Canadian Ebay Buyers

[lisu]

I think that I'm correct in this, but do you expect foreign Ebay sellers (from US or elsewhere) to state in their listings that you may have to pay import fees?

I generally stay away from import and customs because if I listed them out for every country that I will ship to, I may be incorrect because I am not a resident of that country. I just had a Canadian buyer write this:

The items I purchased last week did not state import charges on your invoice but I'm getting charged it has to do with what you write on the package you did not say there will be import charges and you have too everyone does I may have to report this to eBay as your shipping details were not clear and true

[Cavaliercards]

I think that I'm correct in this, but do you expect foreign Ebay sellers (from US or elsewhere) to state in their listings that you may have to pay import fees?

I generally stay away from import and customs because if I listed them out for every country that I will ship to, I may be incorrect because I am not a resident of that country. I just had a Canadian buyer write this:

The items I purchased last week did not state import charges on your invoice but I'm getting charged it has to do with what you write on the package you did not say there will be import charges and you have too everyone does I may have to report this to eBay as your shipping details were not clear and true

You are not required to say there will be customs fees, it is the buyer's responsibility and if they leave feedback or try and get money because of it eBay will shoot them down with a quick call.

There was a seller in Georgia that wrote Gift on all his eBay orders that got into trouble for falsifying customs forms.

You did nothing wrong and were not required to state import charges.

[hollands]

No, you don't need to state it, import fees are expected for all international packages coming into Canada.

[donaldz]

GSP does a piss-poor job of showing buyers what they should expect.

The only situation where the seller is at fault is if they use a provider that has additional brokerage fees on top of the import duties (it's like 13% in Ontario) Essentially, you'd have to randomly decide that you're going to use UPS rather than USPS or GSP.

If you use UPS without telling the buyer, I would be upset because on a 500 dollar card, you've just introduced another 75 bucks worth of #@#@#@#@ that could be avoided.

[lisu]

GSP does a piss-poor job of showing buyers what they should expect.

The only situation where the seller is at fault is if they use a provider that has additional brokerage fees on top of the import duties (it's like 13% in Ontario) Essentially, you'd have to randomly decide that you're going to use UPS rather than USPS or GSP.

If you use UPS without telling the buyer, I would be upset because on a 500 dollar card, you've just introduced another 75 bucks worth of #@#@#@#@ that could be avoided.

I just used USPS, and I believe that they were charged some import fees which is why the buyer was upset.

[joeybats19]

I just used USPS, and I believe that they were charged some import fees which is why the buyer was upset.

Not all packages get charged import fees, but usually high end will attract the eye of the Customs officer. It is frustrating as a buyer, but just the cost of doing business for living up here.

Buyer gets frustrated because if the package is not marked with value, then there really is nothing for them to collect. Seller needs to put proper value for insurance purposes, which is understandable, but that is when the buyer gets dinged.

GSP just scales everything way up, adds duties, Ebay and Paypal fees, plus a little something for the good folks at Pitney Bowes. So while your buyer is a tad miffed, they are still better off paying the duties on the occasional package rather than GSP on everything else.

[Stifle]

When did George St-Pierre "GSP" start selling on EBay ?

[lisu]

I had another Canadian buyer refuse to pay the import fees, and the package got returned to me. I refunded him for the card cost but not for the shipping cost, since I paid a significant amount to ship it to him. Is that appropriate?

[Orangejello727]

GSP calculates import charges if you use GSP to ship.

By law you do not need to let the seller know about import charges because its the CDN govt that dictates what duties are paid on items being shipped. The only obligation you have is to truthfully fill out the customs form of description and value.

The rest is calculated by the CDN customs agency to tax the declaration or not.

[adamdavidson47]

Some people are just idiots. I'm from Canada and occasionally get hit with a brokerage or import fee when they deliver the package. Never once have I even thought about asking the seller to cover those costs.

It's not the seller's fault. Not even remotely. It's our stupid import tax fees. Ask your local MPP for the money.

[Orangejello727]

Not all packages get charged import fees, but usually high end will attract the eye of the Customs officer. It is frustrating as a buyer, but just the cost of doing business for living up here.

