Sellers lie on customs forms

[erotwriter]

What does a buyer do when sellers lie about the value on customs forms and customs start to get suspicious?

Two sellers I bought from lied on the forms (I only found out once customs sent out the note), claiming the value is 0.100 and 1.00 (items, roughly $1.90-$4 per order) and customs charged me on $10 value per item.  In order to re-evaluate the value I had to show customs the order and was accused of getting the sellers to lie on the customs forms.  So I had to either pay the customs value on $10 or get into trouble.

I never ask for false values because I have no reason to since my orders are almost always of low value.  Makes me mad!

[atikovi]

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@mg152 wrote:

I thought about listing it here but I didn’t want the negative FB for such an ugly handbag. 😀

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If somebody gave negative FB for an item being ugly, pretty sure you can get it removed.

[atikovi]

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@erotwriter wrote:

So I had to either pay the customs value on $10 or get into trouble.

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Since when do you have to pay customs duty on a $10 item?

[duchess-at-speakeasy]

For very low-value items, the declared value really does not matter.  Most countries don't even charge VAT on anything under $25.  Now, if the item is a designer handbag or other "valuable" item, that's a different story!

Sellers always should enclose an itemized, priced packing slip that reflects the actual sale.  The documentation is important.  However, a high-value item sold cheap can cause problems for the recipient -- Customs certainly can locate the "normal" price of any consumer item and charge VAT or duty accordingly.  Some countries charge VAT on the postage amount, too.

~~C~~

[7606dennis]

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@green-night wrote:

That's funny because the overwhelming majority of buyers are thrilled with sellers like this. 

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You mean sellers that lack integrity?  If that is true, it might go a long way in explaining why there are the number of buyers that abuse the returns system.

[green-night]

You mean sellers that lack integrity?  If that is true, it might go a long way in explaining why there are the number of buyers that abuse the returns system.

What does a seller lowering the value on a customs form in order to save a buyer money have to do with buyers that abuse the return system?     What correlation is that exactly? 

[the_fancy_fox]

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@sam9876 wrote:

It shows that I care about my customers.

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Not really. It shows your willing to lie to your government. It shows your willing to disregard rules to make a buck and your willing to help defraud your buyers government.

[green-night]

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@the_fancy_fox wrote:

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@sam9876 wrote:

It shows that I care about my customers.

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Not really. It shows your willing to lie to your government. It shows your willing to disregard rules to make a buck and your willing to help defraud your buyers government.

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Why do you care about the way an ebay seller fills out a form for a buyer in another country?

[7606dennis]

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@green-night wrote:

You mean sellers that lack integrity?  If that is true, it might go a long way in explaining why there are the number of buyers that abuse the returns system.

What does a seller lowering the value on a customs form in order to save a buyer money have to do with buyers that abuse the return system?     What correlation is that exactly? 

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If buyers appreciate sellers that show a lack of integrity by assisting them in evading their country's taxes, it only stands to reason that those same buyers lack the integrity themselves to not abuse the return system if it benefits them.

[7606dennis]

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@green-night wrote:

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@the_fancy_fox wrote:

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@sam9876 wrote:

It shows that I care about my customers.

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Not really. It shows your willing to lie to your government. It shows your willing to disregard rules to make a buck and your willing to help defraud your buyers government.

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Why do you care about the way an ebay seller fills out a form for a buyer in another country?

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Perhaps they do not want to be an accomplice in their buyer's act of tax evasion.  That would be my guess.  Of course, those that live by Larry Hagman's line, "Once you give up integrity it's a piece of cake." will probably not understand.

[green-night]

, it only stands to reason that those same buyers lack the integrity themselves to not abuse the return system if it benefits them.

That reasoning sounds great in theory but isn't true in my experience in any way whatsoever.   A buyer wanting to minimize the taxes they pay to their government on an import does not mirror their willingness to hurt a seller. 

[green-night]

Perhaps they do not want to be an accomplice in their buyer's act of tax evasion.  

No, the question was why that poster cares how other sellers fill out their customs form?    It apparently upsets them so much they feel the need to comment on others character. 

[atikovi]

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@green-night wrote:

, it only stands to reason that those same buyers lack the integrity themselves to not abuse the return system if it benefits them.

That reasoning sounds great in theory but isn't true in my experience in any way whatsoever.   A buyer wanting to minimize the taxes they pay to their government on an import does not mirror their willingness to hurt a seller. 

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This. Many people that dislike and think nothing of cheating the govenment will still bend over backwards to help their fellow man.

[pingpong517]

after reading the posts under the question... I can see why EBAY is falling apart....exactly part of the problem.... 

soon i believe you all will find the cheating, lies, being honest , fair, etc..ALL will be history for you and your business on ebay.... because they are failing to make this site a place to shop....

NO one mentions Ebay on t.v to shop...ok almost no one..listen to the business news..the local TV news reporting....MALLS, Amazon, on-line...bla bla.. but almost NEVER ebay.... 

People are tired of the hassle and cheats, scams etc...and ebay seller/buyers are doing it to themselves... and in the end...we will wonder why it is no longe a place to sell for the small guys/gals with stuff.... 

ok i know...its been said before..but read these posts, the community stuff, and listen...ebay ads do anything? hear anyone say hey look on ebay?...fewer and fewer...because they fear the scam, the cheat, the dishonest....and how can you ever feel 100%( and feedback is barely a judge)....

I personally, only buy a few things on Ebay...and feel the real possible stress of the potential for it to go bad...so am sooooo cautious about buying ...funny, and I sell...so makes me wonder about a buyer of my stuff.....

oh well you all just try doing it honest and fair...and stop trying to cut corners and then justify it...just do it right...mistakes happen..fix them, and do it correctly...gezzzz

[duggmills]

Please tell us what advantage does "lying on a customs form" provide to a seller?

We understand how it can help a buyer which is why some ask for a seller to undervalue the item.

[atikovi]

Help make the sale if they ask before buying?