Selling Fees

[sbsoret]

If you have to pay a conversion rate because your buyer is registered in another country, does that break down when you look at what you have been paid?  I'm being charged 1.65% and I'm registered in the Global program but the item was shipped to a USA address.  The buyer is registered in Turkey but I'm being charged this fee because he is registered in another country.  It states if you are registered in the global program, you won't be charged any international fees.  So I'm trying to figure out if this is a conversion fee but my statement doesn't specify.   I've contacted customer support a couple of times about this and I keep getting different answers so I don't know what to do.   Thank you for any suggestions. 

[steady2304]

@sbsoret 

Sounds like your buyer is using a Freight Forwarder to have their item shipped to them instead of the ridiculously overpriced eBay Global shipping program. If that is the case that is why you are being charged the 1.65%...They have it shipped to a US warehouse address and then that company forwards the item to them.

[sbsoret]

  I don't know if the address they use is a forward?  Is there a way to tell?  I might OPT out of the program then because my last 3 sales have gone to USA addresses but I'm paying these fees.  It's a lot on expensive items.  Thank you for responding. 

[kensgiftshop]

What city and state are the orders being shipped to.

I think the EIS is in Illinois.

[caldreamer]

If customer used a freight forwarder to ship to USA address and customer is registered in a foreign country (you will be charged 1.65% international fee).  Many customers don't want to use EBAY International Shipping because it is more expensive for them.

If shipping address for customer is in Turkey and you used EBAY International Shipping  (EBAY will waive the 1.65% international fee).

[bdmh-enterprises]

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@sbsoret wrote:

  I don't know if the address they use is a forward?  Is there a way to tell?  I might OPT out of the program then because my last 3 sales have gone to USA addresses but I'm paying these fees.  It's a lot on expensive items.  Thank you for responding. 

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Sometimes FF addresses will have code #'s or the buyers username in the address, often there's no way to know without recognizing the address. Good chance you've had these in the past and never noticed.

The ebay shipping program and the international fee are unrelated. If you opt out of EIS you will still get FF orders that are charged that fee, but lose the ability to have EIS orders that don't have that fee. There is nothing you can do to avoid FF orders, they are domestic sales.

The Int fee will be charged anytime the buyer lives in another country, doesn't matter if they use a FF to reship to themselves or send a gift to their mother in the US.

[sbsoret]

Not Illinois.  I am seeing it's because they are registered in another country.  Thank you.

[monroe67]

"Not Illinois.  I am seeing it's because they are registered in another country.  Thank you."

Lots of freight forwarding (FF) companies that European and Asian buyers like to use are based in Delaware, Oregon, and Montana.  None of those states require sales taxes on purchases delivered within those states.  I have heard of [**bleep**] freight forwarders based in other states which do charge sales taxes.  

IF you have noticed that a type of item you sell is more likely to have that 1.65% International Fee, maybe you could increase the listing price of those items by 1.65%, or 1.75%, or even 2%.  That would cover the cost of the possible additional fee, maybe even net you a couple extra pennies in your payout.  


Edited to add:  Hey, my first "**bleep**" !  That'll teach me not to try to pluralize an abbreviation for "freight forwarders."

[slippinjimmy]

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@monroe67 wrote:

"Not Illinois.  I am seeing it's because they are registered in another country.  Thank you."

Lots of freight forwarding (FF) companies that European and Asian buyers like to use are based in Delaware, Oregon, and Montana.  None of those states require sales taxes on purchases delivered within those states.  I have heard of **bleep** based in other states which do charge sales taxes.  

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Montana?? Might be one or two there serving Canadian buyers.

Most of the large scale forwarders are located in Florida, some of them are in special tax exempt zip codes and shipments to those zip codes are tax exempt on eBay and likely most other large ecommerce sites.