Questioning Advice about VOEC number from customer service

[wileycat66]

I sold an item to someone in Norway. I use the Ebay International Shipping Program. 

The buyer wants me to make sure I write a VOEC number on the package so he doesn't have to pay an extra import tax. 

I called Ebay costumer service.  I was put on hold and  then told to simply print the packing slip out,  tape it on the package, and Ebay International Shipping will deal with the VOEC number from there. 

Does anyone have experience with this? This doesn't make a lot of sense to me. 

I would ask the customer more about this, but wanted to find out first from Ebay and then anyone here, first.


UPDATE - I just found this via Google and didn't get the same answer when doing an Ask AI query before. So I guess don't worry about it at all? 

When selling an item on eBay to Norway using their International Shipping service, you typically do not need to worry about adding a VOEC number yourself as eBay handles the necessary customs documentation, including the VOEC number if required, through their shipping partner; simply provide the buyer's address and let eBay manage the process. 

[wastingtime101 · Accepted solution]

Packing slip can go inside the package. Don't tape it to the outside. 🙄

You're shipping with eIS so you don't worry about anything related to international shipping. Print the label to the US address on the order and your job is done as soon as there's a delivery scan at the US hub.

You're not filling out customs paperwork or buying international shipping so what the buyer is requesting is not something you even need to think about.

Just tell them eBay's hub handles the international portion and will fill out all of the necessary paperwork. If the buyer paid customs and duties upfront then that will be reflected within the shipment. You have no control over their country's import fees.

[wileycat66]

Thank you!  I didn't think so.

I finally called another customer service rep and she said that the "evtn:eg55hxh" already in the shipping address and how the buyer paid, tells them what they need to deal with the customs stuff. 

I thought that first answer was just stupid. I get tired of calling twice or more to get a good customer service rep these days....

[wastingtime101]

---

@wileycat66 wrote:

I get tired of calling twice or more to get a good customer service rep these days....

---

Come here first next time @wileycat66 .

[arnemagnusb]

As a buyer from Norway I've had nothing but trouble with ebay collecting VAT. I don't know if it's ebay or the sellers that do something wrong but I usually end up having to pay VAT again on import because the package hasn't been reported electronically to the VOEC system.

While ebay have refunded the VAT I paid to them, that still leaves me paying too much since the VAT paid on import is calculated from the value including ebay VAT. The whole mess has caused me to buy significantly less from ebay lately.