Buyer doesn't want to pay customs charges. Please help!

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

#376
Leeleerae said:
Hey guys! I am reading this post and have a question. I just sold a bag for about $200 to a woman in Germany. She asked me to declare the item as a present so that she doesn't have to pay custom fees. Can I still declare the item at $200 for insurance with USPS and for declare it as a present with customs?
I am new to overseas shipping and I do not want to get stuck in the same mess as the poster here!
Click to expand...
Yes - those are two separate issues. The Customs Form will have a box for type of item - where you would mark 'gift' - then a box for value of item - where you'll mark $200. Someone said that marking an item as a gift is an immediate red flag to the customs officials, although I think that might be just for the UK. Not sure. Good luck!

And FYI - I think this bozo is an exception to the rule, because I've sent probably at least 25 or 30 items internationally and I've never had this problem before, so please don't let this guy sour you towards all ex-US buyers. Most are very kind and well aware of the customs duties assessed by their countries (and their responsibility to pay said duties)!
 
#377
Thank you choo girl. I will go ahead and declare her item as a present. I just wish she had asked me before she bid. She paid and in the payment told me to mark the item as a gift. Even though it won't be a problem, its kinda annoying that she didn't ask me if I was ok with it before she bid!
 
#378
Leeleerae said:
Hey guys! I am reading this post and have a question. I just sold a bag for about $200 to a woman in Germany. She asked me to declare the item as a present so that she doesn't have to pay custom fees. Can I still declare the item at $200 for insurance with USPS and for declare it as a present with customs?
I am new to overseas shipping and I do not want to get stuck in the same mess as the poster here!
Click to expand...

Yea, well.. German customs is a PITA right now, and they will not give a rip whether the item is declared a gift or not. If they see value, she will get a customs bill. I sent a bag to a friend that was bought at a boutique here BY HER, and sent to me to forward to her. I marked gift, sent DHL, and that stupid bag was in customs for almost 2 weeks. And I was warned by DHL when I sent it that German customs is a nightmare right now.
MAYBE you will have better luck w/ USPS. DHL was a disaster, and they USED TO BE the KING for INTL deliveries.
 
#379
I would not try USPS either. I sent a bag to Germany marked gift and they held it for ransom until a bill of sale was produced and then charged the recipient full bill of sale customs fees. Soooooooooooo, even if you mark it gift, they can override the declaration. For no hassles, it is best to tell the truth.
 
#380
If you use Fedex which we currently use for shipments all International Broker Fees if not paid by the customer come right back to us! It's horrible! About a week after Fedex delivers the package to the recipient, they then mail them a letter stating their customs balance due and just hope they will pay it! When they don't we are fully responsible for it. I usually have about 2 a month which depending on what you ship can be very expensive. Of course the overall savings with the carrier is great, but we have moved our international services back to the post office because of this reason. So I would be careful sending your international shipments with any type of broker which would be fedex,dhl, ups, etc..I hope this helps..
 
#381
Sorry..Forgot to finish! My fedex rep told me that you have to watch marking those items as gifts because especially if you ship alot of international they can flag you as aiding the person to avoid customs fees and it could come back to haunt you. I just usually tell them that they are going to be responsible for broker fees when I email them tracking information and that by law we are unable to mark the item as a gift.
 
#382
Can I just say as a Canadian that buys from the US alot. I am so tired of fellow cdns asking US sellers to lie on customs forms!!! This makes me sooo:rant:oo angry. If you as a buyer don't want to pay duty and customs then don't buy outside Canada. How complicated is this??:noggin:?? How stupid are you not to comprehend this cause and effect situation. Jeeesh. Before I bid, I take into account extra shipping/possible customs/currency exchange then I bid accordingly. So I don't win the auction. Well suck it up fellow Canadian whiners. What do you think pays for our medical? Contrary to what you see in the media, Medical is not free!!! We don't have a huge monthly medical insurance bill, we pay little bits all the time. Next time you wander over to "emergency" or a Doc office and don't have to worry about losing your car because you can't pay for that broken arm, contemplate this. Jeesh
That being said, for all US sellers please note the UPSground has very large handling fees in the 50$ range not including duty, but USPO goes through Canada Post and fee is like 5$ plus any duty. I have bought about 20 items through ebay and have always had true value but also marked "second hand" (note: new condition is still second hand technically) and have never had to pay any customs. Canada Post has discretion whether or not to charge duty & fee and often doesn't on used items.

Canadians quit asking total strangers to lie & break the law for you and just ask for item to be sent US post and marked second hand if it is.

If I'm getting a gift from someone why did I pay for it, where's the fancy wrapping, and how come I never see you at Christmas dinner? haha

"If you can't pay, don't play"

Ok now I will calm down. Sorry 'bout that but needed to vent.

