Customer Returns or another wrench thrown into this tariff mess
Summary: In this discussion, lotzofuniquegoodies raises concerns about the responsibility for tariffs or customs charges when returning items to the USA, particularly through eBay. byto253 queries the possibility of obtaining refunds on customs charges, while ilikehockeyjerseys shares some HTS codes related to returning merchandise and cautions about relying on this information without professional advice. shallow_karl highlights the risks of paying full taxes/duties on returns to Canada and suggests marking a lower value. Some participants discuss the complexities of returning items via Canadian carriers, especially with changes requiring duty payments beforehand. john_koenig99 expresses frustration, leading them to adopt a "No Sell to Americans" policy.
Very sure this hasn't been addressed yet but here it goes. Going forward if something needs to be returned to the USA...eBay or otherwise who would be responsible for any tariffs or customs charges....If they would be applicable? For anything considered very low value, it would be a personal decision as to return or not. Higher value would be a more critical question. With eBay labels it IS possible to mark as a return. Not like we can create return labels that way...or can we? With anything eBay "usually" the sender is responsible for return label...when possible!!
john_koenig99
·1 year agoYet another reason supporting my current "No Sell to Americans" policy.
shallow_karl
·1 year agoNothing changed. Returns mean nothing to Canada Revenue. If you receive it (U.S. to Canada) as a return, you can end up paying FULL taxes/duties on it as if you'd bought it, there are no guarantees it won't happen and then you have to try to claim back the money. With returns, despite the risk, I ask t he customers to put ("Return") and to put a nominal value on it (like $100 vs. the $500 it cost).
ilikehockeyjerseys
·1 year agoThe thread is specifically talking about returning an order to the USA as a Canadian customer within the context of Canadian carriers only accepting DDP shipments. Previously, this wasn't a major consideration since orders below $800 went in below the de minimis.
So there is a change because you need to pay the duty prior to sending it. As pointed out earlier in this thread, there is a specific HTS code that appears to be for returned merchandise.
ilikehockeyjerseys
·1 year ago9801.00.26.00 – Articles of foreign origin, previously imported, with duty paid, and exported within 3 years, without having been advanced in value or improved in condition while in the United States.
9801.00.10.00 – Products of the United States when returned after having been exported, without having been advanced in value or improved in condition while abroad.
I tried both in Zonos, even with a China COI, there are no tariffs. I did not try them in Chit Chats or Stallion.
YMMV on whether this is correct, HTS codes were picked up from ChatGPT and I am not a customs broker so this isn't professional advice. But it seems that those specific HTS codes are specifically reserved for returning merchandise.
lotzofuniquegoodies
OP1 year agoThanks for adding. I've seen that before. Just unsure how many would know there was such a thing and the side part, if you have to include any back up proof for customs to approve. Just like anything being RTS "should" be Canadian goods returning (refused or whatever) but I've heard receiver got billed anyway and were left to their own means to recover any costs. If they even could.
ilikehockeyjerseys
·1 year agoYou'd have to contact Chit Chats or Stallions with those questions, or an actual customs broker. I genuinely have no idea.
I suspect if you are sending via the postal service it would just get refused by USPS if there were duties owing. Zonos does have an option in the app to add a receipt, which might help show that it's a genuine return. USPS apparently is not set up to collect the tariffs, so I suspect anything where the tariffs were not collected as they should be would be RTS.
My assumption, just going off pure logic, is that if Zonos pulls up no tariffs and those codes are as they describe, people would be fine to return goods with Canada Post. I would imagine that if someone were to send a large quantity of packages to the USA using those HTS codes where it doesn't like like regular consumer patterns, CBP might look into it if they have any level of enforcement for senders misrepresenting customs info.
With that said, most US purchases at least on eBay come via eIS. That eliminates the US seller for returns. So from that perspective I assume most US returns would be fairly seamless.
I also don't think this will be a major issue, because how often do you have to return something? I can't speak for anybody else, but I think I've opened like one eBay return in the last decade. So I'm not overly concerned about having to return stuff to the USA.
byto253
·1 year agoWe have been wondering about this as well. If there is a return, do you have any hope in heck to get a refund on customs charges???
lotzofuniquegoodies
OP1 year ago@byto253
There is a link in place connected to eBay for claiming for tariffs. (eIS USA to Canada. Unsure if works in reverse.) Tax would/should be automatic with any cancelled order. Any processing (customs charges) not likely but will require a confirmation from eBay and/or border services or the courier involved. As far as I know UPS/DHL do NOT refund those charges.
In checking with Zonos directly their AI help is limited when it comes to Q & A if you don't have a Zonos account and associated store id. They were unable to help regarding refunds or billing practices. (Detailed bills etc).