Ebay wrongly charging GST for purchases over NZ$1000

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harlansmart

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#273319 16-Aug-2020 14:03

I have been in an endless email loop with eBay for over 8 months now - they acknowledge there is a fault with their check-out system for NZ, but I cannot make any headway on having it fixed. They have been saying since last year that their technical team is analysing the issue and are not providing a timeframe for when it will be fixed, but that just seems implausible. Any ideas on where to go from here or how I can escalate this, the eBay help desk is proving 100% unhelpful?

Interestingly, when GST was first introduced for eBay purchases, the checkout was working correctly for multiple items - likewise there was a period of about one week in early January where it briefly worked again - since then it has not.

The issue:

If I buy one item that is >NZ$1000, the checkout correctly does not add GST - if I buy several items from the same seller and the combined cart total is >NZ$1000, it adds on GST when it should not do this. Whether buying one item or several items at the same time - if the total cart value exceeds NZ$1000, GST is charged here at the border, yet eBay's checkout system does not recognise several items from the same seller as being one combined order that exceeds the value at which they should be adding on GST. (This issue btw, is not for items that are sent through the Global Shipping Programme, which adds on GST regardless of the number of items or cart value).

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#2542261 16-Aug-2020 14:30

Are you sure GST is only charged at border? If eBay is the agent they should charge and the parcel would come straight through

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sbiddle

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#2542274 16-Aug-2020 15:02

Sure it's an inconsistency, but I'm struggling to see what your actual issue here.

Any retailer when shipping goods over $1000 has the option of collecting GST or leaving the GST collection in the hands of the buyer to process themselves. This means the individual requires an importer client code, and depending on who you chose as your customs broker, may incur costs up to around $50 for processing the goods as well as MPI and IEFT fees.

The great thing about using Amazon for orders over $1000 and letting them collect the GST for you is that they don't charge IEFT or MPI fees which seems a glaring omission for an individual transaction.

There would be exceptions to the rule but I'm sure 99% of people importing goods would much prefer the retailer did everything for them rather than having to then deal with customs and possibly engage with a broker.

harlansmart

254 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2542284 16-Aug-2020 15:19

freitasm: Are you sure GST is only charged at border? If eBay is the agent they should charge and the parcel would come straight through

Yes, I am sure - the rules are very clear on that when it comes to eBay - and parcels that are sent for example ex-Japan/ AU/ USA via USPS, are not marked as duty paid - so they get stuck at the border here, where GST is once again charged until you go through the rigmarole of proving GST had already been collected.

And please note: EBAY HAVE ALREADY CONFIRMED THIS IS A CHECKOUT FAULT. They know the checkout system is working incorrectly.

harlansmart

254 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2542287 16-Aug-2020 15:22

sbiddle:

Sure it's an inconsistency, but I'm struggling to see what your actual issue here.

Any retailer when shipping goods over $1000 has the option of collecting GST or leaving the GST collection in the hands of the buyer to process themselves. This means the individual requires an importer client code, and depending on who you chose as your customs broker, may incur costs up to around $50 for processing the goods as well as MPI and IEFT fees.

The great thing about using Amazon for orders over $1000 and letting them collect the GST for you is that they don't charge IEFT or MPI fees which seems a glaring omission for an individual transaction.

There would be exceptions to the rule but I'm sure 99% of people importing goods would much prefer the retailer did everything for them rather than having to then deal with customs and possibly engage with a broker.

I could explain what my issue is, but I fail to see the relevancy. I am asking for help on how to escalate this, not to justify why it is an issue for me, to hear on the process of importing, or to hear on the benefits of prepaying. If you do not have a useful response to my query - please, don't waste your time going off on tangents.

dejadeadnz

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#2542289 16-Aug-2020 15:28

There's nothing for anyone to be logically and reasonably annoyed about, if honouring the rule and spirit of the law is the concern here. They are doing the responsible thing of ensuring that GST is paid and with the least amount of hassle for most normal buyers. If you intend to pay the GST, there's nothing for you to be annoyed about.

harlansmart

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Ultimate Geek

#2542290 16-Aug-2020 15:34

dejadeadnz:

There's nothing for anyone to be logically and reasonably annoyed about, if honouring the rule and spirit of the law is the concern here. They are doing the responsible thing of ensuring that GST is paid and with the least amount of hassle for most normal buyers. If you intend to pay the GST, there's nothing for you to be annoyed about.

