Ebay and the US Global Shipping Program

[101RRS]

I spotted an item on the US Ebay site that I wanted - $150US and $30US international shipping. There was nothing unusal about the listing and hit the buy now and paid immediately.

Soon after I got the confirmation order from Ebay and it indicated that shipping was via the Global Shipping Program and that there the paypal payment would be split - $150 to the seller, $30 to the shipping company.

The Paypal receipt came in and was split - confirmed all correct by logging into my Paypal account and checking.

Now the seller has contacted me an advised that he has only received $150 not the full $180 and will not release the item until shipping has been paid to him. He knows noting about shipping being done by anyone else via the US Global Shipping Program and the listing certainly did not mention it.

I have send messages to both Ebay and Paypal asking what is going on but they will take some time to respond.

I can cancel the order and get my funds back through paypal or just pay the seller the shipping costs direct to the seller and get the other shipping costs back but I will hold off for the moment to see what happens.

Anyone else had this issue of when you may a payment the shipping component goes to another party??

Garry

[Judo]

I buy a lot of stuff on ebay and I've never come across that sorry. I often hear that people say the customer service - albeit a little slow perhaps - is quite good from Ebay and Paypal, so I'd hang on until you receive a reply.

[Psimpson7]

I've bought stuff that's been shipped through this.

The item I bought was about 1050$ so it showed the global shipping as being about 170$ including all duties etc.

I submitted a best offer and it was accepted at say 950$ which should have dropped the duties etc under the threshold for here

It didn't. The seller got the funds for the item, Ebay got the rest. The only reason I had to follow it through was that the item in question wasn't allowed to be shipped outside the US by US dealers on order of the manufacturer, so it worked in my favour as they sent it to Ebay, who forwarded it on, but still cost more than I was expecting.

Its appearing on more and more items.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

I've bought stuff that's been shipped through this.

The item I bought was about 1050$ so it showed the global shipping as being about 170$ including all duties etc.

I submitted a best offer and it was accepted at say 950$ which should have dropped the duties etc under the threshold for here

....

Unfortunately the excise free limit is $1,000.00 which includes the purchase price, shipping and insurance.

The only way it would have arrived excise free would have been if you offered $A829 and the shipping was $A170.

Did they also charge GST when it arrived? Did you mention the A-US FTA?

[Psimpson7]

Hi Diana,

That isn't correct. It is goods only up to 1000$. Shipping isn't included in that.

The goods can be 999$ and shipping could be $500 and you would get zero duty charged.

If the goods only were $1001 you would get charged. (and then they may also add shipping into the equation)

Rgds
Peter

[Tank]

Peter, I was led to beleive that duty was payable on the Cost landed in Australia, which includes shipping, etc., Regards Frank.

[101RRS]

It didn't. The seller got the funds for the item, Ebay got the rest. The only reason I had to follow it through was that the item in question wasn't allowed to be shipped outside the US by US dealers on order of the manufacturer, so it worked in my favour as they sent it to Ebay, who forwarded it on, but still cost more than I was expecting.

Its appearing on more and more items.

This is a used item that indicated international postage was OK. The seller does not know anything about this Global Shipping Program. Looks like an ebay thing.

Either way I am not getting the item until the seller receives the postage costs.

Garry

[101RRS]

Peter, I was led to beleive that duty was payable on the Cost landed in Australia, which includes shipping, etc., Regards Frank.

No this is a myth - up to $1000 goods only then no duty - over $1000 the duty and fees and GST on goods, shipping and any other costs.

But this is not relevant to this thread as total cost of goods and shipping is less than $200.

Garry

[sheerluck]

Peter, I was led to beleive that duty was payable on the Cost landed in Australia, which includes shipping, etc., Regards Frank.

It is Frank, but only if the value if the goods alone exceeds $1000AU.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Hi Diana,

That isn't correct. It is goods only up to 1000$. Shipping isn't included in that.

The goods can be 999$ and shipping could be $500 and you would get zero duty charged.

If the goods only were $1001 you would get charged. (and then they may also add shipping into the equation)

Rgds
PeterHi Peter

If you check the Australian Customs site you will find a definition
"GST is paid on the Value of the Taxable Importation (VoTI). The VoTI is the sum of the Customs value, transport and insurance costs (or postage and insurance) plus any duty payable and WET payable."

Diana

[Psimpson7]

Yep agree Diana, but it seems that if the goods are valued under 1000$ the shipping component is irrelevant, and no duty/gst is charged.

I have had a lot of parcels over the last few years where the shipping would have put it over 1000$ and not been charged anything.

I have had 2 where the goods were substantially over the threshold and got charged duty on the goods and shipping

[Bigbjorn]

Duty is calculated on the invoice or declared value of the goods.

GST is calculated on the declared value plus duty plus freight.

Where mass and/or volume makes it possible always use the post office as the carrier. No hassles or hidden add-on costs like when using commercial carriers.

[101RRS]

Hi Peter

If you check the Australian Customs site you will find a definition
"GST is paid on the Value of the Taxable Importation (VoTI). The VoTI is the sum of the Customs value, transport and insurance costs (or postage and insurance) plus any duty payable and WET payable."

