eBay Taking The Piss

Lsaltysalt on 07/08/2021 - 17:30
Last edited 09/08/2021 - 11:40 by 1 other user

I won an item on ebay.com.au the other day for a camera lens.
In the cart it clearly says 'Go to checkout' 'Total AU $909'

https://ibb.co/YPjTDJB

Then when I click on the link to 'go to the checkout' suddenly the checkout page is all in USD and there is no way for me to pay in AUD. Now as a result I end up being charged around $50 extra in currency conversion.

https://ibb.co/1TPsw97

Ebay tells me this is totally normal because I am buying something from America. But I purchased something similar a week ago and the checkout was all in AUD. So what's going on here?

General Discussion

Related Stores

eBay Australia
eBay Australia
Marketplace

Comments

  • gooddealmate on 07/08/2021 - 17:31

    You sure it didn't originally include the GST? Don't think that appears until you go to buy the item.

    Nevermind, can see from your 1st pic it includes it. Sorry

    • saltysalt on 07/08/2021 - 17:37

      I mean they are even charging you GST in USD which seems totally insane.

      • foxmulder on 07/08/2021 - 18:35
        +1

        And the GST is more than 10%.

        • saltysalt on 07/08/2021 - 18:37

          Totally, as this stage ebay is just make and estimate and are charging whatever they feel like.

        • Ughhh on 08/08/2021 - 10:19

          Huh, what's ($600+$10)x1.1?

  • saltysalt on 07/08/2021 - 17:45

    Here was the price on the original listing
    https://ibb.co/x7Gc58W
    It's like every time you click next on the buying and checkout process with ebay the price just goes up slightly. This should be totally illegal.

    So the first time I see a price it's 'Approx $894'

    Total charged to my Australian card is $950. Such a scam!

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 07/08/2021 - 17:45

    Did ya try reaching out to ebay CS
    Edit nvm I see they fobbed ya off

    • saltysalt on 07/08/2021 - 17:46

      Yeah they are telling me it's totally normal to pay in USD for American items on ebay.com.au

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 07/08/2021 - 17:48

        How did you pay? Surely there’s a way to pay in usd if your payment method has no or low fees.

        Out of interest, what lens? Very cheap postage for a relatively high value item.

        • saltysalt on 07/08/2021 - 17:57

          Payed via paypal with an AU card. Paypal are doing to conversion which is costing around $50 extra. I just don't understand why ebay.com.au has a checkout process in USD for this particular item.

          Lens was a vintage cinema lens. He had free shipping within US and $10 for international. So it was mostly built into the price.

  • Ughhh on 07/08/2021 - 17:46

    Afaik, ebay only provides a conversion estimate when you're buying a USD item.

    USD$671 to AUD is $912 at 1:1.36.

    • saltysalt on 07/08/2021 - 17:47

      But if I'm on ebay.com.au shouldn't the checkout process be in AUD?

      • Ughhh on 07/08/2021 - 17:49

        From memory, some overseas US sellers can be shown in search and bought from.

        Did you use a card that has free international transaction fee? If not, I think a part of the extra $50 is from your bank/card.

        • saltysalt on 07/08/2021 - 17:52

          Yes that's basically the problem. But my issue is that I'm on ebay.com.au and I'm not able to pay in AUD. They are even collecting GST in USD which doesn't make any sense to me at all.

          I purchased another similar item from America last week on ebay.com.au and the checkout process was all in AUD so I'm wondering why it's different on this item.

          • Ughhh on 07/08/2021 - 18:21

            @saltysalt: I could be that the previous US seller was part of a global ebay program? May this seller only wants to receive USD?

            I just did a test on a USD item, and ebay only provides as estimate based on exact currency exchange without any fees, as they're not a payment flatform like a bank/paypal etc. GST is 10% and has to be charged regardless.

            • saltysalt on 07/08/2021 - 18:24

              @Ughhh: I get that it's an estimate, on your test when you go to the checkout are you made to pay in USD or AUD? I've never had to pay in USD before, that's a new one for me.

              • Ughhh on 07/08/2021 - 18:26
                +1

                @saltysalt: USD. I've had to pay in USD before for US items. It could be dependent on the seller, they may have chosen to receive all payment in USD only.

                • saltysalt on 07/08/2021 - 18:31

                  @Ughhh: Ok thanks for the info! I had no idea that was possible on ebay australia. It still seems like a sneaky move to me and I'm not too happy about it but next time it sounds like I should have paid the USD with a card like ING rather than paypal and an AU card.
                  Appreciate you clarifying and checking for me!

          • Poppin on 07/08/2021 - 18:21

            @saltysalt: eBay have to charge GST on all orders to Australia no matter the currency, it's like if you bought from b&h and a number of other foreign businesses.

            Sound's like the seller last week was a store that was setup on eBay to accept AUD where this user wasn't.

            • saltysalt on 07/08/2021 - 18:26

              @Poppin: So are you saying the seller dictates if the checkout is in USD, AUD or some other currency? I just assumed that if I'm using ebay.com.au I would always pay in AUD. Is it even legal for them to charge USD whilst collecting GST on an Australian website?

  • foxmulder on 07/08/2021 - 18:38

    Some debit card the likes of uBank can process USD payments without bank fees

    • saltysalt on 07/08/2021 - 18:42

      Thanks! Next time! I still think it's messed up that ebay australia has some items checkout in USD but not much I can do about it now.

      • Mechz on 07/08/2021 - 20:38

        Yeah this is what I was about to say. 28 Degrees, Bankwest, there's a few options for zero conversion fee cards.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join