eBay Sitewide Discounts and $1000 Import Threshold

Dominic on 01/04/2018 - 13:37
Last edited 03/04/2018 - 17:34 by 1 other user

Fellow OzBargainers.

Bought an item from overseas during the recent eBay 10% off sitewide deal. Item and shipping came to ~$1100 but the eBay code took that to ~$980 AUD delivered. This was the final amount paid with no additional fees (i.e. bank fees etc).

Now the courier have sent me an invoice for ~$250 in customs duty, fees and GST to release the item.

I was under the impression that the customs value is the transaction value i.e. the price paid by the importer. However, it appears that it has been valued at the full amount without taking into consideration any discounts.

Ack that the discount was paid for by eBay and the supplier received the full amount, but the importer, i.e. me, only paid ~$980.

I have opened a case with the courier who say they will have to contact the agent to investigate but has anyone had any recent experience with this?

UPDATE: All duty and GST was waived. However, I paid the Customs Import Processing Charge of $83 as Customs had already processed the item. The courier gave me the option for them to go back to the supplier and ask for payment on my behalf though.

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• 

  altomic on 01/04/2018 - 13:39

  tap on this link and read the previous identical topics.

  • 

    Dominic on 01/04/2018 - 13:47

    Thanks for the link but there are no topics about the outcome of people disputing this with the customs agent or where customs stands on ebay discounts.

• 

  whooah1979 on 01/04/2018 - 13:45

  +5

  Provide the carrier with a copy of the PayPal transaction and your credit card statement to support your dispute.

• 

  garetz on 01/04/2018 - 15:21

  -1

  You got a discount, not a reduced price, ie the full amount was paid for the item, between you the buyer and ebay who paid for the discount by reimbursing the seller. You do not have a leg to stand on, your dispute will not be successful.

  • 

    whooah1979 on 01/04/2018 - 18:49

    +2

    The PayPal transaction email and the credit card statement is proof of purchase that op paid less than the lvt.

• 

  saimone on 01/04/2018 - 15:49

  When I got my Samsung Note 8 256gb dual sim the price was well over $1000. I message them about the duty/import tax. They was said we take care of the duty by marking down the declared value.

  • 

    kingmw on 01/04/2018 - 16:23

    Too late for that now for OP.

• 

  JimmyF on 01/04/2018 - 17:24

  Ack that the discount was paid for by eBay and the supplier received the full amount, but the importer, i.e. me, only paid ~$980.

  Correct, they received and sent a $1100 item. You paid $980 towards the total, and ebay put $120 towards the total.

  • 

    bargainshooter on 01/04/2018 - 17:30

    -1

    Sounds bogus - B&H can sell me a $5000 item and charge me $500. Do I pay duty on $5000?

    • 

      garetz on 01/04/2018 - 18:17

      +1

      It doesnt matter what you pay, what matters is what the declared value is.

      • 

        D C on 02/04/2018 - 23:44

        what the declared value is.

        Declared AND assessed value. If customs decide the goods are valued at over $1000 you cop the fees. Kinda sucks if you do pick up a bargain.

    • 

      JimmyF on 01/04/2018 - 20:06

      -1

      In your example, Did they receive $5000 for this item that you paid $500 for like in the OP example?

      In this case, they paid $980, the seller received $1100, as ebay includes $120 payment towards the total too.

      These ebay sales are not discounts to the seller, they are discounts to the buyer in the form of a credit applied at the payment.

      So nothing bogus. The seller received $1100, they are not aware of what promos you use/applied during the check out.

      They declared the payment they received for the item they sent.

• 

  bargainshooter on 01/04/2018 - 17:28

  +3

  I'd say you should be able to discuss it. Don't listen to the naysayers. This is clearly stated in the doc you linked "The transaction value can involve deductions or
  additions such as commissions or royalties". Otherwise ebay are jointly involved in this purchase, which would mean they are liable for the additional fees, which doesn't make sense.
  Here's some more literature: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/AccessandAccountability/Docum…

• 

  Ss-ss on 01/04/2018 - 19:46

  +1

  You shouldn’t need to pay duty. The cost to you was $980 so it’s under the threshold. Just show them the receipt

• 

  Moomt on 01/04/2018 - 22:49

  -1

  True Commercial Value is what Customs work on

• 

  Dominic on 03/04/2018 - 17:35

  +1

  UPDATE: All duty and GST was waived. However, I paid the Customs Import Processing Charge of $83 as Customs had already processed the item. The courier gave me the option for them to go back to the supplier and ask for payment on my behalf though.

  • 

    bargainshooter on 03/04/2018 - 19:24

    Well done. Just goes to show not to listen to the naysayers… :)