Important to declare returns correctly

[itolduandso]

Since Canada charges tariffs or duties or whatever are they caleld on US made products (25%), it's crucial to properly declare your items returning because if items do not have proper paper work, they will be duties charged. Even returning shoes Made in Italy wouldn't get any duties in the past, but now since they scrutinize packages and have all electronic documentation, even Italian shoes returning may get a 10% duties charged. Yes I can go to CBSA and file for refund, but that's more work to do and if I fail within 1 year, that refund will not be granted. 
Plus keep in mind, returns are by default considered commercial shipments by private curiers unless they say they are returns, in any case, brokerage fees from private shippers are not-refundable.

[byto253]

I had a return from the US, which the buyer correctly labelled a return but they sent is UPS who treated it like a for sale item.  So even labelled correctly it can go astray.   They also paid a crazy shipping cost that was at least 50% more than USPS would have been.   It was the only return this year, but if I have another I will proactively advise that they send it USPS.

[ricarmic]

The problem IMO is that ebay tells them they have to have proof they mailed. This  means they'll pick whatever they know, which oftentimes isn't the cheapest option, or if in Canada, they'll pick the trackable version for stuff that went to them lettermail.

What I do, for anything of probably $100 or $200 or less value is I converse with the buyer before they return the item. I refund them before they ship it back, as a gesture of trust, and ask them to ship back via the least expensive means possible. Because they have their money back they aren't any longer forced to track it. Of course this does bear risk that they'll just keep it. I happen to live in the relatively honest world of stamp collectors so I've never had this fail. It is worth noting that I very very rarely have returns, maybe 1 a year.......

PS my customer base of stamp collectors will normally default to USPS.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@ricarmic wrote:

The problem IMO is that ebay tells them they have to have proof they mailed. This  means they'll pick whatever they know, which oftentimes isn't the cheapest option, or if in Canada, they'll pick the trackable version for stuff that went to them lettermail.

What I do, for anything of probably $100 or $200 or less value is I converse with the buyer before they return the item. I refund them before they ship it back, as a gesture of trust, and ask them to ship back via the least expensive means possible. Because they have their money back they aren't any longer forced to track it. Of course this does bear risk that they'll just keep it. I happen to live in the relatively honest world of stamp collectors so I've never had this fail. It is worth noting that I very very rarely have returns, maybe 1 a year.......

PS my customer base of stamp collectors will normally default to USPS.

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@ricarmic 

@byto253 

With larger type items there is also no guarantee customer kept original box and may be packing in whatever box they have laying around...not taking into consideration that actual final package size can affect return shipping costs along with the not using the most economical option problem. There is now a disclaimer on specific ebay labels that ANY return costs are the responsibility of the receiver. Why returns, going forward could become extremely and/or expensive. 

On lower value items in many cases it might be in the sellers best interest...cough cough...to just say keep and bite the bullet on any loss. 

[byto253]

Agree, for a lot of people UPS is the default and USPS does not cross their mind.  I refused delivery of the package when it came to the door, then went through a process of contacting UPS Canada back and forth and ended up going to the Canada Customs office 30 minutes from my place to do a self clearance and avoid the UPS charges of around $45.   A big PITA that should not have happened.