on 21-07-2017 12:41 PM
Ok, originally the item was $925 USD, the seller made a counter-offer to me of $825 USD, I accepted.
I then used a 10% off discount code to make it $742.5 which when converted to AUD currency should be approx $935.82 + shipping.
When I went to checkout, surprise surprise, there were import charged.
The only reason I bought this item was so that with the 10% off voucher would make it below $1000 AUD so there would be no import charged.
After multipled minutes on the phone to non-Australian eBay customer service agents, they are claiming that the voucher is off the total price. They do not understand no matter how many times I explained or spoke slowly that the voucher should have been taken off from the item price which would then be low enough to have no import charges.
Some other forums have said that shipping costs attributes to import charges too, but I have bought other items over $1000 AUD from eBay internationally and never paid import charges with charges calculated from shipping and have had word from customs as well that it is only the value of the item taken into account, not shipping costs.
Someone tell me if i'm wrong here.
Also tell me if i'm right.
still waiting for eBay to tell me the final conclusion though still pretty sure they don't actually understand the problem i'm telling them.
on 21-07-2017 01:03 PM
If it is coming through the Global Shipping Program then all they see is the original price you paid not the price less discount (that is paid back to you by eBay and the seller will receive the full amount), so yes it looks to me as though you will have to pay the import charges.
on 21-07-2017 01:52 PM
on 21-07-2017 02:31 PM
Can you post the item number here please?
If the item is coming via the GSP it may be that you are not paying import charges, just the very high shipping costs.
Is there a separate enrty on the invoice saying Customs charges?
21-07-2017 08:08 PM - edited 21-07-2017 08:09 PM
A voucher only means that ebay pays part of the price and you pay the rest. The total price or value of the item is still exactly the same as it would be if you didn't use a voucher, it's just that you don't pay for all of it, someone else does (ebay). So yes, the value (price) is still over $1,000.
on 21-07-2017 08:12 PM
on 24-07-2018 07:48 PM
on 24-07-2018 08:04 PM
@thecradlemountainmob
on the USA Global Shipping items, the seller is sending them to a USA address in Erlanger KY. This means that eBay are not collecting the GST, Pitney Bowes are. Pitney Bowes, being a logistics company, have procedures in place for the forwarding of international parcels. For collecting the GST and preparing the paperwork they charge the buyer, who is the one contracting PB to forward their parcel. They also include have an additional charge that is itemised as an Import Charge.
You will probably have more luck getting answers through contacting PB than anyone here in Australia, if you can work out how to contact them!
If you can organise your own forwarding provider then you may have more chance of paying less than what PB charges, but you may also reduce/lose your buyer protections as eBay have a commercial arrangement with PB that protects buyer protections for those who use GSP/PB.
on 24-07-2018 08:11 PM
If the item is coming by Global Shipping the GST is collected by Pitney Bowes and they add a hefty charge for collecting it.
It is all lumped together as Import Charges.
I think it is a rort.....Australian businesses are not allowed to charge for collection the GST but PB seems to be exempt just because they are American. Pitney Bowes already charge an arm and a leg to run the Global Shipping.....the collection of GST should be included in that.
25-07-2018 12:04 AM - edited 25-07-2018 12:06 AM
@lyndal1838 wrote:
I think it is a rort.....Australian businesses are not allowed to charge for collection the GST but PB seems to be exempt just because they are American. Pitney Bowes already charge an arm and a leg to run the Global Shipping.....the collection of GST should be included in that.
I haven't done the math, but this might explain why PB are charging an extra amount, since they would technically be classed as a redeliverer:
"Special rules for re-deliverers calculating GST
If you are a re-deliverer, the GST you charge will be:
10% of the amount paid by the customer for the goods, plus
1/11th of the amount the customer pays for your services to get the goods to Australia. As a re-deliverer, GST applies to all of your services, including international transport services and insurance for the transport of the goods."