Does the eBay International Shipping (EIS) work as it's advertised? | Selling

svigobooksandcollectibles · 2025-11-15T05:02:36.332000Z

I've bought a book from a US seller for $291. I paid $30.31 for EIS, which is almost twice what many sellers charge for shipping a book to Canada, but it was the only option the seller provided. The tracking shows the seller shipped the book by USPS to the eBay hub, where DHL accepted it. Now, eBay advertising EIS claims: " When your buyer selects eBay International Shipping, they will see a calculated shipping cost at checkout. If any import fees apply to your item, your buyer will have the opportunity to pay those fees upfront at checkout".To my surprise, I got an email from DHL:"We are reaching out to provide an important update regarding your recent international order, currently being processed by DHL eCommerce. Upon reviewing your order, our systems have indicated that your package may incur duty and/or tax charges.To ensure a smooth and speedy delivery, we highly recommend prepaying your duties and/or taxes. This will help prevent any potential hold-ups at Customs and avoid any delays in the delivery process.Please note that prepayment is entirely optional, and you can choose not to proceed by either selecting “No thanks” on the payment page or waiting until the prepayment window expires.If you decide not to prepay, your package will still be delivered to you; however, it will be Customs or the delivery service provider’s responsibility to collect applicable duties and/or taxes from you. The methods and fees for collection may vary depending on the local Customs agency, such as picking up the package at the post office or paying upon delivery.Amount to Prepay Description AmountImport Duty Assessed Import Tax Assessed 13.86 CADCustoms Entry Fee 12.50 CADTotal 26.36 CAD I opted out of paying now in case it's needed later.So, what did I pay eBay for? Does it mean that US buyers might see a similar request to pay import fees for Canadian shipments, despite paying a pretty high price for EIS? I opted out of EIS because I don't see any advantages for me with this program. I sell books mostly.

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Does the eBay International Shipping (EIS) work as it's advertised? | Selling | eBay Canada EN