$20 USD Shipping Increase
Summary: nightraven64 expressed confusion over an increase in international shipping costs for an item they intended to purchase, which went from $34.53 USD to $54.39 USD without combining duties. reallynicestamps suggested that a change in shipping service might explain the cost difference and referenced a USPS postage price change page. nightraven64 thanked reallynicestamps and noted both listings indicated eBay International Shipping, with the expensive one showing a longer delivery time. marnotom! explained that eBay International Shipping involves multiple cost factors, including charges from a shipping hub, and noted that import charges at checkout might offer some choice in managing costs, potentially avoiding unexpected customs fees. They also mentioned that the item's price might fall under a tax-free threshold in Canada, depending on the exchange rate.
There was an item costing $29.99 USD that I was going to purchase, but missed the deadline, which shipping international cost was $34.53 USD. I contacted the seller, who relisted it, so that I could purchase it, but I noticed that the shipping cost had increased to $54.39 USD. There is still the statement regarding duties, etc., so it's not a combination. The seller stated that it was the system that chose shipping cost. Am a wee confused. Have never seen such an increase before.
Cheers
nightraven64
OP2 years agoThank you for the information! And such a speedy response. I will look into it.
I checked both the old and new listing. Both indicate eBay International Shipping and the one with the higher cost, actually shows a longer delivery time.
Fingers crossed I don't get nailed for duty or taxes at checkout. LOL
marnotom!
·2 years agoWith eBay International Shipping you're paying for getting the item shipped from the seller to the eIS shipping hub in Illinois plus whatever eIS itself is charging for getting the item from the hub to you, so you could be looking at a double-whammy of price increases for the item.
The listing should indicate--perhaps in a cryptic way--how the issue of taxes and duty (if applicable) is handled. If you're seeing the blurb about "import charges may apply upon delivery" or something to that effect, then you won't get charged taxes and duty at checkout. Sometimes buyers are given the choice of whether they want to deal with the taxes. etc. at checkout or on delivery. If I were given that choice, I'd sooner deal with them at checkout as there's no way to know how eIS is going to get the item out to me and if the carrier/logistics company they choose will stick me with crazy customs processing charges (often referred to as "brokerage fees") along with the charge for taxes.
Having said that, a US$30 item just might squeak under the tax-free threshold of C$40, depending on what exchange rate is used and when it's used.
reallynicestamps
·2 years agoThere might be something here that explains the change:
https://faq.usps.com/s/article/2024-Postage-Price-Change
And while the system might choose the shipping cost, the seller chooses the service they are offering.
If the seller was originally shipping by USPS International Tracked Package and changed to the slightly faster and better insured Priority International, that would also make a difference.
https://postcalc.usps.com/?country=10440
Duty and taxes are percentages of the stated value of the import, so if the price was changed that could also make a difference.