Did I stutter? My question is: does anyone know how to get a known (and acknowledged by ebay) checkout cart fault escalated?

As a side-note, as this is clearly the forum for people to go off on tangents... you are qualified to pass judgement on logic and reason... how? Oh, that's right. Someone equipped you with a keyboard and screen. Thank you for the low-brow contribution on the moral use of the internet.

harlansmart

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Ultimate Geek

#2542291 16-Aug-2020 15:36

Won't be responding to anything further - if anyone knows of a way to escalate this issue, please DM.

dejadeadnz

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#2542293 16-Aug-2020 15:39

The problem is that you've asserted that Ebay is in the wrong when you are manifestly incorrect. And the only logical reason why you're having this rant is that you wish to tax dodge. Let's have the authoritative source speak for itself, shall we?

Consignments or goods valued over NZ$1000 must be cleared on a standard Import Declaration, and the Import Entry Transaction Fee (IETF) and MPI’s BSEL will be charged.

There is no change to the current processing of consignments over NZ$1000 – the standard GST and duty calculation will be applied. If GST on the value of the goods has already been collected at the point of sale by the supplier GST will still be payable on any duty at the border.

Ebay as an intermediary is perfectly entitled to apply NZ law. They are not wrong and you should find something else to blather on about. link

harlansmart

254 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2542297 16-Aug-2020 15:49

dejadeadnz:

The problem is that you've asserted that Ebay is in the wrong when you are manifestly incorrect. And the only logical reason why you're having this rant is that you wish to tax dodge. Let's have the authoritative source speak for itself, shall we?

Consignments or goods valued over NZ$1000 must be cleared on a standard Import Declaration, and the Import Entry Transaction Fee (IETF) and MPI’s BSEL will be charged.

There is no change to the current processing of consignments over NZ$1000 – the standard GST and duty calculation will be applied. If GST on the value of the goods has already been collected at the point of sale by the supplier GST will still be payable on any duty at the border.

Ebay as an intermediary is perfectly entitled to apply NZ law. They are not wrong and you should find something else to blather on about. link

Wrong, wrong and wrong. But thank you for assuming - I can only assume (really enjoyed your use of the bold font btw!) that since that is the only logical reason YOU can come up with, that that is the only reason why YOU would have an issue in this instance.

dejadeadnz

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#2542300 16-Aug-2020 15:52

You can keep crying that Ebay is wrong all you like but given that (1) I actually have expertise in law (and I am sure you don't in view of your stance) and (2) Customs agrees with me and Ebay, and (3) you seem to have nothing worthwhile to say, I will let people decide whether you have a worthwhile and genuine issue.

harlansmart

254 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2542304 16-Aug-2020 15:55

Again:

eBay admit, and recognise, and advise helpfully that they have a problem w/the check-out cart for Kiwi members.

Does anyone have any suggestion on how to get this issue resolved ?

As stated in the 1st post:

'I have been in an endless email loop with eBay for over 8 months now - they acknowledge there is a fault with their check-out system for NZ, but I cannot make any headway on having it fixed.'

dejadeadnz

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#2542353 16-Aug-2020 16:13

The fact that they aren't changing it tells you the people who matter don't think there's a fault. And here's a hint: your average CSR doesn't make policy/tax-related decisions.

harlansmart

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Ultimate Geek

#2542365 16-Aug-2020 16:29

Some of the emails from w/eBay who, as stated above, freely, openly admit the fault w/the check-out process for Kiwi's.. thing is just how to get them to actually remedy their fault:

I know how to reach the right people, and could have this fault dealt to on TM but not on eBay... that's why I started this thread... does anyone here know what to do, or how to reach the right people to have this known and recognised check-out process fault fixed for us Kiwi's ?

richms

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#2542421 16-Aug-2020 17:11

I don't see this as a fault. How can ebay ensure that everything is sent in a single parcel and therefore get stopped at the border and charged here? If the seller splits it up into multiple all declared under $1000 then they would come straight thru here, and no GST would be collected at all on it.

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freitasm

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#2542446 16-Aug-2020 17:32

There is no fault and "eBay Customer Service" is probably not even aware of what you are asking.

Seeing you aren't happy I am locking this thread.

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