Buyer gets frustrated because if the package is not marked with value, then there really is nothing for them to collect. Seller needs to put proper value for insurance purposes, which is understandable, but that is when the buyer gets dinged.

GSP just scales everything way up, adds duties, Ebay and Paypal fees, plus a little something for the good folks at Pitney Bowes. So while your buyer is a tad miffed, they are still better off paying the duties on the occasional package rather than GSP on everything else.

Ive noticed that when the description is general like "card" or "Sportscard", "Gift" they tend to let it pass. But if someone fills out "retail product" or "ebay sale", they slap a duty on it.

Also if you insure the package and give it a value, they automatically slap a duty on the value of the insurance. This kills me sometimes. Ill buy something for $500 and the guy puts like $1k on insurance. I end up paying duties on $1k US.

I also dont accept UPS shipping. Never ship UPS ground to Canada. Everytime you do, we get hit with brokerage fees and extra delay in shipping. Everything gets directed to Montreal for a 3rd party to expedite then make its way back to Toronto. They slap another charge for expediting it for you at the border. I always request USPS or Fed Ex.

[nmordowitz]

I ship first class usps
it costs about 9.50 to the buyer - gsp is like 18 bucks or more...
i know nothing about import charges but have not had buyers complain to me.

[adamdavidson47]

GSP calculates import charges if you use GSP to ship.

By law you do not need to let the seller know about import charges because its the CDN govt that dictates what duties are paid on items being shipped. The only obligation you have is to truthfully fill out the customs form of description and value.

The rest is calculated by the CDN customs agency to tax the declaration or not.

GSP is rape. I won't buy from anyone that uses it. They do not use proper calculations for "import" fees. They are making a boatload of money off of it.

[lisu]

I didn't use GSP but I used first class international package services to get the tracking and paid about $14 to ship. I declared the value to be $35 USD. I believe it gets listed as goods since it is what Ebay automatically listed.

He claimed that he had to pay $15 CAD in import fees. It seems a bit steep?

[adamdavidson47]

I didn't use GSP but I used first class international package services to get the tracking and paid about $14 to ship. I declared the value to be $35 USD. I believe it gets listed as goods since it is what Ebay automatically listed.

He claimed that he had to pay $15 CAD in import fees. It seems a bit steep?

That seems like he's either full of crap and trying to shake you down, or someone make a mistake at customs.

Either way, not your problem, IMO.

[Orangejello727]

I didn't use GSP but I used first class international package services to get the tracking and paid about $14 to ship. I declared the value to be $35 USD. I believe it gets listed as goods since it is what Ebay automatically listed.

He claimed that he had to pay $15 CAD in import fees. It seems a bit steep?

On $35 he shouldnt have been charged anything. Usually its $100-$200 US or over. He seems fishy. From what you stated, it sounds like a normal shipment.

[lisu]

On $35 he shouldnt have been charged anything. Usually its $100-$200 US or over. He seems fishy. From what you stated, it sounds like a normal shipment.

this was his message which is strange.

Hi,
Items came today however there were custom fees associated with the parcel totaling $17 that I absolutely will not pay. This is the first time I have received cards from a US seller where it has asked me to pay customs and I will not do it, so i would like a full refund please. I have instructed the post office to return the parcel
Thank you

[Nuurgle]

Technically, they can tax anything that crosses the border for GST. For the most part though, anything under $50 is usually just ignored and the $50-100 range is hit or miss depending on the person who processes it. They should also leave most things marked as "gift" alone, but there are thresholds on what's acceptable to gift.

Some places will add additional fees on top of just the GST. Even if the duties are only $5, there may be an extra brokerage fee for them having to send someone to collect the duties, which is sometimes higher if it's not a majorly populated city.

Even with all of that, it's up to the buyer to know their local rules and regulations. All the seller can do is wait for the package to make it back and then refund.

[Orangejello727]

this was his message which is strange.

Hi,
Items came today however there were custom fees associated with the parcel totaling $17 that I absolutely will not pay. This is the first time I have received cards from a US seller where it has asked me to pay customs and I will not do it, so i would like a full refund please. I have instructed the post office to return the parcel
Thank you

You sent it USPS? If it was UPS ground $15 would have been that brokerage feed I mentioned earlier. USPS expedites everything before it hits the border which doesnt need anyone to sign for on the other side.

