worldhq1
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posted on July 24, 2002 05:48:52 AM
We are now selling international and have encountered an issue regarding Customs. When we send to another country the USPS CN 22 form must be selected that the item is a Gift, Merchandise or Commercial Sample. Foriegn customers are requesting that we mark the form as a gift so that they can avoid paying taxes on the item which are sometimes more than the item itself.
We are trying to establish a policy about this and would appreciate any advice. What should we do?
Thanks
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mrfoxy76
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posted on July 24, 2002 05:52:25 AM
stop selling international its alot of hassle unless you feel its worth it!
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creativelabels
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posted on July 24, 2002 06:14:48 AM
That's really easy.. it's MERCHANDISE.
I suggest you put in your TOS that you will mark it as such on the customs form.
Reason #59 why I don't sell internationally. I agree with MrFoxy... selling internationally is a lot of hassle.
[ edited by creativelabels on Jul 24, 2002 06:25 AM ]
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yumacoot
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posted on July 24, 2002 07:05:46 AM
I sell international all the time, and have NEVER had a person ask me to mark it as a gift. I have never had an international deadbeat either. I mark all customs forms as merchandise, and I put the closing bid as the value. I get my forms ready at home. I use Endicia, so most of the time print the postage from my computer. The only "problem" I have is that I have to deliver it to the PO where I don't on my other items. Big deal. I don't think it is that much of a hassle....
just my two cents for what it's worth...
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kiara
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posted on July 24, 2002 07:28:52 AM
This morning I am doing up a $200 order to Japan and a $75 order to Germany. I mark the Customs slips with the true value of the items sold.
I love my International customers. They are very low maintenance and also very respectful and seldom do I have a problem with them.
Many times I cannot help but compare these customers to the domestic ones who demand so much of my time and energy for what should be a simple transaction. The people that spend the least seem to demand the most in service, have you noticed?
I compare this time with the time needed to fill out a Customs form which takes about a minute and I wish all my customers were International.
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airloom
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posted on July 24, 2002 07:40:45 AM
Do the terms tax evasion and mail fraud ring a bell? Forget it. It's merchandise not a gift. They just want to avoid paying duty ('taxes') with your help. I have had a few people ask me this and I don't even respond, just mail their items with the bid price as merchandise value. They have alot of nerve asking you to stick your neck out for them. Your name and address is on that form too, plus you sign on the line.
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alwaysfun
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posted on July 24, 2002 08:02:17 AM
I sell a lot to international and love them, they usually buy more then one item at a time. But I do have lots of people ask me to mark gift - NO Way!!
Here is what my auctions say about international
INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS : Shipping will be higher than the domestic price listed below... please email me to find out what shipping will be to your country. I will mark the customs form as merchandise, not as a gift so please don't ask me to lie. Thanks.
I used to not accept international but now I realize they do help increase my sales and even if they don't win, they are usually there to bid and increase the value.
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smenkveld
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posted on July 24, 2002 08:35:10 AM
USPS doesn't care if you mark it as a gift or merchandise because they don't get any of the duty money the country that you mail it to gets the money.When you sign the form all you are doing is certifying that the package doesn't contain any dangerous articles prohibited by postal regulations.I buy alot of items from overseas and all the sellers mark the package as a gift without asking them.I have only paid a duty charge once on a package with a value of over $10,000.When I sell overseas I always put a card inside the package that says Happy Late Birthday because some countrys open up the mail to make sure it is a gift and I mark the package as a gift and none of my buyers have paid a duty charge.
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kiara
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posted on July 24, 2002 09:02:18 AM
From the USPS website:
123.712 Acceptance by Postal Employee (PS Form 2976)
The Postal Service acceptance employee must:
a. Instruct the sender how to complete, legibly and accurately, the customs declaration form, as required. Failure to complete the form properly can delay delivery of the item or inconvenience the sender and addressee. Moreover, a false, misleading, or incomplete declaration can result in the seizure or return of the item and/or in criminal or civil penalties. The United States Postal Service assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information that the sender enters on PS Form
2976.
Read the above and decide for yourself. Is it worth it to put your business on the line for a complete stranger? I include this so new sellers know there is a risk to their business if they lie on the Customs forms. But each seller chooses to run his own business as he sees fit.
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worldhq1
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posted on July 24, 2002 03:54:15 PM
Just wanted to thank everyone for your solid advice. It is shocking to me that so many people took the time to help us with their input and advice. We really appreciate it.
Thank You
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caffeitalia
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posted on July 24, 2002 09:33:21 PM
Go ahead and sell around the world. It is a great experience. I sell to more countries than I can count and even some I had never heard of. ALWAYS FILL OUT THE CUSTOMS FORM STATING IT IS MERCHANDISE. IT IS NOT WORTH GOING TO JAIL OVER. Then keep on selling abroad. Do you care where your money comes from? It is all the same color to me. I have sold thousands of dollars internationally and plan on doing so in the future. I just won't lie on any official form. It has also been my experience that only Canadian bidders ask you to lie on the forms. You won't get this from other countries. I just fill out the form for the Canadian bidders truthfully and when they ask me to lie, I don't even answer that question and divert the question to another issue.
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askdaruma
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posted on July 26, 2002 06:00:05 AM
just be careful of intl scams and it seems to be spreading.
if they send you cash or intl money order,it is okay but credit card transactions YOU LOSE if it is a stolen card or stolen cc identity.
first paypal does not have any seller protection for intl transactions.
propay does not want you to process intl credit cards.
amzn,billpoint all have certain countries they do not do business with.
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Libra63
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posted on July 27, 2002 09:02:13 PM
When I sell internationally, which isn't very often I always include a copy of eBays EOA notice to show what the price the buyer paid. I would never lie on that form.
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sparkz
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posted on July 27, 2002 09:23:45 PM
If the customer feels it's o.k. to lie on the customs form and asks you to do it, you should honor their request. Mark the contents as liquor and declare the value at $2000.00 and send it to them.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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jclarkson
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posted on July 28, 2002 12:19:54 AM
International Customers Attention: We declare the "winning bid price" as the "value" for completion of the customs forms. Please do not ask us to declare a "purchase" as a "gift". It is illegal.
That is what I have in my auctions.
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