New import/tariff rules on eBay

[bk400]

Originally Posted by UKCardGuy

Being based in the UK, I'm have the problem in reverse. The removal of the de minimis rule for imports the US has caused havoc with shipments into the US. I've taken down all of my US ebay listings because there's too much uncertainty.

I suspect you're seller's paperwork failed to identify the country of origin, which is a new part of the US import requirements. I think because the presidential order rushed through the changes to the de minimis rules made things worse. Most of the post offices and big shippers didn't have time to update their systems and there are a number of uncertainties. As a result, a large number of postal services (including the UK) have suspended all shipments (other than letters) to the USA.

Some of the open questions are about the calculation of the import duties. Do those have to be paid by the seller or the buyer. The rules means that a package can either be charged the new duties or a fixed fee. It's not clear which one. For example, from the UK, it would be a 10% duty but they could decide to charge an $80 fixed fee. So if I sell a $20 card to the US, the buyer could end up paying a $10% fee (e.g. $2). That's not disastrous, but normally USPS will charge a fee for having to process the duties. I'm not sure how much that it, but let's say it's $6. That's $8 of import fees on a $20 card. I don't think many buyers will be happy with that. But if the US authorities decide to charge the default fixed fee rather than the calculated duties, then it could be an $86 customs duty for a $20 card. That's pretty nuts.

Now, country of origin should be the easy out. If I'm selling a 1960 Topps baseball card, the country of origin is the good ol' USA. So it shouldn't attract any duties. But it's not clear how that will actually work with the customers officers in the USA. It could be that they ignore that and try to charge the fees. Or, the package could be held for inspection. That could add weeks while the package is held by US customs.

As a seller, it's not something I'm keen to try out. I think most buyers would either reject the shipment and I'd have to pay the return shipping to the UK or they've file a item not received claim and I'd be out the money and the card.

I'm hoping that the changes to the de minimis levels are stuck down or the process calms down we get some clarity. Until then, it's really frustrating for buyers and sellers.

This is consistent with my recent experience with a shipment of cards that I tried to send back to the US to a consignment seller that I use regularly. After many such shipments with no issues, my last shipment was first rejected by the local post office -- they just won't ship to the US, period -- I then got DHL to do it (at much higher cost). Package made it to US shores and then was stuck for a couple of weeks. Just got word that there was an import documentation problem. Package on the way back to me. So basically, a big fail. I strongly suspect it has to do with how the items are described in the customs forms. The old descriptions that worked flawlessly before don't seem to work flawlessly anymore.