sending parcel to France..no Hermes option?

[juliem1457]

Tried to send a parcel via Hermes to France this morning. Hermes website says temporarily suspended accepting parcels. Could this be hours? Or days?

It's quite a big parcel and looking at Royal Mail price is £23. Buyer has paid £15.

Seems to be affecting most EU countries.

[rusticrye]

I suspect it's because most European countries have closed their borders, hoping it will slow the spread of Covid. But contact Hermes and ask.  Only they will have the definitive answer.

I'm frankly amazed that private sellers are shipping internationally during a pandemic.  But you chose to do so, so you will have to deal with any difficulties which will naturally arise at any time. They are your responsibility, as you chose to ship internationally.  No-one held a gun to your head.  So you should really foot any extra shipping costs yourself.

I stopped shipping internationally back in March, and won't start again until things get back to normal.  I wouldn't be able to cope with international sales anyway, as lockdowns have caused my domestic sales to go through the roof, as I expect they have for most sellers.

@juliem1457 

[juliem1457]

have you tried talking to anyone at Hermes.?

[pixiesen2012]

have you?

[rusticrye]

Don't have a go at me, OP. Or at Hermes. You made the decision to ship internationally during a pandemic, so deal with it.

@juliem1457

[juliem1457]

I would be delighted if I could cancel the whole transaction believe you me.It's an airfix kit and I try and put off overseas buyers .as parcels are large and postage expensive..but they seem to find love them.
If I accepted the 2nd bid (he's in UK) (French buyer has not yet payed for it..).what are the consequences ?
The translation of the French messages makes things even more drawn out..
thanks for your patience

[juliem1457]

I have been shipping internationally during the past year ( mainly American police patches to the USA) with no problems.
I think the postal system in the EU is usually better than ours

[pixiesen2012]

it could be days, try some of the other couriers

[juliem1457]

Not really any affordable options for a large parcel..have sent an invoice for extra with Royal Mail to the buyer but what if he doesn't want to pay extra? Is this customs or covid related?

[pixiesen2012]

the buyer doesn't have to pay extra, no idea whether it's COVID Brexit, or the weather that is causing the problem

[juliem1457]

why should the seller take the hit when circumstances are beyond their control????

[pixiesen2012]

sorry, you can ask the buyer if they are willing to pay more, but they don't have to agree, they bought your item with a stated postage cost, it's not their fault you can't send for that amount

[juliem1457]

if your are the ebay community then I thought you would be more informed about what the present difficulties are with sending parcels to the EU....I just want some information..not mentoring support.

[pixiesen2012]

sorry, this is a member to member community, we are just members like you, we don't have any more information than you do, we are here to offer each other support, if you don't want that try contacting the courier companies directly and ask them why they aren't offering postage to France!

[juliem1457]

I originally posted this query on ebay as I thought that their might be other members out there on a Hermes website trying to post to the EU and to let them know there are problems.
If you don't have any useful information other than" Ask Hermes".....then why reply to my query because it is obvious you have little experience of selling.

[rusticrye]

You don't seem to understand what the Answer Centre is. You asked a question, and received the best possible answers. And you received them from very experienced sellers. However, no matter how experienced a seller is, they do not have a hotline to Hermes' management. Nor will they contact Hermes on your behalf. You've been advised what you should do, so stop insulting folk and arguing, and take that advice or not. The choice is yours, as was the choice to ship internationally during a pandemic.

@juliem1457

[juliem1457]

Shipping internationally during a pandemic has nothing to do with it ...I suspect. More like Brexit issues with customs declarations as it's only EU countries Hermes is not shipping to at this moment.....the only advice I have been offered at the moment is to contact Hermes which is impossible or not ship in a pandemic.
My enquiry which no one has answered is what are the repercussions if I cancel the transaction?

[pixiesen2012]

I have been selling on ebay since the beginning and have 60,786 Feedback received, I just don't use that account to reply to messages here on the boards

you have been given the only advice available for your problem, we cannot magic more out of thin air!

My enquiry which no one has answered is what are the repercussions if I cancel the transaction?

you have only just asked that question,

if you refuse to honour the sale and refund the buyer you will be charged ebay and paypal fees, will receive a defect on your account and the buyer can leave negative feedback

[juliem1457]

Well the buyer has paid the extra post now so will go off to Post Office tomorrow and see if they still post parcels to France.

[geosacha007]

You will have to fill out a customs declaration form. Does your buyer know that they will be liable for VAT when the parcel arrives?

[juliem1457]

Is the VAT payable on item which he paid £39  for ? I've got it into my head that vat is only payable on items over £46......could be another country.Thanks for infoSent from my Galaxy

[geosacha007]

The limit is 22 euros until July then changes to zero.

https://informi.co.uk/business-administration/brexit-how-will-selling-online-to-eu-customers-change

[juliem1457]

Stupid question but how do customs know how much the airfix kit cost?Sent from my Galaxy

[geosacha007]

You are legally required to state it on the customs form. You could get in trouble if you lie about the value and they find out . 

If you are insuring the parcel for loss at the PO and declaring an inconsistent value it could raise eyebrows.

[juliem1457]

Cant I write on the customs declaration (if it like the US ones) that it's a gift?

[geosacha007]

That would also be illegal.

[juliem1457]

Ebay automatically deduct this for Australia..USA.....why not for EU?

[juliem1457]

So how does the buyer pay VAT.....on receipt of parcel?

[juliem1457]

In the end discovered DPD who are good for parcels to France...they did all the 4 commercial invoices online together with the customs labels...highly recommended.Better than standing in the queue at the Post Office and half the price.

[pixiesen2012]

so, you checked a different courier, which is the advice I gave right at the beginning of this saga!

[juliem1457]

I actually asked GOOGLE and it said DPD is good in France.

All I got from the ebay community was xenophobic rants about how I
should not be selling in a pandemic and sellers boasting about how they
didnt need to sell abroad.

Weird.

[pixiesen2012]

not from me you didn't! mine was the first reply and I suggested you looked at different couriers

[juliem1457]

point taken many thanks

[juliem1457]

A lot of scare mongering (not from you) about the VAT customs invoice.In the end it was easy..DPD seem to be more geared up to the online customs forms although heavy on the printer.6 copies including 4 copies of invoices.