Whats great about this hobby is that you get to meet many new people, and share the love of numismatics all around. Thats one area that I enjoy a lot being a smalltime dealer, being able to handle lots of nice coins. An overwhelming majority of my sales go as planned, with no issues whatsoever. But now let me tell you about this one transaction, and your opinions on it. On facebook, I sold a farthing, for around 20 pounds. (I was hoping to get 50 but thats beside the point lol). Buyer just received coin, and apparently he was hit with a 26 pound custom fee. (Which doesn't even make sense to me, because I've never heard of custom fees being greater than the value itself). He wants me to refund him cost of coin, and hes not even picking up the coin from customs. I told him no way I'm shipping a coin, giving a refund and not even getting the coin back. Would you have done something different.
I feel for the buyer too. I've been hit with heavy duties from lots of auction houses, but I just accept is as cost of the coin.
Maybe worded it differently depending on how you said it but yea something along the lines of all customs fees and taxes are the responsibly of the buyer and any refund would require the coin to be returned first. Really just keep it professional, but youre right the VAT/GST/Import Tax/Whatever you want to call it shouldn't be higher than the value of the item.
I find it difficult to believe duties would be greater than the value of the coin. The smell of fish is in the air and I agree with your position. Your responsibility ends with the successful shipment of the coin. If he chooses not to pick up the coin, that's his choice. Stick to your guns and be aware of a possible scam.
Kept it professional. I'm a little ticked off by the fact that this guy isn't even PICKING UP the coin, yet somehow expects to be refunded. I don't know how the import tax is higher than the item either
Really he's just not paying the fee so it'll just sit in customs. He has no claim for anything as it was sold through facebook and even if paypal was used he freely admits he's not paying what's required. If paypal says anything just say you'll be happy to refund him for the coin when it's back in your possession. The import tax wouldn't be higher than the item for a coin, either they're assessing a much higher value to the sale which is unlikely, he had an outstanding debt/multiple items or lying. You would have had to unpaid postage or something like that for it really to be higher than the sale price and it's unlike it would have left the country if you underpaid
I had to pay customs fees on an item from the US that cost $2 The seller put the value on the customs form as $2.00 but the decimal point was not visible to UK customs so they deemed it $200.
The buyer should refuse the coin. That way it doesn't sit in customs. Once you receive it back, refund the money in full.
Good question. My initial reaction without looking it up is this.... Once you put outgoing mail in the mailbox, even with a return address on it, it is no longer yours. That's why after you drop it in the slot at the PO you can't say to the postal employee you would like it back you made a mistake. You no longer own it. The addressed recipient has claim to it. I would think if it were unclaimed the only person with legal claim to it is the addressee. Unless you had some legal jargon on it that stated return postage guaranteed. JMO
According to the orig. thread, the buyer has not picked up the coin, ergo, he has not paid the customs duty.
The original thread states the buyer has not taken possession of the coin because he has not paid the customs fee.
It's international, there is no unclaimed property. They will return it as they often charge more to destroy it and it's not in a post office possession until it clears customs
No but if customs had it they will keep for months. If they don't hear back after 3 months or so they can dispose of.
They'll keep it as long as they want and actually generally return it as its and extra charge for them to dispose of it