topic Re: $9 USA Security Charge in Selling

$9 USA Security Charge

brighttomato — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 04:15:16 GMT

This has probably been asked before but I can't find any topics that answer my question..
I recently had a purchase from a US buyer (item was over 700 g) and unfortunately the $9 security charge was not added to the postage cost. The buyer paid immediately with Pay Pal and I am left with a payment which is $9 short. I called ebay to try and find out why their postage calculator is not adding the security charge and they were not helpful at all, could not give me an answer. I asked to raise a technical ticket but have no idea how long it will take them to get back to me. In the meantime I can't imagine what I should do to fix this. I have over 200 listings - do I start modifying all of them to remove US from the list? Contacting people after they purchased and asking for an additional payment is sure to tick them off - great way of getting a neg feedback.

Am I missing something? Has anyone else experienced this?

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

digital*ghost — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 04:48:15 GMT

The easiest way to avoid this is to quote specific postage to the US, then a flat rate to the other locations you post to separately (making sure you exclude the US).

When you do the postage options, quote one price to the US that includes the $9 surcharge on any items that are over the threshold. That way, only US buyers will see (and pay) that amount of P&H.

You can't update listings via Turbo Lister with that option, but you should be able to do it in bulk with Selling Manager (or in batches if you have a few different P&H charges).

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

brighttomato — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 04:53:49 GMT

But I don't want to calculate my own postage rates, all my items weigh differently, it will take me months calculating all of this manually. I use ebay postage calculator which used to do the right thing but for some reason is now not adding the $9 charge.

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

putney32 — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 04:56:57 GMT

because the $9 is NOT a postal charge, but a 'security' charge is is never calculated by the aust post calculator.

you either absorb the $9 or do as suggested and quote separately for usa

or 'do not post' to usa.

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

digital*ghost — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 05:01:12 GMT

As far as I knew, eBay has never added the $9 surcharge into postage costs to the US when using calculated - I don't post OS so I'm only basing that on previous threads about this issue, and the solution I've mentioned above is the only way I know of that guarantees US buyers are charged the fee but no one else is.

If the $9 surcharge was being added to the P&H total previously and isn't now (with no changes being made to your listings), that suggests it's something eBay need to resolve so without wanting to adopt the method I've mentioned, I don't think there's a solution other than waiting for eBay to fix.

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

brighttomato — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 05:04:07 GMT

That doesn't make sense to me at all - it is a compulsory charge, is it not? So it is not a choice for a seller. Why is it not included in the postage calculator is then a complete mistery.

Is there perhaps a way of using a calculator and adding a $9 on top of that?

(absorbing is not an option as I don't even make $9 on some of the items i sell. setting a flat rate is not option either for a similar reason - some items cost $10 to post to usa, while others cost $60. calculating everything manually would be a nightmare, it would literally take months to do)

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

digital*ghost — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 05:06:37 GMT

Is there perhaps a way of using a calculator and adding a $9 on top of that?

You can add the $9 as a handling fee, but because the calculator covers all locations you post to, everyone in the countries you select will see a total that included the surcharge.

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

putney32 — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 05:07:38 GMT

-- the $10 postage items dont get charged the $9, only those items over 475gr... ie where postage is over $21

yes its a compulsory charge, but not a postal charge, its a Security Charge levied by the US postal service on incoming parcels, collected and passed on by aust post.

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

brighttomato — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 05:19:16 GMT

Amazing. Looks like the only reasonable solution for me would be to remove US. even if I exclude the lighter items, it would still take me months to calculate postage rates. I've had postage charges to US go up to $70-80.

I wonder, is it really that difficult for a massive corporation like ebay with so many IT resources to add a simple feature to a postage calculator where a $9 charge can be added for a specific country? I've had a similar mod done on my on-line store, it took the developer 1/2 day to do!

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

davewil1964 — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 05:35:18 GMT

Months? For 256 items? That's, what, 4 a day? Do more and it'll take less time.

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

brighttomato — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 05:39:43 GMT

I don't think this is constructive advice but thanks anyway. "Months" is an approximation, simply to indicate that this will not be productive use of my time. Items change all the time, new ones are added, old ones are removed. Postage calculators are there for a reason. otherwise, all on-line stores would have someone sitting there behind the scenes calculating postage for individual items.

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

the3coopers — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 06:14:05 GMT

Postage calculators are there for a reason. otherwise, all on-line stores would have someone sitting there behind the scenes calculating postage for individual items.

It's not that we don't agree with you, but after a couple of years bashing our heads against the wall about this we have all just decided that eBay ain't gunna fix it.

I can assure you that you are not the first person who's discovered this problem. My frustration with it (and because of the various sizes and weights that I post) meant that I just blocked all sales to the USA when the new charges came in

The Ebay Announcement and recommendation was on 24th November 2010...

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/au/201011241103362.html

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

brighttomato — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 06:29:45 GMT

It's not that we don't agree with you, but after a couple of years bashing our heads against the wall about this we have all just decided that eBay ain't gunna fix it.

