Customs duty/Tax being charged by Ebay on an item (No 391037001558)

[nocenic14]

Dear Sir/Madam, I would like to protest in the highest possible way in regards to the purchase of an item I purchased yesterday on Ebay from the USA. The item in question was a COLLINS 75S 3B receiver, No 391037001558. For whatever reason, it appears I have been charged the sum of $151.46 (AM) by Ebay for import/tax charges on this item. I have made personal phone contact to two persons at the Ebay helpline and was advised by one operator that I should not have to pay the import duty on the item. The other operator advised that the fees were only introduced by Ebay late last year and that they had to be paid. As a result, I have very reluctantly paid the seller in the USA for the item, including international priority freight and the $151.46 (import /Tax fee).

I would like to know why this fee has been imposed by Ebay, as I have never heard of it happening before when I have made other purchases for radio gear from the USA. The seller also does not know why the fee has been imposed.

As a frequent user of Ebay, I would hope that I can get a satisfactory resolution to the problem I have encountered.

Thanking you in anticipation, Robert Hutchings (Aust)