Is this feedback extortion?

Krusin

Krusin

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Short history - 7/22 I sold a lot of 3 cards to a buyer in Canada, lot was $274.50 & I charged $15.50 for Canada shipping & insurance. Shipping & insurance cost me $27. & change, I knew the $15.50 I charged wouldn't cover it & charged less as shipping & Insurance was free in the US. On 8/22 the customer sent a message saying not received & we agreed to wait a while longer, customer has purchased from me before & all has been excellent.

She sent this message today -


Dear tn_krusin,

Hi. I received the cards today. However, I had to pay $24.08 at the Post Office for Customs Fees before they would release the package to me. Can you please refund me that cost? I will await the refund before leaving you positive feedback. Thanks

xxxxxxx

- xxxxxxx



This is the 1st time I've ever had a buyer ask me to pay a Customs fee. I MIGHT of considered splitting the cost with her had she asked nicely but to hold my feedback hostage rubs me the wrong way.

Would this be considered feedback extortion? How would you reply? Opinions on the situation.

thanks for the look
 
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Darn, I have seen it the other way for Canada but not heard about the US. I have seen sellers say they are not responsible for customs and duty charges and I guess this is why. If you can handle the feedback I would say that they are responsible for the tax they pay their government not you. You could explain in your feedback about the duty and tax.
 
It is feedback extortion. Any experienced buyer should be aware of the potential for border fees. In most provinces in Canada the buyer will be paying 12% or more sales taxes if they bought the lot at retail (provincial sales tax + federal sales tax). Some provinces only have the 5% federal but still. eBay will likely strike down any neutral or negative feedback induced by customs fees or taxes. Hope you shipped with tracking # so you have proof the item was delivered so buyer cannot play the "not received" game. ;P
 
Thanks for the advice guys.

Decided not to pay her for her Customs fees. Not sure yet if I'll even respond, I have her message saved so I should be good. I've tried drafting 2 or 3 while walking on egg shells, don't want to do or say anything that might swing things to her favor. If she presses me again I may get proactive & notify E-Bay of the messages. Hate to loose a customer but like everyone said she shouldda known.

thanks again all
 
If she doesn't want to pay customs fees, tell her to take it up with her government, as they are applicable to be applied on any purchase over $50CDN. You are not responsible for those, and have no control over if and when they are charged. The fee also includes a brokerage fee, which she cannot contest. She can apply for a refund from the CBSA or CCRA (I can't remember which) but it would likely be denied due to the high value of the purchase.

She's lucky you didn't send with UPS, which would have cost her $50 brokerage fee on top of the taxes.

As mentioned, she cannot leave you neutral or negative feedback for that, so if she does, contest it and eBay will have it removed.
 
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Guess I'm going to have to contact E-Bay, just got this 2nd message.


Dear tn_krusin,

Hi. This is my 2nd attempt to contact you about the card situation. I would like to know if you plan on refunding me for the Custom Fees ($24.08) that I had to pay at my Post Office in order to get my cards from you? Please let me know what you plan to do. Thank you. If I don't hear from you by tomorrow I will have to contact PayPal as well as leaving you non favorable feedback. Thanks.

xxxxxxxx

- xxxxxxxxxx

I'm going to send her 1 message & hope for she gets it.
 
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Very happy to say this issue was settled last night after I sent her a message

I SENT -
Hi Florence,

1st let me say I'm glad the cards arrived & please note my shipping/insurance charges I paid were $27.40 plus supplies, I only charged you $15.50 & I'm good with that. Customs fees & charges ARE NOT the responsibility of the seller. This is an import fee charged to buyers importing xx$ worth of goods. This is something you should have been aware of.

Your 2 messages to me could be considered feedback extortion by E-Bay, I have saved both & suggest you do the same with the messages I'm sending to you. I have NOT filed a report with E-Bay, but if you follow thru with your threat on negative feedback because I won't pay your Customs fees I'll have no other choice.

I pride myself on having 100% feedback & have always done what I considered was the right thing to do. If a US buyer had bought this lot this would not have been an issue as it shouldn't be an issue with you. I've discussed this matter with a number of people from Canada & they all agree it's the buyers responsibility. I hope you understand my decision.

thanks,

Bud Hilyer


In less than 5 minutes I got this reply & positive feedback from her -

Dear tn_krusin,

Hi. I was not aware of this charge as it has never happened before. Can we agree to let things go and leave it at that? Thanks for the cards.

Florence
xxxxxxxx


Matter closed & 100% FB & 5.0 on all stars intact. Selling is a hassle sometimes but in the long run what isn't. I'll continue selling to Canada, I love my neighbors to the north & they love their hockey as do I.
 
Glad to see she was agreeable and reasonable.

As a courtesy follow up, you can just advise her that the charges are at the discretion of CBSA/CCRA, and are usually only applied on packages worth more than $50 coming into Canada. Even then, she may have 20 packages come across with no fees, and then have 10 consecutive shipments where she gets hit. It's completely at random, and she is lucky to not have had to deal with it before. That way she understands it is always a possibility when dealing with cross border shipments.

Good to see you remained calm, professional and reasonable. Well done.
 
glad all worked out.
but i do see her side of the coin.
as awhile back i bought a box of sp authentic.
paid for shipping.
but when the post man arrived at my door.
he wanted money from shipping.
i was pissed of course..
but i never said anything to the ebay seller.
as i learned..
it was just the way life goes..

glad to hear all worked out.
 
Canada Post system (care of CBSA) charges $5 brokerage fee plus 5% GST and PST in your province. "Couriers" such as UPS and Fedex charge a % of the declared value of the item they are brokering on your behalf (to CBSA), plus PST and GST. The % fee scheme is a total ripoff. As a Canadian, make a point to ask your seller to use USPS instead of the couriers. To hold the seller responsible for fees you are incurring by international trade is hardly a rational decision. You know the second you buy from anything outside Canada that you are at risk for minimum $5 + PST + GST, or worse yet, the courier % broker fee + PST + GST.
 
BrownBullhead said:
Canada Post system (care of CBSA) charges $5 brokerage fee plus 5% GST and PST in your province. "Couriers" such as UPS and Fedex charge a % of the declared value of the item they are brokering on your behalf (to CBSA), plus PST and GST. The % fee scheme is a total ripoff. As a Canadian, make a point to ask your seller to use USPS instead of the couriers. To hold the seller responsible for fees you are incurring by international trade is hardly a rational decision. You know the second you buy from anything outside Canada that you are at risk for minimum $5 + PST + GST, or worse yet, the courier % broker fee + PST + GST.
Click to expand...

Actually, UPS charges a flat rate of $50 brokerage fee, regardless of the value of the item.
 

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