eBay Case Question

Author
Discussion

Megaflow

Original Poster:

9,335 posts

224 months

Monday 9th June 2014
quotequote all
Not sure if this is the right forum, but here goes...

I need some experience of people who have had cases opened against them as a seller in eBay.

I recently sold some Lego to a person in Chile. He didn't ask for a postage cost before bidding, he then had a moan when I told him how much it would be. I sent him the link to the website showing him the cost and he paid up. I filled out the customs declaration, etc and sent it off.

DHL have tried to deliver it and there is duty and VAT to be paid, the buyer is refusing to pay the duties and wants a refund and is threatening to open case against me.

I hope I would be well within my rights to tell him to jog on, but just want to make sure before I do.

TIA

orangeknight

276 posts

135 months

Monday 9th June 2014
quotequote all
The buyer is importing goods, he needs to pay the duty & relevant taxes for his country.

tell him to jog on. let him open a case if he so wishes, doubt it will would go anywhere.

7db

6,058 posts

229 months

Monday 9th June 2014
quotequote all
Are you selling as a business seller or a private seller?
Is the package fully tracked?

You'll have already read on eBay their advice:-

"What if the item is stuck in customs because the buyer won't pay the import fees?
Cross-border trade disputes will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis using all available transaction information. We will not accept cases filed by international buyers where the sole complaint is high customs duties. Sellers who sell internationally can also facilitate reviews of their cases they receive by specifying in their item description that international buyers are responsible for any customs, duties, etc. imposed by the buyer's home country."

hairykrishna

13,149 posts

202 months

Monday 9th June 2014
quotequote all
You can tell him to jog on and eBay will almost certainly find in your favour. Be aware it'll take a while and Paypal will keep your money frozen until it's sorted though.

Yell_M3

389 posts

199 months

Monday 9th June 2014
quotequote all
I wouldn't be so sure ebay will find in your favour. I sold a laptop as a private seller a few years ago, the person sent it back as faulty 2 months later, and even tho' I produced a shop report that they had interfered with the graphics card ebay found in their favour. I even stated on the ad that they could pick up and try for themselves. All round pathetic. I now only use an unverified paypal account that's not linked to my bank account on the rare occasions I sell on ebay now.

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 9th June 2014
quotequote all
That's a completely different scenario though, and one where eBay will usually side with the buyer. Customs charges etc are the responsibility of the buyer and eBay T&Cs clearly state that.

northwest monkey

6,370 posts

188 months

Monday 9th June 2014
quotequote all
charltjr said:
That's a completely different scenario though, and one where eBay will usually side with the buyer. Customs charges etc are the responsibility of the buyer and eBay T&Cs clearly state that.
I've had exactly this with a buyer in the US. It was something expensive and he wanted it marked as "gift" which I refused to do. As someone else has said the funds were put on hold for about 3 weeks then given back to me. I never found out whether or not the buyer paid the charges.

Megaflow

Original Poster:

9,335 posts

224 months

Monday 9th June 2014
quotequote all
Thanks guys.

His story keeps changing, firstly it was an incomplete address causing the problem, when I pointed out that I used all the address fields I could with the courier, and checked the format with google for Chile address format, and it was all ok. He then came back with there was customs charges to pay, apparently $200 of £40 of stuff.

Now it is something about a missing phone number...

The buyer has spoken to Kirsty Medcalf at DHL and got a case number, googling Kirsty Medcalf DHL the first result is for UK girl who used to work at DHL...

I suspect a chancre, I have not told him to go fk himself yet, but I have pointed hIm forwards eBay's FAQ about customs charges.

Pulliptears

3,324 posts

165 months

Monday 9th June 2014
quotequote all
What does the tracking say? If it says 'delivery attempted' it should be enough to win you any paypal case.

Martin_M

2,071 posts

226 months

Monday 9th June 2014
quotequote all
wow - must be some petty special lego! collectable?

Megaflow

Original Poster:

9,335 posts

224 months

Monday 9th June 2014
quotequote all
Pulliptears said:
What does the tracking say? If it says 'delivery attempted' it should be enough to win you any paypal case.
Depends which tracking site you use, parcel monkey, who I paid, say delivered and signed for. DHL who actually got it to Chile say it's at customs.

Pulliptears

3,324 posts

165 months

Monday 9th June 2014
quotequote all
Megaflow said:
Depends which tracking site you use, parcel monkey, who I paid, say delivered and signed for. DHL who actually got it to Chile say it's at customs.
I'd be inclined to ignore for now and if a dispute is raised add in the tracking and a parcel monkey link. Chances are he's trying it on. Assume it's got a return address on it as well?

7db

6,058 posts

229 months

Monday 9th June 2014
quotequote all
If there's a dispute then make sure you're putting all the info in there early and politely for eBay to review when the case gets escalated. Add a photo of the address label that parcel monkey emailed you to attached to the car. Also makes sure that all your correspondence is about helping the buyer get his item through customs and to him safely as you sent it to him.

Megaflow

Original Poster:

9,335 posts

224 months

Monday 9th June 2014
quotequote all
Thanks folks, it had a sender on it and so far I have been polite and helpful, asked what the problem is, checked with both courier companies, and politely pointed out eBay's customs policy.

I now think I will ignore unless he raises a case, but that depends on his next move TBH.

ETA: this was the first time I have sent anything out of the EU, it will be the last as well!

eatcustard

1,003 posts

126 months

Tuesday 10th June 2014
quotequote all
Has he emailed you through ebay?

Megaflow

Original Poster:

9,335 posts

224 months

Tuesday 10th June 2014
quotequote all
Yes. Would it make a difference if he hadn't?

northwest monkey

6,370 posts

188 months

Tuesday 10th June 2014
quotequote all
Megaflow said:
Yes. Would it make a difference if he hadn't?
Yes - you want Ebay to be able see all contact between you if he opens a dispute. If he emails you direct ask him to email you through Ebay messages.

Megaflow

Original Poster:

9,335 posts

224 months

Tuesday 10th June 2014
quotequote all
Ah, ok. All communication has been through eBay messenger. He doesn't have my email address, and won't be getting it either.

A thought occurred last night, he had the DHL waybill number. I had no knowledge of who Parcel Monkey used to get the parcel to Chile, only Parcel Monkey's tracking number, so he must have seen the parcel to get the waybill number, so they obviously have the correct address for delivery.

The guy just seems to be digging a bigger whole for himself at the minute.

eatcustard

1,003 posts

126 months

Tuesday 10th June 2014
quotequote all
Megaflow said:
Ah, ok. All communication has been through eBay messenger. He doesn't have my email address, and won't be getting it either.

A thought occurred last night, he had the DHL waybill number. I had no knowledge of who Parcel Monkey used to get the parcel to Chile, only Parcel Monkey's tracking number, so he must have seen the parcel to get the waybill number, so they obviously have the correct address for delivery.

The guy just seems to be digging a bigger whole for himself at the minute.
Ebay will side with you, as he has said he will not pay for import tax.

Worry not, ebay are dumb, but not that dumb.

Stoofa

958 posts

167 months

Tuesday 10th June 2014
quotequote all
And this is why I only ever sell to UK buyers!!
Ebay have a bit of a histroy siding with buyers, but in this case I'd have thought you'll win without any issue.