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

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#61
choo_girl123 said:
Wow - only $200? That's pretty low - sorry about that!

Thanks for your insight into customs charges & for your post. I appreciate all the advice, feedback & positive wishes I've received on this thread. I wonder if I'll receive another email from the buyer tomorrow. BTW - PILL - love that :smile1:
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It is hey $200 is so stingy! (im pretty sure this hasnt changed) luckily they dont come on to strong Ive only been charged duties a couple of times.

PILL lol lol sometimes people are so unreasonable he/she needs to just suck it up ............as Judge Judy would say! lol lol
 
#62
miumiuisfab said:
It is hey $200 is so stingy! (im pretty sure this hasnt changed) luckily they dont come on to strong Ive only been charged duties a couple of times.

PILL lol lol sometimes people are so unreasonable he/she needs to just suck it up ............as Judge Judy would say! lol lol
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Love, love, love Judge Judy. Do you think she'd take on this case?? LOL

I will keep you posted. Thanks again!
 
#63
miumiuisfab said:
It is hey $200 is so stingy! (im pretty sure this hasnt changed) luckily they dont come on to strong Ive only been charged duties a couple of times.

PILL lol lol sometimes people are so unreasonable he/she needs to just suck it up ............as Judge Judy would say! lol lol
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I just went and took look around the oz customs site and it has changed I had no clue but wow Im pretty happy it reads...........

All goods (except for tobacco products and alcoholic beverages) may be imported duty and tax free if their value is $1,000 or less.
 
#64
it was changed to the $1000 limit close to 2 years ago and thank god so i feel the pain of EU customers who have to pay customs!

i always discuss shipping options and customs with my buyers before i post that they understand that their customs might incur extra fees.

i don't think you are wrong, you wrote clearly in your auction and unfortunately for the buyer they should have to pay it and not push it back on to you.
 
#65
wannabelyn said:
it was changed to the $1000 limit close to 2 years ago and thank god so i feel the pain of EU customers who have to pay customs!

i always discuss shipping options and customs with my buyers before i post that they understand that their customs might incur extra fees.

i don't think you are wrong, you wrote clearly in your auction and unfortunately for the buyer they should have to pay it and not push it back on to you.
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Glad to hear your limit has been raised to $1000! That's terrific.

Thanks for your advice. Based on what I've read in this thread, I don't think I'll be shipping with this service in the future. Although I was clear in my listing, it seems I can't rely on the buyer to actually *read* my listing all the way through. Oh well ... I will keep you posted & thanks again!
 
#66
^^^:wtf:What??? You are supposed to read auctions? Really? Doesn't that ruin the mystery and surprise?:shocked:
Ha, I wish someone would tell me buyers that! :bagslap:
Maybe they should put one of those checkmark boxes above submit bid that makes the buyer agree that they read the auction and won't terrorize you over stuff that you practically spelled out for them! Or maybe I could just reach through the screen and grab their eyeballs and force them to read allowed the entire auction, terms, and conditions? But, I digress...:btdh:
 
#67
choo_girl123 said:
You know - I actually have sympathy for him too! That's why I accepted his best offer, which was a bit lower than I wanted to go. He said he couldn't go higher b/c of the tough economic times and the fact that he had to factor in what he'd need to pay customs.

I'm actually a very reasonable person, and I try to be fair and customer service oriented. If he had approached me in a less accusatory manner, I would have been far more likely to try and work something out - I most certainly would not have paid the customs duties for him, but I would have perhaps offered to refund his shipping ($25) to help a bit. But approaching me the way he did - stating that this is *my* problem and *my* oversight - I'm not backing down at all. (Of course, I'm the one that ends up without the sale, without the $$, and likely with a negative feedback, so I guess this falls into the cut off your nose to spite your face category, eh?) Thanks for your help!
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No problem! :flowers:

I think you are absolutely right to stick to your guns - you are in the right and he is in the wrong, no question about it. :yes:

You certainly do seem like a very reasonable person, choo_girl; your buyer is the unreasonable one. :tdown:

As I say, like you, I am always sympathetic to anyone in financial difficulties, but it was his responsibility to factor in any customs duties on the amount he paid (which, as you say, is not an arbitrary sum, but the agreed purchase price!) and for him to try to turn it around and blame you is unacceptable.

