International Fee

[dealz342]

What a shock today.  All my listings are open to Continental US Only.  I choose not to sell or ship Internationally.  Yet this month I've paid $28 in International Fees.   I can block a bidder who's address is outside the us but, Can Not block one who is registered Outside the US.  Now even though I ship to a US address I owe an International fee of 1.65%  How and why is this my responsibility.  Why are you charging Me the Seller for a Buyer who I can Not stop from bidding on an auction???   

Dealz342

International fee

If your registered address is in the US, we charge an International fee if either:

• The delivery address for the item (entered by the buyer during checkout) is outside the US, or
• The buyer's registered address is outside the US (regardless of the delivery address for the item)

This fee is calculated as 1.65% of the total amount of the sale and is automatically deducted from your sales.

[mam98031]

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I posted the option on the PayPal account earlier in the thread.  So you can just go back and review that.  If memory serves me it is the last option on the screen.

[belah6204]

Where can you find this? The delivery address. Thanks

[mam98031]

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@belah6204 wrote:

Where can you find this? The delivery address. Thanks

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Do you mean the Ship To address?  That appears on your order details.  If you are looking for their primary address that does not appear on the order details.  You can however click into the buyer's feedback page and see what country they are registered in.

[sugarbaber]

I understand your shock. I emphathize with this 100%.

I don't understand all these people who are supposed to be helpful on this conversation board being so negative about it. 

I too don't appreciate EXTRA fees. The regular fees are quite enough. I used to ship internationally, but it just took too much of a chunk of my sales/profits. The idea that we should just swallow the fee and get over it is so offensive. We have to accept eBay's policies, yes, but if we want to not pay this fee and we think it's wrong, we are allowed to feel that, say that, and cancel those orders without feeling like we aren't appreciating our sales. 

My example is this: I sell primarily on behalf of others and take a commission after eBay takes their cut. So, let's say I sell a heavy book. That's 14%. And you know that's 14% of the selling price and the shipping--and on THIS book, shipping was a lot because the book is heavy. And THEN, eBay's going to take an international fee (whether it's for  $$$ conversion or for the buy's registered address reason, it doesn't matter)? It doesn't matter why or who gets that fee, it came out of my sale. And so now, both my client and I have such a diminished income from this darn book. Sad face emoji. 

I don't complain about eBay policies: I do something about them. I don't complain about bad sales: I know sales go up and down--and the economy is bad everywhere. So, I don't want to have to add to my prices to offset EXTRA FEES. Nope. I've started checking for international fees as soon as an item sells, and I cancel if I see that international fee. 

Honestly, I think if we all do it, eBay might start taking note and might turn that fee around on the buyer.,which is where it belongs, IMHO.  It's an idea. I know that the seller should not have to unwittingly absorb that fee. 

P.S. I did complain when they took away my Top Seller Rating because the USPS didn't scan my packages in a timely way. Oh, I fumed for weeks! And then I went on Twitter and got someone to listen almost immediately. 

dealz342, I just did the cancel for bad address thing for the first time. And then I blocked that buyer. I sincerely hope I don't get in trouble for having done it.  Good luck in the future in dealing with these issues. You're right: Check everything. 

[cardxcraft]

Agree with what you said.  But, at the same time,  Ebay should give a seller the option of accepting foreign payment sources...it's a common option with pay processors.  

I imagine if enough sellers contact Ebay regarding this matter they'll eventually add the preference.

[jahood1984]

It was just explained the buyer only loses the mbg IF they admit to using a freight forwarder, any other case they are fully covered.  Good luck getting them to admit it, as explained earlier in this thread they will not consider the address alone enough.  I've had buyers tell me they weren't using a ff when they obviously were, claim they work there and completely ignore the question.  Once they all figure out that's how it works nobody will ever admit it again.

[dbfolks166mt]

It was just explained the buyer only loses the mbg IF they admit to using a freight forwarder, any other case they are fully covered.  Good luck getting them to admit it, as explained earlier in this thread they will not consider the address alone enough.  I've had buyers tell me they weren't using a ff when they obviously were, claim they work there and completely ignore the question.  Once they all figure out that's how it works nobody will ever admit it again.

     In addition eBay's policy means nothing in the wake of a CC chargeback. Although eBay could work the issue with the CC company they will simply tell you the issue is out of their control. Similar to eBay the CC company's favor the cardholder but they are also stuck with complying with Federal Laws. 

[dryophelia]

@sugarbaber 

No one likes fees, but we pay them because that's what it cost's to sell here. 

Why aren't you charging your consignor for any fees? Out of who's pocket does the free return shipping happen? That would be very clear in my contract. 

I would not even consider consigning something, but if I did, it would have to be worth my time.
Listing, creating a description, taking pictures, answering customer questions, bookkeeping, packaging, printer ink, packing tape, shipping costs, felt pens... the list goes on and on. It's near impossible to make money selling anything under $20, especially if you have to split the profit. 

It's not eBay's fault you aren't making money. 
Things just cost more. Groceries, utilities, rent, fuel, everything is going up.

I'm not sure why you would not consider raising your prices to cover what it costs to sell here, only to then turn around complain that it is eBay's fault you aren't making money. 

Final Value Fees are based on the selling price, shipping and any sales tax paid by the buyer. The seller is issued a 1099-K based only on the selling price and shipping.

The user you named seems to be registered in the USA.

[mam98031]

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@jahood1984 wrote:

It was just explained the buyer only loses the mbg IF they admit to using a freight forwarder, any other case they are fully covered.  Good luck getting them to admit it, as explained earlier in this thread they will not consider the address alone enough.  I've had buyers tell me they weren't using a ff when they obviously were, claim they work there and completely ignore the question.  Once they all figure out that's how it works nobody will ever admit it again.

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@jahood1984 

You only need them to admit that the package is now in a different country which is really easy to do.  Tell them to file a SNAD.  When they do, approve it and issue the return shipping label.  That label will be FROM the FF's address back to you.  If the buyer really wants to return it, they will pay their own international shipping either back to you or to their FF and then have the FF package it and send it to you, which will likely cost the international buyer more money to pay the FF for the service.

It just isn't as difficult as many think it is.  

[mam98031]

IF the buyer uses a Credit Card.  Some do and some don't.

[sugarbaber]

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@dryophelia wrote:

@sugarbaber 

Why aren't you charging your consignor for any fees? Out of who's pocket does the free return shipping happen? That would be very clear in my contract. 

I would not even consider consigning something, but if I did, it would have to be worth my time.
Listing, creating a description, taking pictures, answering customer questions, bookkeeping, packaging, printer ink, packing tape, shipping costs, felt pens... the list goes on and on. It's near impossible to make money selling anything under $20, especially if you have to split the profit. 

It's not eBay's fault you aren't making money. 
Things just cost more. Groceries, utilities, rent, fuel, everything is going up.

I'm not sure why you would not consider raising your prices to cover what it costs to sell here, only to then turn around complain that it is eBay's fault you aren't making money. 

Umm. Were you aiming this at me? What made you think I don't know how to run my business.?  There are a lot of assumptions made here and they seem to be made of me.  I’m doing fine with my business on eBay. I’m not complaining, I just don’t like this international fee but I never complain about the cost of doing business. FVFs? I get em.  So this 3 paragraph attack seems like a lot.
I don’t think I’ll seek help from the community again. It feels hostile here. I’m out. I do wish you all well in your business. 
Sugarbaber 

[belah6204]

Thank you