Time to get rid of this CODE PAID nonsense No clerk understands it.
They started using this nonsense several years ago. I haven't yet met any post office clerk or supervisor who knows what it is. I just tell them it's not a part of the address.
8 comments
a_c_green
·3 years agoIt doesn't matter what they know or don't know about it; it's just a line in the address that will have no effect on the proper sorting and shipping of the package.
It's for the recipient's post office, indicating that the VAT or import duty has already been paid for that item, with the accompanying reference number. You can explain that to them if they ask, but keep it short; it has nothing to do with their acceptance of the package.
jerseyboymusic
·3 years agoNever seen it... don't know who uses it! BUT all the USPS clerk needs to do is just scan the parcel in.
yuzuha
·3 years agoWhy would they have to know what it is? I just shipped an item to Australia that had that on the label. The counter clerk just scanned the package and tossed it in the bin with all of the rest of the packages behind the counter.
monica-sells
·3 years agoRemind them to do their job, scan the bar code, hand you the receipt, rinse and repeat......
the clerk is not going to be the one stuck with a double payment.....
12345jamesstamps
·3 years agoTalk about stupid me....I remember writing all that stuff on addresses of a standard envelope before I found out what it was. I thought it was needed on the envelope for International Delivery. New sellers probably don't know what the heck it is.
lacemaker3
·3 years ago@john_wade, if you don't want to mess with this so-called nonsense, then stop selling international and be done with it.
The "Code paid" is not nonsense, that is the legally-required indication to the authorities in the UK and Europe, that your buyer has already paid the VAT (like sales tax) they are required to pay on their purchases. If you don't include it, then your buyers will have to pay the VAT again, which costs about 20-25% on top of their purchase price plus shipping. You should be thanking eBay for taking care of that, so that you don't have to mess with it. You would not last long if you started getting negative feedback, with perfect reason, because your neglect mean that your buyers had to substantially overpay for their purchases.
Why would anyone working at USPS be expected to know about the VAT requirements for the UK or Europe? eBay sellers shipping internationally, of course, should know what it's about.
martin2001
·3 years agoWhat you say is not completely or always true.
The OP is complaining, and I think justifiably, that this 'code: paid' is part of the address. It is confusing. It has nothing to do with the address.
I don't know where did you read that EU and UK requires this particular wording to confirm, that these two words are necessary to prove that the buyer paid VAT tax. This does not prove anything.
I use Pirateship and they don't insert code: paid (except UK) into their addresses anymore. I have been mailing about 10 orders to Europe/UK each month, without the 'code: paid' wording. I have had ZERO problems. The only thing I do is I enter the VAT tax ID number, that ebay provides, into the appropriate box on the electronic customs form + an accurate harmonization number (aka the TARIC number). As I said, all package go thru the customs without a glitch (except for Italy, where they hold it forever)
When I mail packages to some of the EU countries where I expect potential problems (e.g. Greece, Cyprus, Germany, recently), I insert the packaging slip in a transparent pocket, stick it on the package, and highlight the line where ebay indicated that the VAT tax was collected.
yuzuha
·3 years agoI'm not understanding how or why it would even be confusing in the first place. There's zero reason for a postal clerk to be looking at the address on a package. All they need to do is scan the barcode.