The guy either was wrongfully charged by CDN customs or he just wants to get out paying for the card.

[lisu]

You sent it USPS? If it was UPS ground $15 would have been that brokerage feed I mentioned earlier. USPS expedites everything before it hits the border which doesnt need anyone to sign for on the other side.

The guy either was wrongfully charged by CDN customs or he just wants to get out paying for the card.

I definitely sent it USPS. I'm going to take a look at the return label when I get home. Ugh!

[northwellguy]

I live in Canada and recieve cards from the US all the time.

My experience is this....

If the seller marks it as a "gift" it always sails through all customs no problems.

If the seller marks it with a value below $100 it always sails through all customs no problem.

If the seller marks it with a value over $100 it will be flagged by customs in Vancouver, B.C. (Richmond) all the time and you will pay up to 25% import fees.

If the seller marks it with a value over $100 and it goes through Toronto or Montreal it always sails through customs no problems.

THUS THE LESSON, customs in western Canada has a severe fly up their butts about high value import fees.

Example you say....?

$250 Orlando Bloom LOTR Auto card through Toronto was charged $0.00 import fees
$130 Tom Mison Sleepy Hollow Auto card through Vancouver was charged $26.50 import fees

You explain that to me because when I called CBPS they couldn't.

[adamdavidson47]

I live in Canada and recieve cards from the US all the time.

My experience is this....

If the seller marks it as a "gift" it always sails through all customs no problems.

If the seller marks it with a value below $100 it always sails through all customs no problem.

If the seller marks it with a value over $100 it will be flagged by customs in Vancouver, B.C. (Richmond) all the time and you will pay up to 25% import fees.

If the seller marks it with a value over $100 and it goes through Toronto or Montreal it always sails through customs no problems.

THUS THE LESSON, customs in western Canada has a severe fly up their butts about high value import fees.

Example you say....?

$250 Orlando Bloom LOTR Auto card through Toronto was charged $0.00 import fees
$130 Tom Mison Sleepy Hollow Auto card through Vancouver was charged $26.50 import fees

You explain that to me because when I called CBPS they couldn't.

If I see it going through Quebec, I usually get the KY out. Never have issues other than if, for some reason, it comes to Ontario from the US via Quebec.

UPS, on the other hand, sticks it in no matter what. They are worse than the global shipping program.

[wethenorth]

I had another Canadian buyer refuse to pay the import fees, and the package got returned to me. I refunded him for the card cost but not for the shipping cost, since I paid a significant amount to ship it to him. Is that appropriate?

yes :)

[hollands]

Anytime a package gets hit with customs through Canada Post there is a $9.95 customs fee + the applicable taxes (HST or GST + PST).

[charnick]

guess i got lucky... shipped a $300 card to Alberta last week, and not only do i not think the buyer had to pay any additional taxes (he didn't mention it to me), it got to him in record time!

fwiw, i wrote "photo card" in the description, with a declared value of $20.

[shrevecity]

guess i got lucky... shipped a $300 card to Alberta last week, and not only do i not think the buyer had to pay any additional taxes (he didn't mention it to me), it got to him in record time!

fwiw, i wrote "photo card" in the description, with a declared value of $20.

Yu know that had there been an issue like an insurance claim needed 20.00 would have been the most insurance would have covered.

Not to mention its against the law in both the US and in Canada to lie on a customs form.

[northwellguy]

Yu know that had there been an issue like an insurance claim needed 20.00 would have been the most insurance would have covered.

Not to mention its against the law in both the US and in Canada to lie on a customs form.

Yeah sure
A seller who actually wants to help his customers? WOW!

And exactly what is the penalty for breaking this most sacred of laws? 20 years? 30? Death?

:doh:

[shrevecity]

Yeah sure
A seller who actually wants to help his customers? WOW!

And exactly what is the penalty for breaking this most sacred of laws? 20 years? 30? Death?

