Royal Mail and DHL suspending deliveries to USA

[thesmokingrunner]

For info, I've just seen this article on the BBC and thought it might be worth posting here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2p17xypgko

[trilobitesuk]

more info about it on The Royal Mail Website, I am waiting to see how this affects trade to America and the costs involved for sellers as Royal Mail state that it is the shipper is responsible for paying those duties and taxes.  Important information about changes to the export of goods to the USA | Royal Mail Group Ltd

[thesmokingrunner]

Waiting to see how all this plays out is probably the best approach, @trilobitesuk - it's certainly going to get interesting.

It's understandable that the shipper will be responsible for paying the duties, but as they are import tariffs the buyer will have to first pay the seller when they buy the item. Now, that in itself means that eBay will be charging both the International Selling Fee and the Currency Conversion Fee on transactions which include the US tariff element - in other words eBay will increase profit by 5.5% of whatever tariff the buyer pays.

This also means that the seller's income will be correspondingly reduced: sell an item which attracts US$100 in tariffs/import duty and the seller will only receive US$94.50 after fees. However, the seller will than have to pay US$100 when shipping and so will be 'down' US$5.50 on the transaction.

I can't see eBay waiving their fees on the tariff element of a transaction so it's very likely to come down to a fairly simple choice for sellers: either accept that any sale to the USA is going to result in an additional 5.5% expense in fees or stop selling to the USA.

Interesting times...

[phillsvinyl]

Had a client from USA - that buys quite a few records from me - had to cancel one of his orders.

1 -12 inch cost £10 whole english pounds

His cost to have it shipped to the USA $145.00 - via GSP

Even he has said Its now too much - so there is one repeat buyer gone ☹️

[davrman]

Perhaps this figure includes the new "$80 per item + variable percentage" tariff. It's not due to be imposed until the 29th, but presumably this item might still be in transit on that date?

[a45heaven]

@phillsvinyl 

Other platforms charge realistic prices - its only ebay who over fill their own pockets from sales.

[phillsvinyl]

No  - they are charging that now - he orded on Friday - canceled Saturday as he saw what the cost was

[phillsvinyl]

Its on all platforms now - there is a huge disscusion on Discogs about it as it will affect everyone

[da6170]

GSP has paused shipping to the US again?

[fribblecollectables]

Royal Mail currently not accepting mail to the US as of this Tuesday morning:

[trilobitesuk]

I sell Books & Fossils on eBay, I have just done a couple of test purchases of postage on the Royal Mail Website now that they have the new U.S. tariff system in place

one was for a posting book valued at £250 to the United States, and a Fossil valued at £75.00 for shipping to the United States

I filled out all the relevant boxes, stating country of Origin, that it was a Sold item and not a gift, and declaring the full value, plus entering the correct H.S Tariff code for each item, 

And on both items the final calculated tariff to pay was 50 pence per item,

So if that is all the extra costs involved , then there is nothing much to worry about

eBay had suggested that I enroll into their Global Shipping Programme to ensure that all documentation would be correct.

But based on what I have just seen, I think that I will hold fire on that route for now