Anyone with packages stuck at the border?

[sin-n-dex]

I've got only one stuck at the border, it's a Canadian token I sold Sunday, buyer paid Monday, dropped it off at Stallion yesterday. It's showing in the USPS tracking as with partner facility (Stallion in this case), so the buyer will know it's shipped and I can sit tight and wait.

Stallion and Chit Chats have said there will be a 1-2 day delay as they try to clear packages across the border. They are trying to clear the China/HK stuff as well for customers instead of sending them back. I read in this forum DYK is sending packages back.

I'm not really opposed to tariffing China (obvious reasons, they are a threat to locally produced goods), but it's kind of annoying that coins, banknotes and stamps will have to pay a duty, when none of those threaten any other industry. Perhaps there will be a list of exempted items, we shall see.

C.

[wilsonharborsales]

My packages have all cleared but my eBay traffic has dropped to near zero

[sin-n-dex]

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@wilsonharborsales wrote:
My packages have all cleared but my eBay traffic has dropped to near zero

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I had one sale (for 39 items) to a Canadian buyer. He was having a lot of trouble with the shopping cart, I spent almost 2 hours responding to messages to help him out. It was worth it though. He was quite upset with eBay's website but I'm hoping I made his day better.

I had a USA sale last night for $15. I'm used to 5-10 sales a day, mostly USA.

C.

[wilsonharborsales]

It should clear fine moving forward as long as you add ‘Country of origin’ and the HS code to each shipment. Amazon FBM and Shopify stores are going to get crushed if each shipment of Chinese goods requires a formal entry.

[sin-n-dex]

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@wilsonharborsales wrote:
It should clear fine moving forward as long as you add ‘Country of origin’ and the HS code to each shipment. Amazon FBM and Shopify stores are going to get crushed if each shipment of Chinese goods requires a formal entry.

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I've been doing that with my Stallion shipments tonight. i researched HS codes last week when I found out changes were going to happen with customs, so I have codes for most of what I sell. I'm shipping one used DVD and I can't tell you how difficult it was to find an HS code, there's like 100 codes for media.

Also there's no code for used stamps, I'm presuming if it's used stamps it's printed matter. Stamps that are not used are classified the same as banknotes. I think this forum is going to have to help each other out with the HS codes.

C.

[wilsonharborsales]

eBay themselves must be frustrated. They spent a great deal of money expanding into foreign markets and China. All that has been fully disrupted and is changing by the day. This has become an expensive misadventure for many, many businesses. I would expect the cost of all Chinese made goods to rise by 25%. Either that, or they will just write ‘Made in Vietnam’ on everything and use them as a proxy.

[wilsonharborsales]

Here is the stamps HS Code: 9704.00

I just hope eBay isn’t restricting our traffic. I can work through the shipping stuff if there are clear requirements, but getting our traffic geo-fenced is even worse.

[sin-n-dex]

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@wilsonharborsales wrote:
Here is the stamps HS Code: 9704.00

I just hope eBay isn’t restricting our traffic. I can work through the shipping stuff if there are clear requirements, but getting our traffic geo-fenced is even worse.

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Thanks for the code. Unused stamps are treated the same as banknotes, but used stamps are something else.

While I was posting here tonight I got another sale from a USA buyer (for $30).

Stallion updated their website tonight to include HS codes and country of origin. I've been putting that in tonight, it wasn't there Monday when I shipped that token (so that package didn't have that info and is stuck at the border).

C.

[recped]

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@sin-n-dex wrote:

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Stallion updated their website tonight to include HS codes and country of origin. I've been putting that in tonight, it wasn't there Monday when I shipped that token (so that package didn't have that info and is stuck at the border).

C.

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Stallion have always required this information for all International other than the US. I don't really understand why they did not collect this info although it was not really needed in the past because the near universal application of the $800 Exemption.

Any sellers that have been selling to buyers outside of CA/US have been providing this information for many years so providing it for the US is not an issue.

[sin-n-dex]

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@recped wrote:

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@sin-n-dex wrote:

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Stallion updated their website tonight to include HS codes and country of origin. I've been putting that in tonight, it wasn't there Monday when I shipped that token (so that package didn't have that info and is stuck at the border).

C.

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Stallion have always required this information for all International other than the US. I don't really understand why they did not collect this info although it was not really needed in the past because the near universal application of the $800 Exemption.

Any sellers that have been selling to buyers outside of CA/US have been providing this information for many years so providing it for the US is not an issue.

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I don't think I ever provided this information for my UK shipments (most of my international is UK), but in the description I did indicate where the item was from and what it was made from (base metal or silver).

I didn't see it applying to US shipments on Monday or I would have filled it in to try and streamline getting my item across the border. Tonight they have updated this, so everything I'm shipping tomorrow will have HS codes and country of origin. I took down all China/Hong Kong items until that gets sorted out on what we need to do (and am thinking of just listing a lot of them on my Canadian eBay account and shipping with Canada Post).

C.

