Looking for some feedback on an international sale...

dtmbinb · Mar 14, 2012

If I shipped a knife over to Europe in November of last year and it was held in customs and sent back to me just now...does this seem fair.....I have offered to either reship the knife at the buyers expense, or refund the sale price, minus the original shipping and paypal fee. I originally sent it usps priority with insurance. I think this is fair on my part. Why should I lose any money due to the buyers customs dept.? What is your opinion? Am I being reasonable? Thanks for any insight....

Update....I ended up refunding the purchase price minus shipping cost and half the paypal fee. I think that was fair. Still curious if I handled it right.....

Kevin Wilkins · Mar 15, 2012

If you and potential buyer are both happy, where's the problem? Or as an attorney once advised me, A good legal compromise is one were both parties feel slightly pissed on.

Out of curiosity, where did ship to, what was the knife and why was it returned?

ac700wildcat · Mar 15, 2012

Sounds reasonable to me.

dtmbinb · Mar 15, 2012

Kevin Wilkins said:
If you and potential buyer are both happy, where's the problem? Or as an attorney once advised me, A good legal compromise is one were both parties feel slightly pissed on.

Out of curiosity, where did ship to, what was the knife and why was it returned?

A large griptilian with a set of your scales. It went to Portugal. It was held in customs for over three months and returned. I don't know why.

eisman · Mar 15, 2012

If it was returned it was because no one paid the duty (taxes) on it. Illegal items are not returned.

The person you shipped it to was responsible for the payment of the duty. This can be expensive. I recently shipped a knife to Italy; the duty was 30% of the value (and gifts are not exempt). I've shipped to Germany more often and the last time the duty was 17%. This is one of the major reasons that US made items are very expensive outside of the country, and leads to trade imbalances.

rprocter · Mar 15, 2012

I think you handled the situation with integrity and generousity. The reason the knife was returned was almost certainly the buyer's failure to pay the import duties/taxes, so refunding 1/2 the PP fees was generous on your part. I suggest not doing any more business with this person.
roland

dtmbinb · Mar 15, 2012

rprocter said:
I think you handled the situation with integrity and generousity. The reason the knife was returned was almost certainly the buyer's failure to pay the import duties/taxes, so refunding 1/2 the PP fees was generous on your part. I suggest not doing any more business with this person.
roland

Thanks. I agree. I was even made to feel like I was taking advantage of them for not refunding shipping. No more knife deals "lost in translation" for me!

ooitzoo · Mar 15, 2012

eisman said:
If it was returned it was because no one paid the duty (taxes) on it. Illegal items are not returned.

The person you shipped it to was responsible for the payment of the duty. This can be expensive. I recently shipped a knife to Italy; the duty was 30% of the value (and gifts are not exempt). I've shipped to Germany more often and the last time the duty was 17%. This is one of the major reasons that US made items are very expensive outside of the country, and leads to trade imbalances.

Yep. Protectionism at its best. Then again Europe is so screwed economically that it won't matter much soon.

richard thurman · Mar 15, 2012

this is the reason I refuse to sell to any one out side of the usa. I get alot of people on auctions sites that do not live in the USA wanting to buy some knifes from me and I turn them down. way too much trouble.

Will Power · Mar 15, 2012

You did the right thing. At least it WAS returned. Once entering the maw of customs (and no, it's not just a European thing) things can turn odd. Ineptitude plus bureaucracy often go together-in all countries.

I once had a packet disappear. No word for three months, I thought it had been stolen but didn't lodge a paypal claim as the US dealer I bought from had always been reasonable. Then I went to the customs to get another packet and they handed over the 'lost' one as well. They had forgotten to send me a collection notification! Without it, they wouldn't look for the package. Maybe this happened in Portugal too....At least it ended reasonably.

firebolt · Mar 16, 2012

eisman said:
If it was returned it was because no one paid the duty (taxes) on it. Illegal items are not returned.

The person you shipped it to was responsible for the payment of the duty. This can be expensive. I recently shipped a knife to Italy; the duty was 30% of the value (and gifts are not exempt). I've shipped to Germany more often and the last time the duty was 17%. This is one of the major reasons that US made items are very expensive outside of the country, and leads to trade imbalances.

US made stuff is actually cheap , compared to the European knive market , because the Us market is very competitive. and the dollar is cheap to the euro
the market price is alway much lower than the suggested retail price

europeen knive traders normaly will follow the suggested retail price