I can assure you that you are not the first person who's discovered this problem. My frustration with it (and because of the various sizes and weights that I post) meant that I just blocked all sales to the USA when the new charges came in

The Ebay Announcement and recommendation was on 24th November 2010...

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/au/201011241103362.html

thanks very much for the link. That's what I suspected although I was hoping I was wrong. I am amazed that this is not addressed by ebay as it would be a very simple thing for them to resolve and would increase their revenue because AU sellers wouldn't be forced to block US buyers.

Apologies if I was sounding a bit abrupt, I was just replying to the previous poster who suggested I become more proficient at editing items (I think some people have too much time on their hands and roam forums to see what kind of "constructive" 2 cents they can add to any discussion)

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

brighttomato — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 06:33:05 GMT

I add this to all my listings:

United States of America Buyers

Due to additional security measures, Australia Post have advised that articles over 453g and all Express Courier International and Express Post International services will be subject to an additional $9 security surcharge and may face additional transit delays of up to 48 hours.

International post regulations for each country can be found on Australia Post’s website http://auspost.com.au/apps/international-post-guide.html and any enquiries regarding the surcharge should be directed to Australia Post.

This surcharge is not provided for on eBay's postage calculator, so it wil be included under handling, should your package go over the 1 lb limit.

Ruddy underline thing, won't turn off X-(

If my handling charge is $2.00, it's edited to $11.00 for all international parcels if the weight is over 500g, which makes it a bit pricey for all the other internationals, but it's the only way I could work around this.

Maybe it should be up to AP to change the rates that eBay are tapping into on their calculator?

I still have to think about it but perhaps a solution for me would be to add something similar in my descriptions and then just contact US buyers for the extra charges. i haven';t read the ebay announcement link posted above yet, there could be something similar there suggested.. I guess it would be a matter of weighing the risks of annoying buyers and losing business from US.

What a shame and how frustrating!

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

brighttomato — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 07:16:10 GMT

I just realised that I have totally missed this and didn't know it was happening from 2010. I've had about 100 sales to US since then and probably about 1/3 of them have had that security charge. So about $300 lost on this just out of my own carelessness.

I am still amazed though and completely do not understand why the ebay postage calculator is not being fixed. I have a simple postage calculator in my on-line store, it links directly to Australia post - the charges for US customers are returned correctly, they include the $9 security charge. Why is this not being addressed? Is there a way of communicating with ebay with regards to this? I have raised a technical ticket with them but not sure that this is the best way to go. It is just baffling - aren't they realising that they are losing a lot of money by not fixing this problem?

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

the3coopers — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 07:57:35 GMT

It is just baffling - aren't they realising that they are losing a lot of money by not fixing this problem?

After a while, it's better not to try and work out why they refuse to do anything about issues like this.

Remember that every (half) year, the Australia Post charges change. Yet even with a month's notice the eBay calculator still was never updated on time, so we were all being forced to charge the old rates for a month or more each time there was an AP revision.

But this year it was different - they implimented the changes a month EARLY, and heaps of sellers copped bad DSRs for "overcharging postage".

Such simple things to fix... but so hard for a multi-million dollar organisation like eBay! Sometimes, I think it's not a technical limitation, but a lack of "care factor".

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

brighttomato — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 09:12:20 GMT

Sometimes, I think it's not a technical limitation, but a lack of "care factor".

that's really sad.

They should care though, they are the ones who are losing money on this. It might not be a tremendously large amount but nonetheless, if a number of sellers are excluding US buyers because of this problem it is costing ebay money.

I'm still going to try to get through to them . Hoping that someone will call me back with regards to the ticket that I raised.

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

suitcase_of_memories — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:04:08 GMT

Hi brighttomato,

I have always included the $9.00 security charge in my Terms of Sale.

Australian Buyers - one set of terms

Overseas Buyers - another set...[with a highlighted]

USA Buyers PLEASE NOTE Do not pay your invoice until the $9.00 security tax [terrorism tax] has been added to your invoice.

If a US buyer pays quickly & neglects to pay the tax I email them, if they don't respond I email again & inform them I will be refunding their paypal payment as the TAX has to be added to their invoice.

A few of them have questioned this TAX as they claim they can find nothing about it over there [I believe it is Australian imposed]. I have only lost ONE sale because of it, all the other buyers were more than willing to either pay the extra $9.00 in a separate paypal payment or have me refund, re-invoice & then they repay.

I know it will be hard to amend all your listings, perhaps Cut & Paste terms ????????

It is very annoying I know, life was so much easier before 9.11, computers & ebay lol.

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

suitcase_of_memories — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:05:34 GMT

PS, I use ebay's calculated postage format...so the postage is USUALLY [not always] correct, just the $9.00 has to be added to US buyers invoices.

Re: $9 USA Security Charge

davewil1964 — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 16:15:00 GMT

My point, OP, is that 256 is not really a lot of listings to edit. If you are continually listing new stock and letting old stock fall off, you can simply add something to your new listings.

As far as productivity goes, I would consider a few minutes work (max) to save myself losing $9 time well spent. That works out at $200 per hour if everything sells to the US. If only 10% sell to the US it's $20 an hour. If less, then it might not be that big an issue?