eBay, etc. General Question/Answer Thread

[Straight-Laced]

I don't think there is anything you can do. If he doesn't pay customs and pick it up, it could be returned to you.

Thanks, at this point I’m expecting a return. I will try the buyer again but I’m not hopeful that they’ll respond.
If it’s returned I don’t want to refund shipping and at this point I’d like also to deduct the 10% restocking fee stated in bold in my listing if deliveries aren’t accepted by the buyer, so I want to do everything properly before this happens.

 

[Straight-Laced]

I am not sure about US and Candian rules, in Europe it depends a bit from country to country, but I am afraid he might be getting cold feet due to customs charging him import duties and taxes?

I think cold feet from extra dollar charge

 

[Gabs007]

I think cold feet from extra dollar charge

Do you mind sharing where to you sold it? Was it the US? In Europe I can only help you with the UK, Italy, France, Switzerland and Austria regarding fees, in France if it is a designer item, that could be the issue, in Germany they are super strict about imports complying and being declared, but according to your description you got that covered

 

[Straight-Laced]

Do you mind sharing where to you sold it? Was it the US? In Europe I can only help you with the UK, Italy, France, Switzerland and Austria regarding fees, in France if it is a designer item, that could be the issue, in Germany they are super strict about imports complying and being declared, but according to your description you got that covered

Belgium.
I actually asked the buyer if they expected any delays in Customs because I’ve never sold to Belgium before. Buyer said no, not expecting delays, so I’m not sure what’s going on. At least it’s not terribly valuable.
I’m disappointed in the buyer obviously but maybe something has happened. Cold feet more likely though.

 

[Gabs007]

Belgium.
I actually asked the buyer if they expected any delays in Customs because I’ve never sold to Belgium before. Buyer said no, not expecting delays, so I’m not sure what’s going on. At least it’s not terribly valuable.
I’m disappointed in the buyer obviously but maybe something has happened. Cold feet more likely though.

It could just be that they are processing a lot of things still from Xmas sales and all that, Belgium is one of the richest countries in Europe but sells quite a number of things cheaply, so I doubt the extra customs fee is a problem, more likely that it is just red tape and working through a mountain of things. Usually you tend to see on the tracking if it has cleared customs and is just waiting to be picked up, if that doesn't show up and it shows as still in customs, it could simply be that they are still processing.

 

[Straight-Laced]

It could just be that they are processing a lot of things still from Xmas sales and all that, Belgium is one of the richest countries in Europe but sells quite a number of things cheaply, so I doubt the extra customs fee is a problem, more likely that it is just red tape and working through a mountain of things. Usually you tend to see on the tracking if it has cleared customs and is just waiting to be picked up, if that doesn't show up and it shows as still in customs, it could simply be that they are still processing.

Good to know, thanks. I’ve been hoping it’s just a backlog situation due to holiday season.
Tracking says ‘entered foreign customs, waiting for clearance’

 

[Gabs007]

Thanks, at this point I’m expecting a return. I will try the buyer again but I’m not hopeful that they’ll respond.
If it’s returned I don’t want to refund shipping and at this point I’d like also to deduct the 10% restocking fee stated in bold in my listing if deliveries aren’t accepted by the buyer, so I want to do everything properly before this happens.

Just out of interest, in Australia you can still charge restocking fee? I stopped putting items on eBay due to the scam buyers who damage stuff or buy to wear it and then return it damaged claiming a flaw because they washed it wrong and it shrunk or they spilled something on it, if I pay shipping both ways and get a ruined item back that is worthless, I rather donate it straight away, cheaper and less time consuming. Friend who cleared her house sent me an email today of a chat she had with CS, total joke, they are aware of the buyer lying but she still has to pay the return costs.

Mind you about 2 years ago I sold an item to Switzerland, buyer didn't pick it up, customs opened it but didn't close it properly and the RM delivered it back to me with a note that the item arrived damaged and they won't refund as it is not their fault, went to eBay and they ruled in my favour, but the transfer was via bank account and she decided also that transfer charges and currency conversion should be paid by me, which wasn't by the eBay rules, as I sold the item for a certain amount and received considerably less (stupidly I sent it when she sent me a copy of the bank transfer as she claimed to need it at a certain date, there you couldn't see the deduction), eBay surprisingly ruled in my favour

 

[Gabs007]

Good to know, thanks. I’ve been hoping it’s just a backlog situation due to holiday season.
Tracking says ‘entered foreign customs, waiting for clearance’

As I said, not sure about Belgium but had the similar issue with Switzerland, where it was "waiting for clearance" then "Informed recipient, waiting for pick up" oddly enough in her case because it was a 2nd hand item and the value below their limit it was not a tax issue but simply that she couldn't be bothered, not sure if I remember rightly, but I think once cleared they even tried to deliver and she wasn't home.

