Selling Price

[mcvicar007]

An item I purchased had a set purchase price. Before I received it I had to pay £76 VAT plus £12 courier fee. Is it legal to advertise something for sale at a set price and then not put +VAT after the price? I think it's a bit of a scam by the selling business. It would be illegal in a shop. Thoughts please.

[*vyolla*]

If you buy an item from an international seller and it's below £135, eBay will collect the VAT payable at eBay checkout.

Because your item was over £135, import fees are also payable, and these are collected by the courier when the item is delivered.

It's really up to you to understand the import regs in your own country, other international sellers won't be aware of them.

Now that you've left bad feedback for your seller accusing them of this being a scam and illegal in the EU, you've just made yourself (and all Brits) look daft. No wonder the EU are laughing at us. 

[plpmr]

“Thoughts please.”

Adding to the advice already given -

Dreadful feedback left for an innocent seller because your government charged you import duty etc.

Clearly lacking in knowledge and that eBay don't allow bad feedback because import duty was charged.

[mcvicar007]

I not complaining about import duty. A priced advertised as the purchase price should be that price unless it's advertised as + VAT.

[red_magpie]

Your seller is in the Netherlands, and the item was dispatched from Nieuwkuijk.

UK import dues and taxes have nothing to do with your seller. They are payable by the person importing the item into the UK, which was you. Whether eBay added the VAT charge (they are now collecting VAT on behalf of HMRC on some sales) or you were asked to pay on delivery, this was entirely your responsibility when importing an item from outside the EU.

You should withdraw your appallingly unfair feedback for this seller, accusing them of a misleading scam. Ask them to send you a feedback revision request.