My Stance with the Upcoming Tariff War with the USA.

[john_koenig99]

Well, this does it then. It's time to stand firm against Trump's actions. 

From my part, I am considering these two options:

1) To modify my listings and add a 25% increase to the shipping service to USA based buyers. 

Or

2) To remove the shipping services to USA buyers altogether, effectively offering my listings to Canadian and Non-US international customers only. 

Thoughts? 

[recped]

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@john_koenig99 wrote:

Well, this does it then. It's time to stand firm against Trump's actions. 

From my part, I am considering these two options:

1) To modify my listings and add a 25% increase to the shipping service to USA based buyers. 

Or

2) To remove the shipping services to USA buyers altogether, effectively offering my listings to Canadian and Non-US international customers only. 

Thoughts? 

---

IF Trump tarrifs happen and are applied to eBay goods why would you add even more cost to your US buyers?

Tarrifs are paid by importers not exporters, you may see some pushback from US buyers if their cost to purchase from Canada goes up by 25%, if you add another 25% on top of that don't you think that your odds of selling to the US will drop even more dramatically than just a 25% increase.

[mrdutch1001]

I am doing neither, as my eBay selling will continue onward with 0 changes..for myself, there is nothing to fear, nothing I need to do...I am not an importer/exporter, not an industry, not a manufacturer, not a supplier, not a retailer......

[recped]

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@mrdutch1001 wrote:

I am doing neither, as my eBay selling will continue onward with 0 changes..for myself, there is nothing to fear, nothing I need to do...I am not an importer/exporter, not an industry, not a manufacturer, not a supplier, not a retailer......

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If you sell goods to consumers you are a retailer, if any of those goods are purchased by a foreign buyer and shipped to a foreign country you are an exporter.

[mrdutch1001]

That may be your interpretation..

however, in the real picture of things a $5 item sent from a Canadian eBay seller to any USA citizen isn't going to be subject to a tariff...

Get real!

[biglittleape]

Then why even post here bragging how you're not changing anything?  Not everyone is a dollar store on ebay likey you are.

Also, if you are shipping outside of Canada, you are exporting.

[mrdutch1001]

The OP's question was "Thoughts?"...and anyone is entitled to give their thoughts...

and as a Canadian eBay seller who ships maybe a total of $50 worth of items per year to the USA, I am simply stating that I consider myself not needing to worry about "tariffs"...

and If I am considered a "dollar store", then I guess there are many many more" Dollar store" sellers here on eBay when we count up all those 99c-$5 card sellers...

[chicweb]

You cannot add import fees/duties to the shipping as per eBay documentation.

And by doing so, your US customers will have to pay 50% instead of 25%. They would still have to pay the tarif.

You are not paying tariff, the customer pays them (the importer). If eBay doesn't add those fees at checkout and provide that money to the US border agency on behalf of the buyer, the US borders themselves will contact the importer (buyer) and they will have to pay that amount to them. Otherwise, if the buyer doesn't pay, the item will be returned to you.

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

You can add handling charges. I don't know at what price point a handling charge becomes a policy violation, if any. Otherwise, you're correct that if they were to word it like they did in their post it would be a violation of the TOS. 

With that said, I don't understand the logic of the post. I don't see what charging US buyers extra on top of the buyer being charged a tariff by customs accomplishes. I understand if someone decides to no longer ship to the US in protest, but I don't think that's very effective.

If the tariff applies to all imports, even basic consumer purchases, then eBay Canada needs to think very seriously about how they are going to help their sellers continue to market to US buyers, or market even more heavily to buyers within Canada. Some people have suggested eliminating or lowering fees. I think that keeping fees but using them to fund greater marketing pushes like steep eBay Canada promo codes would be more effective. 

[flipistics]

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@ilikehockeyjerseys wrote:

You can add handling charges. I don't know at what price point a handling charge becomes a policy violation, if any. Otherwise, you're correct that if they were to word it like they did in their post it would be a violation of the TOS. 

With that said, I don't understand the logic of the post. I don't see what charging US buyers extra on top of the buyer being charged a tariff by customs accomplishes. I understand if someone decides to no longer ship to the US in protest, but I don't think that's very effective.

If the tariff applies to all imports, even basic consumer purchases, then eBay Canada needs to think very seriously about how they are going to help their sellers continue to market to US buyers, or market even more heavily to buyers within Canada. Some people have suggested eliminating or lowering fees. I think that keeping fees but using them to fund greater marketing pushes like steep eBay Canada promo codes would be more effective. 

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Some sort of global shipping program would be helpful. There's so many countries with regulations popping up.

