US Tarrifs causing more Return & Chargeback claims when direct shipping? | Selling | eBay Canada EN

US Tarrifs causing more Return & Chargeback claims when direct shipping? | Selling | eBay Canada EN

Buying & Selling

US Tarrifs causing more Return & Chargeback claims when direct shipping?

Summary: spaceport expresses deep frustration with eBay's seller protection policies, particularly regarding issues related to tariffs and chargebacks. They detail experiences where buyers refuse delivery due to unexpected duties, resulting in negative feedback and chargebacks, which eBay allegedly fails to address as promised. Despite eBay's stated policies on removing tariff-related feedback, spaceport claims these measures are not enforced, leaving sellers vulnerable to financial losses. They urge eBay to honor its policies and implement clearer protections for sellers. Additionally, spaceport reports difficulty contacting eBay customer service after raising these issues in forums.

I’m frustrated because, in my experience, eBay’s “seller protection” hasn’t prevented the outcomes I’m seeing. I shipped multiple items to the US, and several buyers refused delivery. After the refusals, those buyers filed chargebacks and left negative feedback, which left me with losses and a lot of time spent dealing with support and escalations.

I also don’t think eBay is following through on its own tariff-related feedback promises. eBay states that defects and negative feedback linked to tariffs or duties will be removed, but the negative feedback I received stayed up. The feedback I quoted was directly tied to unexpected COD/taxes/duties, but when I asked support to remove it, I was told they would only remove feedback that violates their policies.

Finally, chargebacks are a critical gap. Even when I provided tracking details and screenshots showing the situation, support told me they couldn’t do much because the buyer initiated a chargeback with their financial institution. I think eBay needs clearer, seller-friendly rules and enforcement for tariff/duty-related refusals and for how chargebacks are handled, and it should ensure stronger buyer warnings about potential duties/taxes during checkout so sellers aren’t left to fix predictable disputes after the fact.

- Refused delivery over unexpected tariffs/duties → negative feedback + chargebacks

- Tariff/duty-linked negative feedback claimed to be removable → not removed in my case

- Chargebacks largely unresolved by support due to buyer’s financial institution → seller absorbs the impact

- Requested improvements: enforce tariff-linked feedback removal, clarify chargeback/refusal process, strengthen duties/taxes notice at checkout

spaceport

407 View listings

Posted 7 months ago · Edited Jul 9, 2026 at 8:03 PM·Last reply 6 months ago

16 comments

reallynicestamps

·7 months ago

Since the feedback mentions import fees it can be removed by customer service.

Stay away from the phones-- those reps have little or no authority.

Go to the social media as given above.

In the meantime, the customer looks like an idiot to any but the most deluded MAGAts.

lotzofuniquegoodies

·7 months ago

@reallynicestamps wrote:
Since the feedback mentions import fees it can be removed by customer service.
Stay away from the phones-- those reps have little or no authority.
Go to the social media as given above.

In the meantime, the customer looks like an idiot to any but the most deluded MAGAts.

@reallynicestamps

Social media has started to direct users to help stating they are unable to access account information or even get tickets created. When you get to help the default is have them call you. So if you want/need a transcript unless you record yourself you won't have a record. Either way you will get a request to fill in a survey, even if your problem has not been resolved.

I currently have 4 tickets open with eBay. 2 go back to October. In all 4 cases nothing has been fixed or resolved. (1 situation eBay has mangled approx. 150 listings and unable to access to correct. Original CS was able to physically see the concern so they opened up a ticket. )

mrdutch1001

·7 months ago

The Demented Orange Head has the USA & the whole world in chaos so how does anyone expect a USA company like eBay to be any less than chaotic too LOL!

Welcome to eBay 2026!

hold-my-chawowah

·7 months ago

What did you think would happen when a US buyer purchased a $300 item from you and was expected to pay almost $150 (I assume $100 was in $U.S.) in tariffs? Americans just aren't used to paying duty yet, and buyers are few an far between who are willing to pay 50% duty for an item made in China unless you're selling rare one-of-a-kind items

.

And yet you're still shipping items Made in China to the U.S.

If you keep doing that you can pretty much expect more of the same.