 

[Straight-Laced]

Just out of interest, in Australia you can still charge restocking fee? I stopped putting items on eBay due to the scam buyers who damage stuff or buy to wear it and then return it damaged claiming a flaw because they washed it wrong and it shrunk or they spilled something on it, if I pay shipping both ways and get a ruined item back that is worthless, I rather donate it straight away, cheaper and less time consuming. Friend who cleared her house sent me an email today of a chat she had with CS, total joke, they are aware of the buyer lying but she still has to pay the return costs.

Mind you about 2 years ago I sold an item to Switzerland, buyer didn't pick it up, customs opened it but didn't close it properly and the RM delivered it back to me with a note that the item arrived damaged and they won't refund as it is not their fault, went to eBay and they ruled in my favour, but the transfer was via bank account and she decided also that transfer charges and currency conversion should be paid by me, which wasn't by the eBay rules, as I sold the item for a certain amount and received considerably less (stupidly I sent it when she sent me a copy of the bank transfer as she claimed to need it at a certain date, there you couldn't see the deduction), eBay surprisingly ruled in my favour

I don’t know about re-stocking, I’ve never charged it because only one return prior to this likely one. But I’d like to try it if and when this item comes back because of non-refundable PayPal charges now.
I did everything right with this sale and shipping cost a bomb(twice what they paid). And the item wasn’t even listed at the time, they asked me to relist because they wanted these shoes so desperately. Anyway, that’s eBay for you
Also I agree, I pass most things into charity shops now.

 

[Gabs007]

I don’t know about re-stocking, I’ve never charged it because only one return prior to this likely one. But I’d like to try it if and when this item comes back because of non-refundable PayPal charges now.
I did everything right with this sale and shipping cost a bomb(twice what they paid). And the item wasn’t even listed at the time, they asked me to relist because they wanted these shoes so desperately. Anyway, that’s eBay for you
Also I agree, I pass most things into charity shops now.

There used to be the global shipping program, I used that when I listed items because it can be so confusing trying to figure out the costs, that way they could see all of it ahead and there was no issue with import duties as eBay handled all that in advance.

For high end designer items, I always use a website with a middle man who checks and collects the money, so I don't have to deal with psycho buyers. I offer, sell, ship, they authenticate and check it is the condition as described, end of it. Percentage a bit higher (depending from site to site) than eBay but I don't have to deal with the psychos or have people changing their mind

 

[Gabs007]

I did have some stuff that I bought from the US returned due to that, not because I wanted to weasle out or wouldn't have paid customs, but it was 3 orders from the same seller and he did not offer combined shipping or responded, so I paid shipping for all of them, but left a message on eBay and with the payment to please NOT send them together since I paid shipping for each item, as you can guess, he sent together, which was something I could have dealt with as it wasn't a super high amount I had paid for them and tax would have been minor, but he didn't put 2nd hand (which they were) on the customs form and gave the new price, and that grossly inflated, so instead import for items that I bought for 150 and (another 150 he charged me for shipping) I would have had to pay import duty for 2K, which would have been totally massive. I honestly don't like returning or not picking up, but in this case, it was outrageous

Btw the reason for the separate shipping was not that I grudged him the additional amount he would make on the shipping costs, which actually were 30 compared to the 150 he charged, according to weight and original value (checked with them when they presented me the bill as the shipping company charged the customs taxes and said "if you don't pay it it will be returned" tried to show them the price for which I bought it for but apparently only what he declared counted, which is somewhat understandable), but that sending it together I would have had to pay import and customs, which I explained, so I assume he was a bit miffled that nobody else bid and decided to put a totally inflated "new" price on the items to get even, I just don't know for what, I put my maximum bid in, all other bids were much lower, didn't ever reach half of my max. It ended at a reasonable time in Europe but a time where most US bidders will be sleeping or being on the way to work or working, what on earth can you expect? Also not super popular brands, just brands I personally like and that are a bit hard to get in Europe, not impossible but not as common as in the US, seriously not high end, I think it was American Apparel, I like their oversized asymmetric sweaters, a bit hit and miss with quality, hate the sexist CEO and the sexist ads, but liked that they didn't use sweat shops

 

[BeenBurned]

Wondering what my responsibility is for an item I sold to an international buyer that seems to be stuck in foreign customs and is therefore not delivered?
I sent a courtesy message to the buyer a couple of days ago saying that I hope he can arrange delivery soon but haven’t heard back. He was very chatty prior to shipping and paid for express post. The item has been in foreign customs since 26 December.
What do I need to do now, if anything? Thanks.

