Sellers will be screwed. Ebay will refund all US buyers due to US 145% Tariffs confirmed
Summary: The discussion centers around the impact of a confirmed 145% tariff in the United States, which will result in eBay refunding all US buyers. go_figure_website initiates the topic without initial content, which is followed by a series of responses across multiple contributors, including twyngwyn, domino-710, and several others. A primary concern expressed is the negative effect this decision could have on sellers. The conversation involves attempts to assess the broader ramifications of this policy change and discussions around potential solutions or adjustments for those affected.
So I received this email from my Australia Post account manager yesterday. Anything made in China (which is 90% of my products) will be held up in customs up to 30 days until the buyer pays 145% tariff. Going by past history ebay will see the tracking showing it has not yet been delivered (they dont care if its held in customs due to the buyer not paying the tariff or still waiting for their letter to inform them they need to pay) they will refund the buyer. What do sellers do now?
From Australia Post
Hi, I am writing to let you know about changes to United States tariffs for goods manufactured in China and Hong Kong, and what it might mean for you when sending items to the US via Australia Post’s postal services. |
Key points:
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pgryphon3
·8 months agoThe tariffs apply to all items/ I sold an item a pair of antique crystal compotes to America; At the Australian Post Office was informed the the cost was $72 AUD./ Thought that’s not too bad, then the officer turned and informed me the added cost ( tariffs ) would be $187 AUD; The buyer decide not to buy, and l have decide not to sell to America
lezned-toycollector
·8 months agoNo they don't. DVDs, console games, gaming accessories, PC games, CDs, educational items and books that I've sold to US buyers have all been exempt from tariffs.
roaminghigh
·1 year agoI've just been told by Australia Post staff to start putting Australia as the Country of Origin on all parcels to the US. They said that parcels with no Country of Origin on them are now being sent back by US Customs.
twyngwyn
·1 year agohttps://apple.news/AmGHwvGr-TvG4QKWU85ElYg
hold tight
springyzone
·1 year agoI'm not a seller but I am genuinely interested in this scenario & would love to hear how it plays out for sellers.
From what I am reading, most people here could actually be right in that they have relevant bits of info.
1. Buyers definitely need to pay any import duties.
2. Those who are buying will receive a letter from US CBP within 30 days to let them know about paying duties and taxes.
So it sounds as if items are definitely going to be held up for an extended period as I don't know how long US CBP then gives the buyers to actually pay the tariff. So we could be looking at a potential 6 week delay?
The critical part for sellers surely would be the tracking.
If the tracking shows an item as being held in customs, I imagine the seller would win their case with ebay.
If the tracking doesn't give updates to show where the item is, I can imagine trouble. I have to say when I sent items to UK and to Canada though, I did get tracking information all the way through till delivery. So I assume US would also show tracking but I don't know for sure.
But into this mix we have to add ebay. They are an American company and they would surely be aware of the situation and that fact that things imported to USA were going to face hold ups. I would hope they could guess what the hold up was if a case is opened and make some allowances. But that is putting a lot of faith in ebay reps.
Another trouble I foresee is these tariif % could change at the drop of a hat & if they do, which tariff would apply-the one applicable when the item arrived in customs or the one when the buyer went to pay?
I don't know the answers. Good luck to all you sellers and I'd love to hear how things go if any of you are posting to USA at the moment.
domino-710
·1 year agoWell - I'm confused.
From the current eBay site...........Still mentioning ' delivered ' & ' you may not be responsible '.
' May not ' - what does that mean.
And let's not forget the 145 only applies to items made in China - if as Gutter says - the site should be updated to reflect April 11th changes - we all know how good the ' Reps ' are.
gutterpunkz05
·1 year agohave had this protection applied a few times, as ebay has to foot the bill they extend the INR case giving extra time for the item to arrive. On one occasion ebay even refunded the buyer after they had received the item, as a matter of goodwill.
On other occasions, once ebay pays the refund and the INR is closed, I have no interest in what happens to the item.
domino-710
·1 year agoWith all due respect - having sold 6 items since April 11th - how many went to the US??
gutterpunkz05
·1 year agoApril 11th 2023
domino-710
·1 year agoGutter - the thread is about tariffs and hold ups in Customs only pertinent since April 2025.
gutterpunkz05
·1 year agoYes and protection for issue raised by OP has been in place since 2023 and still applies, the reason for delays, destination etc is irrelevant
springyzone
·1 year agoFrom the current eBay site...........Still mentioning ' delivered ' & ' you may not be responsible '.
' May not ' - what does that mean.
