Why is Ebay charging GST on used items?

[netscrounger]

The Australian government imposed GST charges on online sales to protect "Brick and mortar" businesses, I get that, but why an I expected to pay an extra $30 on a set of obsolete used motorcycle carbs that I'm buying from a private seller in the US? What a scam! Cancel my bid thanks!

[ngupaan]

Why is ebay charging more then the GSt rate of 10% at checkout purchased and item for $12, shipping $20.09 shipping for a Total of $32.09, then eBay added a GST fee of $7.18, that is better then double the GST rate. Is it not illegal in Australia to charge a fee for collecting GST?????

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

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@ngupaan wrote:

Why is ebay charging more then the GSt rate of 10% at checkout purchased and item for $12, shipping $20.09 shipping for a Total of $32.09, then eBay added a GST fee of $7.18, that is better then double the GST rate. Is it not illegal in Australia to charge a fee for collecting GST?????

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I would guess that your item is coming from the UK or USA via the Global Shipping Program (GSP).

Therefore, it is coming from overseas which means that Pitney Bowes (PB), the company behind GSP, is preparing all the documentation required to get your item here.  They also collect the GST, and for doing the documentation and collection of GST they charge you a fee.  Perfectly legal, but the thing that will really get your goat is that, wait for it, there is GST charged on the fee that PB charges.

So you have only paid $3.21 in GST on the item+shipping plus a fee of $3.63 to PB plus GST of $0.36 on that fee.

[ngupaan]

Just spoke to eBay representative about this, she claims that it has to to with the Global Shipping Program and a brokerage fee is charged, so effectly buyer's are paying more then 10% extra on the total value of goods to prop up the Global Shipping System.

Well for me I will never again purchase from a Seller that uses the Global Shipping Service. Also, by hiding this fee by calling it GST is this no an actually mis-representation of Charges, so is therefore deceitful and mis-leading behaviour, is this not a breach of Consumer Law in Australia???

[ngupaan]

Is not the agrrement for the Global Shipping Company between them and the Seller to ship their items, it has zero to do with the Buyer, I have paid the shipping fee as davertised in the Auction ad. Any processing fees for shipping should be paid for by the seller and already be in his shipping price wqhen using a third party, this is effectively double dipping:(

[imastawka]

https://www.ebay.com.au/help/buying/shipping-delivery/changing-delivery-address-method/international...

[ngupaan]

What their little speil says and what appears on the invoice is not the same, they hide the charges under the GST fee, it should be out in the open and listed seperately on the invoice, it is deceitful and mis-leading conduct to say the least.

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

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@ngupaan wrote:

Is not the agrrement for the Global Shipping Company between them and the Seller to ship their items, it has zero to do with the Buyer, I have paid the shipping fee as davertised in the Auction ad. Any processing fees for shipping should be paid for by the seller and already be in his shipping price wqhen using a third party, this is effectively double dipping:(

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actually, the seller might not even know that you, the buyer, are located outside of the USA.  It is you who contracts PB to to ship the item from the USA to Australia.

The shipping you have paid is the shipping that showed at checkout.

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

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@ngupaan wrote:

What their little speil says and what appears on the invoice is not the same, they hide the charges under the GST fee, it should be out in the open and listed seperately on the invoice, it is deceitful and mis-leading conduct to say the least.

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are they itemising the GST or are they just calling everything they collect an ‘Import charge’?

[ngupaan]

I have not contracted at all with the 3rd party shipper, that is an agreemant by the seller to use them, so the fee for shipping charged by the Seller should include Pitney & Bowles charges, not then sting me for them. As I said, I will not be buying from another person that uses the Global Shipping program, an absolute rip-off. 

As I said mis-leading by eBay to list charges under the GST, why not put it out in the open for all to see?  Probably the reason it is not our for everyone to see, is that it could possibly lead to less use of the Global Shipping Program by Sellers as buyers would be less inclined to purchase from them due to the extra charges.

[ngupaan]

They are just putting it all under the GST charge, no itemising at all:(