ebay problem - got billed $200 for fedex duties, seller treathening

[God_Anubis]

i bought a laptop from ebay from california for around $1k and got slapped with fedex charges (duties + tax) for $200US 2 MONTHS after I received the item. it turns out the seller is threatening to go to collections and into litigation to reclaim his $200.

fedex is forcing him to pay the bills since I refused to pay.


I ebay often and know about customs fees, duties,etc and found it a bit odd that I hadn't received the bill, especially since my address has been flagged by customs (i.e. they open any of my packages that is worth > $20)

my question is, what are my options? is there any way I can dispute the charges. the only reason I ask this is that he used a shipping method that would allow the buyer to receive the laptop and then pay the bill later. Had I known this, i would have REFUSED the package right away and told the postman to send it right back to the seller. I had specifically asked the seller to ship using USPS.

[i6s1]

If he would have shipped USPS, you would have still had to pay $140 GST and PST and a small charge. Offer him $150 to pay your taxes. Tell him the rest is his fault cause you asked him to ship USPS. (Presumably it was one of his shipping options and he agreed.)

[Career07]

my 2 cents:

If you have proof eg email of you asking to ship USPS and seller agreeing, then fight it.

If you have no proof split the shipping cost, $100 each.

I always ask seller if the ship USPS and shipping cost. ALso I tell Seller UPS has high rip off fees.

[Kasakato]

How did he agree to ship it? Thats the deciding factor. I say split it.

[Shaner]

If he stated in writing that he would use USPS, then you have a case.

If he never made such a statement, then you are responsible for every penny of that $200. When you make a bid on E-bay, you are agreeing to the sellers terms. Unless it was specifically stated that the seller would use USPS, then it is at his discretion which shipping service to use. You can say what you want about Fed-Ex, but that is your problem, not the sellers problem.

Give the guy his money, it's not his fault that our border likes to rip us off.

[Chr1s]

If he would have shipped USPS, you would have still had to pay $140 GST and PST and a small charge. Offer him $150 to pay your taxes. Tell him the rest is his fault cause you asked him to ship USPS. (Presumably it was one of his shipping options and he agreed.)

+1

Pay the GST+PST.

FedEx is funny that way. I've had them come after me the very same way, well after I have received my package.

[Rehan]

How much was the actual customs clearance fee from Fedex? Isn't it less than $10? In that case, wouldn't the difference between USPS and FedEx be only $5 or so?

[Kasakato]

How much was the actual customs clearance fee from Fedex? Isn't it less than $10? In that case, wouldn't the difference between USPS and FedEx be only $5 or so?

Brokerage is a lot more than that with FedEx. http://www.stokecity.ca/FTN-FXG%20Br...%20Version.pdf

[Rehan]

Brokerage is a lot more than that with FedEx. http://www.stokecity.ca/FTN-FXG%20Br...%20Version.pdf

Does that rate schedule from 2004 still apply? I thought they switched to a reasonable flat rate...but I may be wrong.

[TapemanPL]

one thing i ask is...what are they(fedex) holding against the two of you to force you to pay? you already have the package, so they're not holding it from you. can't the two of you completely refuse to pay? if they send a collection agency to collect from you just shut the door in their face

[i6s1]

http://www.fedex.com/ca_english/rate...es_express.pdf

2.5%, plus random other charges.

I wonder what the rest of the $200 was.

[i6s1]

one thing i ask is...what are they(fedex) holding against the two of you to force you to pay? you already have the package, so they're not holding it from you. can't the two of you completely refuse to pay? if they send a collection agency to collect from you just shut the door in their face

If you ignore collection agents, they ruin your credit. They don't really care if you don't think you should have to pay PST and GST on your new laptop.

[Kasakato]

Does that rate schedule from 2004 still apply? I thought they switched to a reasonable flat rate...but I may be wrong.

It still works out to about those prices, after you add all of their bonds, CODs, etc.

[Kasakato]

Why not call FedEx and tell them that if you had known it would cost you so much to accept, you would not have taken it?

[rdtx2002]

Why not call FedEx and tell them that if you had known it would cost you so much to accept, you would not have taken it?

like that would help..................