Shipping to France, Now massive Customs fees and repeat buyer rejects packages

[thetubedude]

For several years, we have shipped boxes of delicate antique porcelain, Bavaria made, from the US to a buyer in France. The VAT, shipping, fees have always been high, but today, the buyer had to refuse his orders since the customs fees he would have had to additionally pay to receive were equal to the product value. So, we just lost $1000 in orders to a very good repeat customer. DHL in France will be returning items back to me, the sender. Is this a fluke? Why are buyer fees so massive all of a sudden? We have packages in route to Italy, Germany, Australia and elsewhere and hope they don;t get rejected due to enormous fees buyer may have to pay. 25% of our sales is international. 

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

@thetubedude  Could the French have increased the tariff on your type of items? 

[ittybitnot]

 since the customs fees he would have had to additionally pay to receive were equal to the product value. 

@thetubedude 

The custom fees, VAT, etc. are a function of what the buyer's country (France) charges.  Has that country recently applied additional fees related to products imported from the US or other countries that could explain higher than normal expected costs for the buyer?

eBay considers these fees the "buyer's" responsibility, so please review the policy about returned parcels due to the buyer refusing to pay those charges.  INR claims by the buyer should be rejected, but may not be should the buyer decide to file with eBay.   

[krazzykats]

Trump reciprocal tariffs?

Trump Reciprocal Tariffs on EU? A VAT Isn't Discriminatory

[lacemaker3]

@thetubedude,

Did you fill out the customs form with the correct country of manufacture (Bavaria)?

I looked at a couple of your recent listings that met your description, and both of them said "Country/Region of Manufacture: Unknown". That could have caused the issue, if there are reciprocal tariffs in place. Without the correct information, they would probably have assumed that items shipped from the USA were manufactured here.

[lacemaker3]

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@ittybitnot wrote:

 since the customs fees he would have had to additionally pay to receive were equal to the product value. 

@thetubedude 

The custom fees, VAT, etc. are a function of what the buyer's country (France) charges.  Has that country recently applied additional fees related to products imported from the US or other countries that could explain higher than normal expected costs for the buyer?

eBay considers these fees the "buyer's" responsibility, so please review the policy about returned parcels due to the buyer refusing to pay those charges.  INR claims by the buyer should be rejected, but may not be should the buyer decide to file with eBay.   

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On the other hand, if the seller provided false or incomplete information (for example, about where the goods were manufactured), which resulted in substantially increased customs duties or tariffs being applied, then the buyer should not be held responsible for that.

[tarotfindsandmore]

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@krazzykats wrote:

Trump reciprocal tariffs?

Trump Reciprocal Tariffs on EU? A VAT Isn't Discriminatory

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Probably not since the tariffs aren't scheduled to begin until April and the poster is complaining about current VAT fees. Perhaps the EU is just screwing its own people the way it's been screwing the US since 1945?  Just a thought...

[ittybitnot]

then the buyer should not be held responsible for that.

@lacemaker3 

While that makes sense to be sure, is there anything on eBay in place for the "buyer" if the parcel is simply sent back "return to sender"?  OR do the same published rules apply for instances when the buyer refuses to pay the fees due and the items is sent back to the seller.  

Does eBay consider tracking that says "in customs" to be delivered?  Or is it possible for the buyer to get a refund and then go pick up the page like in the old 'custom hanger' days? 

[slippinjimmy]

@thetubedude wrote:

For several years, we have shipped boxes of delicate antique porcelain, Bavaria made, from the US to a buyer in France. The VAT, shipping, fees have always been high, but today, the buyer had to refuse his orders since the customs fees he would have had to additionally pay to receive were equal to the product value. So, we just lost $1000 in orders to a very good repeat customer. DHL in France will be returning items back to me, the sender. Is this a fluke? Why are buyer fees so massive all of a sudden? We have packages in route to Italy, Germany, Australia and elsewhere and hope they don;t get rejected due to enormous fees buyer may have to pay. 25% of our sales is international. 

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What was the value of the order?

Did you ship it directly through DHL?

eBay collects VAT on shipments to the EU IF the value is 150 Euro or less. If the value exceeds 150 Euro the shipment would be subject to VAT and Duties on delivery.

[toysaver]

"25% of our sales is international"

There's a new sheriff in town.  This is the new 25% tariff.  

[chapeau-noir]

I don't think France has changed its VAT for several years - 2021??

[femmefan1946]

Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying

Not your problem.

EBay provided that boilerplate over a decade ago to deal with the question.

If the buyer refuses the package, eBay deems it Undeliverable and will not require the seller to refund anything.

And the seller who is willing to refund a Refused package, does not have to refund until they have the package back, which with Refused shipments can take months.

Canada will be charging retaliatory tariffs on some goods. While this is unlikely to affect most US -based eBay sellers, and we have a $150 duty free allowance for US goods, sellers who export should be aware of this. The EU is also annoyed.

[femmefan1946 · Accepted solution]

The tariffs are charged to the importer by their own government.

Not to the exporter.