What does E-Bay do with package if I refuse to accept delivery?

[erotavlas-0]

I'm in Canada and purchased an item from the US.  I found out the duties are too much so I refuse them and didn't sign for and refused delivery. 

From what I understand the package is being handled by E-Bay Hub, international shipment center.  So it is now in the control of E-Bay not the seller.  

What happens to the package in this case?  I know it gets sent  back to E-Bay Hub, but will it get sent back to seller?

I asked E-Bay customer service about it and they said it gets sent back to seller, but when I asked on another forum, they said that the package belongs to E-Bay now and they will not sent it back to the seller?

Which is right?

[marnotom!]

This is the eBay Canada user forum.  We're almost all Canadians here.  

When you refer to the "hub," I'm guessing you're talking about an item that was forwarded through eBay International Shipping (eIS).  Not all items from the US go through eIS, so if this wasn't clear to the customer service rep you spoke to, that may be why you got the information that you did.

If an item forwarded through eIS gets refused or returned to the hub, the item will be either destroyed or liquidated at eIS's discretion.  The seller keeps what money they received from the sale, so there's no reason for them to receive the item back.

The bad news for you is that items that are refused due to unpaid customs charges don't generally qualify for refunds under eBay's Money Back Guarantee.  You may have been further ahead paying those charges and then selling the item yourself if money is an issue for you.

For what it's worth, I don't think you were charged for "duties."  You were likely charged for taxes (GST/HST/PST, etc.) because Canada doesn't insist that venues like eBay charge these taxes at the time of sale, except for sales from Canadian sellers.  There was probably a charge associated with the processing and collection of taxes on top of that, but usually for an eIS shipment that charge seems to run in the $10-20 range.

[mrdutch1001]

For the USA sellers, using the eIS system, it is stated thus:"

"Returns and refunds

All eBay International Shipping returns will be processed on your behalf. International legal requirements mean that buyers can return items sent by eBay International Shipping up to 30 days from the date the item is delivered to them, so we automatically apply a 30 day return policy for items shipped with eBay International Shipping.

When a buyer opens a return, we'll refund your buyer and you'll keep the sale. When the return is received at the eBay International Shipping inspection hub, it will be inspected to make sure it's in the same condition. We'll then issue the refund to the buyer's original payment method, usually within 5 to 7 business days of the item being received at the hub. Returned items and items that couldn't be delivered to the buyer may not be returned to you."

That last part:"Returned items and items that couldn't be delivered to the buyer may not be returned to you" may be applicable in your case, but that is of no concern to you as a Canadian buyer. eBay takes responsibility for any items shipped through eIS, whether USA>Canada or Canada>USA....and that is why eIS is for the benefit of the seller and NO benefit to the buyer.

[erotavlas-0]

Yes it is eIS which the seller confirmed they used to ship the item to me.  

The reason why I am worried about what happens to the package is as follows.  The item I purchased was a software license activation.  I was e-mailed the activation code and serial number right after the purchase and confirmed it working.

However the problem is that I did not need the actual card on which the codes were printed on.  I guess the seller sent it as a courtesy or thought I might need it and did not know I would be charged extra. But after thinking about this, I think the only way to sell this item and get paid is to physically ship something no matter how small.  In any case I have been in contact with them about it and they also suggested I refuse delivery as I do not really need the physical media.   

By refusing the delivery of this card, I am worried of what eBay will do with it.  For example if they liquidate it, then potentially someone else can have access to the activation codes if it goes back into the market.  All it is, is basically a card that looks like a gift card with activation and serial numbers on the back.  I hope eBay deems it not worth to resell and trashes it.  

Regardless I'm going to reach out to the company of the software and ask what will happen in that case.  And if my registering the software and activating under my name (which I already did) is enough to prevent further use of the codes.  

Also just to note, DHL is the company that sent the notification about prepaying the duties. Before the package gets passed on to customs.  I wonder if when the courier attempts to deliver at my house they will have a different price (less than what DHL is asking)?   The DHL request is $36 import tax and $12 customs entry fee  -- would either or both of these values be any cheaper if I don't prepay DHL? I'm considering to just pay the extra cost for peace of mind. 

[john_koenig99]

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@erotavlas-0 wrote:

Also just to note, DHL is the company that sent the notification about prepaying the duties. Before the package gets passed on to customs.  I wonder if when the courier attempts to deliver at my house they will have a different price (less than what DHL is asking)?   The DHL request is $36 import tax and $12 customs entry fee  -- would either or both of these values be any cheaper if I don't prepay DHL? I'm considering to just pay the extra cost for peace of mind. 

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I had an order shipped from the US (eIS) via DHL and they asked to prepay duties and taxes. I knew that this item was not expensive enough to trigger such charges so I refused prepayment. It went through customs without issues and was delivered to me timely. 

[marnotom!]

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@erotavlas-0 wrote:

Also just to note, DHL is the company that sent the notification about prepaying the duties. Before the package gets passed on to customs.  I wonder if when the courier attempts to deliver at my house they will have a different price (less than what DHL is asking)?   The DHL request is $36 import tax and $12 customs entry fee  -- would either or both of these values be any cheaper if I don't prepay DHL? I'm considering to just pay the extra cost for peace of mind. 

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Someone posted here a few weeks ago on something along those lines; they decided not to pay the customs charges (taxes and entry fee) in advance when prompted by DHL.  Their item ended up getting classifed as "exceptional" by an entity I suspect was Canada Border Services and the buyer ended up being charged a lot more as a result.  Seeing as whatever the seller ended up sending you attracted $36 in taxes, that would mean that its declared value was somewhere close to C$300 if you live in a province that charges 13% HST, and it's unlikely that Canada Border Services would give something with a declared value like that a free pass.

Here's a link to the thread I mentioned if you're interested in reading it:

https://community.ebay.ca/t5/Seller-Central/Does-the-eBay-International-Shipping-EIS-work-as-it-s-ad...