Buyer opens ridiculous PayPal claim- am I screwed?

[tripledoublesportscards]

Hey everyone. Long time lurker and first time poster.  I'll try and keep this short !

I'm located in Australia and I sold a couple of items (trading cards) to a buyer in France. Total was $165, shipped fully tracked in accordance to eBay / PayPal policy.

Buyer was charged fees by French customs. He said he refuses to pick up the package at the post office unless I pay the tax for him!

In the "item not received" dispute, he claims because the item was shipped fully tracked, declared at full value, and because I didn't warn him about potential tax charges, therefore I'm responsible to pay the fees imposed by the French government.

My response- (1) There is no way a seller can be familiar with the laws of different countries; (2) It is actually against the law to falsify documents; (3) I would have had to fill out a customs forms anyway even if I shipped standard mail.

Just wondering if anyone has been or know someone who has been in a similar situation?

I've responded with screenshots of his threats and demands he made on eBay. I've also provided a very detailed statement expressing my views and concerns related to the issue.

I have read some horror stories where buyers have manipulated the system and I fear that I may become a victim of the process.

Do I even remotely stand a chance to win the case?

Any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[brerrabbit585]

One has to wonder whether they see anything when browsing to warn them that VAT may be payable, in the same way we're warned about GST being applicable on overseas purchases. 

I was browsing today (not signed in) and saw this (below) on overseas listings.  It was buried on the actual listings but quite prominent when browsing.

[wide-world-of-stamps]

Yes, we also noticed that earlier today.

A good idea - did I just say that?

[digital*ghost]

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@brerrabbit585 wrote:

One has to wonder whether they see anything when browsing to warn them that VAT may be payable, in the same way we're warned about GST being applicable on overseas purchases. 

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I think eBay introduced that to combat the complaints about prices not being GST-inclusive (thus skewing sorting options by price), and / or because many buyers were 'surprised' by the extra costs (I use 'surprised' with quotations to refer to the ones that were unaware, but upon finding out didn't have a "oh darn... that's a thing now" reaction, but instead had a "that's a bluddy outrage, that is!!!" reaction). 

I feel relatively confident that buyers on other sites don't see such things, perhaps unless they're in the same situation as us, where eBay is collecting and remitting tax. I'm mostly basing this assumption from interacting with sellers on other sites who live in places like the UK, many of whom suggest that things like VAT and the collection fee on imports is almost a well guarded secret (I personally don't think it goes that far, but certainly from my experience, buyers in France and the UK are the most frequent authors of "why am I being charged extra fees!?!?" messages, and  the notice they receive doesn't even seem to explain it because a lot of them think it's due to underpaid postage). 

I get the surprise, if someone is finding out about it after it's a little too late, but I'll never understand the rage at sellers over it, since all it does is reaffirm they remain ignorant by choice, and blame everyone but themselves for their woes - never a good look on anyone. The first line I usually include in a response to a rude message about customs fees is something like "I'm sorry to hear you were surprised by the taxes your government applies to imports", because straight of the bat I like to make a very clear point that it has literally nothing to do with me (it only would if I over-declared value, or marked returned goods as merchandise or something). 

[countessalmirena]

I like that as the first response, digital*ghost.

Of course, sellers could start off with

"It pains me deeply, that wanton cruelty which your fever'd crowns and seals have visited upon you, not a word said thereof before the purse be thinn'd, like unto the beggar's ribs in the city where neither merchant nor noble bear the pricks of redress."

Or this:

"I'm outraged, sir/madam! Outraged! Upon my oath, I shall on the instant take up my pen to write to your government, calling them out for the pox-ridden knaves that they are! Why, to charge you such a heinous tax - you, so separate from the rest of your people, so much finer and to be admir'd - to charge you, I say, is a slattern's trick, and I'll not have it. No! I shall storm the doors of Number Ten, and berate them mightily. This is not to be borne!"

[digital*ghost]

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@countessalmirena wrote:

"I'm outraged, sir/madam! Outraged! Upon my oath, I shall on the instant take up my pen to write to your government, calling them out for the pox-ridden knaves that they are! Why, to charge you such a heinous tax - you, so separate from the rest of your people, so much finer and to be admir'd - to charge you, I say, is a slattern's trick, and I'll not have it. No! I shall storm the doors of Number Ten, and berate them mightily. This is not to be borne!"

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I love it, and want to steal it.

 

[clarry100]

I love it too and wonder if you might be related to Shakespeare. So good.

[davewil1964]

That reminds me - you owe us a definitive conclusion to the Kopes story.

That'll learn ya to go all flowery. 

[dazzledayz]

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@countessalmirena wrote:

I like that as the first response, digital*ghost.

Of course, sellers could start off with

"It pains me deeply, that wanton cruelty which your fever'd crowns and seals have visited upon you, not a word said thereof before the purse be thinn'd, like unto the beggar's ribs in the city where neither merchant nor noble bear the pricks of redress."

Or this:

"I'm outraged, sir/madam! Outraged! Upon my oath, I shall on the instant take up my pen to write to your government, calling them out for the pox-ridden knaves that they are! Why, to charge you such a heinous tax - you, so separate from the rest of your people, so much finer and to be admir'd - to charge you, I say, is a slattern's trick, and I'll not have it. No! I shall storm the doors of Number Ten, and berate them mightily. This is not to be borne!"

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'Tis true and sworn, your words will cut them to the quick as sharpen'd sword. They shall not sleep but quake in fear of aweful retribution, unexpected, swift and dire. Foul wretches that they are deserve not a whit less!

[everard6920]

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@brerrabbit585 wrote:
You're lucky they didn't accept the package and pay the fees, then wreck the items and claim they weren't as described!

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That's a good point. If they lose the current dispute, can they do that? Can you open more than one dispute for one transaction? I hope not, for OP's sake.

[lyndal1838]

Yes, two disputes are possible as long as the first one is an ebay dispute.  If that fails you can do a paypal dispute and even a third if the payment was funded with a credit card.....a bank chargeback.