[reallynicestamps]

What is the last estimated date for delivery.

Don't look at tracking until that date passes and the customer has complained.

If you look for problems, you will find them.

[silverpinups]

I just hope eBay isn’t restricting our traffic.

Why do you think eBay is restricting your traffic? What would be the purpose?

I admit it's very slow though..... 

[sin-n-dex]

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@reallynicestamps wrote:

What is the last estimated date for delivery.

Don't look at tracking until that date passes and the customer has complained.

If you look for problems, you will find them.

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I don't generally check tracking, but I do check that my packages are getting across the border. (Also check that Stallion is processing my untracked letters).

Tracking is showing Stallion has the package and USPS is awaiting item, but it hasn't cleared US customs yet and we've been told there's a 1-2 day delay with processing packages across the border.

C.

[wilsonharborsales]

I am not accusing them of this, I just hope it isn’t the case. My traffic numbers have collapsed. Hopefully as the week progresses, things calm down a bit.

[sin-n-dex]

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@wilsonharborsales wrote:
I am not accusing them of this, I just hope it isn’t the case. My traffic numbers have collapsed. Hopefully as the week progresses, things calm down a bit.

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I just took a quick peak at your store, I see your item location is also Niagara Falls, just like me.

Not sure about the traffic thing, do you get lots of repeat buyers? All my buyers once they buy from me find out I'm in Canada, I'm selling things to new people this week, but not selling anything to my repeat buyers. I don't think eBay is stopping traffic I think our customers are concerned about what's going on.

Do your buyers know you're in Canada after you ship? I provide a business card with my PO Box address in Canada and link to my eBay store. I want buyers to know I'm in Canada and I state such when I send offers (but also state that packages are shipped from NY as domestic shipments).

I sent out a bunch of offers tonight because I had 600+ items eligible for offer, I think I sent 100 offers in total, and no sales as a result of these offers which is a bit unusual. Makes me think there's a lack of trust that their items will get across the border tariff free.

C.

[recped]

You may not remember entering that information but if you were shipping direct to the UK via Stallion you can't even get past the 3rd page of the entry form if you don't fill out those required fields.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@sin-n-dex wrote:

I've got only one stuck at the border, it's a Canadian token I sold Sunday, buyer paid Monday, dropped it off at Stallion yesterday. It's showing in the USPS tracking as with partner facility (Stallion in this case), so the buyer will know it's shipped and I can sit tight and wait.

Stallion and Chit Chats have said there will be a 1-2 day delay as they try to clear packages across the border. They are trying to clear the China/HK stuff as well for customers instead of sending them back. I read in this forum DYK is sending packages back.

I'm not really opposed to tariffing China (obvious reasons, they are a threat to locally produced goods), but it's kind of annoying that coins, banknotes and stamps will have to pay a duty, when none of those threaten any other industry. Perhaps there will be a list of exempted items, we shall see.

C.

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@sin-n-dex 

@wilsonharborsales 

@intimewithmusic 

Until ALL shipping services including eBay Labels standardize with a long form for customs that can be generated/transmitted online to be included with the shipping label  sellers and buyers will be at the potential risks of custom holds or shipments being rejected/returned for the forseeable future.

Sample Shippo and Universal version attached. Note: Shippers options for non delivery field. This is included with premium (expedited/xpresspost) services using ebay labels with RTS as default but no option to choose dispose. Return handling is omitted with Tracked parcel.  ALL pertinent shipper/receiver contact data is the other piece of this puzzle. Lastly all parties need to know what will be cost for processing these shipments going forward. In most situations the cost to return low value items to shipper is not worth it. As most buyers do not have a broker on file USPS will become the default. 

https://eforms.com/download/2016/10/international-commercial-invoice-template.pdf

These updated requirements  are going to make shipping to the USA much more difficult/time consuming/expensive for majority of eBay sellers who wish to continue shipping internationally. 

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

FYI regarding false customs declarations:

No, you should never lie on a customs declaration; it is illegal to falsely declare items on a customs form, and doing so can lead to serious consequences including fines, seizure of goods, and potential legal issues when entering a country. 

This means that you may lose the goods permanently or that you may have to pay a penalty to get them back. Depending on the type of goods and the circumstances involved, border officials may impose a penalty that ranges from 25% to 80% of the value of the seized goods. 

Ignorance of these regulations is not a valid reason!!!

[carlmarxx]

I highly reconmend   you check tracking  on parcels going through  LAX Ca.  USPS  ISC  sorting center  and  Chicago  IL . ISC sorting  centers  . LAX has unexplained delay issues so far.  Where as Chicago  has both  unxplained delays  and missing  or missed placed package issues   .that both   require  contacting  USPS  P.O.'s  And Customer affiars  office  from both party's involed  . 

[mrdutch1001]

yes, unfortunately, one of my packages is destined for California and the other for Tennissee so I do anticipate delays at the sortation centres and will be advising the customers if/when necessary to maintain a good rapport with them.