Free Shipping but a shipping charge added at checkout

[b86fiero]

This is a new one for me.  Has anyone listed an item with free economy shipping then had a shipping charge of $9.99 added at checkout?  Buyer did not choose a different shipping method nor pay for a faster option.  

If this is a glitch it's a bad one.

Thanks for any info.  Appreciate it.

[b86fiero]

Thanks donsdetour.

So the charge is not a customs charge but a seller added charge?

Kind of a sneaky way to list as free shipping yet get paid for shipping and packaging, right?

[dhbookds]

When I try to put something of that sellers items in the cart.......are asking if I want a protection plan for $9.99????

[wrong66]

There you go.

[b86fiero]

Sorry everyone for any confusion.  I have never had a charge added like this from any international seller I or my family has purchased from.  This is new for us and we will definitely ask any international seller questions about extra charges before we bid. 

Or better yet, will stick to buying from US based sellers. 

[b86fiero]

I was not asked if I wanted to purchase a protection plan at any point.

Nothing was stated about any type of protection plan.

I was not told a protection plan was purchased.

The additional $9.99 charge appeared as an Economy Shipping charge after I clicked Go To Checkout from my Shopping Cart.

This is just too weird. If a seller is going to add a $9.99 shipping charge after you purchase a Free shipping item why not be honest and state $9.99 shipping in the listing.

[donsdetour]

From item description:

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

Also note on the shipping statement:

"International shipping - items may be subject to customs processing depending on the item's customs value.

Sellers declare the item's customs value and must comply with customs declaration laws.

As the buyer, you should be aware of possible:

Delays from customs inspection. \ Import duties and taxes which buyers must pay. Brokerage fees payable at the point of delivery.

Your country's customs office can offer more details, or visit eBay's page on international trade."

So yes it can end up with cost on the shipping due to its India, and you are US.

[Anonymous]

@donsdetour 

the de minimus value is $800 for the US and has been since 2016

even if it were subject to duty/import fees, it would not make sense to charge a flat 9.99 fee

[donsdetour]

"and charges" would make such so:

ask your seller:

Oh and make sure what you are getting is what they say it is:

and not a coated CZ, (that is if you have purchased such item from the before).....

Of course they always say it is what they say it is even if not.... Just saying...

[b86fiero]

Thanks again don!

I don't understand why it shows as a Shipping charge which is why I am confused.

I could have easily understood if it was stated as an import duty, taxes or even a Brokerage fee.

It is clearly stated as a shipping charge only at checkout.  Hence my confusion and attempt to understand why it never showed on the invoice until checkout and the Pay Now button appeared.  I have purchased from international sellers before but never had any added charges.

Do other international sellers denote import duties and taxes as shipping?  Doesn't eBay provide options for these sellers to honestly state what the additional charges are for?

Greatly appreciate you taking the time to help me.

[fairdeal*lb]

I've caught myself almost clicking eBay's "Protection Plan", maybe not in your case? It's pretty slick how they put it in there. If your moving to fast you could strike at it near checkout by mistake. eBay profits on this insurance policy, not sellers.    

[donsdetour]

Yep on the showing what you are being charged for ( it should be shown):

Could be better. I simply avoid out of country purchases...

[b86fiero]

I'm off to the post office and an appointment.  Will check this post later this evening.

Again, many thanks to everyone who replied and for taking the time to help me.

😁

[lacemaker3]

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@b86fiero wrote:

I was not asked if I wanted to purchase a protection plan at any point.

Nothing was stated about any type of protection plan.

I was not told a protection plan was purchased.

The additional $9.99 charge appeared as an Economy Shipping charge after I clicked Go To Checkout from my Shopping Cart.

This is just too weird. If a seller is going to add a $9.99 shipping charge after you purchase a Free shipping item why not be honest and state $9.99 shipping in the listing.

---

I don't think this was a protection plan.

I believe this is the auction item you won:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/403812424186

The listing clearly shows Free international shipping from outside the USA, and there are no other shipping options available to choose from.

However, that listing shows up in Terapeak, and there it shows the $9.99 shipping charge.

Have you paid for it yet?

The best explanation I can think of, is that after you won the listing, the seller sent an invoice with $9.99 added shipping charges. That would explain exactly what happened, with no glitches required. Once the seller has done that, I don't believe there is anything the buyer can do to pay without paying for the additional shipping charges.

I have run into this shady selling practice with Asian/South Asian sellers in the past. They don't seem to have the same attitude towards bait-and-switch as we do.

[stephenmorgan]

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@lacemaker3 wrote:

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The best explanation I can think of, is that after you won the listing, the seller sent an invoice with $9.99 added shipping charges. That would explain exactly what happened, with no glitches required.

---

I have had this same exact thing happen.  If invoice is sent before payment is made the the shipping fees can be altered.  

You may be able to call eBay and get the shipping removed or reimbursed. 

If eBay can not help and you have already paid for item then maybe this would be a Not as Described Claim where you could ask for refund of the $9.99 shipping fee.

[b86fiero]

lacemaker,

That sounds like exactly what happened.

I messaged the seller and explained what occurred about the $9.99 shipping charge.

The seller got back to me this morning and refunded the $9.99.  They agreed the shipping was supposed to be free and apologized for the mistake.

I have purchased from them in the recent past and was very happy with the jewelry I received so I will buy from them in the future.  I'll just keep an eye on those added charges.

Thanks again for your help!

BJ