What are import fees on eBay? (full guide)
Like anything, you will have to pay some fees or charges when trying to sell your item. But what are these costs? How much of this do you have to pay?
Have you thought about these questions? Well, if you have, keep reading the article below as we discuss one of the few fees eBay charges users and how the company calculates them.
How much will eBay import fees in 2022?
Import fees are the fees and taxes you’ll pay when you buy from international sellers in 2022. While it may sound intimidating for sellers to use GSP, the process is easy because all fees are shown to buyers at checkout, so nothing is missed.
If you want to learn more about eBay import fees, keep reading, like how they’re calculated, and other helpful facts!
Why do I have to pay import fees?
If you use eBay, you must comply with all applicable tax laws.
Therefore, if you are shopping internationally, you must be prepared to pay any import charges upon receipt of the package.
However, most of the time when using GSP, eBay will notify buyers of the import fee or their item during the checkout process.
Additionally, these fees depend on the country they are going to and the item’s price, postage weight, size, and original country of origin.
How does international shipping work for sellers?
Selling your goods internationally is an excellent way to grow your business, and it’s an easy process if you follow the right steps.
Fortunately, eBay offers a global shipping program to help users do just that.
Additionally, here are a few reasons to use this program instead of shipping items yourself:
- You simply send the package to a domestic shipping center near you and eBay handles the rest. Once you have it there, they will take care of international shipping and customs and provide tracking information for you and the buyer.
- If something goes wrong and your package is damaged or lost during the international journey, eBay will take full responsibility for it and your seller performance will not be affected (any negative reviews or reviews will be removed from your page).
- Standard eBay fees (including sellers’ international fees) will apply to transactions under the Global Shipping Program.
Plus, adding an international shipping option to your listing is easy; all you need to do is follow these simple steps:
- Open your list, select “Show International Services and Options”, then select “Save”
- Next, choose a flat rate or calculated rate for the shipping you choose, and the U.S. Postal Service will provide a price based on the buyer’s location.
- Then, select the country you want to ship to from “Destination” and choose your preferred shipping company
- Finally click confirm
Although international shipping is very easy, there are some requirements you need to meet to use this feature on eBay:
- Have an active eBay account in good standing
- Make your first successful sale at least 90 days in advance
- Get at least 10 feedback points as a seller
- Post listings in eligible categories; video games, movies, knives, and cars are not eligible.
If you have these things, then you can have fun with international shipping!
How does international shipping work for buyers?
Receiving international packages is simple for buyers, whether sellers use regular shipping services in the US or UK or eBay’s global shipping program.
However, while simple, as a buyer, buying from an international seller can be very expensive.
Also, to get a rough idea of what shipping will be, you can check the Shipping and Payments section of the listing, it should be there.
Likewise, you should be able to see where the seller ships from, a list of countries the seller ships to, and what service the seller uses to ship your items.
Also, if they use eBay’s global shipping program, you should be able to see the “GSP” logo somewhere on the listing.
If you do see this logo, you will be able to get the following benefits:
- You pay for shipping, tax and import only once up front, and there are no additional charges when your item is delivered.
- Tracking is included when using GSP, so you can track your package the moment it ships.
- You don’t have to worry about any paperwork as customs clearance is already included with all GSP packages.
Luckily, payment is also very easy when your item is shipped via GSP.
This is because when you pay, your payment is split into two transactions.
- First, pay the seller, who can then send your package to a global shipping center. In this payment, the seller receives payment for the item, but also includes any domestic shipping.
- The second payment then includes international shipping and import charges (if applicable).
However, if you’re buying from a seller who doesn’t use GSP, things get a little more complicated.
Also, while you still pay all fees at checkout, when your package arrives, you may have to pay additional fees such as customs, import fees, and taxes.
To learn more, you can also read our post on eBay floor prices, eBay UPCs, and eBay insertion fees.
in conclusion
Import fees are important because eBay users must obey all laws. Luckily, showing most or all of the fees at the customer checkout can make it easier for buyers because all fees are shown to them at the same time. So it’s hard to miss or forget anything.
Plus, with eBay’s GSP, the entire process of buying from an international seller is easy, including any fees that need to be paid, so it’s a hassle-free process for you and the seller.
