Sold Gear to EU the buyer cant pay VAT wants refund? Update

[sswanson]

This just happened to me and the buyer says he cant afford the customs fees and wants a refund. Gear is in the EU right now, I am in the US.

I told the buyer in advance I cant declare the item as a gift because its over 2000 dollars in value and he is responsible for customs fees.

What do I do and yes I sold the gear through Ebay?

Anybody with any common sense at all would say you are 100% in the right. Problem is, paypal doesn't us a lot of common sense.

I had a similar problem once before. I shipped an amp to Winnipeg (also sold on ebay), keep in mind I live in the US about 3 hours south of Winnipeg so I didn't think anything could go wrong. But, the buyer refused to pay customs so UPS held the package, I talked to paypal and they said that if the package was returned and the tracking number showed it was delivered to me he would get a refund and I would be responsible for any and all fees ($187). The guy ended up paying the fees and picking up the package so I lucked out but the way it sounded I would have been screwed.

If you used USPS did you check "return to sender" on the customs form? Until the guitar is back in your possession you are not responsible for anything. If it ends up being returned to you and there is proof that you have it paypal will make you refund him.

As stupid as all of this is (and for the record I completely stand behind you in this situation and hope it all works out for you) this was my experience.

 

[tonmazz]

If anyone wants to use UPS in the future, they do have a landed cost tool that you can anticipate the VAT, duties, taxes, etc. on an international shipment so there is no mystery for the buyer and seller. I have found it to be useful. At the very least send it to the buyer so they can calculate it and be prepared. Hope this helps.


https://wwwapps.ups.com/tradeability?loc=en_US&WT.svl=SubNav

 

[nbarts]

I advice you taking your money out of your paypal account before going any further.

 

[hunter]

You know that really sucks, guys like this are the reason more and more US dudes won't send outside the US anymore, and us honest Europeans who do pay their VAT/Customs don't get the nice gear anymore.

He has to pay it all, ebay fees, paypal fees, shipping fees, let him bleed

 

[CharFace]

I advice you taking your money out of your paypal account before going any further.

+1,000,000

If you haven't initiated the transfer yet, do so right away.

 

[EXPcustom]

Just a Update:

I am covering half his total fees so we dont have to have the item sent back to the US and deal with a refund.

I am out about 300 Euros on the deal but he agrees to leave positive feedback etc.

 

[messenger]

I would have told him to send it back. And if it arrives safetly, refund minus shipping and paypal and listing expenses.

 

[Ayrton]

UPS and FedEx both add fees to overseas deliveries. If I can't send it USPS, then it does not go.

 

[jerrydyer]

I sent there once and declared a gift Am I stupid? whats the deal with that.

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

So when do the pitchforks and torches come out for the tax revolt Europe?

No health insurance needed here, it sort of evens it out

edit: I realize that could sound like a pompous ass.
In Norway, there are benefits with some of the taxes. I guess there`s always the choice between plague and cholera.

No you didn't sound like an ass at all, I was just kidding anyway. Actually tariffs like that are somewhat reasonable in that they help encourage people to buy products made at home. You guys will probably have a manufacturing base long after our last factories have closed their doors.

 

[OldSkoolNJ]

tariffs like that are somewhat reasonable in that they help encourage people to buy products made at home. You guys will probably have a manufacturing base long after our last factories have closed their doors.

This is what the U.S. needs to do...

 

[hunter]

It's just crazy, you guys get Soldanos cheap and we get Diezels cheap, and each are envying the other

But if you ask me, to hell with all the taxes, shipping cost, customs and single voltage transformers.

I want all amps cheap everywhere!

 

[OldSkoolNJ]

It's just crazy, you guys get Soldanos cheap and we get Diezels cheap, and each are envying the other

But if you ask me, to hell with all the taxes, shipping cost, customs and single voltage transformers.

I want all amps cheap everywhere!

So why don't you guys here start some kind of amp exchange or some sort of help in order to help each other on both sides of the pond and eliminate all of the middle men, fee's ect??

 

[EXPcustom]

I sent there once and declared a gift Am I stupid? whats the deal with that.

Receiver will get fined 5000 Euros and item being shipped will be confiscated then destroyed, also shipper will be investigated and possibly charged or fined.

 

[bste328]

i usually tend to have declared the 30%of the actual value. so i pay A LOT less of custom taxes. and i haven't had any trouble ever. do you really think that someone at the custom office will know even if inspecting the parcel if it's a 3000$ amp or a 1000$ amp?? i don't think so...

 

[scottosan]

The thing that really fries me is when he sent the money through Paypal/Ebay it said to declare the item as a gift.

I sent a message stating I wont do that and if this is a problem I will refund him his money before I ship. He said "no, go ahead and ship it"

Now he says they want 700 Euros and there is no way he is paying that and he wants a refund, he also says I should have sent it USPS.

I dont send things USPS because the insurance limit is 675 dollars and the size restrictions also prevent Euro shipping on certain larger items.

I am trying to look a few steps ahead and am very worried about negative feedback, I offered to cover HALF his fees, Yes HALF as in 350 EUROS so I dont have to deal with the headache of finding another buyer etc...

Tell him that you are going to forward his email to his local customs office to let them know he is trying to derfraud his government on taxes.

 

[EXPcustom]

i usually tend to have declared the 30%of the actual value. so i pay A LOT less of custom taxes. and i haven't had any trouble ever. do you really think that someone at the custom office will know even if inspecting the parcel if it's a 3000$ amp or a 1000$ amp?? i don't think so...

What happens if the item is damaged?

 

[Scumback Speakers]

This just happened to me and the buyer says he cant afford the customs fees and wants a refund. Gear is in the EU right now, I am in the US.

I told the buyer in advance I cant declare the item as a gift because its over 2000 dollars in value and he is responsible for customs fees.

What do I do and yes I sold the gear through Ebay?

That's the buyers problem, not yours.

 

[Toca]

From my expirience, declaring item as gift ,didn't do much help,because people at Post offices are not stupid,so they ask you for a Paypal reciept of payment, and you can't persuade them that 1000$ worth guitar is a gift from someone anymore.

In this case buyer is responisble for all the WAT and such custom fees. It's his problem not yours,he's a resident of that country and obliged to do it if he wants the item.

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

It's just crazy, you guys get Soldanos cheap and we get Diezels cheap, and each are envying the other

But if you ask me, to hell with all the taxes, shipping cost, customs and single voltage transformers.

I want all amps cheap everywhere!

The grass is always greener on the other side.