I do think it's possible that he may have been, wrongly, led to believe (by other sellers' actions) that marking down the price of items on customs forms is common practice; but he should have made sure of his facts before accusing you. :yes:
 
#68
choo_girl123 said:
I shipped USPS Global Priority Mail. I don't know what other US shipping services use ParcelForce, but it seems Priority Mail absolutely ends up with them.
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I see. :yes:


This actually happened to my last UK buyer - she emailed me because she couldn't get any information about her package. Believe it or not, I was able to track it to Parcel Force fairly easily by calling the US Postal Service. Then I was able to tell her where to pick up her package. Ever since then, I make it a habit of closely tracking packages I send to the UK and regularly communicating the package status to the buyer. (If you notice, my buyer starts his email thanking me for keeping track of his package.) It seems I would have been better served choosing a different shipping service, though.
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You sound like a fantastic seller! :flowers:

Yes, as I say, ParcelForce aren't exactly the best, but that's not in any way your fault, of course! :nogood: :smile1:

I wouldn't have the slightest clue about which US delivery methods were better, or worse! :shrugs:

Anyway, they sound as though they're doing their job perfectly well, this time, don't they?


I am definitely going to investigate using a different shipping service for UK packages, assuming I continue shipping internationally. Part of me wants to restrict my listings to US buyers, but I've dealt with some really outstanding people in the UK, and elsewhere throughout the world, so it seems like I should not let one bad experience deter me. Ah well ... I have at least 30 days to think it over b/c eBay hit me with one of those ridiculous selling limitations!
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Oh, what a shame! :sad:

I really hope you do decide to continue to ship internationally, choo_girl - although, I totally understand why you're, currently, having your doubts after your experience with this particular buyer. :yes: :sad:
 
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#69
shinymagpie said:
OP nice work to date and also thanks to the other posters for illuminating advice. But Alfiebach if you are out there, I want to ask a bit more about UK customs from your extensive knowledge.

So in the UK, Parcelforce is a privatised national delivery service? Is the the old British Post remodelled? Are the Parcelforce handling costs that you mentioned 8 Pound small (sorry, my board doesn't have the pound symbol, only the ￥and the $) and 13.50 pound fees apply for all mail or only EMS.

I usually use EMS because it is so fast and reliable & I put the paypal receipt in with the item. But, would using Airmail Small Packet with Registration and Insurance mean that Parcelforce doesn't add the handling fee?


Or does Parcelforce check everything that comes into the UK, regardless of class of mail used?

I just don't understand this in detail but I need to know all about it I think before anything else goes to the UK.
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Your right about Parcelforce, its a private company, we still have Royal Mail also.....i have never had problems with EMS, on the contrary, all my items from Japan have got through really quick, and no duty.....as for Parcelforce they have 3 costs they add!!! vat, handling, and duties??? which they cant tell me about:shrugs:, but £8 would be a wallet/agenda and the £13.50 for a bag.
Parcelforce only seem to deal with USPS, and the other usa service.....Fed Ex use their own, and EMS come via Royal Mail...if its a packet, envelope, they would not deal with that.......if the cost of the item is over £36 including postage we get charged...if i have forgotten anything i will let you know :nuts: or anything else you might need......x
 
#70
miumiuisfab said:
I just went and took look around the oz customs site and it has changed I had no clue but wow Im pretty happy it reads...........

All goods (except for tobacco products and alcoholic beverages) may be imported duty and tax free if their value is $1,000 or less.
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thats great!!!! uk's is still £36 :shrugs:...just crazy, if you sent me a present,and was honest i would have to pay to get it out of customs:nuts:
 
#72
In Canada, its $20.00 ($60.00 for a gift) which really sucks except that it is often overlooked. You go Choo_girl. You are 100% in the right. I can't believe the buyer was so combative about it.
 
#73
Hang in there ChooGirl!!! That buyer is totally in the wrong.

Yeah, it's $1000 here in Australia - it was about €25 or €40 (can't remember which one) when I was living in Holland.
 
#74
chloehandbags said:
I really hope you do decide to continue to ship internationally, choo_girl - although, I totally understand why you're, currently, having your doubts after your experience with this particular buyer. :yes: :sad:
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I will probably continue to ship internationally. I think I just need to investigate some alternative shipping methods, and perhaps talk with my buyers to determine whether or not they have a preferred method. Maybe I can offer a few options or something along those lines. Thanks for the info. about Parcel Force. I appreciate it b/c it is definitely new to me!
 
#75
alfiebach said:
Parcelforce only seem to deal with USPS, and the other usa service.....Fed Ex use their own, and EMS come via Royal Mail...if its a packet, envelope, they would not deal with that.......if the cost of the item is over £36 including postage we get charged...if i have forgotten anything i will let you know :nuts: or anything else you might need......x
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So is there a way that I can ship from the US through EMS or is that within the UK only? Also, is Parcel Force working with USPS a new development because before my last two overseas shipments, I'd never heard of Parcel Force. Unless I was just lucky and my previous buyers received their packages from USPS/Parcel Force without any trouble?
 
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