
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Towmater private msg quote post Address this user | |
| It is a question of ethics. It doesn't matter if it is breaking a policy or breaking the law. Everyone in the course of their lives will be faced with ethical dilemmas. What course you choose to follow shows others and yourself what you are made of. | ||
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Trilogycomics private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I used to try and work with buyers to help out with fees until one purchased a 350.00 statue that arrived broken in multiple pieces. Even though he stated multiple times he would take the hit if it never showed or arrived damaged. He opened an immediate case and got his money back.. | ||
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shrewbeer private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Only avoid customs when shipping drugs, otherwise its just not ethical. | ||
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KiloGraham private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Personally, I've only ever paid customs fees on a slab once and I believe that was because they mistook the declared item for shoes (9.8 Killing Joke). I'll usually ask sellers if they're willing to declare the cover price on the books and declare them as "comic books" so there's no confusion. There are definitely ways around using the global shipping program based on how you classify the item and its origins because I'll see multiple copies of books for sale with varying import fees, like $150 book with no import fees shown yet $40 books with import fees shown. I actually prefer buying with the GSP if there are no import fees because it's fully tracked, dispatched to and from a central hub and covered by eBay if it's damaged or lost. The key is polite communication and not making demands or assumptions. And if you're a seller just clearly state in the listing that you won't declare gift/lower value and no offline transactions, but chances are people will still ask you. |
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Homer private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I would decline the sale due to renegotiating after the agreed price. | ||
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ZosoRocks private msg quote post Address this user | |
| From a Shipping Expert - and I can say this because I've been in the business for over 35 yrs......bucking the system will not be good for anyone. International people are bummed, but have to deal with it....unfortunately, that is the law. Export controls are in place for a reason.....I wouldn't move outside them if you truly want the best for yourself or company. It can be a very long slide down that slippery slope.....and you really don't want to be part of it. What I don't get is....why aren't comics treated as Media.....it includes all the basics that a magazine has....yet it is not considered such. If there should be a change, this should be one of them. Cheers to all. |
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Redshade I've dealt with this, too, and it's a case where a buyer knowing the laws in his country is in a position to help a seller. Yes, the UK specifically exempts reading material from customs charges, so I make sure anything going to the UK says "PRINTED MATTER" in bold letters...sometimes write it in marker, too. |
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Trilogycomics Yeah, this buyer even offered to send me an additional $1,000, as a his own surety bond (he didn't call it that), until the slabs arrived to him safely. He swore up and down that it wouldn't be a problem shipping these slabs halfway across the world without insurance, and that he would assume full responsibility for the shipment. I can't imagine how many poor saps get taken that way, as you experienced. It's almost...almost...as bad as "This is Windows technical support. Your computer has sent several error messages." I got one of those calls last night! |
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AndyRexia private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by DocBrown I love getting those calls. I mess with them and Neil they get pissed off, cuss me out, and hang up. |
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Logan510 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| So if I'm to understand the gist of this thread, stealing is bad, fire good? | ||
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Johnnylray private msg quote post Address this user | |
| "This is Windows technical support. Your computer has sent several error messages." @DocBrown I just got one at noon time...I kept the idiot on the line for a few minutes by repeatedly asking him which files he wanted to view..then I told him i didn't want to show him my files as I had photos of the people i killed on it....suddenly "silence" ;-) |
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DarthLego private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @Johnnylray you are a genius | ||
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1243782365 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| As someone that lives in Canada, Yeah customs sucks - any item sent to a Canadian above $20 CAN resulted in customs charges. OP has solid points, I would just like to point out that the ebay global shipping program is a scam and it charges Canadian buyers customs 100% of the time when normally they get dinged and charged the customs fees 30 to 40 percent of the time. STOP THE EBAY GLOBAL SHIPPING PROGRAM SCAM! |
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KingNampa private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I sell to customers a lot in Canada. Even if you put "Gift" on the customs declaration. The rules say this (see below), so even if you are trying to avoid fees by putting "Gift", anything over $60CAD will still be subject to duties. I only ship to Canada, Japan & Australia. I wouldn't dare ship to Europe or South America. Too many problems. "The gift exemption for eligible gifts imported into Canada is CAD$60 or less, per gift, even if a single gift has more than one recipient (e.g., gift to a family). Each gift in the shipment must be clearly identified as one gift. If the gift is worth more than CAD$60, the amount over CAD$60 is subject to duties and taxes (e.g., if a relative sends you a gift worth CAD$200, you must pay any applicable duty plus the GST, HST or QST on CAD$140)." |
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Foghorn_Sam private msg quote post Address this user | |
| All this is why I let the auction houses sell my books. No shipping and customs hassle on my end all for pretty much the same fees as eBay/PayPal charge. The only problem with this is of course fronting the cost of getting my books to them to sell. That can be kind of pricey unless I live close and can deliver them myself. |
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Mijael private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by jimmylinguini not a scam ,i pay the fair import taxes using it (on my case its 16% more or less) , they have a great service for the following up , the shipping service is the best, they use DHL when the packages comes to Mexico , paying much less than all the USPS priority or express. When i am buying a nice book and have the option to choose from various sellers i get the ones with the program . I dont have to deal with the mailman , paying him my taxes to him in cash and paying extra "new services" like customs inspection wich is a robery .. And on the side of the sellers its easier to send the packages to KY than sending them to Mexico , Canada , UK etc If Pitney Bowes charges an extra amount for this amazing service , he deserves it |
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I_AM_IRON_MAN private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Some very good insight in this thread. I've only ever been slapped with duty on big buys (500$+) and never when getting my books back from grading which I hear is quite common. (knocks on wood*). I must admit that bribing the postman to get my books sounds a lot worse. | ||
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Collector
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Mijael You're the first person I've ever seen say positive things about the GSP. That makes me pause. I had GSP for several years, but I kept reading, over and over, that it was charging buyers too much, that it was a hassle, and that international buyers avoid listings with it, so last year, I just decided to remove it from everything. I had experienced a substantial dropoff in international customers around 2014, when I usually sold 3-5% of items to international customers. That dried completely up. Since getting rid of the GSP, I've had an increase in int'l customers, but who knows if it's because I removed GSP, or I just had different books that int'l buyers wanted. In any event, perhaps its the destination that makes a difference. |
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1243782365 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Mijael If the global shipping program is charging a buyer customs fees that the global shipping program isn't charged by customs (Global Shipping program charges customs 100% of the time, customs charges under 50% of packages) - The global shipping program is a scam. Taking that money under the guise of customs is fraud. (BTW is not amazing). |
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Mijael private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by DocBrown Well if you got rid of it , just be sure to add Mexico in your shipping countries , because a lot of people got rid of it and didn´t include it |
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Redshade private msg quote post Address this user | |
| "If the global shipping program is charging a buyer customs fees that the global shipping program isn't charged by customs (Global Shipping program charges customs 100% of the time, customs charges under 50% of packages) - The global shipping program is a scam.Taking that money under the guise of customs is fraud. (BTW is not amazing)." jimmylinguini I have oft thought this and asked several times "where does this money go to if it is not levied by UK Customs" and the best answer I got from them was that "this is in the hands of our shipping contractor Pitney Bowes". I tried to contact PB several times to no avail. Also a poster stated above that he writes "Printed Matter" on all packages to the UK which is fine but you would be better just declaring Books/Comics as SOME printed matter (Holiday Brochures or Sheet Music for instance) to the UK IS taxable. Sheesh  . |
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Mijael private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Global shippibg program does not charges fees 100% of the time... again its not a scam.. | ||
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