I don't think there is anything you can do. If he doesn't pay customs and pick it up, it could be returned to you.

Thanks, it’s an eBay sale and the export documents I completed described the shipment as an eBay sale and the full price ($400 Australian) was declared.

Thanks, at this point I’m expecting a return. I will try the buyer again but I’m not hopeful that they’ll respond.
If it’s returned I don’t want to refund shipping and at this point I’d like also to deduct the 10% restocking fee stated in bold in my listing if deliveries aren’t accepted by the buyer, so I want to do everything properly before this happens.

Personally, I'd let sleeping dogs lie.

It's very possible that the tracking just didn't update and the buyer did receive the item. I don't do a lot of international selling but find that some countries are worse than others when it comes to delivery scans.

But if the buyer doesn't receive the item, you can be sure you'll hear so my suggestion would be to just sit tight.

Because my listings don't offer international shipping, buyers have to contact me if they want to buy and I have to add them to my exemption list. I sold an item on December 9 to a buyer in the Philippines. It wasn't until I shipped and checked tracking that it showed the estimated delivery date. On ebay, it showed as "Estimated delivery Wednesday, Dec 25, 2019 - Monday, Feb 3, 2020"

On USPS, it shows Monday, Feb. 3 also. (On Dec. 12, it was in Jamaica, NY - international hub - and there are no updates since):


I'm taking my own advice and won't do anything unless and until I hear from the buyer after Feb. 3. And how ebay would handle an INR after 2 months is anyone's guess!

 

[Gabs007]

Personally, I'd let sleeping dogs lie.

It's very possible that the tracking just didn't update and the buyer did receive the item. I don't do a lot of international selling but find that some countries are worse than others when it comes to delivery scans.

But if the buyer doesn't receive the item, you can be sure you'll hear so my suggestion would be to just sit tight.

Because my listings don't offer international shipping, buyers have to contact me if they want to buy and I have to add them to my exemption list. I sold an item on December 9 to a buyer in the Philippines. It wasn't until I shipped and checked tracking that it showed the estimated delivery date. On ebay, it showed as "Estimated delivery Wednesday, Dec 25, 2019 - Monday, Feb 3, 2020"

On USPS, it shows Monday, Feb. 3 also. (On Dec. 12, it was in Jamaica, NY - international hub - and there are no updates since):
View attachment 4636057

I'm taking my own advice and won't do anything unless and until I hear from the buyer after Feb. 3. And how ebay would handle an INR after 2 months is anyone's guess!

If you are shipping to France, anything but stuff that goes through LaPoste, the official French postal service. I noticed that despite paying for signed and tracked delivery, the items are often only tracked until they leave the UK, then it stops... If the buyer is honest, he will confirm delivery, since not all of them are, I usually pick a fully tracked service via Parcel2Go, often cheaper and faster. They get a signature or do a GPS scan, the tracking is often delayed a day or so, but at least it happens... Glad I did so with one item via VideDressing, buyer has 2 days to change their mind (not counting the day it arrived) and I don't want them to wear it, cause damage and then return and always try to ship so I avoid that it arrives on a weekend and they take it "clubbing"

 

[Straight-Laced]

Personally, I'd let sleeping dogs lie.

It's very possible that the tracking just didn't update and the buyer did receive the item. I don't do a lot of international selling but find that some countries are worse than others when it comes to delivery scans.

But if the buyer doesn't receive the item, you can be sure you'll hear so my suggestion would be to just sit tight.

Because my listings don't offer international shipping, buyers have to contact me if they want to buy and I have to add them to my exemption list. I sold an item on December 9 to a buyer in the Philippines. It wasn't until I shipped and checked tracking that it showed the estimated delivery date. On ebay, it showed as "Estimated delivery Wednesday, Dec 25, 2019 - Monday, Feb 3, 2020"

On USPS, it shows Monday, Feb. 3 also. (On Dec. 12, it was in Jamaica, NY - international hub - and there are no updates since):
View attachment 4636057

I'm taking my own advice and won't do anything unless and until I hear from the buyer after Feb. 3. And how ebay would handle an INR after 2 months is anyone's guess!

Thanks, you're right, I'm going to leave it be.
It's very possible that scanning is delayed because the scan for arrival into Customs was late - arrived 26 Dec and I didn't receive an arrival scan text until 2 January. I'll wait to hear and in the meantime I hope it resolves in the usual way.

 

[houseof999]

I received an offer from a buyer $10 below my lowest. I have changed my mind and would like to contact my buyer. But when I search the buyer nothing no result is found by that name. How do I contact this buyer? And why can't I find him/her even though I can see his/her profile but there's no contact option?