CNBC: "Unless the economy adds at least 2.3 million jobs by the end of the year, Bush will go down as the first president since Hoover to preside over a four-year term in which total employment fell."
posted on February 22, 2004 05:16:55 PM
No Ace, as much as you desire it, this thread isn't another barroom brawl.
Each time this discussion comes up there are the same people that troll the board and give their silly ideas about how to make life difficult for international bidders.
These are usually the same people who have proven on many an occasion that they don't know what they're talking about when it comes to selling on ebay and running a business.
The facts about international shipping should be known because there are serious sellers here and also some that probably lurk the board. Like I said, be aware of the facts and then do as you please, it's your business.
Kiara, how about you keep your comments to me to the RT and I will do the same...
I had no intention of adressing you in the EO, and would appreciate the same curteousy... if not well I guess we can digress as now... your choice.
My comments are no less than many posting here on these boards in many different threads...
My selling on eBay is purely Hobby... I am not bound by business decisons that need to be made to make a profit... however my feelings about international bidders are well known in RT and I don't care who likes my practices... I have never had them repeat that request, that I can assure you....
posted on February 22, 2004 05:51:01 PM
kiara.....are you saying that a good succesful seller on Ebay needs to break the law and declare as a gift on customs form an item that they sold for money on Ebay. This helps business. I'm sure you're right, that a seller that does this will acquire a following, much as the thief that sells stolen items off the back of a truck. If so, I know of many other laws that a seller could break and be even more successful......Or is this just a Canadian thing...as we've spoken of in the past, a great majority of Canadian bidders ask for this "gift".
posted on February 22, 2004 05:57:28 PM
No pointy. I don't mark my packages as gifts. These are my exact words above.
I get asked on occasion and I just respond that I'm registered as a business and am unable to mark it as a gift. No one has ever whined.
What I'm saying here is that everyone should be aware of the rules and then it's their own decision how they wish to run their business. If they want to break the rules, that's up to them. I don't do it.
Kiara, how about you keep your comments to me to the RT and I will do the same...
Like I've said before, I'll post what I want and where I want. I don't consider it a problem and if you do, you deal with it in your own way.
posted on February 22, 2004 06:04:21 PMLike I've said before, I'll post what I want and where I want. I don't consider it a problem and if you do, you deal with it in your own way
You know I will...
Guess it doesn't bother you to derail others threads... but thats seems to be like you lately...
AIN'T LIFE GRAND...
posted on February 22, 2004 07:02:41 PM
<<<"If we lie on the Customs Forms, is it kinda the same thing as tearing-off the mattress tag?"
Does anybody REALLY, for sure KNOW?
Any reports of up-against-the-wall for offenders??>>>
Yes Tom...I know for sure. I spent 40 years representing an international carrier and have shipped household goods and personal effects to most of the civilized (and several not so civilized) countries in the world. I could write a book on horror stories and atrocities committed by customs officials in other countries solely because of simple typos or errors on customs forms. In cases of fraud, I have seen entire shipments impounded and sold because the customer couldn't pay the fines and penalties. Many people don't realize that once a shipment enters another country, it is subject to the laws of that country. There is no bill of rights or constitutional guarantees and protections that we are used to. Simply shipping certain items to some countries can result in the recipient being imprisoned. The customs service in some third world countries makes the New York or Chicago Mafia look like a bunch of choir boys. These customs forms may be a PIA to you to fill out and it may look like a lot of unnecessary bureaucratic BS to you and me, but to many countries it represents a very important document in funding their national treasury. Without even going into the corrupt end of the customs game in some countries, I can assure you that very serious repercussions can ripple back across the pond to the wielder of the pen that failed to properly execute that document. Believe me, you are doing the customer a VERY BIG FAVOR by filling out those forms correctly and honestly, even if they don't realize it. You have no way of knowing if your parcel will be the one that gets pulled for closer examination. As an aside, I discovered long ago that aside from Saudi Arabia and a few other Middle Eastern countries, the toughest and most ruthless customs service in the world if you try to cross them is Canada's customs officers. Those guys really know how to play hardball.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
[ edited by sparkz on Feb 22, 2004 10:19 PM ]
posted on February 23, 2004 12:48:10 AM
sparkz, one time there was someone who posted here who worked for Canada Customs and it was interesting reading. Canada Customs does open packages marked as "gift" because I have relatives in the US that have sent me gifts at Christmas and on my birthday for many years now. On occasion these have arrived with the notification that they have been opened. One time I had to pay duty on the gift because the relative addressed it to my shop address instead of my home address.
I have the option of having packages sent to my US address but when I cross the border they are all checked and appropriate duties are charged.
Pointy, perhaps I wasn't clear enough on the last page. I appreciate repeat business so I don't do ignorant things like deliberately leave out a decimal point or mark the value as double. That may give certain sellers personal gratification but it's not the way most true sellers are.
I want my customers to be happy that they've purchased from me and it's great when some of their acquaintances want to do business too. There are many good buyers in Japan, Germany, England and the US to name only a few countries where I have been recommended to others just from one sale.
posted on February 23, 2004 05:30:54 AM
mcjane. NOT TRUE. THERE IS A TAX CALLED GST ON EVERYTHING THAT COMES INTO AUSTRALIA. IT IS A FLAT 10% . CUSTOMS DO NOT ALWAYS COLLECT. BUT AS THE LAW STANDS, IF THEY SAY YOU MUST PAY THEN YOU PAY. IF THE VALUE OF THE GOODS IS OVER $250.AUS. THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO DO A CUSTOMS ENTRY FORM. DEPENDS WHETHER YOU GET YOUR PARCEL PULLED BY CUSTOMS. ON SOME THINGS THERE IS ALSO A DUTY TAX.
[ edited by agate18 on Feb 23, 2004 05:33 AM ]
posted on February 24, 2004 01:09:30 PM
Here is the link to the USPS site page that has the Customs info and a chart for administrative charges to international customers.