That FB should be giving you the head's up that it's not a good idea.

mrdutch1001

·7 months ago

as long Canadian sellers aide and abet a Felon & his corrupt Administration by feeding that Animal his beloved Revenge Tariffs, there will be no end to the countless issues encountered by shipping to the USA...

recped

·7 months ago

@fineeclecticthings

I see one neg related to tariffs and I can see that you used a DDU service from FedEx.

If you use only a DDP service (or EIS) your issues will go away.

DDU = Deliver Duty Unpaid

DDP = Deliver Duty Paid

vintage_america

·7 months ago

Personally, in this environment I will not ship anything to USA that would incur more than 40$ or 50$ in total fees without first contacting the buyer to let them know it could be more than 100$. Under 50$ I’ve so far been mostly ok with. Anything creeping on 100$ will likely be a chargeback and possibly neg feedback. The chargeback is almost impossible to win, but the feedback should be removed by using eBay’s feedback removal request link.

spaceport

OP7 months ago

If you use only a DDP service (or EIS) your issues will go away.

One removed after 4 attempts, one to go! 😂 typical US buyer....

Loosing $300 here, another $200 there, totally unsustainable! Bracing for post-holiday returns.

Any winning strategy on getting chargeback fees + eBay seller fees covered?

sapphyres-designer-jewellery

·7 months ago

@fineeclecticthings wrote:
If you use only a DDP service (or EIS) your issues will go away.

One removed after 4 attempts, one to go! 😂 typical US buyer....

Loosing $300 here, another $200 there, totally unsustainable! Bracing for post-holiday returns.

Any winning strategy on getting chargeback fees + eBay seller fees covered?

You need to change how you operate to stop losing money. You have two viable choices. Use EIS (where the buyer gets charged the tariff at check out), or bake it into your total cost or cost of shipping and ship DDP.

I chose the latter (my stuff is not good for EIS). It seems to be working out for me so far.

C.

recped

·7 months ago

I see that the OP actually has EIS active but some of their listings are still showing FedEx, I think they are items that EIS doesn't handle.

The OP will be in for a real shock when they find out that FedEx will be coming for them to pay the duties and brokerage charges that the buyer didn't pay. They will probably also get charged for return shipping and FedEx will want that money even if the OP refused the returned items. FedEx will bill eBay and eBay will bill the OP, there is no way out of that without loosing their eBay account and getting chased by a collection agency for "eternity".

byto253

·7 months ago

Expensive lesson in courier avoidance.

lotzofuniquegoodies

·7 months ago

@fineeclecticthings wrote:
Fellow sellers, I am absolutely FRUSTRATED and you should be too. eBay's "seller protection" is nothing but a hollow promise they have absolutely NO intention of honoring. I know this is happening to many of us. After shipping multiple items to US, several buyers "REFUSED DELIVERY" then proceeded to CHARGEBACK & leave Negative Feedback.
Not Honoring Negative Feedback Policy on Tariffs
Right there on their own official page (pages.ebay.ca/tariffs), eBay literally promises:
"Any defects and negative feedback linked to tariffs or duties will be removed."
Here's what actually happens. A buyer leaves feedback like this:
"Not told about COD/Taxes......not paying over 100 dollars! Live and learn, keep it you got me!!!!!"
This is 100% a tariff-related complaint! The buyer is angry about duties they weren't expecting. According to eBay's own policy, this feedback should be removed!

eBay CS: "Standard procedure is we will only remove feedback that violates our policies." ABSURD!

They Know Better! eBay is fully aware of the tariff situation! They've devoted entire pages to it! They KNOW buyers are being hit with unexpected fees! They KNOW this is causing feedback issues! Yet they've set up a system that puts the burden entirely on US to fix it!

Was it removed? ABSOLUTELY NOT! This feedback stays up, dragging down your rating, hurting your visibility, and costing you money! You have to waste hours fighting with customer support, escalating cases, and jumping through hoops just to get eBay to do what they ALREADY PROMISED to do!

They claim they'll "protect sellers" and "auto-adjust metrics" for customs-related issues. eBAY is NOT PROTECTING SELLERS from Tariff related feedback.

💥It Gets worse!! Chargebacks & Fees
Refused Delivery & Tracking -- "The receiver determined this product order is too expensive and refused the delivery."

Buyer refused to pay $160 in US Tariffs

Chargebacks are a Nightmare! As many of you know, this same issue is leading to buyers refusing delivery and filing chargebacks because they don't want to pay duties. eBay's policy on that is vague and unhelpful, leaving us exposed to loss despite their "protection" promises!

