Anyone getting charged an international fee on domestic shipment if buyer uses a foreign card?

[stevemartin60]

Just checking.  

Had my first decent sale in months today, and am shipping to Texas.  eBay is charging me $16+ for an "international fee" even though I don't ship internationally, and this painting isn't going to a foreign country.

C.S. and a C.S. "Supervisor" insist it's a valid charge because the guy's registerd address is in Mexico, even though the shipping address is TX.

[m60driver]

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@stevemartin60 wrote:

C.S. and a C.S. "Supervisor" insist it's a valid charge because the guy's registerd address is in Mexico, even though the shipping address is TX.

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The financial transaction remains international even when the buyer uses a US address or a freight forwarder based in the US.  This has been the case forever.  The fee is a tad high in these modern global days and yes, Ebay is being a tad greedy.  But if you can't handle this small fee then perhaps rethink your margins.

[stevemartin60]

Thanks.

[maxine*j]

FX fees are universal.  They cover the cost of currency conversion, etc.  1.65% is rather modest, compared to what many payment networks assess.  Just another business expense when you prepare your tax return.

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[chapeau-noir]

This has been discussed exhaustively on this board.  No, we don't like it.

[stainlessenginecovers]

I don't understand you:

1.) you are always complaining about not getting sales and now you are complaining about a $16 charge on a $1000 sale???

2.) an 'international' fee has ALWAYS been charged to the seller (and is on ALL INTERNET PLACES You may sell at). Not just here. 

Do you simply enjoy bashing this place?? 

[mementomoria]

Back in the day (a few years ago), Paypal charged the fee to the buyer. When Ebay began to process payments the charge fell onto the sellers. I sell jewelry and about 60% of my sales go to freight forward companies and thus am paying that fee all the time.

[fashunu4eeuh]

Congrats on your excellent sale!!

[joliztoyco]

1.)  I don't think he is concerned whether we "understand' him or not.

2.)  His opposition to promoted listings is a valid point when you consider Ebay's loss of sellers and declining GMV since they began heavily pushing them onto sellers in 2021.
Yes...they existed before then, but 2021 is when Ebay launched their shiny new 3 products:
Promoted Listings Express
Promoted Listings Advanced
External Promoted Listings
And since that "launch"?
The last 3 quarters of 2021? Loss of sellers and declining GMV.
All 4 quarters of 2022? Same.
1st quarter of 2023? Same.
I know...It's just a coincidence, eh?
One man's idea of "bashing" is another man's "concern" over the direction Ebay is heading.
Anyway, I do admire the way it's tore the  "community" to shreds.
We really weren't much of one in the first place, but watching it devolve into the "attack the messenger" dumpsterfire it is now?
Priceless.

[joliztoyco]

Other "payment networks" DON'T charge a FVF of 13.25% 
Just saying...

[mam98031]

This is a fee we have paid since the start of electronic payments.  When PayPal was our money processor we paid this fee and now we pay it to Ebay instead of PayPal because MP is our processor.  So since about 2012 this has been a thing.

Now a benefit of being in EIS is Ebay is NOT charging us this international selling fee.  Just something to consider.

[buyselljack2016]

Back in the day.................PP charged the seller. This is nothing new.

[mam98031]

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@stevemartin60 wrote:

Thanks.  That is what they are saying, but I disagree that an international fee should be chargeable on a domestic shipment.

Why should the seller be responsible for that, too?...and why is that calculated on the shipping cost as well as everything else?

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As for the shipping, Ebay calculates that off the lowest domestic rate you have on the listing.  So if it is $5 for US shipping, no matter how much you charge for international shipping, your fees are based on the $5.  If you offer Free Shipping, then there is no fee on the international shipping charge.

[mam98031]

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@theteamsetguy wrote:

@stevemartin60 ,

When Paypal was processing payments for eBay sellers they had a similar fee for buyers who resided or were  paying from another country. Paypal also charged the buyer an additional 2.5% fee.

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NO.  If Paypal had to charge the buyer a fee on an international transaction it would be for the currency conversion as all sellers with listings on the US site must be paid in US dollars.

[mam98031]

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@maxine*j wrote:

FX fees are universal.  They cover the cost of currency conversion, etc.  1.65% is rather modest, compared to what many payment networks assess.  Just another business expense when you prepare your tax return.

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@maxine*j 

Currency conversion percentages is much higher and paid by the buyer, not the seller.  

[mam98031]

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@joliztoyco wrote:

Other "payment networks" DON'T charge a FVF of 13.25% 
Just saying...

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When we left PayPal, the Ebay fee in most categories was 10.20% and the PayPal Fee was 2.9%, which totals 13.10%.  We now pay 0.15% more 2-3 years later.

You are absolutely correct however, some sites similar to Ebay do not charge 13.25%, some to charge less and some do charge more.  It is just something to be researched and decisions made as to what works best for that seller.  I don't know that there is any right or wrong answer.

Each site is different.  The biggest thing being traffic and potential sales.  So paying less in fees may not help if you don't get as many sales.  Or paying more fees and having more sales may be a good move.  It all has to be looked at so each person can make an informed decision.  I personally sell on 3 sites and have for year.