:peace:
 
Last edited:
#383
Ninalovesherbag said:
Can I just say as a Canadian that buys from the US alot. I am so tired of fellow cdns asking US sellers to lie on customs forms!!! This makes me sooo:rant:oo angry. If you as a buyer don't want to pay duty and customs then don't buy outside Canada. How complicated is this??:noggin:?? How stupid are you not to comprehend this cause and effect situation. Jeeesh. Before I bid, I take into account extra shipping/possible customs/currency exchange then I bid accordingly. So I don't win the auction. Well suck it up fellow Canadian whiners. What do you think pays for our medical? Contrary to what you see in the media, Medical is not free!!! We don't have a huge monthly medical insurance bill, we pay little bits all the time. Next time you wander over to "emergency" or a Doc office and don't have to worry about losing your car because you can't pay for that broken arm, contemplate this. Jeesh
That being said, for all US sellers please note the UPSground has very large handling fees in the 50$ range not including duty, but USPO goes through Canada Post and fee is like 5$ plus any duty. I have bought about 20 items through ebay and have always had true value but also marked "second hand" (note: new condition is still second hand technically) and have never had to pay any customs. Canada Post has discretion whether or not to charge duty & fee and often doesn't on used items.

Canadians quit asking total strangers to lie & break the law for you and just ask for item to be sent US post and marked second hand if it is.

If I'm getting a gift from someone why did I pay for it, where's the fancy wrapping, and how come I never see you at Christmas dinner? haha

"If you can't pay, don't play"

Ok now I will calm down. Sorry 'bout that but needed to vent.

:peace:
Click to expand...
Hmm ... I think you might be my ideal international buyer :smile1:

I am happy to sell to individuals outside the US. It is a bit more work for me to ship ex-US because I have additional paperwork, have to actually go to the post office, etc., but I am willing to do so. In return, I ask that my international buyers hold up their end of the agreement, by planning for and paying for customs duties. And again, I have to stress that this fool is the exception, as I have had many wonderful transactions with buyers outside the US!

I always avoid brokers such as FedEx & UPS, because besides the handling fees assessed to the buyer, there is also a very real chance that the seller can get stuck with the customs bill, which is definitely *not* a risk I'm willing to take. I do not usually list the items as second-hand, because that has never occurred to me. I generally just put *bay item & description. I will absolutely start writing second-hand, because I would agree that this is fair and it is reasonable for buyers to expect this designation, which might reduce the customs fees assessed.

Thanks for your post Nina! :ty:
 
#384
pegasuscom said:
I would not try USPS either. I sent a bag to Germany marked gift and they held it for ransom until a bill of sale was produced and then charged the recipient full bill of sale customs fees. Soooooooooooo, even if you mark it gift, they can override the declaration. For no hassles, it is best to tell the truth.
Click to expand...

But I wonder if UPS or FedEx would have been any better.
 
#385
Ninalovesherbag said:
Can I just say as a Canadian that buys from the US alot. I am so tired of fellow cdns asking US sellers to lie on customs forms!!! This makes me sooo:rant:oo angry. If you as a buyer don't want to pay duty and customs then don't buy outside Canada. How complicated is this??:noggin:?? How stupid are you not to comprehend this cause and effect situation. Jeeesh. Before I bid, I take into account extra shipping/possible customs/currency exchange then I bid accordingly. So I don't win the auction. Well suck it up fellow Canadian whiners. What do you think pays for our medical? Contrary to what you see in the media, Medical is not free!!! We don't have a huge monthly medical insurance bill, we pay little bits all the time. Next time you wander over to "emergency" or a Doc office and don't have to worry about losing your car because you can't pay for that broken arm, contemplate this. Jeesh
That being said, for all US sellers please note the UPSground has very large handling fees in the 50$ range not including duty, but USPO goes through Canada Post and fee is like 5$ plus any duty. I have bought about 20 items through ebay and have always had true value but also marked "second hand" (note: new condition is still second hand technically) and have never had to pay any customs. Canada Post has discretion whether or not to charge duty & fee and often doesn't on used items.

Canadians quit asking total strangers to lie & break the law for you and just ask for item to be sent US post and marked second hand if it is.

If I'm getting a gift from someone why did I pay for it, where's the fancy wrapping, and how come I never see you at Christmas dinner? haha

"If you can't pay, don't play"

Ok now I will calm down. Sorry 'bout that but needed to vent.

:peace:
Click to expand...

:goodpost:
 
#386
Oh good lord. I have just read through this thread. This guy is freaking starkers. What a lunatic. You are a bigger person than I as I most certainly would not have refunded him immediately upon receiving them item back. I would have made him wait.
 
#389
Lmao yes, I too am wondering what his latest email is. He's probably being forgiving and giving you an extra 24 hours for processing and such. He's such a gentleman.

BTW, I was showing my BF a Chanel purse I was interested in. He told me this nut ruined the brand. I don't agree but I found it funny. BF is British btw, finds this guy to be hilarious.
 
#390
Okay ... so the Friday deadline passed and .....

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. No email, no threatening phone call. No carrier pigeon acting as a harbinger of doom. Could it be Mr. Verbiage has given up? If so, I take umbrage. Serious, serious umbrage. However will I fill my days if not trying to decipher his obscure messages?

Or perhaps the customs people took my email to heart and are currently hunting down him, My Poupette and the alleged $3,850 LV trunk. Ya think??
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top