eBay: selling to Jersey - customs/import tax?

Emily_Joy

Someone based on Jersey bought an item I was selling. The cost is under 10GBP. When I went to Royal mail website to arrange a label, I noticed that (1) the cost of postage is a bit less than to UK (48 Tracked); (2) I need to fill customs declaration form. 

I am wondering whether (2) means that the buyer will need to pay 5% tax to received the item? If so, 50p is not a big deal, so I would rather pay it myself to save the hassle.

I am a little puzzled by a recent thread where the OP says that eBay refunds the cost of postage to the buyer if the seller doesn't use eBay-provided(?) label. That sounds strange to say the least. 

soolin

Emily_Joy said:

Someone based on Jersey bought an item I was selling. The cost is under 10GBP. When I went to Royal mail website to arrange a label, I noticed that (1) the cost of postage is a bit less than to UK (48 Tracked); (2) I need to fill customs declaration form. 

I am wondering whether (2) means that the buyer will need to pay 5% tax to received the item? If so, 50p is not a big deal, so I would rather pay it myself to save the hassle.

I am a little puzzled by a recent thread where the OP says that eBay refunds the cost of postage to the buyer if the seller doesn't use eBay-provided(?) label. That sounds strange to say the least. 

I wasn't aware it was cheaper to post to the Channel Isalnds, which sugegsts it must be ages since I've sent anything there.

However, the final question about labels - if you have been sent an ebay label under the simple postage scheme then you must use it but if it is accepted by RM then you are covered as soon as it shows despatched (I say accepted as it would be different if the weight or dimensions is wrong) . If you do not use the simple postage label and just buy your own, then it looks like buyer gets their postage refunded, but as you never received anything for postage (that went to ebay) you would be paying out of your own pocket. 

Emily_Joy

@soolin thank you for clarification. Do I understand it correctly that it is compulsory now for private sellers to generate postage labels through eBay? 

In particular, it means that in case there is an error in the original listing, there is nothing you can do to correct it?

The only way around it seems to offer free postage and add the value to the item cost... *sigh*

soolin

Emily_Joy said:

@soolin thank you for clarification. Do I understand it correctly that it is compulsory now for private sellers to generate postage labels through eBay? 

In particular, it means that in case there is an error in the original listing, there is nothing you can do to correct it?

The only way around it seems to offer free postage and add the value to the item cost... *sigh*

No it isn't, there is still an opt out when you list. There is a thread added at end of this post , that does cover it - but you may have to skim read some of the posts- especially as some of us have different experiences of the listing process.

However, if your item is sold already then assuming it wasn't listed with simple postage and you have received your stated postage cost as per your listing, then nothing has changed for you. 

Incidentally, if you offer free postage on simple delivery you still get sent a label but you will be charged for it not the buyer. 

The simple postage thread is here

eBay simple delivery (merged) - Page 5 — MoneySavingExpert Forum

se2020

Royal mail don't charge vat on deliveries to Jersey hence they are all a bit cheaper.

Probably no import fees for the buyer.
If there is (over a certain value) then ebay Will collect those and you will see a 'vat paid' reference number on the order page. There will be a box to input that on the cn22 if applicable.