Why is there import charges on secondhand items?

[stelpher]

My recent overseas item browsing show many items now attract huge import tax fees. This even applies to second hand clothes (jeans /jacket) coming from the US. A secondhand jacket listed at  US$23 attracts a $9.22 import tax levy. Thats ridiculous!

[davewil1964]

There is plenty of justification, if the charges are displayed pre-purchase.

I'll bet London to a brick that the item is being posted through the Global Shipping Program, and that the charge is for GST on the item PLUS shipping, and shipping, and Pitney Bowes' fee for the collection of the GST on same.

There are plenty of threads about this. If you want to know more you might like to read some of them. As it is, it is unlikely your statement is even close to being true or accurate.

[daveysgame]

All the items I have brought from the U.S. the import charges have not been listed and they have been seperate from the shipping.
There are too many overly greedy people these days that charge ridiculous amounts for their service.
If 700 is import fees only and not including shipping then it is ludicrous, if it includes shipping then it might be justifiable depending on the items size. GST is a minimal amount and doesn't come close to justifying a 700 fee.
I don't know a lot about the Global shipping program but what I do know is when I have had it it has taken too long.

What really annoys me is when something should cost 50-70 for shipping and they list shipping at 300, I looked at a radio not long ago it was valued at maybe 40, shipping would be 50-70 but it was listed with shipping about 360

I am losing interest in ebay international due to the ridiculous expense on some things both in shipping and if you get high import charges, especially on second hand items.

I will look for the reading you suggested but I doubt it will convince me that some things are justifiable.

[davewil1964]

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@daveysgame wrote:

All the items I have brought from the U.S. the import charges have not been listed and they have been seperate from the shipping.
There are too many overly greedy people these days that charge ridiculous amounts for their service.
If 700 is import fees only and not including shipping then it is ludicrous, if it includes shipping then it might be justifiable depending on the items size. GST is a minimal amount and doesn't come close to justifying a 700 fee.
I don't know a lot about the Global shipping program but what I do know is when I have had it it has taken too long.

What really annoys me is when something should cost 50-70 for shipping and they list shipping at 300, I looked at a radio not long ago it was valued at maybe 40, shipping would be 50-70 but it was listed with shipping about 360

I am losing interest in ebay international due to the ridiculous expense on some things both in shipping and if you get high import charges, especially on second hand items.

I will look for the reading you suggested but I doubt it will convince me that some things are justifiable.

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You obviously have no idea what the Global Shipping Program is. I suggest you read up on it. You might also take out the point that a lot of US sellers wouldn't sell overseas otherwise, and those items wouldn't be available to you if not for the GSP.

Look for the GSP facts thread.

[lyndal1838]

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@christopher6871 wrote:
Today I bought an item on eBay that was second hand. It cost about $1600. And it was from the US. I was charged after I made my bid and couldn’t back out $700 “import tax”. This is 43.75% tax. It’s not right.

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What you have not taken into account is the fact that the item itself is over $1000....that changes the game considerably.   Not only do you pay GST but also import fees, Customs clearance fees and a few other fees as well.....and the duty payable on the item can be quite high.

As long as I can remember the import charges on expensive items has been quoted as averaging between 25-45% so the OP's 43% is well within the normal range.

[4channel]

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Re: Why is there import charges on secondhand items?

in reply to stelpher

4 hours ago

@christopher6871 wrote:

Today I bought an item on eBay that was second hand. It cost about $1600. And it was from the US. I was charged after I made my bid and couldn’t back out $700 “import tax”. This is 43.75% tax. It’s not right.

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Whoah, that's a lot of dosh! Something amiss there. Man, real sorry to hear you got stung like that.

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Re: Why is there import charges on secondhand items?

in reply to christopher6871

3 hours ago

@daveysgame wrote:

christopher6871 that is so wrong no matter what the excuse or reason, there is no justification that stretches to virtually half the items price, it is all about us getting screwed, 

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You're telling me! Something very wrong here. Just not fair. I agree!

[davewil1964]

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@4channel wrote:

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Re: Why is there import charges on secondhand items?

in reply to stelpher

4 hours ago

@christopher6871 wrote:

Today I bought an item on eBay that was second hand. It cost about $1600. And it was from the US. I was charged after I made my bid and couldn’t back out $700 “import tax”. This is 43.75% tax. It’s not right.

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Whoah, that's a lot of dosh! Something amiss there. Man, real sorry to hear you got stung like that.

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Re: Why is there import charges on secondhand items?

in reply to christopher6871

3 hours ago

@daveysgame wrote:

christopher6871 that is so wrong no matter what the excuse or reason, there is no justification that stretches to virtually half the items price, it is all about us getting screwed, 

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You're telling me! Something very wrong here. Just not fair. I agree!

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You've got that right. What it is almost guaranteed to be is a lack of reading or understanding of the subject and a knee-jerk, fact free, response.

[4channel]

Let it go son!

[padi*0409]

Read lyndal's post 4channel.

[tazzieterror]

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@davewil1964 wrote:

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You've got that right. What it is almost guaranteed to be is a lack of reading or understanding of the subject and a knee-jerk, fact free, response.

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Correct.

Item #114357179098

The auction is for a digital camera with a final price of USD1200. Postage fee of approx. USD90 (to my postcode at least). Estimated import charges of USD408.40, based on the current (and final) bid.

It is indeed a GSP sale. The estimated import charges are shown before the purchase is concluded (i.e. during the auction), so to claim here that they were charged "after" and not privy to this fee, is incorrect.

For any conspiracists who think maybe this fee is hidden until after the auction, here's another GSP-enabled item from the same product category, for auction, from the USA, showing the same info, which at the time of posting has a single bid and 4 days left to run:

Item #154049939162 | 1 bid @ USD850 | Shipping ~USD61 | Import charges USD308.88 (estimated and based on current bid).

[tazzieterror]

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@4channel wrote:

Let it go son!

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Deal with the facts, gramps.