Value on Customs Form, who is right?

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kingak

O.G.
Mar 4, 2008
292
0
Hi Ladies,
I recently bought a bag from US, I live in Canada.
The bag was only $127 but it's worth $188, when the seller shipped it out she marked it at $199 (that's what she thought it was worth eventhough the tag says $188).
I received the bag yesterday and had to pay taxes and duties on the $199.
I contacted her and explained that the bag should have been marked at the value it sold for but she said that what if the Post Office lost it and then she would have to go and buy a new one and that's how much it would cost her.
My question is this:
Who is right? I never came across this, when I ship out or buy it is always valued at the price it was sold for not the original price(or in this case an inflated price)?
The seller does not agree with me and sees no fault.
Please let me know what you think?
Thank you!:biggrin:
 
I always mark the item at the ending bid -- not including shipping-- so just the winning amount.That is what I was told you were suppose to do.As if it was lost or damaged, the post office will go by what it sold for to you ,NOT the original price.That is how they can also determine the fair market value, as how do they really know otherwise.
 
Your seller is wrong. She was supposed to value to the bag at the price she sold it for. If the bag had been lost she would have to file a claim thru the USPS and prove the amount she was paid for the bag ($127) by providing them with a copy of the PayPal payment from you to her.
 
Exatly! If / when a item ever goes missing it does not matter if it was brand new due to possible sales,or out of season ect. The post office wll go by the actual amount you paid not a penny more.The seller is for sure wrong I would figure up what you paid extra and ask her to eat it,why should you have to ,since you were not at fautt here..
 
Hi Ladies,
I recently bought a bag from US, I live in Canada.
The bag was only $127 but it's worth $188, when the seller shipped it out she marked it at $199 (that's what she thought it was worth eventhough the tag says $188).
I received the bag yesterday and had to pay taxes and duties on the $199.
I contacted her and explained that the bag should have been marked at the value it sold for but she said that what if the Post Office lost it and then she would have to go and buy a new one and that's how much it would cost her.
My question is this:
Who is right? I never came across this, when I ship out or buy it is always valued at the price it was sold for not the original price(or in this case an inflated price)?
The seller does not agree with me and sees no fault.
Please let me know what you think?
Thank you!:biggrin:

As everyone else has said, the value should have been the winning bid amount only.

You can dispute the customs/duty charge. Print out a copy of the auction which shows you as winning bidder. Contact CCRA and find out where to get the form you need (or check their website). It is a PITA if it is only a couple of dollars, and probably not worth the work. BUT if it will get you back enough to make the work worthwhile, do it :smile:
 
thank you so much everyone!
I did ask the seller to pay the difference, I know it's not a huge amount, since I paid $54 for the duties and taxes but I don't get why I should pay a penny more than I need to.
The seller also did not disclose a mark on the bag and says that I can just return it but she will not cover the return shipping or the difference in the duties.
I honestly don't know what to do?
If I return it than I am out of $80(duties, taxes and return shipping) but if I keep it that means I am keeping a bag that I initially paid $127 for plus the extra in duties and to top it off the bag is not as described.
Any thoughts what I should do?
 
Depends on if this is a item you can live with the way it is ,then I would suggest trying to work out a partial refund.Tell the seller this item is not as described and also she made them overcharge you in duties and taxes.Or if the mark is a deal breaker for you,then I would open a SNAD. I would say your best bet is to keep it and get a partial refund ,if its a mark you can live with?? Are you able to get the duties-taxes back if you do a return?? If so you would only potentially be out one way of shipping ,possibly??
 
thank you abbiesmommy,
I did message the seller asking about a partial refund on the duties but she does not see any wrong doing on her part and refused.
I will check with the customs office the procedure on returned items and duties paid for them, this could be the best solution. I would only lose the money for the return shipping.
The mark is not big at all but it does bother me and I am so frustrated with this situation.
Thank you again!
 
You can get the customs and taxes back. The instructions are on the back of the declaration form. Not big mistakes on the part of the seller but annoying ones and certainly deserving of some compromise. I would send it back.
 
It doesn't matter what she paid for it or what it's current retail is, she is only supposed to mark it's value at what you paid for it.

You should be able to get the customs fees back. But it is a hassle that you shouldn't have to deal with.
 
Agreed,it may not be a huge mark so to say,but this whole experience plus that may cause you to never use this bag.Then to finally get rid of it due to that fact.Now you are stuck selling it paying the fees plus your being honest in your listing saying the mark is there,of course it will bring in less money.She should have absolutely metioned and noted ,photoed the mark big or small no matter--NEEDS to be said.And yes she has not been helpful one bit with the extra she made you paid for taxes plus the partial refund,her saying no to.Send it back to her and let her deal with it.Just be sure to open a claim if you are nearing the 45 day point and still no refund as after 45 days PP will not help you...Plus make sure you send it with insurance just in case..Great luck ;) Sending you good vibes...
 
Ditto with all of the above. You got skrud by a seller whose concept of value--declaring the $ amount it would cost her to get a new one vs the actual value of the item--is a bit twisted. :nogood:
Not only is that way of declaring value incorrect, but it's irrational in a way: if it got lost, why would she buy a new one when she's trying to get rid of this one? Absurd. She sold it for $127--that's what the bag is worth to her; otherwise she wouldn't have sold it at that price. As to the SNAD, can't really tell one way or the other without more info, but if you're convinced she misrepresented the item, you could open a PP SNAD dispute and fight to get reimbursed for the return shipping, noting that the seller not only sent you a SNAD but lied about the value, which ended up costing you more.