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So I VERY RELUCTANTLY sold some Anyones to Europe. My address is in the USA. Guy gets it and says he can't pay the duties. What do I do? Have him return for a refund?

Tricky situation you have there.

Where in Europe were they sent?
I would advise asking someone from the same country their opinion.

If it's anything like the UK then the package remains in Limbo at the post office for 3 weeks.

If it hasn't been collected at that point then theoretically the post office return to sender (if there is an address listed) however I have had packages completely disappear in a similar situation, presumably destroyed by the post office.

Unfortunately I feel like that's the buyer's problem, since it's their country asking them for money

Scandinavian country, I don't know if he's honest or trying to get something for free or getting money out of me. Another reason not to do international.

I honestly think if your going to import something, it's down to you to learn what that entails. So I think it's unfair to hold you responsible. You could always just remind people of that fact I guess, although you really shouldn't have to. It's not like your a business.

Is it more of a case that you sold them something exspensive and they are just upset you didn't mark it down? Which again you shouldn't have to do.

Yeah pretty much, but I'm on the fence. Do I refund and move on or have him return, be an upset customer and tell the whole internet I'm a terrible seller? I don't have a store, I'm not Gambler's warehouse, although my family disagrees

Definitely his fault. Were I the seller (though I have never run a business like this), assuming you get the item in return, I would refund the price of the item but not the shipping cost. He made the mistake of not factoring in customs charges, so he pays the shipping as a "penalty" (which you certainly aren't obligated to pay IMO).

I can see your dilema. I would say to them if I was you, you are the importer, it was down to you to find out what fees you may incur. If you are not happy I will treat this as you returning the decks. I will refund you upon safe return of the decks. If the decks do not get returned and get lost in the system due to you not accepting them. Unfortunately I would not refund you.

I think that seems fair. It's a shame it might put you off selling in Europe though.

I know customs can suck this side of the pond though. Me and Timmargh got a £106 customs bill this month for two decks priced at a total of $300. But that's just one of those things. Neither of us even considered blaming the seller.

Thanks. He paid me a flat rate that included shipping, cards, paypal fees. I will do what magik and justplay suggest and see what shit hits the fan.

canogie wrote:Another reason not to do international.

I can't think of any reasons to not do international, let alone enough to warrant saying 'another reason'. There's basically no difference to posting locally, the buyer pays the higher shipping, so that has nothing to do with you, the process is the same, simply take it to your local post office (or however else you would usually do it). The buyer should be aware of their own country's duties/taxes etc if there will be any, and it has nothing to do with you. Hell, I always find my own approximate cost and method for shipping from the seller's country first, in case they're unfamiliar with international. About a dozen packages from other members in the last year from US/UK (and another from Singapore) to Australia and zero issues.

Maybe related, at least one seller has thanked me for showing them the USPS First Class International Package price tables, so if it helps anyone, here you go: https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm#_c341 and flat-rate boxes: https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm#_c313

If I ship internationally I always declare a value that is below the limit for duties. That for me separates an awesome seller from a normal one. It is not really a hastle to do that.

However, I just had the case lately that I got decks from the US (no, not anyones, lol) but I was on vacation and the official limbo time in Germany is only 7 days. So the decks were send back before I had the chance to pay the ransom. I immediately contacted the seller and said him that, of course I would pay for the extra shipping.

So in your case I would either refund the deck price minus shipping because you paid the shipping and it isn’t your fault. Or send the decks again but the customer should pay for the extra shipping. But I would tend to the first option. Anyones and can’t pay the customs? Clearly a kid that overspend his pocket money. Don’t worry about one salty customer. Grown ups can sort such feedbacks out and will still do business with you.

I don't do this very often and followed the direction of the post office and the forms themselves, it's the customs forms that are the hassle for me. One time I sent some decks 9oz registered to NZ and I supposedly didn't have the correct packaging according to the post office to put the form on, so that was a couple trips and a couple repackagings. Gas/petrol adds up.

My first time shipping internationally the person guided me through what they wanted. I did so, and found out there was no tracking on that particular mail service beyond US customs. Buyer said of course they never got it. Out $50 + shipping. I was pretty green at the time and thought that was the way to do it. Didn't know there was a registered option to send stuff.

This is why I don't do it.

Harvonsgard wrote:If I ship internationally I always declare a value that is below the limit for duties. That for me separates an awesome seller from a normal one. It is not really a hastle to do that.

However, I just had the case lately that I got decks from the US (no, not anyones, lol) but I was on vacation and the official limbo time in Germany is only 7 days. So the decks were send back before I had the chance to pay the ransom. I immediately contacted the seller and said him that, of course I would pay for the extra shipping.

So in your case I would either refund the deck price minus shipping because you paid the shipping and it isn’t your fault. Or send the decks again but the customer should pay for the extra shipping. But I would tend to the first option. Anyones and can’t pay the customs? Clearly a kid that overspend his pocket money. Don’t worry about one salty customer. Grown ups can sort such feedbacks out and will still do business with you.

I would generally ask the addressee as to what value they want declared on the shipment; however, there is a downside to declaring a lower value as the package insurance is generally based on the declared value. Hence, if something happens to the package, the recovery will not cover the value of the deck but that is ultimately the risk for the person receiving the package.

Generally speaking, import fees are a buyer's issue, you are not supposed to care. In the future I would state that clearly, though, if not already specified as for example it is on eBay. Most European countries can charge custom fees if the item value is above 22 euros (with some differences among countries), and the likelihood of this happening goes up with the value of the parcel (I have had several 50 euros parcels come in no problem).

I would also advice against declaring a lower price than the ticket price, especially if you are a professional seller. Theoretically speaking, they could ask the recipient for the bill, and if declared price turns out to be indeed lower, you as a seller might also face some issues.

Dolape wrote:I would also advice against declaring a lower price than the ticket price, especially if you are a professional seller.

Praised be, that 100% of Asian professinal sellers and 95% of the US professional sellers don’t care what a professional seller should do.

Harvonsgard wrote:

Dolape wrote:I would also advice against declaring a lower price than the ticket price, especially if you are a professional seller.

Praised be, that 100% of Asian professinal sellers and 95% of the US professional sellers don’t care what a professional seller should do.

Oh well, who has not done at least once in their life

I am just saying that it is technically illegal, since it is declaring something that is not true on official documents. Then it's up to each of us to make our own choices