I uploaded Tracking Details, Screenshots, and Buyer Messages. They gave me another run around with "6 to 8 weeks" we'll let you know but:

eBay CS: "As a platform there is nothing we can to since the buyer made a chargeback with their financial institution"

😡 Where is seller protection?
This is unacceptable! They are NOT protecting sellers from Chargebacks from US Tariffs or even Negative Feedback which goes against their own policies
HONOR THEIR OWN POLICY! Negative feedback from Tariffs should be removed
CREATE A REAL SOLUTION FOR CHARGEBACKS! Establish clear, seller-friendly policies for tariff-related refusals and chargebacks!
COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH BUYERS! Put prominent, unavoidable notices during checkout about potential duties and taxes! Stop blaming us for buyers not reading!

Let's make eBay hear us loud and clear. SELLER PROTECTION is NON EXISTENT!
How much tariff-related feedback have you had to remove?
How many chargebacks have you fought?

P.S.
After posting this on eBay community forums - I can't even contact eBay customer service anymore:

"Hmm, looks like something went wrong. If you try again shortly it should be fixed. You can also get more info at online help."

@devon@ebay

Are you able to address this new concern for the OP and others on behalf of eBay as to how sellers should address these issues with their very irritated customers? Sellers can't afford to be selling for free if there are limited or no protections.

@fineeclecticthings

@recyclagest-bruno

recyclagest-bruno

·7 months ago

I fully agree with everything you wrote.

reallynicestamps

·7 months ago

EBay does not use feedback to assess member accounts.

While personally I would not Respond, any response should be short, calm, factual, professional, and short.

EBay does not require any refund on Refused and Undeliverable shipments.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?id=4210#specialcoverage-inr

It's sounds as if your customer went around that by using a chargeback.

You might try approaching customer service for help with that.

Here are your options for contacting Ebay Customer Service. Please be aware that for social media CS, you send them a Private Message and briefly explain what your problem or issue is. Feel free to leave your Name, address, phone number and/or your email address in this message. It is private and secure and it may help to speed up the response for you.

 https://www.facebook.com/ebay -Message button in upper right on landing page.
#204760888466
https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/

 https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/How-do-I-contact-Customer-Support/m-p/32016431#M1783851 -> Automated Assistant, type AGENT -> enter. You will then get more options. Your options will be on the left. If you use the link below you can only get to the Automated Assistant or Chat box type AGENT in the box and hit enter. You will then get more options. Not all options are available 24/7. It will depend on staffing available. So sometimes you can request a call back and sometimes you can't. Sometimes you have the Chat option available and other times it won't me. If it is important to you to use one of those options, just try back later. 
The social media Chat accounts are covered by trained eBay employees with some authority.
And you get a transcript so you can compare what you heard with what you were told.

Before you contact the reps, write out your problem ready to cut and paste it into the Chat.

AVOID THE PHONE REPS!

The phone reps have a terrible reputation for getting you off the phone as soon as possible even if that means giving you the advice you want to hear instead of the advice you need to have.

And they are sub-contractors with little training and less responsibility.

By writing, and proof reading your problem, the rep has a better chance to think about solutions.

You might also consider buying some orange fabric and making a voodoo doll.

mrdutch1001

·7 months ago

NO FRUSTRATION here for me! >>As of mid-August 2025 I do NOT ship ANYTHING to the USA!

Quite content with SELL Canadian,BUY Canadian, SUPPORT Canadians...

Although currently not listing anything on eBay, My other selling site is doing just fine with Canada ONLY!

and as sellers we/you/All sellers have a choice when it comes to shipping to the USA!

Just as Listing/selling on eBay is a choice!

It is what it is....

C'est la Vie!

Que sera, sera!

dobo5250

·6 months ago

i agree with you-- if those sellers wanted those high profits before selling to the usa, and i chose not to do that, it had more to do about scammers there than greed---- now the piper has come to roast you - don't expect anything to change till the new elections in the States - learn to live on domestic sales and adjust costs according. use other sales ave. or like many here have had to learn to do spend twice as much time filling in paper work to get same sales and also putting more money in your scam jar per sale as people refuse your orders due to tarrifs, costing you more and more. for same sales numbers