Ebay 'Import Charges' Scam And How Resolve It?

Tommygunn

A day a go I bought a Casio watch from someone in the US: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Casio-BM-500W-watch-Excellent-Condition-FREE-SHIPPING-/332680236830?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=Y53gXxUyghMri72iisK73DIE3Tw%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc


What I wasn't expecting was that I would have to pay an additional amount of $14.91 of so called 'import charges' when I go to make payment. Now I've seen this in the past but since I've never made a payment that involved this nonsense I just thought it was some advisory crap. No, it's not.


So, what do I do? I have no issue with the seller and I want to pay the price and postage but I am dead set against this so called import charge which for me, personally, is an issue for the Italian Customs and myself to sort out, not some go-between, middle man who takes a cut and doesn't provide and transparency in terms of what I am actually paying e.g.TARIC Codes, guaranties, % etc.



How do I resolve this amicably with the seller? Can I just contact them and say send me a revised invoice via Ebay or what?


If, at the end of the day it goes badly, how can I prevent money being taken from my card/bank account, which from what I hear of Paypal they just do that to people on a whim anyway?



Cheers,

Tom.

soolin

Tommygunn wrote: »

A day a go I bought a Casio watch from someone in the US: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Casio-BM-500W-watch-Excellent-Condition-FREE-SHIPPING-/332680236830?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=Y53gXxUyghMri72iisK73DIE3Tw%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc


What I wasn't expecting was that I would have to pay an additional amount of $14.91 of so called 'import charges' when I go to make payment. Now I've seen this in the past but since I've never made a payment that involved this nonsense I just thought it was some advisory crap. No, it's not.


So, what do I do? I have no issue with the seller and I want to pay the price and postage but I am dead set against this so called import charge which for me, personally, is an issue for the Italian Customs and myself to sort out, not some go-between, middle man who takes a cut and doesn't provide and transparency in terms of what I am actually paying e.g.TARIC Codes, guaranties, % etc.



How do I resolve this amicably with the seller? Can I just contact them and say send me a revised invoice via Ebay or what?


If, at the end of the day it goes badly, how can I prevent money being taken from my card/bank account, which from what I hear of Paypal they just do that to people on a whim anyway?



Cheers,

Tom.

If you bought via the global shipping programme (GSP) then it's nothing to do with the seller, they receive the US price plus postage, send it to the US hub and eBay take the rest for import duty and taxes. There is absolutely nothing at all that the seller can do to assist with this.

I assume you are in Italy as you mention Italian customs and it might be that seller would not have accepted your bid anyway without GSP. I have Italy firmly blocked on all my accounts as the postal system is a shambles and Italian buyers can only buy from me via GSP as then eBay take all the risks.

On eBay UK the full price including GSP costs are shown before bidding, it is very clear and cannot be mistaken, however I don't know about eBay Italy.

As for your question about PayPal, if you aren't sure how to keep yourself safe then perhaps read a few of the threads here and on the techie boards about scam emails and proper virus protection for your PC

soolin

Following your link from a UK based buying account I can see the following clearly

No additional import charges on delivery.
This item will be sent through the Global Shipping Programme and includes international tracking. Learn more

US $13.10 (approx. £9.86) International Priority Shipping to United Kingdom | See details

Item location:
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Posts to:
United States and many other countries | See details
Import charges:
US $15.03 (estimated and based on current bid)


As above, the postage costs and the GSP costs could not be clearer.