[brle_5065]

There is very little difference between duties and tariffs. Starting January 1st, as my listings have been coming up for monthly renewals, I've added the following: The buyer is responsible for taxes and duties (also known as tariffs) on all purchases. Of course, the only thing I sold today is something going to the U.S., so I'm going to send the buyer a message to make sure she understands that she's responsible for duties/tariffs.

I really was hoping eBay would have done something to prepare the Americans for the implications of the recent U.S. government's decision on tariffs and duties.

I WILL NOT be paying a dime in tariffs. I have a call into eBay now and am waiting for a callback. If I have to, my .com site is coming down, and so is selling to the U.S.

This is one area that Canadians, Mexicans, and the rest of the world have to stand together on. I've already stopped buying things made in the U.S., and any new stock I get will not include anything from the U.S.
I do feel for our American buyers, but it's not the first time they've been misled. They made their choice at the polls.

I've attached a little chart below so you can explain it to your U.S. buyers if you need to.

We can navigate through this. I don't want to sour our relationship with American buyers/sellers, but what other options do we have? If I have to, I'll make it clear in my listings why I'm hesitant to sell in the U.S. We need to stand together, not just against the U.S. but also with one voice with eBay, as we don't know what thier next policy might be.

Wishing you all the best in these challenging times. Stay strong, everyone!

[mrdutch1001]

"The buyer is responsible for taxes and duties (also known as tariffs)"

Many sellers have had that in their listings for many years already!

[brle_5065]

OOPS.. my post got reposted 

[brle_5065]

Yes, I've had it up for years also- the only thing I've added is 'tariffs' because most people don't even know what one is-  but wanted to make sure it was out there- so it was clear- they were on the hook- not moi!  Remember they they've been told that it's not them that pays for it- they really have been conned good. Now- where's my buttertart!

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

You don't have to put this in your listing. eBay lists this by default on the shipping panel. If a buyer refuses a package because of a duty, their buyer protection is voided. If they leave negative feedback on that basis, you can have it removed.

It doesn't hurt to write it in the listing if you want to be thoughtful, but it doesn't change anything. It's not like eBay is going to decide against you in feedback removal or any scenario they would be involved in because it wasn't written directly in the item description. The only possible benefit is that if the buyer doesn't read the shipping tab, they have a second opportunity to see it in the item description. 

Here is what the buyer sees:

International shipping—items may be subject to customs processing depending on the item's customs value.

Sellers declare the item's customs value and must comply with customs declaration laws.

As the buyer, you should be aware of possible:

• Delays from customs inspection

• Import duties and taxes which buyers must pay

• Brokerage fees payable at the point of delivery

Your country's customs office can offer more details, or visit eBay's page on international trade.

Learn more

[recped]

I didn't say anything about tarrifs or that your goods would be suject to tarrifs.

I only expressed my opinon that anyone who sells goods to consumers on eBay (or elseware) that are shipped across an internation border makes one both a retailer and an exporter.

[mrdutch1001]

Although I have never had the word "tariffs" in my listings and don't plan on adding that, many yrs ago when sales taxes were applied to USA buyer's purchases, I added the bit about taxes and when similar taxes were applied for Canadian buyers I altered the wording slightly and since then, the only wording that remains is thus"Buyers are responsible for any state/provincial taxes as required to be paid to eBay as per government laws."

[chicweb]

Adding anything related to duties or tariff in the handling charges wouldn't change anything. The same charges would be charged to the buyers in the end. Border agencies staff don't have access to that money. Handling fees are for sellers only.

The only ways that eBay can handle this is:

1. They charge the fees themselves to the buyers and remit the amount to the respective border's agencies. They would need some kind of deal with them to be able to do that. Don't they already charge import fees anyway in some countries?

or

2. They do nothing and let the respective agencies deal with it with their citizens who are importing stuff.

I would prefer #1, since that will be less hassle for sellers explaining, having bad feedbacks removals, etc... 

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

I wasn't meaning to insinuate the amount added to US handling had anything to do with whether the tariff would be collected.

The OP stated that they wanted to further penalize US buyers to protest the tariff by charging an additional fee. I was just pointing out that while misguided, they could technically do this by adding a handling charge.

Unless I misunderstood them entirely, and they for some reason think they will have to pay the tariff themselves, so they want to pass on the cost to the buyer. In which case, they are misinformed because it doesn't work that way. The buyer is already the one who will be charged.

[brle_5065]

The problem is that eBay isn't collecting anything- As of last night they don't have a policy in place to deal with this even though they knew it was a strong possibility.  Most Americans believe that 'tariffs' are something that the exporting government pays and it's a way of making America great again- even though the reality is that they are responsible for tariffs, just like any other duty.  By putting the word 'tariff' in my disclaimer I am trying to make sure they understand that it's them who will be paying for  it in the end.