:doh:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/19/1592

Here is the US law on falsifying of customs forms. Penalty could be based on what they decide based on the value. Could be as little as a fine(most likely)

The place where the worry would be would be on the Canadian side or whatever the receiving country is. Since the item is entering there if they determine the info is false then they could go after the receiver not the shipper since its easier to get to them being in the same country. In Canada that could involve fines and additional charges as well as the seizure of the items.

The other issue is the insurance, you the seller could be left high and dry as insurance would only want to pay up to the declared value.

Not the best source, but here is a Canadian law firm's page about custom fraud.

http://www.taxandtradelaw.com/customspenalties.html

Of course the odds of anything ever getting caught are not that high, but still not worth it.

[charnick]

oh brother! :doh:

who said i lied on the form? it was a card with a photo on it (why even say *sports* card and draw attention to its collectibility?), and it was already in beat up condition, so just because it was worth it to the buyer doesn't mean it was worth that to anyone else.

it also didn't have insurance, and i pack my cards to be bulletproof, so i'm not worried too much about damage.

i send maybe 1 package a year up to Canada, if that, so it's a risk i'm willing to take, but thanks for quoting the law for me there, counselor.

[chezball]

oh brother! :doh:

who said i lied on the form? it was a card with a photo on it (why even say *sports* card and draw attention to its collectibility?), and it was already in beat up condition, so just because it was worth it to the buyer doesn't mean it was worth that to anyone else.

it also didn't have insurance, and i pack my cards to be bulletproof, so i'm not worried too much about damage.

i send maybe 1 package a year up to Canada, if that, so it's a risk i'm willing to take, but thanks for quoting the law for me there, counselor.

best thing to do is just ignore Mr. ebay.

[shrevecity]

oh brother! :doh:

who said i lied on the form? it was a card with a photo on it (why even say *sports* card and draw attention to its collectibility?), and it was already in beat up condition, so just because it was worth it to the buyer doesn't mean it was worth that to anyone else.

it also didn't have insurance, and i pack my cards to be bulletproof, so i'm not worried too much about damage.

i send maybe 1 package a year up to Canada, if that, so it's a risk i'm willing to take, but thanks for quoting the law for me there, counselor.

Sorry I assumed it was for more than 20.00. However on the insurance what happens if it gets lost. Usually USPS insurance will not pay for damage anyway they will use the excuse of "it was not packed well enough" regardless. So lost is the only time you would likely have any chance of reimbursement.

[shrevecity]

best thing to do is just ignore Mr. ebay.

Yeah and you have said the same thing about customs forms.

[chezball]

Yeah and you have said the same thing about customs forms.

Fell free to show me where I said that, pretty hard to do when I don't ship out of the US.

[moosefan87]

I get all my US purchases sent to a third party in the US. Every month he ships it up to me as a gift as they are his cards. No fees/duty.

[shrevecity]

I get all my US purchases sent to a third party in the US. Every month he ships it up to me as a gift as they are his cards. No fees/duty.

That is probably the best way.

[lisu]

I figured out what happened.

Part of it is my fault for being lazy. When I printed out the labels, I just let the label read what my auction title stated. It was a BGS Gem Mint card - so when the customs person saw that, they assumed it was jewelry and that is why they assessed duties on it.

Going forward, I'm going to take out Gem from my titles or put it at the very very end so that it doesn't happen again.

[Orangejello727]

oh brother! :doh:

who said i lied on the form? it was a card with a photo on it (why even say *sports* card and draw attention to its collectibility?), and it was already in beat up condition, so just because it was worth it to the buyer doesn't mean it was worth that to anyone else.

it also didn't have insurance, and i pack my cards to be bulletproof, so i'm not worried too much about damage.

i send maybe 1 package a year up to Canada, if that, so it's a risk i'm willing to take, but thanks for quoting the law for me there, counselor.

Id buy from you!! :D:D

[MasterOfTheDark]

best thing to do is just ignore Mr. ebay.

Couldn't disagree more. Not sure when doing things the right way became uncool or this forum became "that":rolleyes: type of place, but pointing out possible problems with shipping a $300 card and claiming it's only worth $20 isn't a bad thing.