I am assuming it must mean if a seller has a valid reason, which they (ebay) alone will decide. But I personally wouldn't want the headache of worrying about it & the possibility that I'd have several claims made against me where I had to keep ringing different ebay reps. Where my money was in their hands.
The whole thing sounds like a nightmare & I am still not sure how customs would know something was from China unless they opened the parcel.
But I don't sell so I can't claim to know how it all works.
domino-710
·1 year agoSpringy - the Customs form asks the country of origin - so you would not be able to say Australia as origin for something made in China or Hong Kong.
US Customs certainly are going to have their work cut out - and to imagine they are going to be able to ' contact ' and they state by ' letter ' a buyer - their tariff bill - good grief.
It will be interesting when the tariffs arise - 145 - could be down to 80 - given talks - so what is the tariff - the one today or the one yesterday - all dependng on when they process.
With eBay having to adjust delivery times - times they have no idea of - a mine field - not so sure they are going to love ' refunds '.
Perhaps eBay's advice to sellers - do not sell to the US until this situation is sorted - LOL - as if it ever will be in the next 3 1/2 odd years.
springyzone
·1 year agoSpringy - the Customs form asks the country of origin - so you would not be able to say Australia as origin for something made in China or Hong Kong.
Ah, okay, that makes sense. I never thought of that. I know a sender always has to identify what is in a parcel and approx cost but didn't realise they would be putting country of manufacture as well.
I wonder what happens with stuff that is 'made in Australia (or elsewhere) with 99% imported components'
US Customs certainly are going to have their work cut out - and to imagine they are going to be able to ' contact ' and they state by ' letter ' a buyer - their tariff bill - good grief.
The trouble I see is that so much these days is automated and this will need a lot of human intervention, or so i imagine. Plus there could be a build up of parcels in their mail centres.
The US would actually be better off applying these tariffs only to commercial transactions or larger quantities/values.
siddieswans
·1 year agoSpringy - the Customs form asks the country of origin - so you would not be able to say Australia as origin for something made in China or Hong Kong.
On CN23 Customs Declaration form the Country of Origin is only required for items with a Commercial Value (goods in excess of AUD$2000, which also require an Export Clearance Number.) Probably for most eBay Australia sellers who sell items into USA, this would not apply. In a real world situation this probably works OK. However this is no longer a real world situation.
One wonders whether only parcels declaring a Commercial Value will be targeted by US Customs, and other parcels processed as usual. As a small seller I have stopped selling to USA until the situation becomes clearer. If for example items sold from Australia to USA (without a commercial value, but no longer falling under the de minimis exemption, which it appears no longer applies in USA) were to be subject to flat 10% USA import duty, then presumably eBay could simply apply it to the invoice, as they already do for USA State taxes (and import duties for other entities.)
domino-710
·1 year agoThe country of origin is only ' mandatory ' for items over $2,000.
But filling the box for any item will speed up Customs clearance - especially now.
gutterpunkz05
·1 year agoFrom the OP
US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) has advised that they will not collect tariffs and fees at delivery and senders will not be charged tariffs. As part of the formal clearance process, the recipient will receive a letter from US CBP within 30 days, informing them to appoint a customs broker and to pay duties and taxes. The letter will include a link to the US CBP website and provide instructions.
American buyers are going to be real happy when they find out how much they will be paying for an import broker, when it comes to low value items it is likely to exceed the %145 tax
*casey*
·1 year agoThanks for posting all the information gfw.
The OP's been registered since 2000, has sold 207K items and whose items are priced from $3000 downwards.
An experienced seller who would know everything there is to know about eBay policies etc
It's up to other sellers to either heed the OP's warning - or not !
lezned-toycollector
·1 year agoNobody will be "screwed" - other than the buyer if they don't pay the outstanding amount.
Based on my own personal experience of this exact scenario, once a request is opened it's fairly quick and easy to contact an eBay agent, point out that the item isn't eligible for the MBG, and they will close the case in your favour before the conclusion of the chat.
C&P from the U.S. help pages...
Not covered:
The buyer didn't pay applicable customs fees or duties for any other reason
I see no point in worrying about eBay refunding buyers for items not covered under the MBG.
domino-710
·1 year agoWhat exactly is it you are not getting - yet again.
Ebay gives a stated arrival time - these items get caught up in US customs for 30 odd days.
Items - not delivered within the timeframe - REFUNDS.
Sheesh.
lezned-toycollector
·1 year agoIt is not I who is experiencing the comprehension difficulties. I understand the policy completely.
