US Tariff Chaos - Can Ebay Help Sellers

[picture_box_postcards]

Good Morning All,

Just logging the worry that the chaos caused by US Tariff confusion poses a huge risk to sellers and the platform as a whole.

The current Royal Mail cessation of shipping to America continues and there is no clear info as when they will get a new system in place. For our part we sell Postcards (theoretically exempt still) which we can only send economically via royal mail ( GSP or global couriers are prohibitively expensive  ) so currently we can only cancel orders bound for the Americas (They won't even ship to south America it seems) there is no news or clear guidance from any party involved.

Given the platform seem to take great delight in sanctioning sellers and rejecting appeals for faults / late deliveries (even when its clear the seller has behaved in the correct manner throughout)  I fear for the ramifications of this mess.

Anyone had any insight or conversations with ebay that may help.

[*vyolla*]

Receipt showing that the RM admin fee was £1.50.

I wonder if @valueaddedresource knows why it isn't 50p.

[pillarboxred]

EBay's accounts are weird but can be seen on Companies House. EBay states its revenues to be the total of all sales and charges made on the site and states its "cost of sales" as the payments made to users as if it is buying and selling retailing stock. 

[silicon-press]

Sigh

Looks like I had better disable sending to the USA again - I re-enabled it as my stuff if exempt, but if they can't even get the admin fee right, there is zero chance that my stuff will get through unscathed.

[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

[silicon-press]

Both of your items are tariff exempt according to the US Customs website - books definitely are, and I would guess that a fossil comes under antiques, which is also exempt.

Do you trust the various bodies involved to actually risk sending an item?

[valueaddedresource]

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@*vyolla* wrote:

Receipt showing that the RM admin fee was £1.50.

I wonder if @valueaddedresource knows why it isn't 50p.

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Thanks for the tag @*vyolla* .

Here's where everyone (including me) is getting the 50p info from:

https://www.royalmail.com/usabusinessupdates#:~:text=Pricing%20of%20our%20PDDP%20services%20to%20the...

"We will simply add a 50p per parcel handling charge, to cover the additional costs associated with providing clearance services into the USA. This will be invoiced as a handling fee, in addition to postage costs."

That page is specifically for business shippers though, and the similar informational page for personal shippers doesn't specify, it just says "There are some administrative fees associated with the new US requirements that will apply to goods and gifts. These fees will be clearly communicated, at the online checkout or at the Post Office, so you’ll know the total amount to pay before you complete your purchase."

https://www.royalmail.com/usapersonalupdates#:~:text=What%20do%20you%20need%20to%20know%3F%E2%80%AF%...

 @silicon-press when you checked online, were you using a business account or a personal account?

My first thought was it might be something to do with that - though I'm not sure if the fee for personal would be more than for business shipments.

If not that, then I would tend to agree that maybe online and in person just aren't in sync.

I'll see if I can get any more official info and let you know if I do though.

[carrotdrusus2]

Letters and gifts worth less than $100 sent to the U.S. by individuals will still be exempt from duties under the new rules.12 hours ago

I would assume that if you sell items small enough to be sent by letter you will be fine. I have noticed that stamps can still be sent without any tax by letter.

[silicon-press]

I just used the Send your Item link on the Royal Mail website.

Many of the tariffs have now been declared illegal by the US Court - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgj7jxkq58o 

[carrotdrusus2]

It will go to the Supreme Court and Trump has an in built majority there so nobody should jump for joy just yet,

[pafishlock]

I only sell on Ebay as a hobby. So, there was a simple answer. I have stopped selling to the USA.

[mg9903]

Do you have a link to the list of items exempt from tariffs? I've tried looking online but I can't find it.

Hoping coins are tariff free

[wellingnorth]

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@valueaddedresource wrote:

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If not that, then I would tend to agree that maybe online and in person just aren't in sync.

I would think this is correct, the receipt looks like it's from the Post Office and it wouldn't surprise me if they charge a higher admin fee (international postage in general can cost a lot more at the Post Office vs booked online with Royal Mail).

Actually at the link above www.royalmail.com/usapersonalupdates it does say this:

Buying Royal Mail services at the Post Office?

If you visit a Post Office to send items to the USA, you will be advised of and pay any duties and fees at the same time you purchase your postage at the counter.

In my consumer Click & Drop account I'm still unable to book any US parcels and get the following message:

Shipments to the USA have been temporarily paused, we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Full USA services will resume soon. 

[luvvintagecharms]

Does the receiver still have to pay any additional costs at their end - duty fees etc or does your fees paid now cover that? Did you have to take the hit then as the seller or is there a way to claim the 10% back from the buyer?

[luvvintagecharms]

At my Post Office yesterday I was quoted £1.50 surchage.

[luvvintagecharms]

Yes I was quoted £1.50 yesterday when enquiring at my Post Office.

[pafishlock]

Yes. You are right. Post Office said it would be 50p in the Press. but reality is £1.50. Under £75 may also carry no tariff, but I will believe it when I see it!

[luvvintagecharms]

Well maybe the items you sent are exempt from tariffs? I sell vintage silver charms and when enquiring at my PO yesterday I was told I would be charged 10% of the value of the item, £1.50 surcharge handling fee and then the usual postal cost. 

[wellingnorth]

Actually on Click & Drop I now get a message pointing to this link to book parcels using DDP

https://send.royalmail.com/

No ebay integration with that obviously but may help if you need to send something and the fee is at 50p.

Another good option to look at with DDP services is transglobalexpress, free collection in the London area and good prices with USPS, often considerably cheaper than Royal Mail, possibly enough of a difference to cover the tariff which is helpful at the moment.

[wellingnorth]

With DDP the theory is that the duty has been paid and buyer will have nothing to pay when the parcel arrives. There's no mechanism to collect that money from the buyer at the moment so you can either ask them to pay separately somehow, swallow the cost yourself or add the amount onto your US shipping cost.

[luvvintagecharms]

I'd like to know as a seller, if I have to pay the tariff before I send the item (via RM) which my PO said I do, do I have to absorb that cost myself?, and will ebay then charge me additional final value selling fees etc calculated on that extra cost, on top of the shipping costs fees?  Also how can I price Internationally to include the tariff/fees only to the US? So many questions and with no help from ebay!