I think it is fine to ship items marked as "gifts"

topstuf

When sending items to other countries who levy customs import duties,
I think it is perfectly acceptable to mark the item/s as a "gift" to
help the buyer have lower costs for his items.


If you DON'T think this is a good idea, please post on this OTHER thread:

link


Thanks.

dthigpen

Don't take this the wrong way, but asking people who disagree with you to not post to a thread is counterproductive. I suggest you consolidate the two threads you just created.

Koinlink

I don't think I ever filled out the international shipping forms correctly even ONCE on the first shot!

topstuf

dthigpen.....Then it would require eBay to have to COUNT who's for or against.

If you have a better idea that would make it a simple matter, please feel free to do it.

This was the only way I could think of.

Prior to my finding out last night that I could BLOCK foreign bidders, I have gotten winners from
overseas even though I advise that I do NOT ship out of US.

I send em the stuff. I fill out the forms as they exist. I let the buyers worry on their end.
If I haven't committed fraud on MY end, I don't much care if they complain. THEY were the ones
who bid even though asked not to.

dthigpen

Why not just make it a poll?

topstuf

I didn't make it a poll because only CU members can see the poll.

Anyhow, if eBay gets the link to the thread, it will also include the link to the opposing views so they can read them and count them if they want without having to decide "for or against"

As I said, this was the only way ..... I ..... could think of to do it.

If there's a better way, have at it.

All I want to do is get eBay behind policing this obviously ILLEGAL act. They have reasons of their own for denying LEGAL items like firearms and Nazi memorabilia so it seems they would be very interested in stopping an ILLEGAL act.

K6AZ

This is precisely why I do not ship out of the US any longer. I got tired of (mostly Canadians) demanding that I mark items as "gifts". I had one even try to tell me I was responsible for his customs fees! You can block international bidders by going to your My Ebay selling preferences.

mustangman7

But even if you do put that it is a gift, don't you also have to put down the dollar value so they still know what it is worth if they want to charge duty?

I do not see an item going to an individual from an individual as being a commercial sample? Sample infers that you are giving it to them for the purpose of trying to gain more repeat business?

The choice of checking off documents does not cover it and your only other choice is "Other". What would that infer?

I have always just checked off gift and put down the value that I sold it for and have never even thought about it until now? Have I been doing something illegal? I declare the value so would it not be up to them to decide if they want to charge duty?

ScarsdaleCoin

Sorry but it is not a gift and I will not sign my name as such......

Barry

Even if you mark it "gift" you still have to list a declared value. That's what custom's duty is based on. If you don't declare full value, you can't insure it for full value. Do you really want to take a chance with an overseas post office and loss/theft? The buyer can reverse his Paypal payment in a heartbeat. Then, you're screwed for trying to do the guy a "favor."

mustangman7

I just returned from my local post office which I go to every day and I mailed a package to Australia. I asked them what I should check on the Customs form and 'THEY TOLD ME TO CHECK GIFT!" for a poster to I sold on Ebay. If the post office tells you to check gift, how can it be illegal to do so? You still have to declare the value and state what is in the package?

JxnBoy

How much attention do you think that ebay will really pay to either of these threads? My guess would be very little.

Not that this has anything to do with the relevance of your questions here, but unless ebay stands to make a buck on something, it's not really in their interest to intervene any further between buyers and sellers.