Ebay charging 'Import Charges'

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duckDecoy

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#2584187 14-Oct-2020 10:44

mattwnz:

It is a roll of rubber strapping, which will be used to repair some chairs, where the existing rubber strapping under the cushions has gone hard from age and split. None of the retailers I have tried that sell this sort of thing in NZ stocks it. So guessing it falls under the furniture category. Not sure if there is any duty on that or not.

Are they fagas straps? if so we found them cheaper from the US than UK, premade options for the various standard sizes. But as others have mentioned you can make them yourself using stuff from Mollies etc if you want them cheaper.

neb

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#2584378 14-Oct-2020 16:23

You've run into eBay's cursed Global Shipping Program, a.k.a. Pitney Bowes, a.k.a satan. They add enough charges and surcharges and duties and fees to anything you buy to guarantee that no matter what happens they can still make a healthy profit. They also add weeks or sometimes months to shipping times, and provide an untrackable tracking number. This isn't a NZ government thing, this is purely Pitney Bowes. Avoid anything that uses the Global Shipping Program unless you absolutely must have it, e.g. a replacement kidney or similar.

In any case though with Pitney Bowes it won't arrive until six weeks after you've already died from kidney failure.

thetankengine

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#2606488 18-Nov-2020 20:07

I need help here.

I bought a camera on eBay, cost around US$2000 including shipping. The seller uses the Global Shipping Program and on eBay it says that with the Global Shipping Program the buyer won't need to pay anything extra to the Customs when the parcel arrives, and no extra paperwork required too, i.e. they take care of everything. So I paid US$330 for this Global Shipping Program "import charges", naively believed that should cover G.S.T and the import duty.

Few days ago I got an email from NZ Post, who is Pitney Bowes' delivery partner here in NZ, and they want me to provide the NZ Customs client code. I had no idea what that is, so I emailed eBay and asked them to sort it out. When I received the reply, I was told that not only they couldn't help me with the client code, I also need to pay GST on top of what I already paid for their "import charges". I was furious about this and asked them for the reason, they then told me that eBay does not collect GST when the value of the item is above NZ$1000. Nowhere on eBay's website mentioned this.

So I asked eBay to provide a breakdown of the "import charges" I already paid, which is actually US$40 more expensive than the actual import duty + entry fee + G.S.T, eBay said I need to talk to Pitney Bowes, then on Pitney Bowes website it says all Global Shipping Program matter needs to be raised with eBay. In other words, I'm now stuck in the middle with neither of eBay or Pitney Bowes willing to help.

My question: has anyone else had a similar experience? Is there anyway to get the US$330 back (stupid me, I used Apple Pay to pay for this) given that eBay has failed to deliver what it advertised?

Any tips that can help me out would be much appreciated.

sbiddle

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#2606501 18-Nov-2020 20:57

Every import into NZ over $1000 requires a client code - this has been the case for many years.

https://www.customs.govt.nz/personal/send-and-receive-items/receive-items-from-overseas/

I'm not sure what your next steps are in your situation, you may need to involve a customs broker to help you since your chosen broker (Pitney Bowles) doesn't seem to be that helpful. I am assuming you haven't contacted Customs about this? That would obviously be the first step, as you need to contact them anyway to get a client code.

thetankengine

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#2606503 18-Nov-2020 21:05

Thanks for the reply. Until two days ago I did not realise that an individual needs to have a client code when the value of the good is over $1000. Last time I bought a coffee machine from Italy that cost over $1000 DHL took care of all the Customs work and I only needed to pay DHL after they invoice me for the GST and duty. This is why I have never realised that I personally need a code.

But yep, both Pitney Bowes and eBay are being ridiculous here, especially when they charge me this extortion amount of "import charges" for nothing.

I know it's probably inevitable to lose that US$330 at the end, but damn, this is a bloody expensive lesson to learn, so if anybody has any tips that can help me to minimise my financial loss, I will be truly grateful to that.

freitasm

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#2606541 18-Nov-2020 21:58

Contact customs. They might just need the importer code and the rest is paid up already. You won't know unless you talk to them.

sbiddle

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#2606584 19-Nov-2020 07:30

thetankengine:

Thanks for the reply. Until two days ago I did not realise that an individual needs to have a client code when the value of the good is over $1000. Last time I bought a coffee machine from Italy that cost over $1000 DHL took care of all the Customs work and I only needed to pay DHL after they invoice me for the GST and duty. This is why I have never realised that I personally need a code.

But yep, both Pitney Bowes and eBay are being ridiculous here, especially when they charge me this extortion amount of "import charges" for nothing.

I know it's probably inevitable to lose that US$330 at the end, but damn, this is a bloody expensive lesson to learn, so if anybody has any tips that can help me to minimise my financial loss, I will be truly grateful to that.

DHL are a Customs broker so can handle the whole import process - that's what you're paying them for.

As already explained your very first step which I'm assuming you haven't done is to contact Customs. There is clearly something fundamentally wrong here, because despite failings the point of GSP is to cover all customs charges and taxes for a country. It could simply be that you need to supply your client code and the package will be cleared.

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afe66

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#2606621 19-Nov-2020 09:14

Getting a client code for customs is no drama. I had to get one years ago when I imported an HTC vive.

DHL lady I think it was emailed me the form and I filled it in without issue. Took a couple of days and was good for several years.

Ok your frustrated but that's because you didn't know the system. That's the way it is so just go with it.

If you want none of this hassle you could pay the nz price....

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