Updates to how you sell to German customers on eBay

[hawk731]

THis is an easy fix--I'm not selling to Germany anymore. I'm tired of government bureaucracy that costs me time and money. I won't sell to Germany any more. No problem for me, less hassle and paperwork. Thanks.

[t-bone543]

Does this affect APO/FPO shipments? Technically, mailing to overseas bases is considered domestic mail, but the mail still goes through local customs.

[apmtrade]

12/05/2022

Lizenzero is eBay's solution partner for the Packaging Act Amendment!

In the course of the VerpackG amendment, marketplaces will have to check all merchants who sell through them to Germany with regard to compliance with the VerpackG requirements from July 2022. eBay has brought Lizenzero on board as a solution partner in this process.

https://www.lizenzero.de/en/blog/detail/sCategory/131/blogArticle/203

Additional Packaging Act for sales to Austria from 2023 

Shipping to Austria: Legislative changes bring comprehensive novelties for online retailers from 202... 

( Info Lizenzero )

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@apmtrade wrote:

12/05/2022

Lizenzero is eBay's solution partner for the Packaging Act Amendment!

In the course of the VerpackG amendment, marketplaces will have to check all merchants who sell through them to Germany with regard to compliance with the VerpackG requirements from July 2022. eBay has brought Lizenzero on board as a solution partner in this process.

https://www.lizenzero.de/en/blog/detail/sCategory/131/blogArticle/203

Additional Packaging Act for sales to Austria from 2023 

Shipping to Austria: Legislative changes bring comprehensive novelties for online retailers from 202... 

( Info Lizenzero )

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This is one of those situations where it will be much easier for a large high volume seller to comply vs a little guy or gal that ships infrequently to any of the countries affected by these regulations. Very similar to the transport of anything considered hazardous. Where I've worked in the past if you didn't follow the rules to the letter, you and your employee could be fined. The fines are not chump change. Cost (training/registering/correct packing material) for compliance will make it not worthwhile for most sellers.

-Lotzofuniquegoodies.

[apantiq]

if use GSP how can I exclude Germany

[donsdetour]

Global shipping: it becomes their problem dealing with Germany: not yours....

[valueaddedresource]

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@donsdetour wrote:

Global shipping: it becomes their problem dealing with Germany: not yours....

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@donsdetour  - velvet@ebay has said twice in this thread that GSP doesn't exclude sellers from these requirements. Sellers who ship to Germany, even if it is through GSP, have been told they must still register.

[lenasminiland]

Hello, someone can tell me where to provide EPR registration number in my eBay account? thanks.

[dbfolks166mt]

     If you have excluded Germany in your listings the buyer should not be able to purchase the item to begin with but GSP also follows the sellers excluded country list. 

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/resolving-buyer-issues/blocking-buyer-ebay?id=4082 

[reallyhardtofind]

That's how I read this too. We only sell vintage items and we only sell about 2 or 3 items a year.

Has the rules changed? Do we need register?

[inhawaii]

I use ebay's GSP (Global Shipping Program).

Once my Germany-bound package reaches the GSP hub in Kentucky, I don't have to worry about it. 

[happydealhunter]

This is still so crazy. So, shipping Internationally or via GSP to Germany an eBay seller has to pay about $42 a year to Lizenzero or whomever else to be compliant with VerpackG? So we also have to estimate the weight of packing material, retail packaging, and the shipping box for all the shipments in a year's time. Then, if either the carrier or some other employee down the line opens my box and adds to the waste my package creates before delivery, I'm possibly able to get fined for it if the numbers aren't within the estimated range? Is this all accurate?

This is an entirely different situation if GSP can ensure that it's only my responsibility to get the package to Kentucky and they have the rest handled. If not, I guess I can't justify shipping to Germany with an upfront annual cost and also have the possibility that my sales to Germany could be 0 for the year even.

[valueaddedresource]

@inhawaii  @happydealhunter 

Velvet confirmed earlier in this thread and the reminder announcement yesterday also said it too - even if you use GSP, you'll still need to register and comply with the regulations.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/Important-updates-on-selling-to-German-buyers-on-eBay/ba...

Also, please note that even when using services such as eBay international standard delivery or the eBay Global Shipping Program, packages need to be compliant when they get to our domestic hub; we won’t repackage any items.  

[natoman777]

Does this apply to the global shipping program? 

[gagscake]

I received a response from eBay for Business through Facebook Messenger; it is all sellers, not just business sellers. 

[jaina_solo]

How do we exclude a country from the GSP? I can't figure out how to do it. Is it possible?