EBay International Shipping Commercial Invoice Error
Summary: mgargent shared an issue about an incorrect country of origin listed for a purchase shipped through eBay's international program, leading to unexpected import duties. Despite contacting eBay support several times, the problem persisted with DHL seeking payment or options to return or destroy the shipment. fh991586 suggested paying the duties and appealing to the CBSA, while reallynicestamps advised notifying the seller and eBay to prevent future errors. pjcdn2005 supported the idea of paying first and recovering the funds later. Eventually, mgargent updated that eBay's shipping team contacted them, preferring to resolve the issue internally without involving DHL or CBSA.
I'm located in Canada and I recently purchased a vintage American made sterling article from a seller in the US that was routed through the ebay international shipping program (not GSP).
I received a notification from DHL that import taxes and duties were due, and when I reviewed the documentation, I discovered the country of origin was mistakenly provided as "CN" or China resulting in an overcharge of about $45 for duty.
(I reviewed applicable sections of CUSMA and a sterling silver tableware item made in the US should be duty free.)
I have reached out to ebay support 5 times over the last 19 days and each time they repeat that they will contact ebay international shipping team to have the commercial invoice corrected and resent to DHL and that I will receive an email within X amount of hours.
Each time the response window has come and gone, I contact ebay support again and they keep repeating that all they can do is send another message to the shipping team.
Meanwhile DHL has contacted me for non-payment of taxes and duties and is stating they will eventually have to return or destroy the shipment.
Hoping for some advice on how to get traction on this issue.
mgargent
OP1 year agoThanks all for the feedback and help. The EBay shipping team did eventually reach out and they preferred to resolve the issue without involving DHL or CBSA.
pjcdn2005
·2 years agoI have to agree with @fh991586 I think it will be very difficult if not impossible to get these duties reversed at this point. I would pay them and try to get the money back from CBSA.
reallynicestamps
·2 years agowhen I reviewed the documentation, I discovered the country of origin was mistakenly provided as "CN" or China
This was an error on the part of the seller? Or was it an error by eBay/eIS when supplying the label?
Follow up the advice from @fh991586 , but notify both the seller and eBay so this doesn't happen to someone else.
fh991586
·2 years agoIf you really want this item, pay DHL and appeal the duties assessment to the CBSA:
https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/sima-lmsi/rrd-drr-eng.html