Have any vinyl/CD sellers shipped to the US via the GSP hub and not had tariffs applied?

[jjambadger27]

Any eBay reps are unwilling to shed any light on this - physical music formats are exempt from tariffs but I'd like to know if any sellers shipping to the US using the Global Shipping Programme have had tariffs applied or not to the total for the buyer to pay? 

[style_wise]

Just to be clear, physical media aren't exempt from tariffs, 'informational materials' are. Whether Customs and couriers will handle these correctly is a very good question! Or are they too disorganized or over-zealous in practice?

[jjambadger27]

US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) have confirmed that physical music formats are exempt from tariffs because they are classified as “information materials”. Sellers posting CDs/vinyl to the US via Royal Mail (bypassing the GSP) with no tariffs being applied via Click & Drop owing to the exemption have confirmed that the items are being received by buyers. 

[jjambadger27]

I've now had a non-GSP music item (a 7" vinyl single) sold on eBay delivered to a buyer in the US with no issues at all, with Royal Mail correctly charging no tariff owing to the item being exempt.

Now, surely someone's had a CD/vinyl order from the US shipped via GSP who can answer my original question? eBay's reps are of no help at all and have said in the weekly chat that they won't answer any more questions from me on this matter. 

[jjambadger27]

I've just got off the phone to one of the Ireland customer service team who says that the music category exemption is in place. I'm still slightly dubious, but I guess I will re-enable GSP to the US and see if this applies for sure. 

[papso22]

I cannot understand the rationale behind including music CDs as 'informational'!

[rainbowtrax]

Nor me but I'm certainly not complaining!

[*vyolla*]

Me neither. 

[jjambadger27]

Have either of you shipped vinyl/CDs to the US via the GSP over the last few weeks? If so, were tariff fees indicated or not for the buyer?

[4_bathrooms]

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@papso22 wrote:

I cannot understand the rationale behind including music CDs as 'informational'!

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This is the definition being used:

"The law is 50 USC 1702(b), which exempts from duty the following:

information or informational materials, including but not limited to, publications, films, posters, phonograph records, photographs, microfilms, microfiche, tapes, compact disks, CD ROMs, artworks, and news wire feeds."

The actual US Govt. page where the exemption is defined has been down for a couple of days, probably due to traffic. I think "cultural and informational materials" would have been a better definition.

[jjambadger27]

Well there's been enough nonsense on these boards about CDs/vinyl not being exempt in the face of actual proof now. 

No disrespect but it would be great if maybe we could keep this topic on track as I'd like to hear if sellers' experiences tally up with what I was told this morning by an eBay Irish rep. 

[rainbowtrax]

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@jjambadger27 wrote:

Have either of you shipped vinyl/CDs to the US via the GSP over the last few weeks? If so, were tariff fees indicated or not for the buyer?

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Not me, too expensive. I use my own postage and that's all been going through as normal. RM have all of my categories enabled as tariff free on the C&D website, using the relevant HS codes, so it's all very simple. They add their 50p admin fee but I've just increased all my US postage prices to cover that. No tarrifs are charged, PDDP logo is on the labels and items are being delivered as normal. Business as usual here. 

I do appreciate how very lucky I am that my categories are all exempt. Most sellers are not so lucky.

[*vyolla*]

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@jjambadger27 wrote:

Have either of you shipped vinyl/CDs to the US via the GSP over the last few weeks? If so, were tariff fees indicated or not for the buyer?

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No, same method as @rainbowtrax  for me.

[jjambadger27]

Out of interest, what do you do if what you've sold is over the £250 amount that Royal Mail cover re non-UK countries? Use a courier? This is where GSP seems like the best option as I very occasionally sell vinyl over that amount.