Diana

That is for Businesses not Individuals - for individuals as I said above - the $1000 threashold applies for value of goods only - have been through this many times - under $1000 not extra charges - over $1000 goods price and open your wallet.

Garry

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Thats not the advice I received from Customs when I brought in tyres from the US (or should that be tires), they quoted the transaction value converted to Au$, the transaction being the cost of the item and the price paid to get it here, even though I was using my own Au FedEx account.

Perhaps I spoke to the wrong AC officer.

Diana

[sheerluck]

Thats not the advice I received from Customs when I brought in tyres from the US (or should that be tires), they quoted the transaction value converted to Au$, the transaction being the cost of the item and the price paid to get it here, even though I was using my own Au FedEx account.

Perhaps I spoke to the wrong AC officer.

Diana

Sounds like you got the wrong advice! The rules for individuals (non-business) are definitely that you can import goods (excluding shipping or other transaction costs) up to the converted AU$ value of $1000, duty and GST free.

Once the value if goods exceeds $1000, then duty and GST are applied to the value of the goods and the shipping cost.

So if you have goods worth $995 coming in, with a shipping cost of $500, you'll have nothing more to pay. But add another $5 spanner in, it'll cost you a big donation to the gum'ment.

Has been applied on all my recent imports, and I had that backed up by an ex-customs fella who's now a freelance import declaration agent.

I can pass his details to you if you need those kind of services.

[101RRS]

We seem to have this discussion about every 6 months with the same outcome evertime.

Anyway - I rang ebay this afternoon and started discussion with them on the Global Shipping Program and we were actually making progress - the ebay consultant then asked if I had seen the message from the seller now saying all was fine - fault was at their end as they had not used the Global Shipping Program before and was now all sorted - as I said no I haven't seen the message, it arrived in my in-box.

It seems that Ebay US now requires the Global Shipping Service to be used as some items may attract US Customs duties when leaving the US and using this program ensures US Customs is kept happy.

So hopefully I will get my item in a week or so.

Cheers

Garry

[superquag]

Is this the mob concerned ?

Shipping, Freight Forwarding, Project Cargo, Ocean Freight, Airfreight, Customs Brokerage Service - Global Shipping Service LLC (http://www.glship.com/)

- Sounds like a 'Restraint of Trade' or something else.....

(Just to stir the pot !:angel: )

US Customs on the way out of the country? - Don't tell our lot about that little lurk...

On the other hand, buying some H4H (702K) headlamps for our (deceased) Jap import.... was going to cost me $100 for a pair.

- Did'nt matter where I went, "prices" ranged from $99 with FREE shipping, to $20 and $80 shipping...and every combination between. That was evilbay as well as direct from various mail-order businesses.

Eventually settled on the most honest, who charged the US Postal Service 'Flat-Rate Box', whatever it was at the time. Cost $100 all-up.....

Maybe it's my grumpy old suspicious mind, but I'm convinced that too many US companies charge foreigners whatever they reckon they can....

[101RRS]

Is this the mob concerned ?

Shipping, Freight Forwarding, Project Cargo, Ocean Freight, Airfreight, Customs Brokerage Service - Global Shipping Service LLC (http://www.glship.com/)



No - is an ebay thing.

[loanrangie]

I think what you will find is with purchases that include freight on the invoice it can push the value up over 1K and there for you will be hit with duty/gst.
Lets say you bought an engine out of the US for $750 and it cost you $250 to get it to the point of departure (airport/sea freight depot etc) customs will include the $250 as inland freight and part of the cost of the goods.
But generally speaking under 1k AUD and you are fine.

[Phil HH]

Would it be too cynical to think that the Global Shipping Program is yet another way for Ebay to get its hand into your pocket? Ebay has an arrangement with " Pitney Bowes an independent contractor " to provide this service. Only the most naïve would think that Ebay does not receive a percentage of the GSP shipping costs, as it does with Paypal transactions. Mentioning US Customs just seems to be a fine scare tactic to persuade purchasers to use EBay's tame shipper.

[101RRS]

Ebay has an arrangement with " Pitney Bowes an independent contractor " to provide this service. Only the most naïve would think that Ebay does not receive a percentage of the GSP shipping costs, as it does with Paypal transactions. Mentioning US Customs just seems to be a fine scare tactic to persuade purchasers to use EBay's tame shipper.

That is who got paid my shipping. They are in Kentucky but my seller is in Oregon - so who pays to send the item to Pitney Bowes in Kentucky first before it is sent on to me.

Interestingly my seller did not know about this Global Shipping Program - it was something ebay added to the listing.

Garry

[3toes]

Would it be too cynical to think that the Global Shipping Program is yet another way for Ebay to get its hand into your pocket? Ebay has an arrangement with " Pitney Bowes an independent contractor " to provide this service. Only the most naïve would think that Ebay does not receive a percentage of the GSP shipping costs, as it does with Paypal transactions. Mentioning US Customs just seems to be a fine scare tactic to persuade purchasers to use EBay's tame shipper.

Don't forget that E bay owns Paypal.

Once they bought Paypal kicked everyone else off the site to 'protect' their customers. Not that they had a financial interest in their own payment service having a monopoly.