EIS Program inaccurate import fees
Summary: Participants discussed inaccuracies in the EIS Program's import fees. rdemaree initially raised concerns about discrepancies in fee calculations. Others, including burning_moon_video, marnotom!, and blackvelvetvintage, shared similar experiences and contributed to the conversation with their insights. reallynicestamps and flipistics also added their perspectives, suggesting potential causes and solutions. The discussion focused on identifying the root of the issue and exploring ways to address these inaccuracies.
I have also noticed inconsistencies with made in Canada items. Some have the small brokerage fee (to be expected) and then another had brokerage of a much higher rate. I guess the brokerage rates arent flat rate + tariff rate like chit chats per package and are based on the value of the item + tariff fee?
Another thing is 100% of the time the EIS program costs more and takes longer to ship than my chit chats offerings but still it is shown as the default shipping option. I don’t like this because it’s more harmful to business than the big ugly blue banner because I don’t want my customers first impression to be that their shipping prices have double or tripled as well as handling times even if my old policies are still technically an option because optics and first impressions matter. The first thing they see is a whopping new shipping fee and handling times.
Ideally I only want to use the EIS program if I can choose only a small handful of non CUSMA items to use it and if that isn’t possible and it has to go on all of my listings that I can make 100% sure it isn’t the default option shown to buyers. I want it to be the last resort option rather than the first option buyers see because honestly it’s a trash option for both buyers and sellers and has almost no value to most sellers especially if they mostly sell CUSMA stuff and are living in or near a big city in Canada.
I think if you live in a log cabin in the middle of the woods away from 3rd party shippers like chitchats and all you sell are rare artifacts that nobody can find anywhere else the EIS works great for you because you have no other shipping options and buyers have no choice but to pay whatever you ask for your impossible to find items.
If you’re an everyday seller and want to be competitive in the USA market the EIS is not worth it.
I opted out. I would only opt back in if you could pick and choose which listings use it and choose that it not be shown as a default shipping policy to potential buyers.
I also have a few questions-
1. Now that I opted out will my listings that have the EIS as an option remove that option or do I have to unlist and relist to get rid of it?
2. Since I was enrolled, will the rest of my listings still be gradually added to the EIS even tho I have already opted out as of this morning?
I really want nothing to do with it in its current form. I am hoping I don’t have to unlist and relist everything just to not be included in this bloated program because it is a MASSIVE eye sore on your listings even moreso than the ugly blue banner.
I was waiting to see what it looked like but now that I see what it is I want no part of it. I’ll just carve my path forward with 3rd party shippers like chitchats and hope that eBay , Canada post, and Mark Carney work something out within the next year or 2 to simplify shipping to the USA again but until that happens I’m sticking with chitchats and similar methods.
It really would be nice if eBay decoupled the USA from international shipping destinations so I could offer calculated shipping for everything but the USA. The USA is the only pain in the ass country to ship to right now and I don’t see why I should have to do flat rate shipping for every country on earth just because the USA is a complicated shipping destination currently.
I firmly believe shipping should be separated into 3 categories when making a listing: Canada (domestic), USA (it’s its own thing let’s be real), International (everybody else).
Anyways. That’s my piece. All thoughts and commentary appreciated.
Take care
-Ryan
10 comments
blackvelvetvintage
·7 months agoI just want to get into the EIS program as promised in October. It is now December and I have lost HUGE amount of $$$ as 98% of my customers reside in the USA.
flipistics
·7 months agoSend them an email at eis@ebay.ca and see if that gets it going for you. Keep in mind that it isn't a magic switch that will suddenly cause all your USA sales to return. Since being accepted to the program, roughly 25% of my sales have been through eIS and more have gone overseas than to the USA. Prior to the Trump madness, roughly 50% of my sales were to the USA.
marnotom!
·7 months agoAgree with that. In fact, the impression I’ve been getting from both the US and Canadian versions of the program is that eIS may not work that well with sales of antique or vintage items. It may not be the saviour @blackvelvetvintage is seeking.
reallynicestamps
·7 months agoSince being accepted to the program, roughly 25% of my sales have been through eIS and more have gone overseas than to the USA. Prior to the Trump madness, roughly 50% of my sales were to the USA.
I did a quick count.
Since November I had 17 sales to the USA, not all on eBay, out of 64.
Two of the US sales were cancelled due to Trump Tariffs.
The number of sales and the value of sales has not varied particularly, especially considering that Q4 is my off-season.
So apparently US sales are off, but domestic and overseas sales are making up for them.
Fingers and toes crossed for Q1/2026.
marnotom!
·8 months agoCould you be a bit more specific on the numbers for this, please? What were the actual dollar amounts that we're talking about here?
And is this an item that would be subject to duty as well as tariffs?
reallynicestamps
·7 months agoTariff Duty and sales taxes could add up to 100% of purchase price.
As I understand it eIS is a Seller Protection program.
If the buyer refuses to pay the import fees, FedEx and UPS will deliver the item and charge those fees to the seller.
And Canada Post/Zonos charges the seller a fee of $1.99 + 10% of the import fees.
If the buyer refuses to pay the import fees, eIS will not let you ship at all. The transaction is void.
burning_moon_video
·8 months agoI basically do live in a cabin in the middle of the woods and I still refuse to use eIS. It's a scam for buyers and sellers. I still have my fingers crossed we see a return of discounted Canada Post labels to the US....hopefully it's not just wishful thinking...
rdemaree
OP8 months agoYeah like I said I could theorertically find some limited use for the program but only if I could implement it in my shop the way that benefits my shop the most.
IE:
-I can pick and choose which listings use it.
-It isn't the default shipping option for my listings.
marnotom!
·8 months agohttps://community.ebay.ca/t5/Seller-Central/Test-EIS-Listing-Lower-non-EIS-shipping-to-US-is-Default/m-p/531056
byto253
·8 months agoYou don't need to be in the middle of the woods. It was only a few years ago that Ottawa got Chitchats and they have minimized the drop off spots so much that is not that handy for a lot of people.