I'll say it yet again... any transaction where the buyer fails to pay the duties is NOT (repeat, NOT) eligible for MBG. This is not my interpretation of eBay policy, but rather the very clear black and white policy found within the help pages (see previous C&P). If you want to argue about it, do so with eBay - not me. It's their policy on their website, and nothing you say here will do anything to change it.
To further clarify, there's absolutely no point in worrying about eBay refunding for items not covered by the MBG. I've already posted exactly what the seller should do if such a request is opened. Problem solved - nothing to worry about.
springyzone
·1 year agoI feel as if you are quite right and it has always been ebay policy that buyers are up for any extra import taxes etc.
The problem as I see it though is so many Americans aren't up to speed with who is paying the tariffs and they may refuse to pay or delay.
Perhaps the seller can just contact ebay and have a case decided in their favour, but some sellers won't want to put themselves through that potential trouble & effort over and over.
I suppose every seller will have to decide for themselves if it is worth the headache at the moment.
domino-710
·1 year agoSo I received this email from my Australia Post account manager yesterday. Anything made in China (which is 90% of my products) will be held up in customs up to 30 days until the buyer pays 145% tariff. Going by past history ebay will see the tracking showing it has not yet been delivered (they dont care if its held in customs due to the buyer not paying the tariff or still waiting for their letter to inform them they need to pay) they will refund the buyer. What do sellers do now?
Going by the OP - it seems more of a problem of delivery - rather than paying the tariffs.
How many cases of item not received?
lezned-toycollector
·1 year agoTo answer your question, not one legitimate request. That's the point. I'll say it for the third time. Unless the buyer pays the duties, the item is NOT covered by the MBG.
If the buyer opens a request for INR, and the tracking shows the item is still with customs (which it will) the case will be closed immediately upon request in the seller's favour. From my own personal experience, I know this to be fact - and it literally took less than 5 minutes to reach the appropriate resolution.
Just as buyers are advised to use the tools provided by eBay, the same applies to sellers - and I've already spelt out what to do. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that any seller who lets a request time out without addressing the issue, fully deserves to lose their dinero.
Now please stop being argumentative, and trying to manufacture a problem which simply doesn't exist.
domino-710
·1 year agoSheesh - at the risk of being argumentative - read the following - then tell me there will be - no - not one INR.
What guarantee is there notification will be givento a buyer for a hold up in Customs - tariffs or otherwise - none.
In my experience tracking with AP ends when an item arrives in the US - there is no further update until delivered.
eBay is not exactly up on it with postage problems as you well know.
Oh - and don't tell me what or how to post.
springyzone
·1 year agoIf I were in your shoes, I'd stop selling to USA, starting immediately, until things settle down and the process/time line is much clearer.
Even when the tariff is only 10%, a lot of customers won't want to pay anything extra on top of what they have already paid.
From what I have been reading online, there are stil a lot of Americans who believe the other countries (China, Australia etc) are the ones paying any extra tariff/import duty, so there is going to be massive confusion for a while until they realise there are extra costs involved for the buyer.
siddieswans
·1 year agoSounds like a nightmare for you. My sales to US would fall under the de minimis exemption - so long as it continues to apply to Australia. As I understand it, the only countries of manufacture that have had the exemption revoked are China and Hong Kong.
"Goods manufactured in other countries and being imported into the US will also be subject to their respective tariff amounts. Please refer to the list published on The White House website for more information. These customs taxes will be payable by the recipient."
Australia does not appear on this list so I assume the basic tariff of 10% would apply.
"At this time, it is unclear how US CBP will screen items to determine their country-of-manufacture."
Well exactly. At the very least delays in processing will be bound to occur.
Some statement from eBay would be helpful. At the moment it would seem safer to add USA to my list of "countries I do not post to." I would only average 2 parcels a week to USA, but they are usually welcome sales, as they are often items that would appeal more to USA buyers. What do other International sellers think?
go_figure_website
OP1 year agoWe send roughly 20-30 orders a week to the US. We have many products not available in the US.
twyngwyn
·1 year agoIt’s starting to look like John Hewson’s birthday cake debacle…..
the most pertinent point I got from your OP is:
It is unclear how they will determine country of manufacture
Good luck!
domino-710
·1 year agoWhy so hard.
It's on the box.
twyngwyn
·1 year agoHuh?
Then don’t send the box?
Are Customs going to open items?
It’s all as clear as Trumpmud
domino-710
·1 year agoThese are collectors items - don't send the box.
Good grief - the fact they are still - unopened - is value.
twyngwyn
·1 year agoWow! How much do you sell to USA?
I would have thought, USA have their own sellers of your products?