[Premium-Rx] [Boatanchors] eBay scam?

[Heinz Breuer]

Hello Michael,

as a buyer I very well know in advance how much the GSP will add to my item. I just have to scroll down and apply common sense.

As an example see auction #231581078414. This is for two Collins mechanical filters.

It appears as:
current item price US $79.95  approx. EUR 70.90
Shipping US $26.53 approx. EUR 23.55

And IF I SCROLL DOWN to section "Shipping, returns and payment" it states IMPORT DUTIES estimated EUR 18.95
Import duties refers to custom duty (none for Collins filters but up to 3% for other electronics depending on the appropriate tariff code) and German 19% value added tax (sales tax) which will be added to all imports as well when any item clears customs.

I see this BEFORE I place my bid. The exact amount appears when I complete my purchase as this is calculated as a percentage of my buying price. If I place a high bid and the winning bid is the double amount US $ 159.90 it should be pretty clear that import duties will double also. 

This example is for the German eBay site eBay.de for any item sold to a customer in an eligible country (Germany) but I guess it will be similar at every appropriate site worldwide.

Please note that I DO NOT SEE it when I browse the eBay.com website and place my bid there.

I hope this will help to clear any confusion.

vy 73 Heinz DH2FA, KM5VT

Von meinem iPhone gesendet

> Am 05.06.2015 um 03:22 schrieb "Michael Bittner" <mmab at cox.net>:
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Heinz Breuer" <hbreuer at debitel.net>
> To: "Michael Bittner" <mmab at cox.net>
> Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2015 2:39 PM
> Subject: Re: [Premium-Rx] [Boatanchors] eBay scam?
> 
> 
> I have been on the receiving end of the Global Shipping Program.
> The price given bei eBay includes all fees, taxes and custom duties, not just shipping.
> 
> ----But apparently not until you have won the item.
> ----Neither I or my Australian buyer had any idea of the extra charges until Pitney Bowes added the extra charge to the buyer's invoice.
> ----This is not fair since many buyers make their bid decisions based, in part, on the shipping charge.
> ----mmab
> 
> I received the item within a few days. No need to drive an hour to the next customs office, fill out customs forms and pay ransom to finally receive my item.
> 
> ----I am Glad that the GSP makes things easier for the buyer.
> ----In any case, eBay and PayPal take their cut out of the total cost.
> ----This makes selling to international buyers a questionable proposition for certain items.
> ----mmab
> 
> I don't know if Russia is an eligible country for the eBay Global Shipping Program.
> 
> I sold items to Russia myself. Shipping to Russia is difficult. Maximum weight is 20kg (44lbs) for a postal parcel. It may take 4 to 6 weeks, even inside Europe. UPS only delivers to commercial customers who must be registered with Russian customs as importing company.
> vy 73 Heinz DH2FA, KM5VT
> 
> 
> Von meinem iPhone gesendet
> 
> 
> 
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